Andy & Karen Geerken
Andy
I serve as the International Dean for Wagner Leadership Institute. The thrill of seeing people trained in practical ministry and step into their calling never gets old. I love seeing our students unpack their spiritual gifting and really accelerate in a growth curve in a relatively short period of time.
I am honored to work alongside two men who have had a tremendous impact on the Body of Christ, Ché Ahn and Peter Wagner, as well as an amazing WLI team purposed to help equip the saints for kingdom ministry. I still pinch myself that I get to be part of the pastoral team at HRock!
Personal Background
I grew up about 30 miles east of the Ambassador Auditorium in Claremont. My father was a professor at Scripps College. My mom led my three sisters and me to the Lord in 1971 during the Jesus People movement. Interestingly, my parents were both born in Colon, Panama, but met in high school in Tokyo, Japan.
Education Background
I graduated from Azusa Pacific University in 1986 with a degree in Communications. Later, my wife, Karen, and I attended the Kingdom School of Ministry in 2009-10. Recently, I earned my Master (2012) and then Doctor in Practical Ministry (2013) from Wagner Leadership Institute.
Interests and Favorites
My favorites: baseball, key lime and Jesus!
I am crazy in love with my beautiful bride, Karen. We have been married for 12 years (as of June 2014). She helped me raise my four exceptional daughters: Ashley (married to Brenton), Kelsey, Claire and Maddie. Karen and I are best friends; we enjoy doing so much together. Booking, sea-glass hunting, experiencing the hillside wildlife of Tujunga, watching my Angels and her Broncos. I’ve even recruited her to help lead WLI! We are both passionate about transformation!
I am a typical sports guy. I participated in athletics through college and then started an extensive career in sports media relations/marketing, first interning for the California Angels back in the late-1980s. I went on to work in college athletics for more than 20 years, including overseeing the College All-Star Basketball Game for 11 years while serving as the Director of Communications for the National Association of Basketball Coaches in Kansas City.
I love to travel. Karen and I are particularly fond of islands—thumbs up to Hawaii and the Caribbean! We have both traveled to Europe, Africa, South America and the Middle East. In fact, it was three life-changing international mission trips with Harvest International Ministry to Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique that opened the door to come to work for HIM and WLI in 2010.
Karen
I currently work in the marketplace as well as host the WLI Women (WLIW). WLIW is 18 sessions of women leaders coming together to be encouraged, receive kingdom downloads, launch into their destinies as influencers and develop community. The series is exclusively for women so that there can be total freedom throughout the group. I believe that dreams come true—my heart is to see women discover who they are, begin to dream and walk those dreams out as daughters of the King to bring His glory to every realm of society!
Personal Background
I grew up in the South and have been working my way west ever since. I've lived in South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and now California. Andy and I met when we both lived in Kansas for about a six-month overlap. We were destined to meet! We were married in 2002, and I have four beautiful stepdaughters. We are now empty-nesters and beginning to discover what God has for us in this exciting season!
My passion is to see the Bride, the Church, come into everything she was created for and meant to be. My heart has been in intercession for the Bride for many, many years. This is such an exciting time that we live in!!
Education Background
I have a B.S. in Communication Disorders from Missouri State. I also have a Master's diploma of Practical Ministry from Wagner Leadership Institute and am working on my doctoral diploma.
Favorites and Interests
- Places: I love the beach and the ocean. I love to travel, and I feel more at home overseas than I do in the States!
- Music: Nora Jones, worship (Hillsong, Kari Jobe, Jesus Culture) and podcasts by Jill Austin.
-Books: I am a huge reader. I love fiction the most—give me a warm cuppa coffee and a mystery! My all-time favorite non-fiction book is The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henry Nouwen. I still read it every few years. Non-fiction for me is deep thinking, but I love Graham Cooke and Ann Voscamp.
- Sports Teams: Denver Broncos (I have been an avid fan since 1986—complete with yelling at the TV. Don't tell me any scores!) and Los Angeles Angels (Andy is a fan, and we had a pact that if he rooted for the Broncos, I would cheer for his beloved Angels!)
- Movies: Good period dramas.
- Hobbies: Travel, books, spending time with my Love, Andy!, gardening, spending time with my family, hiking/camping.
Fun Facts
- My family and I spent a year cruising the eastern seaboard in a 31-foot sailboat back in the mid-1980s.
- I’m three minutes younger than my sister (I’m her identical twin and, technically, the baby of the family)