Latest / Walk Talk: Faith in Motion / Pastor Jonique Will

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Pastor Jonique Will · Walk Talk: Faith in Motion

• Pastor Jonique Will: I guess it's been probably an hour that she's been screaming. At the top of her lungs. And I just lay my hand on her head and I just start praying. And I'm like, God, heal my baby, heal her, dear God, heal my child right now in Jesus' name. And instantly, silence. I thought she died in my arms. So I thought I'm holding my dead baby. And I freeze. And I just freeze. I don't know. It felt like it was t 20 days, you know, but it felt like an eternity. Randy: All right, so continuing down the trend of interviewing people who are business owners and believers, we have a very special guest with us today on the Walk Talk podcast. Today we have Pastor Jonique Will, and she is going to tell us a little bit about her testimony and a little bit about how God has moved in her life, specifically in her daughter's life, and how God has healed her daughter. And we're going to learn a whole lot more about her business and the work that she's done over the years. and get to know her more as a person. So with that, let's get into it. Jonique, thank you so much for joining me today on the Walk Talk. Pastor Jonique Will: Thank you for having me. Randy: Absolutely, absolutely. I I just me and my brother, we just love bringing in other people to continue the conversation. And he PJ can't be with us here today, but I'm glad that you're you were available available to join me for a conversation. So thanks again for being on. And I'm looking forward Pastor Jonique Will: Sure. Randy: to hearing more about your story and getting to know you a little bit more today. Pastor Jonique Will: Sure, absolutely. Randy: So with that, why don't we just start off with give us a little bit of an introduction of yourself, a little bit of your background, just let anyone out there who's listening just know get to know who you are. Pastor Jonique Will: Okay, well I'm originally from Columbia, Missouri. went to Missoula and I met my husband there. We now live south of Saint Louis and I spent the last forty five years as a builder developer and own several companies, invest in real estate. For the last twenty years, I've been the co senior pastor of Green Park Church. I have a passion for leadership. I have a master's degree in leadership. And through one of my companies, Ithia Leadership Institute, I'm a professional speaker and a trainer on John C. Maxwell's leadership team. And I do business sales and church consulting, helping business leaders become more effective and helping churches that are new or growing organize that process and develop the leaders within to help build a kingdom. Randy: Awesome. You got a lot going on. It sounds like you are just crazy busy. Pastor Jonique Will: Yes. Yes. At the at this time in my life when I'm supposed to be relaxing, right? Randy: And just in case anyone who is listening has forgotten, I'm also a John Maxwell team member. That's how Jonique and I met. and so we have that in common. So, and that's that's part of the reason why we are sitting here to together today, is because we have that commonality between us. So thanks for joining. Now, I Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah. Randy: know that as people are listening, they're gonna hear that you're a co-lead pastor, senior pastor. Pastor Jonique Will: Yes. Mm. Yes. Randy: Of a church, and there's gonna be people out there. And look, let me just say this: me and PJ are always, I would say, stirring things up in the Christian world because I'm sure we share a lot of opinions all the time that people find controversial or they just flat out don't agree with. And I think you know, the topic of female pastors is gonna be one of them. So I would just ask Pastor Jonique Will: Sure. Randy: you, what would you say to anyone out there who would say something like? women shouldn't be senior pastors and maybe start quoting Bible verses at you and things like that. I'm sure you've heard it a lot. wha what Pastor Jonique Will: Sure. Yes. Randy: would you say to that in your calling to be a pastor? Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah. Well, first of all, I'm certain of God's calling on my life. I I know when He speaks to me and I'm certain of that. And, you know, I I don't have the intention of being defiant. I completely believe the Bible is one hundred percent inerrant. So it's not that I take Bible verses and I decide that they're not worthy or not worth it or that they are mistakes or what have you. I do think that sometimes they've been misinterpreted over the years and sometimes not in obviously not intentionally. I think that sometimes they just grow up learning this is what this means and therefore this is what this means and they haven't necessarily really looked into it. They haven't done word studies. They haven't looked at the Greek words, the Hebrew words and and really found out what it means. Which of course I did because I wanted to know, did God really call me? Because you know, it's kind of confusing to me. And so, you know, the Bible is living and in order to properly interpret it, we can't make the error of putting definitions on words that are modern day definitions and assuming that that's the proper interpretation of of the Bible. So, you know, for instance, nowadays the kids say, that's I can't think of anything that could say, you know, that's fat or something like that, and that's a good thing. Well it wasn't Randy: Right. Pastor Jonique Will: always a good thing, you know. So so words words are living, words change, and in order to properly understand them, you have to know what it meant to them. At the time that it was written, you have to understand what it meant to them in order for us to properly interpret what it means today. Randy: Yeah. Yeah. I and that's something that we talk about a lot on this podcast because I think there's a lot of in my opinion, there's a lot of incorrect teachings out there because of just that misunderstanding. The context, the culture, the language barriers, things like that. So I I'm I'm glad that you're bringing that up and pointing that out because before we could start to really, you know get into any deep theological conversation on the do's and don'ts of this or that, then it's good that we start with understanding things like that. So I'm glad that you brought that up. And I'm sure that's something you've thought a lot about and have heard a lot about throughout your your career. Pastor Jonique Will: yes. Of course. Sure, of course. Randy: Yeah. All right. So tell me a little bit more about your upbringing and your background. Were you raised in a Christian home? Did you, have a troubled childhood? What was your life growing up in Columbia, Missouri? And tell me about the point where you first really, all the way up to where you first really gave your heart to Jesus Christ and and came to know him as your Pastor Jonique Will: Mm. Randy: Lord and Savior. Pastor Jonique Will: Okay. So I was brought up in a home that took me to church every Sunday. But I will say that as soon as the church doors closed, that's where God stayed. my my Parents had good intentions. I had a wonderful childhood, wonderful parents, wonderful siblings. I I I really did have a wonderful upbringing, but God was not the center of our home at all. God was not spoken of at all. Aft outside of the church