"There's joy around the bend.  Even in the sunset, there's sunshine awaiting you."

At the young age of 30 years old, Jennifer Campbell has a heart for ministering to others. Throughout her life, she has walked through many valleys and climbed many mountains. Yet, through every moment of sorrow and every time of joy, God has stood beside her every step of the way. It is Jennifer’s prayer that God will use her testimony to reveal to others that there is hope. There’s joy around the bend. Even in the sunset, there’s sunshine awaiting you.
 
On January 2, 1982, Jennifer was born premature and lifeless. Nevertheless, her parents did not lose hope. They did not pray a complicated prayer with formal language. Their prayer was simple. They humbly prayed, “Jesus help.” After the doctors had given up all hope for Jennifer’s survival and began focusing their attention on her mom, she began to cough like a little kitten. Jennifer was alive.

Although Jennifer experienced many difficulties in the weeks that followed, God performed a miracle. The doctors said Jennifer would be nothing more than an illiterate vegetable, even if she survived. God had a different plan. Jennifer graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and then she earned a 4.0 GPA when completing her Master of Science degree in English Education through Nova Southeastern University. Jennifer is living proof that when God performs a miracle, He does it right!

Jennifer knows that God has a dream for her life. Whether she is on stage singing solo or with her dad as a duet, speaking to others about her journey, or teaching Reading/Language Arts and Journalism at the middle school where she teaches, she knows that God will always guide her footsteps in everything she does. She is grateful for the talents God has given her and she strives to use them for His glory every single day. God has blessed her with the ability to play the piano and drums. She is a prolific writer, penning songs, writing an inspirational blog, and serving as a Contributing Writer for SGN Scoops Digital Magazine, the first all digital Southern Gospel music magazine. Now she is also endeavoring to be a published author. She is currently putting the finishing touches on her first novel, which she hopes will inspire others through its message of hope. It is her prayer that God will give her the opportunity to have this book and many others published in His timing.

Some of her greatest joys are helping others, spending time with her family, and seeing the world. Jennifer is an avid traveler. She and her dad enjoy every opportunity they have to sail on a cruise ship, fly on a plane, or ride along the rails. Still, the one thing she enjoys most is giving to others. Jennifer and her family have taken hundreds of pounds of supplies to an orphanage in Roatan, Honduras. Jennifer says there is nothing like exploring the beauty of God’s creation all around the world, and at the same time, bringing joy to the faces of the little children there. All of her life, Jennifer has strived to bring joy to others, even amid the times when her own joy has faded.

When Jennifer was just a little girl, her two little brothers were born prematurely and passed away as infants. At a very young age, she had witnessed the death of more close friends and loved ones than most people she knew had even been to funerals. Brothers, grandfathers, a grandmother, aunts, uncles, and others…. But, even in the midst of the loss they experienced, she and her parents remained a close-knit Christian family. They had faith that God would always keep them together, no matter what storms brewed overhead. On August 2, 2008, the darkest storm of Jennifer’s life came upon her as suddenly as a tornado can flatten an entire town.

Jennifer and her parents were vacationing in the Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. Life seemed perfect. Then, their life changed forever. One evening, while they were sitting in the living room watching an episode of The Waltons, Jennifer’s mom suffered a heart attack and passed away. There was no warning, there were no goodbyes, and there was nothing she or her Dad could do to silence the violent storm. Life just changed.

Since that tragic night, Jennifer has been trusting God to help her understand why this happened. She says, “I still don’t have all of the answers. I cannot tell you why my Dad and I are not living in this house as a family of five, my Mom and younger brothers still with us. What I do know is that God has a perfect plan for our lives. He walks with me in the sunshine and in the sunset. He holds my hand, whether I am climbing mountains, traversing a rocky terrain, or wading through a raging river. Psalm 23:4 (NIV) says, ‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’ I will not be afraid of what tomorrow may bring because I know that God will comfort me in all of my tomorrows. He gives me His perfect peace and He shines forth His light, even though the sun has set. And I know He will continue to bring forth the vibrant sunshine in my life once again, in His timing.”

There have been times when Jennifer simply wanted to quit. And there have been times when she knew she would persevere. Through it all, Jennifer will tell you that God has always been faithful. Even in the sunset, God will bring forth the sunshine once again. This sunset that you find yourself in may seem long-lasting, but it is not forever. When you reach the lowest, darkest valley, God will bring you to your knees. When you cannot go on one more mile, God will carry you through each and every storm. If you find yourself stuck in the sunset, rest assured that there’s sunshine awaiting you.