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Anita was the first normal child born in her family of two handicapped brothers, the first of cerebral palsy and the second of mental retardation. Believing that their handicapped children were a very special blessing from God, Anita’s parents instilled in her values of unconditional love and a patient acceptance of all circumstances. But most importantly, they introduced her to God’s gracious love and abundant plan He had for her life. Somehow even at Anita’s early age, God enabled her to understand her own need for unconditional love and forgiveness. God gently kept nudging Anita to grasp, even as a child, that outside of His perfect plan for her life, there would be no true fulfillment. So Anita gave her life to Christ. As she grew older, so did her yearning to know God more intimately. She truly wanted Him to perform in her “the good pleasure of His will.” Even though she had an almost fatal struggle with anorexia, Anita still experienced the faithfulness and tremendous mercies of the God she loved. Out of what many would have considered a tragedy, Anita gave a message that people needed to hear: a message that our mighty God will work through our difficult struggles in order to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ, if we will surrender our wills to Him. Believing that God made a distinct call on her life to enter full time Christian service, Anita gave her first concert at her home church on October 7, 1984. Little did she know that God would honor her step of faith so abundantly by blessing her immediately with numerous opportunities to share her love for God through music and drama. She began singing in local churches and college groups. Because this was a ministry based on faith and trust in God, Anita felt that she should wait on Him to open the doors instead of her implementing the promotion of this ministry. And so it was. In less than one year, Anita had done over 250 concerts, recorded her first album and published her first song in Nashville, Tennessee and had opened for many outstanding artists and speakers, including: Cheryl Pruitt, the Singing Americans, Rick Stanley, and Harry Dent. She began traveling throughout the Southeast and speaking for the South Carolina Baptist Convention where she led conferences to youth, single and senior adults. In 1986, God continued to expand her ministry. Invited by the Sunday School Board, Anita sang for the National Single Adults Ministers Conference which opened many new doors for her. At the same time, she received an invitation by the Billy Graham Association to attend Amsterdam ‘86 where she would be exposed to some of the most dynamic Biblical teaching this world has ever known. The time in Amsterdam renewed Anita’s vision to seek God first at all costs and to leave the effect of the ministry to Him, for she desired to glorify Him above all. In 1987 Anita continued to travel extensively, singing in churches of all denominations across the Southeast. She was also a soloist for the North and South Carolina Baptist Conventions. In addition to many new exciting opportunities, another step of faith was taken. The base of her ministry was moved from Rock Hill to Charleston. On March 7, 1987 she married Carl Couch whom she met at a Singles Conference as she spoke on the topic, "How to Surrender Your Love Life to Jesus Christ!" Carl has continued to be a tremendous source of encouragement and spiritual guidance for the ongoing of this ministry. In 1988 she was featured on the Pensacola ACTS network. In 1989 she sang at the Precept Headquarters in Chattanooga, Tennessee which was a particular honor for Anita. At the same time, God continually opened doors in the New England and Midwest areas. In September 1989, she and her husband lost their home in Hurricane Hugo. Once again out of great disappointment and distress God continued to deepen a message in Anita's heart of His enduring faithfulness. In 1990 God began preparing Anita's heart to not only sing and dramatize the gospel, but also to teach it. He began shifting the focus to teaching as Anita's burden to see people, especially women, established in the truth of God's Word. This same year Anita organized a community-wide women's discipleship ministry that was committed to that very purpose. It reached women of all denominations and walks of life. It served a vital purpose in the community as women came to understand how God's Word can equip them for every aspect of life. She led that ministry for over three years. In 1993, Anita gave birth to her first child, in 1995 Anita gave birth to her second child. Being continually awed by the blessing of being a mother, she feels that this has only enabled her to relate even more completely to the needs of women. Anita desires always to point others to the All Sufficient God who is "able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we may ask or think!" Now as parents, Anita and Carl yearn to know Biblical principles as it pertains to parenting and to know how they can more wisely implement God's Word in the lives of their children. This is, of course, in this season of their lives, their primary concern. As time passed, however, they began discovering this same desire in other young parents. In 1994, Anita and Carl began organizing small group discipleship studies for the purpose of encouraging today's parents to return to the Bible as the basis for their parenting. They now labor together as Area Coordinators for Growing Families International. The thrust of this ministry continues to be to challenge the Body of Christ to know God’s Word and to implement it in every area of life. This is indeed the all-consuming motivation of Anita's life and ministry.
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Copyright © 2003-2004 Anita Kelly-Couch Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
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