building, I didn't hear anything about God. So when so I would when I was fifteen, I I went to a church separate from my parents because I I kind of had this yearning in my belly to learn more about God. that's when I answered the altar call and gave my life to Christ. Now I will say that I didn't fully understand what it meant to have a relationship with Christ. The church at the time didn't really teach it. nobody mentored me and nobody guided me. And so I didn't really, really understand and have a passion for the Lord at fifteen. So I, you know, lived my life feeling that I was saved and and really didn't want that much to do with church. And what's interesting, so I I was brought up in a Baptist church. And you know, it's Baptist church is very different from a Pentecostal church. So Randy: Absolutely. Pastor Jonique Will: but one day I walked into and I just felt God calling me to this particular church. And I think it was to open my eyes. and I walked in and I stood next to A lady, it was a very exciting Pentecostal. It's I they they said that they were non-den, but they had a Pentecostal kind of background and vibe to it. And I remember this standing next to this lady and she had her hands in the air, she was worshiping the Lord. I just I don't know how to explain it. When I looked at her, I just knew that there was this connection with the Lord and I just looked at her and I thought Well, I want that. You know? And so I I I just said, God, if there's more, if there's if there is this relationship thing, show me it. Give me a passion for you. Yeah, show me what it's supposed to look like. And boy, if he didn't do that. I'm telling you what, he gave me a passion for him, a passion for the word. I couldn't get enough of it. I wanted to know what the word said. I wanted to study. I wanted to be a Part of the church. I just wanted it to just engulf my life. And I mean, how many years ago was that? 30 some odd years ago. So it just changed my life. Just seeing Randy: Yeah. Pastor Jonique Will: the relationship that she had just completely changed my life. Randy: Wow. Pastor Jonique Will: And I'm not saying that that please don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying that. no Baptist churches have that. It's it's not that. Randy: Right. Pastor Jonique Will: It was just, the situation and my family and all of that. so Randy: Sure, sure. Pastor Jonique Will: I I don't wanna diss any denominations because I think in each denomination you have people who have a passion for the Lord and people who don't. So but Randy: Right, right. Pastor Jonique Will: that one that one just changed my life. Randy: Gotcha, gotcha. Well, you and I have that in common. We were both saved in Pentecostal churches around the same age, actually. I gave my heart to the Lord around 15, 16 years old, in a youth group meeting at a Pentecostal church in the basement myself. So Pastor Jonique Will: Wow. Randy: unlike you, I I I started off as a Catholic, did go to Baptist churches for a while, wasn't really raised in any particular denomination, even went to Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Halls when I was really young. but like you eventually found myself in a Pentecostal church and yeah, that's where, you know, I really felt the spirit calling me for the first time and I gave my Pastor Jonique Will: Incredible. Randy: heart to the Lord. So so so thank you. Yeah, tell me a funny story. Pastor Jonique Will: You wanna know a funny story, Randy? The church that I grew up in, I never saw anybody writing their Bibles. You know, matter of fact, the Bible that I was given when I was baptized, like I put it up on a shelf and then because it's like the Holy Bible, that's where it's supposed to stay. But the first time I saw somebody in this Pentecostal church writing in their Bibles, I thought, they are going straight to hell. Randy: Hey, you know what? That's that is funny because I never Pastor Jonique Will: Huh. Randy: really thought much about that before, but I could tell you, yeah, that seems to be like a badge of honor in Pentecostal churches, is the more writing you got in your Bibles, Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah. Yeah. Randy: the holier you are. That's funny that you thought that. Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah. Yeah, but honestly it does mean that you're in it, It means you're in it and you're studying it and you care about the words in it, as opposed to my shelf sitting Bible that wasn't opened, you know. So yeah, I have a lot Randy: Right, right. Pastor Jonique Will: of respect for that, for people who really, really want to study and and get in the words and the words have meanings to them. So yeah. Randy: Right. So so you got saved at fifteen, you prayed that God would give you this passion that you saw in this church, and it sounds like he did give it to you. how how how soon after that did you feel called to become a pastor? Pastor Jonique Will: goodness. so you know, so th there are two different churches we're talking about. So at fifteen I'd answered the altar call and I I didn't become on fire for the Lord and in the Pentecostal church until I was probably thirty, I think. And it was a couple of years after that. So I got very involved very quickly, became leader of the of a marriage ministry, and I was very, very involved. And And it's it's it's I would hate to tell my husband's story because i it's his story, but it's interesting throughout our lives. I've been married for forty three years, so throughout our lives God has spoken to me differently than he speaks to my husband. But it's interesting because when we come together we find out that he has told us the same thing. And then so it confirms to us, yep, God spoke to us. So when he called me to ministry, my first thought was, my gosh, how am I gonna do that? My husband is never gonna go for that. You know, he's just it's just not where he is, you know. And and then and then God and then God called him. And it's a cool story, but But I I'll let him tell it someday. But it's a r it's a really cool story how God called him. But when he got in the car and told me about God calling him, I I laughed. And i I didn't laugh because I think, you know, y Can't be a pastor. I laughed because God Randy: Yeah. You're not a pastor? Ha ha ha. Pastor Jonique Will: yeah, I laughed because look how look what God did because I told him there's no way my husband's gonna go for this. And then Randy: Wow. Pastor Jonique Will: because we're one. We we've always felt we're one, like we're one in business. We always work in business, and we feel like when we do ministry, we're one in ministry. And and so when we work in ministry, we're one in ministry. And so I that I thought there's just no way I can do this without him being with me. And then look what God God did, God God had it planned all along and I just wasn't up to speed yet, Randy: So it sounds like you guys were called separately but but together at the same time. I Well, I Pastor Jonique Will: Absolutely. And that has been the story of our life for forty three years. Yeah. Randy: feel like we messed up then. I feel like he should be sitting there next to you then telling his half of every question I ask. Pastor Jonique Will: Well, you know it yeah, he's he's it's yeah, it's a great story. I tell it better, but you know, he's gonna he has a great story. Yeah. Randy: Well, I definitely want to keep going down the testimonial path. I