Struggling with shame and guilt, she thought God was punishing her…

Some people profess to believe in God, but they don’t know Him, His nature, His love or His power. This was true of Connie Weiskopf for a long time. Connie grew up in a large family with whom she attended a denominational church. It was through her church experience that the blindness of religion covered her eyes. It was there that God, the Father, was misrepresented as a wrathful, angry God, ready to strike her with sickness or to punish her because of her sin.

One particular event during Connie’s formative adolescent years caused her to look at life through a filter; at the age of sixteen she was raped. Because of her religious foundation, and misconception of who God is, Connie was unable to turn to Him for comfort. Rather she hid from God; struggling with the shame and guilt she carried by herself. Connie came to blame God for the bad things that happened in her life.

After college Connie established herself as a graphic designer and renowned watercolor artist. As life progressed, she became involved in an abusive relationship, one in which she was raped again. This time, Connie found herself with an unwanted pregnancy. Connie had her first abortion, and her shame and guilt deepened.

Still unable to turn to God, Connie looked to the world for love, and in her wounded state she became involved with David—another unhealthy relationship. Connie had a second abortion. “David and I aborted our first child together and my heart truly died. I no longer felt. I only existed. No one ever told me I had choices, only that abortion would solve my ‘problem’,” said Connie.

Sometime later, a friend invited Connie to church, and for the first time she felt the love of God. At last, Connie had found a comfortable place in God’s presence. She was also pregnant again. Worried that if anyone knew she was pregnant she wouldn’t be welcome to continue to meet with the God she had just met, she terminated her third child.

Continuing to attend her new church, Connie gave her life to Christ and fell passionately in love with Him. “He became everything I had been searching for. He became my best friend and my husband,” Connie said.

As Connie’s passions and focus shifted to Jesus, she and David separated. She attended a local Bible college hosted at her church, and as she sought to know Him, Connie learned to recognize His voice. Two years after their separation, the Lord led her back to David and the two were married.

A friend had given her one of Andrew’s tapes several years earlier and she knew that when Andrew prayed, people received healing. Connie contacted AWM and asked if Andrew would come pray for her. The ministry replied that he was unable to accommodate her request, but instead invited her to where Andrew would be ministering at a local church in Colorado Springs.

Connie went to the meeting and was able to meet with Andrew before the service. After asking if she was ready to receive her healing, Andrew prayed a simple prayer. She remembers Andrew’s message about the balance of grace and faith being exactly what she needed to hear to receive her healing.

Although she had been prayed for, Connie underwent surgery a short time later. Following the procedure, during which a surgeon removed a portion of her left breast, the doctor called and said, “We don’t know what happened, there was no cancer left.” Connie said, “I know what happened. God healed me!” David and Connie praised God and rejoiced in Him!

After several relocations, including one back to her home State of Colorado, and a career change in which the Lord led her away from the arts to a position with Life Choices Pregnancy Center, Connie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Prior to her diagnosis, the Lord had been teaching Connie about His healing power, so she sought healing through His Word and prayer from like-minded people in her church.

Now, Connie continues her work as a Center Director with Life Choices Pregnancy Center. Through her position she is able to share the truth with the women who visit the facility. “I get to share the truth so that women know they can make a choice for life. I share that there is a loving, gracious God, who took care of all of our sins at the cross. I also get to share about the power of Jesus Christ that is available to those who believe,” said Connie. While Connie has seen many healed, she said she receives her greatest joy when salvations occur and she can see others getting it; getting to know about this incredible love of a good God.

For more information about Connie and her ministry visit Connie Weiskopf Ministries.