Brenda Paulsen is the overseer of our ladies ministry team. She and Pastor Mark have been married since 1981. Brenda is a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho and now resides near Rigby, Idaho.
A little bit about me; I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior when I was 5 years old while attending Vacation Bible School, later at the age of 18 I committed my life to Christ. I know that without Jesus I would be a mess and it is my heart to reach the ladies of this community with the love Jesus offers each of us; knowing that none of us is worthy or righteous and only by Christ may we be saved.
My heart is to share the salvation message with the community of women in Rexburg and surrounding area, as well as build close relationships with the ladies of Calvary Chapel Rexburg.
In the winter of 2000 Mark and I were involved in an automobile crash with a semi truck which changed their lives. Suffering multiple injuries (some permanent) and enduring long recoveries, both Mark and I have learned what it is to truly rely on God for everything. Christ is strongest when we are weakest and we can attest to His sustaining love and provision even in the darkest days.
Since the spring of 2011 Mark and I have had to really walk out our faith and trust God with our son Ryan when he was diagnosed with a very serious and deadly form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. This illness had required a bone marrow transplant and multiple chemotherapy treatments and lengthy hospital stays. And finally resulting in his death on July 23, 2012. Learning how to respond to and walk through this storm and be an example to others has been a real time of growth and a time of pressing in and trusting God to be our strength. I have come or am coming to realize that we can all learn compassion and truly believe God for everything. I am sad to admit compassion is not my strength. But I pray for God to continue to reveal to me those places I need to give over to Him so that He can refine me.
I adore my husband and cannot believe how blessed I am to be my pastor’s wife. I love my sons, their wives and our daughter by choice. And of course the little grands are so precious to me. I have two grandsons and three granddaughters and they delight me in ways I am constantly amazed at.
My hobbies included; Hiking and camping, gardening (flowers only), and I absolutely love to create paper crafts, using the cards I create to bless others.
I love to drink coffee; iced or hot but never, ever lukewarm. I completely understand God when he says he will vomit the lukewarm believers out of His mouth in Revelation 3:16.
I also want other ladies to realize I am a real person with real problems and struggles such as; weight, vanity, self-image, the occasional blow up and just so you won’t be shocked when we meet, I do have a few tattoos that I am really quite happy with.
I love the God’s Word but am not a Bible scholar and while I will try to answer a question if you come to me with it; I recommend you go to the pastor. I have failed people and I suspect I will continue to fail people and I while that is never my goal I am human.
I firmly believe the best way to grow in my relationship with Jesus is to be reading the Bible everyday. I have spoken at several ladies retreats sharing my story of healing and love to share what Jesus has done and continues to do everyday in my life. I consider myself incredibly blessed to have many ladies who love Jesus come along side of me to serve this community. If you would like to contact me please feel free to email me at paulsenmb@msn.com