know you have you have probably tons of great stories. We could probably sit here for hours, but Pastor Jonique Will: gosh. Randy: but thank you for sharing your background and how you came to know Jesus and a little bit about how you were called to be a pastor. but I know that you have something else on your heart that you want to share with everyone today. And I think that, you know, that's where we're gonna probably add the most value. And it's all about your your daughter. Am I correct? Pastor Jonique Will: Yes. gosh. Okay. well just a little bit of background is that we we lost five babies, went through twelve years of of trying and so we went the route of adoption. We adopted bab babies from birth and we had adopted my son and that was absolutely the most That that I could talk an hour on that about how incredible that was. I just feel like I breathed for the first time when I became a mother. It th there's nothing like it. But we were told by the agency to expect if we wanted a second child to expect a baby in four years. So we were we were waiting well, four to six years, I think it was, yeah. And so we were fully prepared to wait four to six years for our second child. And that's because there there aren't as many babies for adoption as one would think. There's this rumor that there's millions and millions and there are not. But God just blessed us each step of the way and they're wonderful, incredible stories as to how we were able to get my son, but and a very sad story about our third child. But anyway, so we were two years in. My son was my s we were two years in. no, I'm sorry. Let me back up. We were expecting my daughter at six, six years, and we were four years in. So there were two years we were supposed to wait, two more years we were supposed to wait. And in November, God spoke to me in a dream. And now there are dreams when I know that they're God speaking to me. I know they are. And my husband has learned through the years because we've seen them come true, or you know, it's been it's been confirmed through this or that, that when I tell him it's a god dream, he knows it's a god dream. So in November I told him, God spoke to me last night, and we will be getting a child February 3rd, and it will be a girl. And I was certain about it. Randy: Very specific. Pastor Jonique Will: Yes, very specific. And I was certain about it. And even though we weren't even supposed to get the call for two more years. So it was out of what it was supposed to be. But I said, nope, this was a God dream. And my husband knows. And he's like, Yep, it's I I believe you. We'll have we'll have a girl in February. Okay. February 3rd came and went. And I didn't have my baby. And I thought, how did I misinterpret this? How how did I was so sure that this was a God thing. I was so sure. So I had a meeting with my caseworker and she said, How's everything going? I said, Well, to be honest with you, I'm devastated right now because I knew that I knew that I knew that God spoke to me that February 3rd we were getting a baby girl and obviously it came and went and we have no baby. And my caseworker, I kid you not, she's holding her pen and she's listening to me and she drops the pen and she goes, Excuse me, I'll be right back. And she runs out of the room. I'm thinking, where is she going? And she comes back and she says, Okay, Jonique, when you all decided to adopt, you decided to go the conservative route. So in the state of Missouri, you have to wait four weeks to sever the birth parents' rights. And we had the option in the beginning. Do you want the baby the minute it's born, but you have four weeks that they could take the baby away because the birth mother could change her mind? Randy: Sure. Pastor Jonique Will: Or do you want to wait until the birth mother's rights are severed and then you get the baby? And I said, Don't even tell me the baby is born until the rights are severed, because I've lost too many. I cannot take another loss. I can't. Randy: Sure, sure. Pastor Jonique Will: I can't hold my baby and then have somebody take the baby back. Cause once that baby's in my arms, that's that's my baby. I I it's there's just there's no way. So she said you chose to go the conservative route, but since you said this, I have to tell you and I had to get permission. But your daughter was born February third. Randy: wow. It's crazy. Pastor Jonique Will: And we they couldn't tell me. They couldn't tell me because that was our agreement. So for the next month, I looked in the I just as I drove, I'm because they're still they gotta be in foster care for that month. Every time I see a house, is my baby in there? Is my daughter in there? Is you know it's a torture for a month. Randy: Mm. Pastor Jonique Will: But anyway, so we got her and she's wonderful and and God is just a she's got a special calling on her life. So that's the wonderful story of her adoption. Randy: So so you had about two years more to wait, but you didn't have to wait that time, even though you were expecting to wait, and you just happened to just get get the the date given to you in a dream and it turned out to be her birthday. That's just unbelievable. Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah. Yeah. Like I said, is it I know the difference between God dreams and regular dreams. And I I can't tell you how. I don't know how. I just when I wake up and I know that he has spoken to me, I just know that he has. So isn't he doesn't always speak to me in dreams, but but a good a good many times he absolutely has. Randy: And what's your daughter's name? Michaela. It's a pretty name. Awesome. Pastor Jonique Will: Michaela. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Randy: So tell us more about Michaela. So that that's the first thing you wanted to share was how she came into your life. but it sounds Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah. Randy: like you got a lot more to there's a few more stories in regards to Michaela. Tell us about what happened when she was, was it three years old? Pastor Jonique Will: Yes. Yeah. Three. Yeah. She was three. So she was three and she was upstairs and in bed and she just starts screaming, this blood curdling scream. And as a parent, you know the difference between, I fell down or I fell out of the bed or or I had a bad dream scream and something is terribly wrong scream. My husband and I bolted upstairs to her room to find out what was wrong. And she was all squinched up like this. Her little knees were up here and she was just like, you know, I I can't do it on this podcast, but you know, this blood curdling, I'm shaking Randy: Yeah. Pastor Jonique Will: like this. So I immediately called the emergency number for our pediatrician and she told asked us to do a lot of things. She liked to try to straighten her legs out, push here, push there, do this, do that. And she said, Okay, this is what I think it is. And I don't remember the medical term, but it's basically it's kind of like torsion that you get in dogs, but it's when your intestines twist and it can be fatal. So Randy: Sure. Pastor Jonique Will: she says, I want you to to get her to children's hospital. I don't want you to call the ambulance, get her there now. I will call Randy: Wow. Pastor Jonique Will: ahead, I will tell them they will prepare for surgery the minute you get there. And I'm telling you, I drove so fast, if there was a red light, I could not tell you if I I not can tell you I didn't stop. So I don't