With grown step-children, college age sons and a self-employed husband, Joanne offers her time to God and to others. Her interest in writing and communications brought her back to college as an adult and through several reinventions of her own business and ministries.
Joanne works full-time for her own web design company, Next-Step-Up Communications.
Joanne works full-time for her own web design company, Next-Step-Up Communications.
My Story:
"I love to travel, but I've lived in the same 5 mile radius all my life," Joanne says about her roots. "I was raised in a big family with lots of older sisters and one younger brother," she remembers. It was in this big family while attending a traditional church that she first started realizing God's love for her. But, it wasn't until she was twenty-eight, separated from her husband and alone for the first time in her life that she actually accepted God's love personally and permanently.
“Alone was too small a word for the pain I was in when one of my client's walked into my office one day," Joanne shares. "He walked in my door looking to give me a logo design project for the church he started working for, but he left my office several hours later with a new sister eager to learn more about Jesus." After explaining to Joanne the foundation of faith in a real and tangible way, the man led Joanne in a short prayer of salvation.
"It wasn't the prayer that changed my life," Joanne remembers. "It was having hope for the first time that God didn't leave me alone and that He still loved me no matter what. I just had to learn more."
The next Sunday, Joanne went to church with this man and his family, and a few months later, she took her first small group class. "My small group was the best place for me to learn and grow," she says. "I learned how to be honest with myself and with the dear friends in the small group. I also learned that no matter who we are or what season of life we are in, we can all learn from each other." And so, Joanne's hunger to keep learning more and more about Jesus and God's plan for her life began.
She remarried a few years later to a wonderful man who shares her love for God and supports her in her adventures. Michael Sampl is a structural engineer and consultant and president of his own firm, M.J. Sampl & Associates, Inc. since 1979. He encouraged Joanne to take a few years off from her graphic design business to go back to college and help take care of her aging parents. "Michael is a wonderful husband, father to his grown children Diana and Mike, and stepfather to my sons, Eric and Adam, who are now in college," Joanne says about Michael. "He is my best friend and we celebrate our 14 year marriage every day."
"From my first real prayer 16 years ago to my ongoing mental prayers throughout the day, I am excited about what God is doing in my life and the lives of others," Joanne says. "I'm writing articles and working on my first book. I love the other writers I've involved in the Next Step of Faith website and continue to be blessed by them. I enjoy web design, writing the content and developing the marketing strategies and print promotional pieces, too."
My Statement of Faith:
I believe in one God, Creator and Lord of the Universe, the co-eternal Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I believe that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, rose bodily from the dead and ascended to heaven where, as truly God and truly man, He is the mediator between God and man.
I believe that the Bible is God’s authoritative and inspired Word. It is without error in all its teachings, including creation, history, its own origins, and salvation. Christians must submit to its divine authority, both individually and corporately, in all matters of belief and conduct, which is demonstrated by true righteous living. True Christians desire to submit to the Bible and obey God.
I believe that all people are lost sinners and cannot enter the Kingdom of God except through the new birth. Justification is by grace through faith in Christ alone. Good works have no place in justification. We are fully dependant on God for both justification and sanctification.
I believe in one holy, universal, and apostolic Church. Its calling is to worship and witness concerning its Head, Jesus Christ, preaching the Gospel among all nations and demonstrating its commitment by compassionate service to the needs of human beings and by promoting righteousness and justice. Its central calling is to become a spiritual community where people profoundly connect with God and each other.
I believe in the necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit for the individual’s new birth and growth to maturity, and for the Church’s constant renewal in truth, wisdom, faith, holiness, love, power, and mission. The resources of the New Covenant provide salvation and empower personal growth.
I believe that Jesus Christ will personally and visibly return in glory to raise the dead and bring salvation and judgment to completion. God will fully manifest His kingdom when He establishes a new heaven and new earth, in which He will be glorified forever and exclude all evil, suffering, and death.
