Ken and Janie Garber
A native of Southern California, Ken grew up in the San Fernando Valley with his dad and three brothers. From a young boy, Ken loved playing competitive baseball and it was through one of his former teammates that he first went to church in his early 20s and gave his heart to Jesus. In 1985, Ken met the girl of his dreams, Janie, while they were serving children at The Church on the Way. One year later, they were married and began a life full of serving in many various roles of ministry in Washington, Nevada and California.
Ken's own journey of healing as a believer has given him a passion to see men freed from the ravages of sexual abuse, drug and alcohol addition and sexual sin, which is one of the reasons he went back to school at the age of 45 to become a Registered Addictions Specialist. He believes that there is no obstacle too great for the Lord and because of this, Ken is able to tackle difficult issues with compassion, clarity and confidence that Jesus has made a way out for those who seek help.
Although Janie was raised in a Christian home, she made a decision in her mid-teens that she wanted to live life her own way and walked away from the Lord. Upon graduating from high school, she moved to Los Angeles and after years of drug and alcohol use, promiscuity and broken relationships, Janie was at her lowest point when she cried out to Jesus for deliverance. With His help, Janie started on the miraculous journey of Him turning her life completely around.
Janie is an advocate for people of all ages and walks of life. Because of what the Lord has done for her, she confidently walks into situations with people that have faced great hardship and struggles, knowing that the Lord is the full Restorer of our souls. She received her Life Coach certification through Dr. Joseph Umidi’s Lifeforming Leadership Coach program and she notes that one of her favorite things in life is helping people love, laugh and live again!
In addition to serving at The River, Ken and Janie enjoy being part of the team at Center for Spiritual Renewal West, which provides counseling services to licensed Foursquare pastors and their immediate families. They also serve on the Foursquare Disaster Relief Team.
The Garbers are very proud of their son, Mike, who serves in the U.S. Marine Corps. In their free time, Ken and Janie enjoy spending time with their family and friends, as well as going to Disneyland whenever they get the chance!