know what I drove through or maybe God just gave us green lights. I don't know. And when I got to children's, I just remember I didn't park the car. I literally pulled it to the front door. I threw her, you know, grabbed her and ran inside and they're like, Are you Jonique? I am Jonique. Okay, come this way. So they take me back to the room and all the doctors and nurses are coming, poking, prodding on her, doing all these tests and everything. They're like, Yes, this is what the problem is. We're gonna get her, we're gonna get get you get you in surgery as soon as possible. And for the first time, like everybody had left the room, and I was sitting there with her and now I guess it's been probably an hour that she's been screaming. At the top of her lungs. And I just lay my hand on her head and I just start praying. And I'm like, God, heal my baby, heal her, dear God, heal my child right now in Jesus' name. And instantly, silence. Now, when your baby has been screaming for an hour, they go like this. they do that for a while while they're calming down, right? There was none of that. It was complete silence, so much so I thought she died in my arms. So I thought I'm holding my dead baby. And I freeze. And I just freeze. I don't know. It felt like it was 20 days, you know, but I know it was probably 30 seconds, but it felt like an eternity. And I looked down eventually, and here her little chest was just a going, just peacefully, up and down. She was sound asleep. She wasn't whimpering, she wasn't none of that, just complete and total peace. Well, the nurses come in and they're like, What's going on? And I tell them what I did, which of course, most of them don't believe me. They start running all these tests on her again, and they're like, Well, we have no explanation for this. y but she she's fine, and but we want you to stay for another half an hour just to be sure. And anyway. So eventually they let me go go home and I put her in the car seat and I start driving home, and in the back seat My baby starts belly laughing. Now, when a baby belly laughs, there's a difference between a giggle and a belly laugh. She's laughing so hard, it's just coming from the depths of her belly. And I'm thinking, what on earth could possibly be funny? So I said, Mikaela, what's so funny? And she goes, Jesus is so funny. And she's just laughing all the way home. And you know, I thought to myself, Randy. I have taught my daughter that Jesus is kind and Jesus is gentle and loving and forgiving. Never once in my life have I said Jesus is funny. That's just not something we teach in Sunday school, you know. Randy: Well w well, why would you? we don't see we hear about Jesus, crying in the Bible, but we don't hear about him laughing. That's not something that we ever read. So why would you? Pastor Jonique Will: Exactly. I know. But think about it. He he loved children. And if y what Randy: Yeah. Pastor Jonique Will: do we do when we want to make children laugh? We go boo boo boo boo we we make fools of ourselves, Randy: Sure, sure. Pastor Jonique Will: Why wouldn't he? Why wouldn't So I I walk in the door and you know, this was back before we had, you know, cell phones in everybody's hands, and my husband was completely dumbfounded but then I walked through the door. He didn't even understand how that could be possible. And I'm just like, I will tell you in a minute. So I took her up, I put her to bed, and I came down, I told my husband the story, and we're just praising the Lord and and then a time comes I said, Well, I want to go upstairs and make sure she's fallen asleep. So I go upstairs and I look at her and she's laying in her bed with her little head sideways and her eyes are big as saucers and they're as open as open can be. She's just like this. And I said, Honey, you need to close your eyes and go nine night. you've had a big night. And she goes, Mommy, she's like looking around me. If I do close my eyes, I won't be able to see Jesus. Let me tell you what. I flipped Randy: Wow. Pastor Jonique Will: around so fast. I was like, okay. Randy: wait a minute, see behind me? Pastor Jonique Will: I don't see you, but I just want to say thank you. Thank you for healing my baby. And thank Randy: Right. Pastor Jonique Will: you for letting her see you. I knew that he was there. I knew she was really seeing him. And Randy: That's awesome. Pastor Jonique Will: I it killed me that I couldn't see him. But so the next morning, I'm thinking, what's she gonna say today? So the next morning at the Breakfast table. I said, Do you remember anything from last night? And she just said, Yes, mommy, I hurt it so badly, but Jesus was so funny. And then she said, and then he was with me in my room and then he took my hand and then he flew away. And I just I Randy: Unbelievable. Pastor Jonique Will: just said, Praise God. I I really believe my baby. I really believe she saw the Lord. And Randy: Sure. Pastor Jonique Will: so she doesn't remember that today though. She's twenty Randy: Really? Pastor Jonique Will: six. Now she doesn't remember it. It breaks both of our hearts because she's heard this story for twenty three years. But I mean we remember it like it was yesterday. So Randy: Well, she's only three years old, Right, right. Well, so so that's an amazing story. Thank you for sharing it. so did I'm assuming they did some sort of test while she was in the hospital and you know, to see if they felt sure. Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah, the doctors and nurses did everything and they were just they have no answer. They they had no answer. Randy: So they they couldn't find what was causing the pain or anything? Pastor Jonique Will: Well no, at the time they said it was whatever the our doctor had said it was. And they're like, Yeah, it's Randy: Right. Pastor Jonique Will: definitely that. We're gonna get you in surgery And then they're Randy: Sure. Pastor Jonique Will: like, I don't know why that it's corrected itself. they didn't understand it. They don't they just they get dumbfounded and then they just go, well, I d Randy: Yeah. Pastor Jonique Will: I they never seem to they never seem to they have a hard time admitting in miracles. They really do have a hard time with that, which which brings me to my third story because the doctor didn't believe that either, but Randy: So yeah, so so so tell us about the third story then. Cause this one, it sounds like at least with the second story, it sounds like we don't really know what was going on. She was having lots of pain. You had a doctor who was, you know, thought she knew what was happening, but then, you know, it was pretty much healed before they could figure it out. But it sounds like with your next story, you have a lot more evidence that you there's really a problem. Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah, so okay. So my daughter it it happened so fast. she had had small symptoms that when I took her to the emergency room, he said, it's just anxiety and and so we didn't know what was going on with her. Well then her symptoms increased to where she was having trouble seeing. So she got an MRI. And was immediately sent to the emergency room and the doctors we like literally found out in one day we found out that my daughter has a brain tumor the size of an orange. Randy: wow. Pastor Jonique Will: And he says, because it's pushing on her ocular nerve, you have to get her in surgery, emergency surgery right away. So we had no time to process that my daughter had brain cancer. Randy: Yeah. And how old was she? This is still Michaela, right? Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah, Michaela, she's twenty three when this happened Randy: No. Pastor Jonique Will: at twenty three. Randy: So this happened at twenty three that she had a a brain tumor, essentially. Wow. Pastor Jonique Will: Brain cancer. Yes. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. So he told us that at the time he told us it was glioblastoma, which honestly I didn't know much about. it happened so fast I didn't have time to I'm a researcher, man. I research everything and I didn't have time to do any of that. So she she goes into surgery and when the doctor comes out from surgery, he says to us, Okay. It's like a paintball that gets hit on a wall. There's a mass, and then there are a bunch of little pieces that splatter. So there's cancer all over, and there's a mass of cancer. And he said, We were only able to get 90% of it out, which was a quarter of her brain. and the other 10% Randy: Yikes. Pastor Jonique Will: was in too difficult of a spot of spots to get. I said, okay. So we're sitting in the ICU. I don't remember my husband must have gotten went to get coffee or whatever for me, I don't know. But I was sitting in a room by myself. It was the first time I just first time I had to sit really alone with my thoughts because it was such a whirlwind. Everything just, you know, bam, bam, bam, bam. and I I really only had time to call a couple of friends and they came and sat with me during the surgery and one of one of my girlfriends gave me a notebook, which I thought was a strange gift, but it was very her, and she's a sweetheart, and she said, in case you want to write anything down about this experience, and I thought, Lordy, I I don't want to write this down, but okay. Well, so I'm sitting in her ICU room and it's, you know, this the gosh, the machines are going and It's just it's it's a it's just an eerie feeling, sound. And I decide, Lord, don't ever do this. But I decided, wow, I I need to look up the statistics for this I know. Yeah, you made that face. Yeah, because everybody tells you don't do it. I I Randy: Well y yeah, no. Pastor Jonique Will: hadn't I hadn't had a chance and I looked it up And I read that only a third of people who are diagnosed with this, only a third of the people live for five years. The rest Randy: wow. Pastor Jonique Will: of them, they don't you know, they gosh. When I read that, I felt like somebody just s punched me in the gut. I wanted to throw up. I wanted to scream. I I just had no idea that it was that fatal. I I really didn't. And Randy: Wow. Pastor Jonique Will: I had never encountered it. We nobody ever had brain cancer in my family. I'd never even heard of it until the day before. And I knew that I couldn't scream in her in her hospital room. So I ran to the only place where I knew I could feel safe. I ran to the hospital chapel. Randy: Mm-hmm. Pastor Jonique Will: And I threw myself on the floor, I threw my head into the seat, and I'm just wailing. And I'm begging God, save my baby's life, and I'm bargaining, which is not biblical, but I'm telling you, I mean, God know where it says bargain your life, you know. But let me tell you, when you are a mama who just finds out your daughter is most likely gonna die within a couple of years, you do just whatever comes to your mind. You know, I'm just screaming and begging. I'm just God, take me, kill me now. do whatever you can. Give me cancer, anything. Just save my baby. I'm screaming this. And I I said, God, I trust you. And if you say you're gonna heal her, send me a messenger so I know, God, just I need to know you're gonna save my baby. I need to I need to know this, God, send a messenger. And no sooner those words came out of my mouth, I looked up. And there was a man standing by my chair. And he had the kindest, gentlest face. And I just threw my arms around him. I balled my head off. I told him the story. And he just kept he he was an older gentleman. He just kept saying, My daughter, my daughter, God loves you. God loves you. And I'm telling him the story. And he says to me. At 4 30 this morning, God jolted me from my sleep to pray for the person I am to meet that day. And I Randy: Wow. Pastor Jonique Will: got up at 4 30 and I prayed. And he said, The moment I heard you, I knew you were the one that God woke me up for. And I have a message for you that you will see a miracle. Randy: Wow. That's crazy. Pastor Jonique Will: I I I bawled more. I I I we prayed we prayed the most powerful prayers. I mean, my goodness, they could have heard it all over the whole hospital, I think, because the two of us were just going nuts. And when I left him, I started walking back to my daughter's hospital room. And as loud as you can imagine in my ears, it felt as if there were speakers in the hallways of the hospital. I don't know if your church sings this, but I this song, I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. Have you heard that song? Randy: Yep. Yep. Pastor Jonique Will: That song was so loud all the way to her hospital. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered over and over again. I sought the Lord and he heard, and I'm like, what is going on with this song? you know. and I get to her ho her hospital room. Randy: So wait, so that song was r actually playing or just in your head? In your head. Okay, that's what I thought you were saying, yeah, okay. Pastor Jonique Will: No, I it was in my head. I'm sure it wasn't playing in the hospital. Yeah. But I'm like, why? Why is this so loud, you know? Randy: Yeah, yeah. Pastor Jonique Will: And so I get to her hospital room and my girlfriend, who has no idea even what's this other girlfriend, doesn't have any idea I'm in the hospital, doesn't know my daughter has cancer, doesn't know what's going on, texts me and says, I don't know what's going on with you, but God laid it on my heart to tell you to look up Psalm 344. And I did. You know what it says? I sought the Lord and he answered me. Randy: I could guess, but I I was just gonna say that I yeah I I'm sure I could guess that's what it is, but you got it. Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah. So when I read that, I said, okay, I know. I know that I know that I know. There is no doubt that you're gonna heal her. Now, I didn't know how he was gonna heal her. I didn't know if he was gonna heal her instantaneously. I didn't know if he was gonna heal her through chemo, radiation. I didn't know how. I didn't know when, but I knew he was gonna heal my baby. I knew from that moment he was gonna heal her. Okay, so the next morning she has had a posto-operative MRI. And the surgeon comes in to talk to us. And he says to us, as I told you right after surgery when I came out, that I could see that we couldn't get 10%. We got 90%, that's considered good. And I said, can you show me the MRI? Because I'd like to see where the 10% is that you can't get. I'd like to see what it looks like in there. And he goes, sure. So he turns around, he goes to the computer, he starts clicking the mouse. Hmm. Well, okay, I don't see it right now. Randy: It's not there. Pastor Jonique Will: so I mean he's just like dumbfounded. And so Randy: Yeah. Pastor Jonique Will: I go, so it's a hundred percent gone. And he says, Well, that's just impossible. I probably I I must have gotten 99% of it. I say, Can you show me the 1% then? And he's like, Okay, let