You can’t tell from looking at me today, but I avoided the Lord Jesus Christ for the first 34 years of my life, turning to a “Higher Power” only in times of dire emergency or extreme turbulence. Raised by a brilliant, single mom, I was taught to be responsible and moral, but not spiritual. It wasn’t until I was poised to marry my college sweetheart that I accepted Jesus as my Savior at a Christmas program. My husband’s immediate job relocation after the wedding derailed any urgency to be discipled or trained. A new husband, a new city, a new home, and a new job preoccupied my days. My eternal salvation was established but I was spiritually and Biblically illiterate.

After 7 years of marriage, the first of two children was born to Jay and I and a host of questions about God was reignited. I joined a Bible study to accumulate information so I’d be prepared to answer questions my children might ask about God. What started as an educational quest ended with a life long commitment to God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus became not only my Savior, but LORD of my life. I have been leading other women to Jesus in weekly Bible studies and at women’s events ever since.

Widowed at 40 and left with two small children when my husband Jay died unexpectedly of a heart attack, I testify of God’s faithfulness in times of great tragedy and the power of his love and comfort by the Holy Spirit and through his Body, the church. I Am a Homebody by Nature

My favorite pastimes are reading, baking, and watching videos (as long as I control the remote). So, it was quite an adjustment when I married again to an adventurous soul named Craig. He came with a single engine airplane, so I acquired my pilot’s license and later, my motorcycle endorsement so we could each carry a child on our excursions. On a routine flight, Craig’s plane went down in the mountains of Pennsylvania. After weeks of searching, he was found, but had been killed by the impact of the crash.

Being widowed twice in four years gives me a unique voice to speak on the faithfulness of God, the power of prayer, and finding joy in difficult circumstances. At 58, I hide my (many) gray hairs but share my wisdom – teaching women about finding balance for everyday life, creating a fabulous legacy, the golden rules of marriage, and the importance of friendships to today’s woman. I am eager to share God’s story through mine and by his Word. I teach the Bible by topic or theme at retreats, conferences, special occasion events, holiday programs, and MOPS meetings.

As Impossible as It Seems, I Married Again!

Obviously not superstitious, Dave, who at 37, had never been married or had children of his own, courageously took us on – a woman at the precipice of menopause and two prepubescent boys. Jake who was 12 by then, and Eli who was 9, both welcomed Dave’s request to adopt them the following year. These days, both young men are grown and doing well. Jake is a Mechanical Engineer, Eli is a fire fighter.

Dave and I celebrate 14 years of mostly happy marriage and I celebrate how well he’s holding up! We live and serve Jesus in Grand Rapids, MI. I would welcome the opportunity to share my story and/or a combination of one of my many other teachings with your women.

Please contact me at robyn@robyndykstra.com or call me at 616-363-4608 to schedule.