Joyce Meyer is a Charismatic Christian author and one of the world’s leading Bible teachers and speakers. She is also the president of Joyce Meyer Ministries worldwide.
Joyce is a New York Times bestselling author, and her books have helped millions of people find hope and restoration through Jesus Christ. She also has her own syndicated television and radio program called “Enjoying Everyday Life” and a magazine titled “Enjoying Everyday Life”.
Childhood And Early Life
Joyce Meyer was born (June 4, 1943) as Pauline Joyce Hutchison in south St. Louis. Young Joyce was taken care of by her mother initially, as her father went into the army to fight in World War II soon after she was born.
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She has said in interviews that he began abusing her upon his return, not just sexually but mentally, emotionally and verbally as well.
The exploitation left a deep imprint on the being of Joyce as she developed a derogatory sense of self. Though she looked perfect to onlookers, Joyce had become a victim of multiple personality disorder. She went to school but could not concentrate; neither was she allowed to participate in any after-school activities.
At a young age, Joyce was filled with a sense of self-pity. She was hardly manageable and developed a controlling, manipulative, insecure and harsh behaviour. She experienced a feeling of guilt and adopted a negative thinking that was powered by suspicion. Worst was that she never felt safe anywhere.
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Despite being victim of the maltreatment, Joyce did not give up on her studies and completed her graduation from O’Falllon Technical High School in St Louis.
Shortly after her senior year of high school, she married a part-time car salesman. The marriage lasted five years. She maintains that her husband frequently cheated on her and persuaded her to steal payroll checks from her employer. They used the money to go on a vacation to California. She states that she returned the money years later. After her divorce, Meyer frequented local bars before meeting Dave Meyer, an engineering draftsman. They were married on January 7, 1967.
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Ministry
Meyer was briefly a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in St. Louis, a congregation of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. In 1976, She began leading an early-morning Bible class at a local cafeteria and became active in Life Christian Center, a charismatic church in Fenton. In 1980, She became an associate pastor in the Church. The church became one of the leading charismatic churches in the area, largely because of her popularity as a Bible teacher.
In 1985, Meyer resigned as associate pastor and founded her own ministry, initially called “Life in the Word.” She began airing her radio show on six other stations from Chicago to Kansas City.
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In 1993, her husband Dave suggested that they start a television ministry. Initially airing on superstation WGN-TV in Chicago and Black Entertainment Television (BET), her program, now called Enjoying Everyday Life, is still on the air today.
By 2003, Joyce’s ministry grew by leaps and bounds and soon she was teaching citywide, statewide, countrywide and now worldwide through Joyce Meyer Ministries and her television, radio and magazine titles were changed to “Enjoying Everyday Life”. She teaches on hundreds of subjects based on her experience and how she applies the Bible to every facet of her life.
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Her ministry is headquartered near the St. Louis suburb of Fenton, Missouri.
Personal Life
Joyce holds an earned PhD in theology from Life Christian University in Tampa, Florida, an honorary doctorate in Divinity from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and an honorary doctorate in Sacred Theology from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.
Joyce and her husband, Dave, have been married since January 7, 1967, and they are the parents of four grown children.
Dave and Joyce Meyer make their home in St. Louis, Missouri. All four of Joyce’s children are involved in some facet of Christian ministry.
Author
Joyce has authored over 90 self-help non-fiction books and a handful of fiction books.
In 2002, mainstream publisher Hachette Book Group paid Meyer over $10 million for the rights to her backlist catalog of independently released books.