me look. And he keeps looking. He's not finding the 1% either, So he says, okay, I do not see it. And I said, let me tell you what, it's a hundred percent gone. He goes, That's not possible. And I thought, you don't know my God. Randy, I knew instantaneously that 10% that he said he walked away and seeing immediately after he walked out of surgery, he told me he's that that he saw that 10% and it's now gone. Randy: Hm. Wow. Pastor Jonique Will: And I said, it's gone. It's gone. She's healed. I knew that she was healed. And of course he thinks it's impossible. that can't be, blah, blah, blah, blah. And so now the wonderful end of that story is that that was three years ago and no sign of cancer. Randy: wow. So three years since this surgery and there's not been any more traces of that ten percent. That that ten percent has not showed Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah. Nope no signs of no signs of cancer. Yeah. God is good. Randy: up. Pastor Jonique Will: Nope. Nope. Not and and you know, of course, when when we talk to the oncologists afterwards, they're like, Well, you know that's not possible. And I'm like, I don't know. I know it is possible. I know you don't think it's possible, but I know it's possible. So, you know, back then I asked them, I said, How many months of brain cancer, like clear MRIs? you have to have before you declare her an NED or whatever the term is? And they said, Well, four months, you know. And I said, Okay, well, let me tell you, five months, maybe you'll be a believer. So, yeah. So I don't Randy: Wow. Pastor Jonique Will: know what God has planned for my daughter. but but it must be something good. It must be something for it, must be something for his kingdom. And Randy: Yeah. Well well that's a well that's a great story. And we do serve a god of miracles, and it sounds like, Pastor Jonique Will: Yes. Randy: you know, that is a pretty clear miracle that you just described. So thank you for for sharing that story with this unique. And so it's been three years and totally cancer free. That's that's just awesome. So Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah. There's not not even a speck. Yeah. Yeah. We're believing in God that that's gonna w stay that way. Randy: Sure, sure. And and that's awesome. And and let me just ask you this though. so you know, super, super grateful that your daughter is cancer free three years later and that God performed this miracle. but I know there's a lot of people out there who are praying for miracles and have been in similar situations that didn't get the miracle. and and they might be listening and saying, Well, you know, that's great, but what about me? Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah. Randy: what what are your thoughts about that? Cause I I feel like, that's a big question mark out there for some people and it's something that challenges our faith from time to time. I mean, I'll I'll be honest with you. I have a really good friend who's a pastor whose wife died of cancer, you know, when he was really young, and he was, you know, supremely confident that she was gonna be healed, and Pastor Jonique Will: Uh-huh. Randy: ultimately she was just not in the way that he was expecting. The way she was healed Pastor Jonique Will: Right. Randy: was she was, you know, taken to be with Jesus. So I what would you what would you say to people who say, Well, why you or or it not me or, you know, Pastor Jonique Will: Mm-hmm. Randy: how how does this make sense for you and and why didn't it work out like that for me? What what are your thoughts about that? Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah. Yeah, so I understand that a hundred percent because I've been walking with the Lord for a long time and there have been many times when I have prayed, you know. I mean, I told you we lost five babies, and so I, you know, I would see pregnant women all the time. And why? Why, God, Randy: Sure. Pastor Jonique Will: are you answering their prayers? Why are you answering their fertility prayers and then you're not answering mine? So, sure, it does test your faith, but you know, when it comes down to it, you've just got to believe in his sovereignty. You've got to understand his. Ways are not our ways, and he knows things we don't know. And so, Randy: Right. Pastor Jonique Will: you know, when when I look back on some of the prayers that I've prayed, I have seen why they weren't answered. And so I have to give him the benefit of the doubt of the ones that I haven't seen. That I may someday understand fully when when I'm with him, right? So let me give you an example. So my godson, this is an example of when you see the reason for not answering the prayers. So my godson had a horrible virus, and he loved the Lord, his family loved the Lord, all of us, his whole church was praying for him. We were everybody was praying that he would be healed from this virus. And he wasn't healed, and we're all going, why God? This is a kid who loves the Lord, his family loves the Lord, they serve you all the time. Why? Are you not answering us? And we couldn't see the answer. Well, because he wasn't healed from this virus, the doctors kept looking, and they wouldn't have looked if he'd have been healed from the virus. They kept looking and kept looking and found that his heart was literally on the verge of I don't know the word, not collapsing, but on the verge of giving out. He needed Randy: Sure. Pastor Jonique Will: an immediate heart transplant, Randy: Right. Pastor Jonique Will: and because they found out. He was able to get the transplant and he lived. And he lived for many more years. So if if God had answered us my godson would have died immediately. So I now I'm I'm in in life and I see why he didn't answer that prayer. So when I don't see why he didn't answer that prayer, I can give him the benefit of the doubt and say, Okay, I understand. Now, you know, who knows we you know th there could be a multitude of reasons why he doesn't answer prayers. Randy: Right. Pastor Jonique Will: I couldn't begin to say that I would know his way of thinking. But I know him well enough to know that when he says That his plans are for n for us to prosper, his plans are for us to have a good life and have life abundant. I have to trust in that because he has earned my trust over the years. Even through horrible things. And my goodness, the last last few years, I, I've we I've lost both my mom and dad, then both sets of mom and dad lost our brother, and then just last two weeks lost our sister. So we've had plenty of losses and plenty of prayers that that we don't Randy: Yeah. Pastor Jonique Will: know the answer to, but he Has earned in in my life, he's earned the right to have the benefit of the doubt that he knows what he's doing, good or bad. Randy: I like how you said that because, you know, I agree with you. I think he has earned it and we should give him the benefit of the doubt. And ultimately, you know, to sum it up, what it comes down to, Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah. Randy: in my opinion, is just trust. Do we trust him or do we don't do Pastor Jonique Will: Yes. Randy: we not trust him? Because just as you, you know, were running into the chapel to go and pray for your daughter at whatever time of day that was, earlier in the day, God had already started to answer your prayer. Before you even started asking for it, right? Before you Pastor Jonique Will: Yes. Yes. Randy: even