God Writes Our Stories
Sherpa Septuagenarian Recalls the Faithful Love of God
Interview by Sue Reeve with Connie Brand
Stories Matter
Eugene Peterson calls the Bible “an immense, sprawling, capricious narrative … revealing God and God’s way to us.” *
Jesus masterfully used storytelling in his parables, drawing listeners into real-life situations to make a point, teach a principle, or illustrate the heart of God.
Stories matter, and stories are important elements of spiritual direction. Oftentimes, answers to perplexing spiritual questions can be found embedded within an individual’s story.
In today’s Sherpa blog post, the story of Connie Brand, member of Sherpa Cohort 3, is highlighted. I met Connie during a Sherpa in-person retreat in Honolulu, Hawaii, in the Spring of 2023, and following a couple brief conversations, I believed she had a story worth sharing.
A Story Built on Love and Grace
Connie, a septuagenarian, is full of vigor, purpose, and deep love for Jesus. Her story contains many inspirational chapters. Born in Buffalo Center, Iowa, she was the firstborn of five children. When her parents were married in 1944, her father was in the military and would have been deployed if it had not have been for victories in Europe and the Pacific which ended World War II.
Connie grew up on a farm in a home built by her great-grandfather, telling me, “I don’t have one bad memory of living on a farm.” Growing up in a home with parents who loved Jesus, one another, and their children, she was surrounded with “lots of love.” Connie has a letter her father wrote to her mother when she was a newborn in which he told his young wife concerning their new family, “We have to be careful we keep Jesus first.” Her parents’ guiding verse was Proverbs 30:8-9, “Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or lest I be poor, and steal, And take the name of my God in vain.”
Connie told me, “I was NEVER NOT aware of God,” and loving Jesus was simply an extension of loving her parents. “It was always Mom and Dad and Jesus.” She loved attending Sunday School, and when she was a little girl, she always assumed if she did something wrong, she could simply ask and was assured that Jesus would forgive her.
When Connie was in second grade, she cheated on a test, thinking at the time the action was “clever” because it resulted in an A. More than a year later, the incident re-surfaced, and she was unable to sleep because she knew what she had done was wrong. She confessed cheating to her mother who talked to the teacher. Even though she was a strict teacher, she never scolded Connie but instead expressed appreciation. Because of the love and graciousness experienced in her youth, Connie never recalls feeling shame or guilt, but instead, grew into greater devotion to God.
Stepping into a Calling
“When did your ‘calling’ emerge?” I asked. Without hesitation, Connie answered, “I think I was born with my calling.” She recalls preaching to her dolls. Her aunt and uncle were missionaries. Her grandparents had ministered at a mission, and Connie said she recalls feeling deeply grieved by a story about children in Bolivia who didn’t have anyone to tell them about Jesus.
Another time, Connie recalls as a teenager, she was watering the calves in the barn. While pretending she was talking to Africans in their language about Jesus, she remembers being “enveloped in an atmosphere of such sweetness” that in retrospect, she believes it was the Spirit speaking or praying through her.
During her Lutheran Confirmation process, Connie realized, “God wanted all of me.” Also, “I became aware of a “good force” and “bad force” within me, and I desired to be good. This was how Connie learned that Jesus’ work on the cross was the answer for her sinfulness.
Often, during her growing-up years, Connie recalls thinking that If she were a boy, she would be a doctor or minister. In the 1950’s, however, the only career options for a girl seemed to be wife, mother, teacher, nurse, or secretary.
A variety of factors, including her growing devotion to God plus deep interest in health and caring for people led Connie to nursing school. She asked God to give her “gifts of help,” and while in her 20’s, she felt prompted to care for her aging pastor and his wife.
During this season, Connie was introduced to the Charismatic renewal. While listening to a tape, she took to heart Joy Dawson’s words that assured her spending a lot of time with God was the way she would get to know God. While caregiving, Connie’s spiritual formation expanded. Repeatedly, she played on the piano and meditated on five different hymns as well as outlining every chapter in the Bible.
Caregiving takes a toll on one’s soul, and Connie experienced some significant psychological issues after several years of caring for this couple as well as deep grief related to the death of her beloved father. The cumulative trauma resulted in a type of post-traumatic amnesia, which lasted for approximately six months.
The caregiving season was followed by continuing education. First, Connie received her Bachelor of Science degree in health arts. She spent a year with Bethany Fellowship in Minnesota, and in 1984, started attending a local Assemblies of God (A/G) Church. Because of their warm friendship, Connie kept attending, loving her new faith community. While reading a Pentecostal Evangel, an advertisement for obtaining a graduate degree in ministry caught her eye. She applied and learned that she did not have enough Bible study credits to qualify. After passing four different prerequisite exams, she qualified. Connie completed the graduate program, achieving a Master of Arts degree in Bible and Missions from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in 1988. As internship training, she traveled to Hawaii, accompanied by several family members, to attend YWAM.
