Jill Getchell Awana Commander jillgetchell@newharborchurch.com Biography Jill was born in 1957 in Fairmont, West Virginia. Her family moved to Southern California when she was 5. To say she was raised in a non Christian home would be an understatement, but God's protective hand was on her long before she even knew He existed. Jill accepted Christ as her personal Savior when she was around 22 during an altar call giving by Greg Laurie at his church in Riverside, California. With lots of passion but no direction, the following years were tumultuous to say the least. Desiring to know God, but having no one to guide her, she floundered like the seed in the parable that sprang up quickly but faded away because it had no roots. After the devastating death of her brother in 1983, Jill was done with God, but fortunately for her, God was not done with Jill. In 1985, Jill returned to college to pursue a career in psychology, but God had other plans. She met Gary, whom she stills considers her greatest blessing, in 1986 in an English class at Cal State San Bernardino. She later changed her major from psychology to teaching which had always been her first love. Jill graduated in 1989 and began teaching in the Rialto Unified School District where she had received so much love and support as a child. She and Gary were married in 1991. Katherine was born in 1993. The family moved to Illinois, and Jill resigned from teaching to be a fulltime wife and mother. Nicholas was born two years later in 1995. In 1996, God moved Gary and Jill back to California, this time to Benicia, and it is there that Jill's relationship with God finally began to grow. Katherine met Zachary Miller at preschool, and he invited her to Awana. Jill soon followed. They became members of New Harbor (previously Benicia Bible Church), and through Janet Mease and Women's Bible Study, she finally received the discipleship that had been lacking all those years ago. As her desire to know the Word of God grew, she got involved with Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) where she served as a discussion leader. Last year, Jill felt God leading her to become more active in the Women's Ministry at New Harbor, so she resigned from BSF, sought training through Precept Ministries, and began teaching Women's Bible Study on Monday night. Jill returned to teaching with the blessing and support of her family in 2004. She currently teaches at Henderson Elementary School here in Benicia. Jill has a passion for children and the Word of God. She has served in Awana for 11 years in a variety of positions. She is a past Children's Education Director and Sunday School Teacher. She and Gary are currently members of the Northern California Ministry Team for Awana. Both of her children are still active in the Awana program. Favorite Things Studying, teaching, and discussing the Bible. Traveling and goofing around with my family. Playing and winning board games because I can never win any electronic ones. I love everything about teaching except the grading. I especially like the smell of a classroom on a rainy day, the way a class of strangers becomes a family, and the privilege of being part of a child's life. Reading books and watching movies when I have time. Life Scriptures "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2