were praying, he had already spoken to this other gentleman who was already praying Pastor Jonique Will: Yes. Randy: for you, had already gone into the the motion had already begun towards Pastor Jonique Will: Yes. Randy: the healing and the miracle. And so that's why we have to trust, right? Because we don't know Pastor Jonique Will: Yes. Randy: there might be something we're praying for a year from now that God starts to work today, that we just don't see it because we're not praying for it yet. Pastor Jonique Will: Yes. For sure. Randy: Or there might be a miracle we need tomorrow that we're suffering through something today. So we don't know what we don't know. We don't know what's around the corner. we have to just trust that God is sovereign, He is in control, He does have a Pastor Jonique Will: Absolutely. Randy: plan, and that He is going to work all things out for the good of those who love Him. Pastor Jonique Will: Yes. Randy: And if we have that trust and we, like you said, give them the benefit of the doubt, then I think that makes it easier. And does that give us all the answers? No. Does that help us to understand the Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah. Randy: mind of God? No. But it does help us to have some peace and some comfort when we Pastor Jonique Will: Yes. Randy: do see that something that we prayed for, wasn't answered the way it was answered for someone else. it it Pastor Jonique Will: Yes. Randy: gives us a little bit of peace and a reassurance that, you know, God is still in control. We just need to trust him, give him that benefit of the doubt, and things will work out according to his plan and ultimately for our benefit. Pastor Jonique Will: Yes. Yeah. Absolutely. For our benefit and in some cases, you know, for his glory, which is still in it for our benefit. Because, you know, Randy: Right. Pastor Jonique Will: when it's for his glory, it's it it helps people to come to know him. And if it helps people come to h know him, then it is for their benefit, because then they have eternal life with him. So Randy: Right, right. Pastor Jonique Will: even when it's for his glory, it's still for the for the individuals who come to know him. Yeah. Randy: Right. That's absolutely right. Well, awesome. Well, it sounds like sounds like your your daughter is definitely she ha she she's definitely has someone watch it out for her. And and Pastor Jonique Will: There's no doubt. Yeah. Randy: yeah, so thank you for sharing those those three stories. That's that's a lot to to take in, Janique. That's a lot. Pastor Jonique Will: You're welcome. Yeah, and I would also add for for those who are praying and don't they haven't seen prayers in the way they wanted it, just remember I I've been there too. I I've had many, many losses. And of course I prayed, prayed prayed for us to not lose the baby and things like that. Of course I prayed for that. But you know what, don't stop coming to the Lord because just because he didn't answer that one the way you wanted it answered, doesn't mean he won't answer this one. Randy: Right. Right. Pastor Jonique Will: so you have you just have to keep coming before him and keep and keep coming to him because he's i you know, I I think of I think of his knowledge like this. So when we have little toddlers The amount of knowledge difference between little toddlers and us is huge, right? Toddlers don't get why we tell them no to things. You know, no Johnny, you Randy: Mm-hmm. Pastor Jonique Will: can't play with your truck in the highway. You'll probably get hit by a truck, right? And little Johnny doesn't understand. It doesn't seem to be a car, and he, you know, he could say, Well, why why are they taking away my fun? I just want to play with my truck, you know. But in our wisdom, in our, you know, 20-year age gap wisdom, we know this is not good for him, this is not safe for him, and we say it because We love him and we want to keep him safe, right? Now, if if that much knowledge difference between a toddler and a grown-up. It that's huge. We we can't explain to them there's so many things in life we can't explain because they don't have the capability. We explain to them why they can't eat a bag of candy. Well, we know a lot about the body and how the body functions. A bag of candy is not good. You may blah blah blah. They don't have the ability to process that. So we don't say all Randy: Right. Pastor Jonique Will: that, we just say because I said so, right? Just think Randy: Right. And Pastor Jonique Will: the difference between a toddler and us is this much. But the difference between our knowledge and God's Randy: Infinite. Yeah. Pastor Jonique Will: so so if we want our little toddlers to just trust us, trust us. Trust Randy: Right. Pastor Jonique Will: me, baby. Playing with your truck in the highway is not trust us, we love you. If we say that and we mean it, all the more for God to say it to us and mean it. Trust Randy: Well and Pastor Jonique Will: me. Randy: yeah, and in in even in your analogy, Jonique, maybe it's not a good idea for Johnny to play play with his toys on the street, but maybe Tommy could play on his with his toys on the street and it seems okay. But maybe in that second situation, there's a block party going on and the street's been closed off or something like that. it's it's a it's you know, it's the it's Halloween and everyone's out on the street, there's no cars on the street and there's all these different things that we don't We're not gonna know around what's around the corner. We don't know just little children don't know. Why did mommy and daddy let me play in the street today, but not not the next day? Well, there's different situations and circumstances, and you don't need to know all that. All you need to know is trust. Pastor Jonique Will: Right. Right. Right. Right. And they're too little to understand. Yeah, that's right. They they they cannot comprehend this goodness, as a teenager, I can remember arguing with my mom, Mom, there's no reason I can't be out at two in the morning, And my mom's like, Honey, things happen at two in the morning. Trust me, I have experience. I know you don't want to be there. But we we don't get that, you know. Randy: Yeah. yeah. Yeah. Pastor Jonique Will: So it's just Randy: I Pastor Jonique Will: because they have more wisdom than we do. God and God's wisdom is so much greater. Randy: Yeah. Don't even bring up teenagers, Janique. I got three of them. They know everything and I know nothing. So Pastor Jonique Will: I'll pray for you. Randy: yeah, pray pray for me and pray for my wife Isabel. We need all the prayer that we could get dealing with these teenagers. So Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah. Apparently when parents become teenagers, that's when they become, stupid, apparently, brain dead, according to the kids. they don't know anything. Randy: Yeah Yeah, yeah, exactly. Exactly. So well thank you so Pastor Jonique Will: You'll get through it though, I promise. I promise. Randy: yeah, thanks for your prayers and thank you for sharing your story. One last question for you as we kind of wrap up here. So you've shared a lot, you know, your testimony, how you know you were raised in a Christian home, how you found Christ, how you became a pastor, you adopted your daughter, and you've gone through these different trials where God has stepped up and performed miracles. If there's anyone out there who's listening, if there's just one thing that