During all these transitions, Connie remembers “ I saw the miraculous hand of God over and over.”
Eventually, Connie landed a job with AGTS Missions as well as working as an evening supervisor at Maranatha Village (senior citizen community). It was here she felt led to help a woman named Adele care for her elderly mother. The mother turned out to be Alice Reynolds Flower (1890-1991), known affectionately as “Mother Flower,” a deeply respected voice within the Assemblies of God. A wife and mother, Flowers was renowned for her godly example, preaching, teaching, devotion to prayer, and writings. Until Adele’s death, she remained Connie’s dear friend.
Unexpected Family and Intercessory Prayer Ministry Grow Stronger
Connie’s next move was to return to the Minnesota A/G district to become a licensed minister. Unknown to her, a man in the group set his eyes on her as she was worshiping God. That sighting led Bob, a dairy-farmer-turned pastor, who was grief-stricken after losing his wife in a tragic accident, to pursue Connie. Eventually, she became Bob Brand’s wife and stepped into the uncharted territory of stepmother to his four pre-teen and teenage daughters. The girls who were not only experiencing transitions inherent in adolescence but were still reeling from the loss of their beloved mother, did not immediately accept Connie. In addition to stepping into a ready-made family, Connie and Bob met Danielle when she was three months old, subsequently lovingly adopting her as their fifth daughter.
Those were not only joy-filled but challenging years when Connie learned to experience God’s love and trust in His provision in entirely new ways. Building relationships with her stepdaughters was not easy, especially since Connie had never before experienced unacceptance. With the passing of years, God’s grace and love abounded, and bit by bit a bridge was built. Connie said the generational bridge strengthened as grandbabies arrived, and today, the Brand family enjoys loving relationships.
The entire Brand family gathered for Christmas 2023
During many different seasons, Connie became aware of random thoughts coming to mind. As she kept thinking and imagining about these things, she developed a burden and began praying. “Low and behold,” Connie reflected, “the thoughts developed, and when the matter I had been imagining happened, the burden lifted.” This, she realized, was a new and expanding level of intercessory prayer to which God was calling her.
“Yes! I’ve Got Goats!”
Our scheduled Zoom time was coming to a close, and I said to Connie, “We need to move along because we MUST talk about the goats!” A captivating piece of my friend’s story is the unusual blessing she’s discovered through goats.
“Yes, I’ve got goats!” Connie laughed. “Bob and I live on 70 acres with lots of Buckthorn (an invasive noxious shrub commonly found in Minnesota, which goats love to eat), and I got the idea this would be a good place for goats.” The market for goat meat was gaining in popularity due to increased immigrant populations. She researched the matter and determined a breed of goats—“Kiko,” a cross between wild New Zealand goats and domesticated dairy goats—would be ideal. When she checked them out, Connie said, “It was love at first sight.” Beginning with four goats, the herd eventually grew to 50—each specially named.
Of this venture, Connie gushed, “I love being a goat farmer. My grandkids love them and help name newborn kids. They have brought such joy! When I am with my goats, all other cares dissipate, and I never feel insecure. In fact, sometimes I feel like David or Rachel.” Today, all but six goats have been sold, which is necessary since Connie’s husband is experiencing health challenges. She has peace about the diminishing herd, realizing that “taking care of goats helped me better understand the Good Shepherd’s heart.”
A few of Connie’s goats, perhaps playing “King of the Mountain!”
Entering a New Season of Fruitfulness
Concerning her age, Connie relayed certain goals she felt needed to be achieved by age 65. When this didn’t happen, she lamented the lack of achievement to her stepdaughter who suggested Connie pretend she got the age wrong. More importantly, Connie has sensed assurance the Lord isn’t finished with her yet and believes his call is still on her life. Connie mused, “I wonder if my soul may be slumbering and is awakening to new possibilities. In fact, perhaps my years from 75 on will be more fruitful than ever. This is my prayer!”
Connie admits, “A dark voice still comes as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I still struggle with pride, self-righteousness, and condemnation. I still must confess and ask forgiveness. But God’s voice speaks louder and with greater assurance than ever before.”
Returning to the matter of “calling” as we wrapped up our interview, Connie emphatically says it is “LOVE!” During this season, that’s where God is calling her. LOVE, which transcends a fractured political environment. LOVE that moves imagination into intercession for this broken, hurting world. LOVE that enables Connie Hove Brand to be a healing agent of the presence of Jesus!
Thank you, Connie, for blessing Sherpa blog readers with your rich story!
* Eugene Peterson, Living into God’s Story https://missionworldview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06
Connie Brand, member of Sherpa Cohort 3, is a lifelong follower of Jesus. Licensed as a minister several years ago by the Assemblies of God, Connie was ordained in April 2024. She is a wife to Bob, stepmother to four daughters, adoptive mom to another daughter, and grandmother to 14. In addition, Connie lovingly tends many goats, including these two adorable kids.
