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Sheryl Giesbrecht Turner

Chief Encouragement Officer, From Ashes to Beauty, Inc.

Sheryl Giesbrecht Turner believes God can help anyone exchange hurt for hope.  As an author, speaker, Bible teacher, non-profit leader and wife of a small business owner, she is confident the best is yet to come for Kern County. In 2013 she was selected as an honoree by GardenPathways’ Woman with a Heart for Bakersfield in recognition for her book release, “Get Back Up: Trusting God When Life Knocks You Down.” Sheryl is highly sought after for her contributions to the areas of addiction recovery, grief, loss, and trauma counseling. She is the founder and president of local non-profit, From Ashes to Beauty, Inc. This ministry reaches out to the underserved, the widow, the orphan, the homeless, and helpless locally through the Bakersfield Rescue Mission, The Blessing Corner, and world-wide through ministry partners.

A dynamic teacher and motivating leader, Giesbrecht Turner is a delivered drug addict, stage four cancer survivor and former widow. Through these and other life altering challenges, she has allowed God move her to a deep faith, trust and dependence. Sheryl served as evening host and public relations director for 88.3 Life FM for ten years and as Focus on the Family's columnist for Pastor's Wives for four years. Hundreds of her columns, magazine and devotional articles have appeared in Focus on The Family Magazine, Just Between Us, Discipleship Journal, Walk Thru the Bible’s: InDeed and Tapestry publications. She is the award winning author of four books, including “It’ll Be Okay: Finding God When Doubt Hides the Truth.” Sheryl is a Lead Like Jesus Facilitator and part-time staff member with Freedom In Christ Ministries, is involved with equipping hundreds and facilitating the training of thousands of leaders locally and internationally.           

Her KLA "why": Kern Leadership Alliance gives unlimited opportunities and resources for believers to connect with local leaders. Kern Leadership Alliance offers avenues to pray together, connect with each other and serve our community. I am very excited about this season with KLA as we work together -- we truly are #bettertogether.

Favorite thing about Kern County: I love the community of believers in Kern County! I was a newlywed when Pastor Paul Giesbrecht and I moved to Bakersfield. To this Orange County transplant, this place seemed like an dry, empty desert wasteland, it took about five years before I really understood why God had moved us here. I hadn't yet connected how God would use my gifts for serving Him in my own family, our church, or what ministry would look like. I love how believers in Christ work together to support each other and serve our community. I discovered the truth of Isaiah 58:11 "The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

Passion for Kern Leadership Alliance: I love all of it! I've served on the KLA board for years, in differing capacities, where ever is needed. For the past few years, as Prayer Guide Coordinator. The best thing about KLA is we work together to fulfill Isaiah 58:10 "If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become light like the noonday." and verse 12 "Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations, you will be called the Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with dwellings."