you want them to take away in terms of, your journey and your story and how you know you feel like you know God is speaking to anyone who's out there listening, lesson that you've learned throughout all of this, a major takeaway for you, aha moment. What would be the one thing that you would want to share with anyone that's listening? That you just would want them to know before we wrap up. Pastor Jonique Will: Well, first and foremost is trust in the Lord with your life. give him your life. Because I I can't even tell you what it's been like going through even all these losses and having the Lord by my side because I don't I don't know how people do it without faith. So that would be my first is just seek the truth of of his resurrection and his dying for your sins because that's the first step, right? Then after that I would say seek a relationship with him. If you ask, he will give it to you. There is such a thing as a relationship with Christ. I see so and this is why I'm so passionate because I spent a great deal of my life not understanding that. So I wasn't fully walking in the life that he wanted me to walk in. I wasn't fully walking in the blessings that he's given to me and the peace and the comfort and the guidance that he's given me because I didn't understand that there was even a relationship to be had. So, you know, many times we look at God as as you know, this Deity that's that's up here separate from us, But he's not. When you make him a daily part of your life and you seek a relationship, and just really all it takes is for you to cry out to him and say, God, I want a relationship with you. Tell me how, show me how. And I promise you he will. Because when that changes, your whole life changes. Randy: Mm-hmm. Yep. Absolutely. One more follow up to that. What would you say to the people who and I'm sure you've heard you've talked to people like I have Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah, yeah. Randy: who have said, you know what, Jonique, that sounds good, but you don't know what I've done. You know, God doesn't he he there's you know, he doesn't want to have a relationship with me. You don't know where I've been, what I've done, how bad of a person I am. Like that all sounds good, but you just don't know me. Pastor Jonique Will: You don't know how many times I've heard that. You don't know how many times I've heard people say I don't want to go to church because I'm not good enough. But let me tell you what. You're good enough that God died for your sins. The Bible tells us He died for each one of our sins. So it's not just the little sins. It's He He died for that. He loves everything. Every person he he desires every person to come to repentance, first of all. And that's gotta be a a time in your heart when you're like, you know what, God, I am so sorry for sinning against you. I desire to do a complete U-turn. I want to follow you and give my life to you. That's what He desires. But He tells us that that. Every so every single person has sinned. There's not there really if none of us are good according to the Bible. Really? None of us are good. We all fall short of the glory of God. So if all I ever did in my life was tell, you know, dishonor my father and mother, if which is impossible that that's all I've done. But let's just say that's all I've done. And then this person, or let's say I I hated somebody in school, and this person murdered somebody. And and people would be like, I've murdered somebody, God isn't going to forgive me, God isn't going to love me. You know what? They're both sins. According to God, they're both sins. Both require repentance. Both Randy: Mm-hmm. Pastor Jonique Will: require giving our lives over to the Lord. And he says, when we do, those sins, whether it be dishonoring your mother or whether it be murdering someone. Because actually he tells us that when we hate somebody in our heart, it's murder. So so it's really. But but when we come to repentance and we give our life, he says he forgives us and wipes those clean from the slate. So when we become come before the Lord, God doesn't look at our sins. He doesn't look at the things that we've done in our life that are bad. He looks at us through the through the lens of Jesus' sacrifice. Randy: Amen. Pastor Jonique Will: So when he looks at us, he sees us as clean, white Randy: Amen. Pastor Jonique Will: as snow. And that doesn't matter what your sin was, because there's there's there's nothing that we could do on our own to come before God and say we're clean enough. Nothing. So even if I just dishonored my mother and father, which again is impossible that that's all I've done, but even if I'm still as filthy rags when I come before the Lord. Randy: So so what I hear you saying is two things. Tell me if I got this right. If you've if you've broken one commandment, you've broken them all, so you can't outsend God's grace. Pastor Jonique Will: Well, I can tell you if I went through every single one of the commandments with you, you would tell me you've broken them all. I I have yet to met a person who hasn't. I know people go, wait a minute. Randy: Well, we're not going through my sins here today, Junique. We're not going through But I believe you. Pastor Jonique Will: Well, because you know, i i because yes, I I can tell you every person has broken them all. Because when Jesus came he talked about some of the ones that people say, Well, I've never committed adultery. Well, according to Jesus, if you've ever even looked at lust upon a woman who's not your wife, you've committed adultery in your heart. So I would You'd be hard pressed to find a man who has never looked with lust upon a woman. Never. You would never you would be hard pressed to find a person who has never felt like they hated somebody because they hurt them so badly. And according to God, if you hate somebody you've committed murder in your heart. So yeah. Randy: But but yeah. But the bottom line, the the Bible tells us if we've broken one commandment, we've broken it all. Broken broken them all. So we don't need to go down the list and we all know we've broken one, so therefore we've broken them all and and and so yeah. Pastor Jonique Will: Right. Right. If we've broken one, we're still not able to come before the Lord and spend eternity with him if we've broken even one. Because Randy: Right. Pastor Jonique Will: he he is God. Heaven is perfect. We cannot he cannot have that dwelling in heaven with him. So Randy: Right, right. Pastor Jonique Will: if we choose, you know, if we spend eternity in hell, it's our own choice. It's not that God goes, I'm gonna sentence you to this. No, we make that choice. We make that choice because he's freely given us a way to spend eternity in heaven with him. And if we choose not to repent and give our life to the Lord, it's our own choice. Randy: Absolutely. Absolutely. Well, all right. Well, Jonique, again, thank you so much for being on the walk talk and for sharing your testimony and your story. I really appreciate having you on. This has been a great conversation. Really thank you so much. Pastor Jonique Will: Yeah, I've enjoyed it. Randy: And for anybody out there who's listening, thank you guys so much for liking, subscribing, and following the show. And before you go, make sure you let us know what you think and if you gr agree with Jonique about people going to hell. It's 'cause they choose to. Let us know what you think about that in the comments down below. God bless.