Pain to Purpose – Registration Now Open

What It’s Not

• One-on-one counseling (referrals available if needed)
• A place for oversharing painful details
• A competition of whose story is hardest—pain is pain, and healing is for all

Commitment
Consistency matters. By showing up each week, you’ll help build trust and community as we journey together.

Conclusion
Pain may have shaped your story, but it doesn’t have to define your future.

This course will help you:

• Gain tools to manage overwhelming emotions
• See above the valley, instead of feeling buried beneath it
• Discover the #1 trap keeping people stuck in pain
• Establish rhythms of healing, renewal, and soul restoration
• Hear God’s voice in your pain — and understand what He’s revealing
• Safeguard your future so you aren’t taken out by the next storm
• Walk away with a plan for this valley — and every one to come

For Leaders: Lead a Group. Change Lives.

Pain to Purpose is small-group ready, with built-in leader resources, discussion prompts, and reflection tools. Whether you’re a ministry leader, counselor, pastor, or simply someone who cares, you can guide others through breakthroughs.

Join the course first, then be equipped to lead and bring transformation to your own community.

Meet our summit leaders

Sarah Holsapple serves as the Creative Director and Spiritual Development Specialist at her church in Cedar Rapids, IA, where she leads alongside her husband, Pastor Harris. For the past nine years, they have served as Lead Pastors at First Open Bible, stewarding an incredible church family and witnessing firsthand the life-changing power of God in people’s lives. She’s a speaker, passionate disciple-maker, mentor, event planner, and more—but her favorite role is being mom to two amazing kids.

Sarah has walked through some of life’s deepest valleys. She lost her mother at a young age, endured the heartbreak of family walking away, and survived the trauma of both physical and emotional abuse. For years, she continues to face a relentless cycle of medical diagnoses and surgeries that have left lasting impacts on her daily life. Yet through every trial—through every “backside of the desert”—Sarah has encountered the unwavering presence of a faithful God, a God who redeems, restores, and transforms even the darkest seasons.

Her journey through pain fuels her passion for walking closely with others in life’s most vulnerable places, helping them see that God does not waste our suffering—He transforms it into purpose.

Sherri Peiffer serves in the office at First Open Bible, a church she has attended since childhood. She is married to her husband, Matthew, and together they have two children, Jeremiah and Grace.

Sherri’s life has been marked by seasons of both hardship and hope. As a young girl, she walked through the pain of her parents’ divorce, experiences of abuse, and deep feelings of abandonment. Growing up around the challenges of mental health struggles in her family, she carried insecurities—both physical and emotional—into her teenage and young adult years. In searching for belonging and healing, she often made choices that left her still longing to fill an inner void.

Yet, Sherri’s story is a testimony to the redeeming power of Jesus. She has come to know firsthand that only He can truly satisfy the heart. Today, she lives by the truth that nothing is wasted in God’s hands. Her journey reflects the very heartbeat of the phrase from Pain to Purpose—that the Lord can use any story, any path, and any vessel willing to consecrate their heart fully to Him.

Brad and Rebecca Groothuis live in Marion, Iowa.  They have been married for 8 years. They have 16 children and 3 grandchildren.  They are both active members and serve at First Open Bible in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  They are examples of how God can truly restore the years that the locusts have eaten.

Brad and Rebecca have journeyed through significant challenges.  Brad lost his first wife of 19 years through suicide; leaving him as a single father of 15 children, some with special needs.  Rebecca went through various childhood traumas of sexual, mental, and emotional abuse which lead to self-harming behaviors.  Before she met Brad, she was a single mom to her son for 17yrs.  Together, with the Lord, both of them have found victory from the past, and are overcoming challenges of estranged adult children, difficult step parenting dynamics, and the death of a child.  Through all these situations, the Lord has been faithful by showing himself to be their Deliverer, Redeemer and Sustainer, using their Pain for His Purpose.

Moreese Martin was born in Peoria Il. and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He has been married to his wife for 17 years and they share two sons. Moreese has been a member at First Open Bible for over two years and serves on the First Impressions Team.  Moreese was raised by his mother and step father. His biological father did not have contact with him until Moreese was approaching his twenties. A few years after Moreese met his biological father, his father passed away due to heavy drug use and several medical conditions.  Moreese became a father at the age of 16. He has dealt with teen suicide in his family and had several friends and acquaintances pass away due to drug use and lost one family member due to homicide. He struggled with alcohol and marajuana for many years. Through these things, the Lord was able to get his attention and lead him and his family to salvation.  Moreese loves to spend time in church, spend time with his family and spend time with other men who are going after God. 

Rick and Sue have been members of First Open Bible for over 50 years and they are in their 50th year of marriage. Rick is currently serving  on the Executive Board at FOB and also on staff as Facility and Grounds Director. Sue has served on the Worship Team previously for over 30 years, stepping away from that role due to vocal issues. Sue also helps with the accountability of our weekly offerings to the church. Rick and Sue both put on many different hats as needs arise from week to week. 

What brings Rick and Sue to the Pain to Purpose ministry is walking through the pain of losing a son to a tragic work accident. They both have also lost their parents and Sue has dealt with multiple suicides within her side of the family. Through their many losses God has given them a heart of compassion and understanding for others walking in great pain.

Amy is the Regional General Manager of Christian TV Network in Iowa and Illinois and has a heart to connect the body of Christ for Kingdom work, utilizing CTN to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Amy is a member and serves at her local church First Open Bible in Cedar Rapids, IA. She is an author, preacher and licensed minister through Kingsway Fellowship International. Amy’s biggest passion is to see everyone walking in true freedom through the name above all names, Jesus Christ. She also operates a horse therapy ministry, utilizing her gifting as a prophetic warrior and the horses as catalysts for the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of who the Lord is calling each of us to be.

Amy has experienced the grief of losing a parent and the heavy trauma of domestic abuse. She has made decisions in her life that went against God’s Will but through His Grace, Mercy and the power of the Holy Spirit she has been consecrated and redeemed for His purposes and to co-labor with Him in establishing His Kingdom on earth.

Brittaney Browning was raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as the oldest of four children under the loving care of her grandmother. She grew up in a Pentecostal Church of God in Christ church, where her faith was deeply rooted and her love for God first blossomed. 

She has been married for five years and is the proud mother of two amazing sons  and stepmother to three wonderful girls. She and her family have attended First Open Bible for several years and she currently serves on the prayer team. 

In October 2024, Brittaney and her family experienced the heartbreaking loss of their beautiful baby boy, Za’el, while eight months pregnant. Through grief and heartache, she continues to hold on to her faith, drawing strength from God’s word, His promises and the support of her family and friends.