About Us

Healing Shepherd Ministries was set up by Pastor Gerry and Dianne van der Wende in 2003. They feel a strong call to help the emotionally and spiritually hurting experience the freedom to which Jesus has called them. This has been a motivator for starting the Steps To Freedom addiction recovery program in 2007, with a vision to making healing in this area available to all. It will require 100% commitment on the part of the client, but recovery achievable for anyone.



Gerry received his Graduate Certificate of Ministry from The King's Seminary and is ordained as a minister in the Foursquare Gospel movement. He is currently completing his Master of Divinity degree. He and Dianne began their ministry at The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California. Gerry was the chaplain of the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission drug and alcohol rehabilitation program in Reno, for four years, and is the pastor at Grace Fellowship Foursquare Church in Susanville, CA.   Gerry and Dianne are both experienced in the Cleansing Stream Ministries discipleship and deliverance program and have ministered in California, Nevada, Wisconsin, Illinois, Mexico, England and the Netherlands.

Dianne served at 
Big Brothers Big Sisters where she taught "at risk" teenagers about the perils of addiction to tobacco, alcohol and drugs. She has been the executive secretary on the board of the Youth Services Network of Northern Nevada. Both Gerry and Dianne feel a strong call to help the hurting experience the freedom to which Jesus has called them.

Gerry and Dianne have three wonderful children, eight grand-children and one great-grandchild, each of whom is the absolute best!

Between them, Gerry and Dianne have experienced healing following the loss of a spouse to cancer, divorce, death of a step-child, chronic illness, deliverance from addiction and the results of childhood abuse. They have experienced extended unemployment and financial reverses. At the same time, the Lord has blessed them and shown his presence and help, every step of the way.

These experiences are some of their credentials for ministry. They have a passion for people, and for seeing them healed and set free to live to their full potential!