Meet David ZumBrunnen

I was born and raised in Kearney, Nebraska. I immigrated to Fairbanks, Alaska, in the fall of 1966 to attend the University of Alaska where I earned a Bachelors of Science Degree with a major in mathematics and a minor in physics. In 1969 I enlisted in the Alaska Air National Guard for six years where I was trained in computers. Upon college graduation I was hired by the Matanuska Susitna School District and began my career teaching math at Wasilla High School from 1970-1990. I then transferred to Burchell Alternative High School and taught troubled teens until my retirement in the spring of 1994. In August of that year I enrolled at Denver Theological Seminary, Denver, Colorado, where I and my wife Cheryl lived until my graduation in the spring of 1997. I received a Masters of Divinity with honors.

Cheryl and I returned to Alaska in the fall of 1997. In the spring of 1999 I sensed God’s direction to establish house churches in our area with quarterly general meetings where all the groups would come together for a special time of worship, teaching, and fellowship. The goal, which was realized, was to have fifty percent of all giving go toward outreach.

In January of 2002, I believed the Lord leading me in a different direction for ministry and resigned as co-pastor of what is now called Christ-Connection Home Fellowships. Because of my intense burden for the homeless, abused and troubled teens in our area, in September of 2002 I agreed to go back to teaching for one year (that has turned into two), in the school district for the purpose of helping to establish a new alternative high school in Big Lake, Alaska, twenty miles from home.

In the summer of 1991 I completed the intensive Advanced True Life Counselor Training at Exchanged Life Ministries, Aurora, Colorado. Currently I serve as President of True Life Counseling, Inc., a biblical counseling and counselor training ministry that my wife Cheryl and I incorporated in the fall of 2005. As President, I answer to and oversee the Board of Directors, am responsible for all the financial and business workings of the ministry and function as a staff counselor. Crossroads Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization. Our purpose is to teach members of the body of Christ to experience and mature in the truth that Christ is their life. It is not about changing a Christians life, but exchanging a self-centered life for a Christ-centered life and helping Christians discover and experience the real presence of Jesus Christ in all they are and all they do.

When asked by a fellow traveler one day what my spiritual background was, I answered, “I was raised Augustana Swedish Lutheran where my love for Jesus was fostered, attended a Presbyterian church for twenty years, moved to a non-denominational church and attended a conservative Baptist Seminary. While in seminary I attended a full gospel black Baptist church and did my seminary internship in an Assembly of God church and have pastored a non-denominational home fellowship.” I share this to simply say that I view all God’s children as equals before His throne and count it a privilege to be one of them.

Meet Cheryl ZumBrunnen

I was raised in Wasilla, Alaska, where David and I have lived for thirty five years. We married in August of 1968 after meeting at college in Fairbanks. We have one adult daughter and one adult married son. We have mentored and fostered six young people over the years who are still active members of our family and we are blessed to have eight grandchildren.

When David and I moved back to Wasilla after attending college I became actively involved in the church. Through this over-involvement God revealed Himself to me in profound ways and I realized I was trying to get my needs met by seeking praise from men. As I embarked on my journey of endeavoring to put Christ first in my life I faced the trauma of admitting to and dealing with sexual abuse in my childhood and the pain of an absentee father due to his away-from-home job. Our son was born in 1970 with severe digestive problems and required twenty four-hour care. These issues and more were causing a communication breakdown in our marriage. These stresses drove me to the arms of my Savior and I cried out for strength and grace to walk through the storms of life.

During this season I began to discover a natural ability to help others with their life problems. Through my own healing and seeing others find freedom in their relationship with Christ I began to desire formal training in the area of Christian counseling. I attended the three month, on site Advanced True Life Biblical Counselor Training at Exchanged Life Ministries, in Aurora, Colorado, January through March of 1990. After returning home I set up an office in our home and began biblical counseling and continue to this day. It is my love and I thrive on watching God bring freedom into a broken individual’s life.

I am currently Office Manager, Director of Training and a staff counselor at True Life Counseling, Inc. I have greatly enjoyed my twenty years plus of speaking at women’s retreats and seminars all over the USA and Canada, as well as teaching women’s Bible studies. I served as the Minister of Music at the First Presbyterian Church of Wasilla from 1979 through 1990. I was privileged to serve as the President of United Presbyterian Women for the Yukon Presbytery ministering the love of Jesus throughout central and northern Alaska from 1980-1982. In 1997 I published the story of my healing from sexual abuse in my book entitled Free At Last! It is my fervent hope that the story within those pages will bring others who have suffered this deep violation to the same freedom Christ Jesus has given me. I have had the honor of participating in a short term mission to India and look forward to David and I returning to continue the work of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My hearts cry is that of Isaiah, “Here am I Lord, send me!”

David and I look forward to God enlarging our territory as we seek to be sold out to Him in such complete abandon that no matter what He brings into our lives we will shout out His praises for all to here.

Meet Jerry Valley

I grew up on Afognak and Kodiak Islands in the Gulf of Alaska, was delivered into the Kingdom of God’s Son in 1976 and have been a student of His Word ever since.  My hearts desire to be a true “fisher of men” by wholeheartedly following Jesus and seeing His promise fulfilled in my life (John 4:19).

What God promised, He is faithful to do, and it has been dramatically experienced in my own life.  I am excited to see God setting people free as they digest the Exchanged Life teaching at True Life Counseling.  “This is the true grace of God…” (1 Peter 5: 12)

Jesus “calls out to us by His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1: 3).  At True Life Counseling I see His glorious excellence at work, calling out to those who are weary and burdened: come, enter My rest, and I will reveal to you that “sure foundation” for your life, “which is Jesus Christ” our Lord (1 Corinthians 3: 11).

The Lord’s blessing be upon you as you seek His perfect will in your life.

Jerry and his wife Patty live in Wasilla.  They have five children and seven grandchildren. 

Meet Gordon Bell

Gordon resides with his wife Noel, who is a well known Alaskan artist. Gordon was raised in India during his father’s tenure as a missionary pastor. He possess special abilities in the area of people management and has a wonderful way with troubled teens.  He became involved in the management team of True Life upon completion of the Advanced Training.  He was impressed with what he heard and how it changed his life and is a valuable active part of the organization.

Mr. Bell is a man with a servant’s heart.  He gives sacrificially to those around him, expecting nothing in return.  Gordon is extremely well educated in the emotional, spiritual and mental health field and is experienced in group therapy, and teaching of therapy methods and techniques to his peers. He is a licensed drug and alcohol assessment counselor and is serving in that capacity for True Life Counseling.