Vanessa Hurston is a native of Detroit Michigan and currently resides in Raleigh, North Carolina. In October of 2001, she joined Duke University Medical Center in the Department of Psychiatry, Duke Addictions Program as a Program Coordinator, after tapering off entrepreneurship as the owner of VSH & Co., Interior Accents and Accessories. In 2005 she was appointed as the Node Coordinator for the National Institute of Health Clinical Trials Network, representing Duke University, and served in this role until 2007. She was recently promoted to a Grants and Contracts Administrator.
Vanessa studied Family and Consumer Resources at the University of Detroit from 1972-1973, and took a hiatus after getting married and starting a family, in which one daughter Kalleah (Kellee) was born. In 1979, she decided to go back to school as a part-time student where she studied Advertising Design at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, from 1980-1984. She then transferred to the University of Michigan, School of Art in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a full time student and graduated in 1987, with a major in Graphic Design and a minor in Photography. Shortly after graduation, she moved to North Carolina.
In 1978, Vanessa was born-again by her bedside, as she prayed and asked God to make her be a better person. God honored her request. A peaceful presence filled her spirit a day or so later. Unaware of what happened God spoke to her and told her to buy a bible. A couple of months later, God spoke to her again and told her to attend a bible study. Prayer Tabernacle Church, Detroit, Michigan, was the first non-denominational church she attended and where she first learned about being born-again.
In 1984, after moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and listening to gospel programs while doing artwork, she was very intrigued by Pastor Henry Healy of Christian Life Center Church, located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. During her first visit, the pastor instructed the congregation to lift their hands and pray in their heavenly language. The sound was so beautiful; she told God that she wanted to sound like “them”. Again, God granted the request, and two days later, while by her bedside praying, instead of English, it was a foreign language. After it happened a second time, she asked God, what was going on. He replied, “I thought you wanted to sound like them.” She joined the church, attended and served faithfully and was appointed Head Usher.
After moving to North Carolina in 1987 and finding a new church home, she became a member of Miracle Life Christian Center in Durham, NC, under the leadership of Pastor Kingsley Fletcher. She served faithfully and taught Children’s Sunday school. She attended Miracle Life Christian Center from 1987-1992.
In August, 1992, she visited Christian Faith Center Church, Creedmoor, NC under the leadership of the late Bishop Mack Timberlake and his wife, Brenda. After the second visit, she couldn’t wait for the invitation to join the church. Vanessa served faithfully; she decorated and created and provided decorations, and was a part of the Evangelism Team and Covenant Care. She made herself useful by helping whenever and wherever needed and served on the hospitality team from November, 2002 until January, 2011.
Finally in September of 2012, God led her to the House of Prayer Ministries with Pastors Ray and Alice Smith, where Jesus resides and the Holy Spirit is present. Her life completely changed after attending the first 3 months. She faithfully attends services and intercedes during the week and on Sunday mornings before service. She was appointed as the Church Administrator and Spokesperson. Additionally, she is a member of the First Ladies Bible Study that is led by Pastor Alice Smith and goes with the group to minister at a nursing home and orphanage on selected Saturdays.
Vanessa served on the Board of Directors of the Sunscape Home Association and is on the Auxiliary Board of Ambassadors for Christ Global. She enjoys intercessory prayer, reading, meditating, her two grandchildren, friends and family, interior design and decorating, traveling, helping others, encouraging others and watching God work in her life.
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