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VBD MAGAZINE'S COVER STORY: Dr. Venner Alston

Awakening Purpose and Igniting Destiny



From the moment our conversation began, it was clear I was in the presence of someone with a divine purpose. A visionary leader, prophetic voice, Kingdom trailblazer, and wise master builder, Dr. Venner Alston carries divine blueprints etched into her spirit—and the authority to release them in the earth. As she spoke, the atmosphere shifted; every word held weight, depth, and revelation.

 

Apostle. Author. Educator. Global Voice. Dr. Venner wears many mantles yet walks in one purpose: to awaken God’s people to their divine identity and destiny. Her life is a living testimony of unshakable faith, radical obedience, and spirit-led transformation—even in seasons of unimaginable loss. Through it all, she has emerged not just whole but overflowing, ready to pour into others with clarity, compassion, and authority.

 

In this exclusive VBD Magazine feature, journey through the extraordinary life and ministry of a woman who has learned to recognize the voice of God, follow Him without compromise, and lead others into the fullness of their Kingdom assignments. Prepare to be challenged, encouraged, and deeply inspired—because when Dr. Venner speaks, hearts are stirred, and destinies are awakened.


ROOTS OF RESILIENCE

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dr. Venner is one of eight children, the oldest daughter in a family shaped by hard work, discipline, and enduring faith. Her mother pursued her education while working and raising children, an example of sacrifice and strength that left an indelible imprint on Dr. Venner’s heart. “My mom worked and went to school, so those are the early images I have of her,” she states. “I remember watching her graduate with her high school diploma and then continue until she became a licensed practical nurse.”

 

Yet, Dr. Venner’s childhood was far from easy. She was raised by a stepfather who struggled with alcoholism. “We were raised by a stepparent that was a functioning alcoholic, and he didn’t have the capacity, I think, to love children that were not his own,” she says. “He was a verbal abuser; he was angry all the time. I grew up in that and that shapes you in a certain way.” The outworking of that pain led to rebellion in her teenage years. “If you reject someone long enough,” she explains, “the outworking of a rejected person is rebellion. So, my teen years were very tumultuous because I felt like no one loved me.”

 

Her life began to transform at age 17 when she had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. Though she had spent her early years in church, it wasn’t until that moment that she truly experienced the power of salvation. That divine encounter ignited a passion and purpose that would unfold over the next several decades.



EDUCATION AND REBIRTH

Despite her rocky teenage years, which included time in a reform school and dropping out of high school, Dr. Venner defied the odds. At 18, she walked into a technical college and requested to take the GED test. After an initial assessment, she skipped remedial classes altogether and passed the test. “I just wanted to take the test,” she says. “And I walked away with my GED.”

 

She married at 19 and dedicated her early adult years to marriage and entrepreneurship. Yet, education was never far from her heart. Operating a thriving childcare and elementary education center, Dr. Venner’s lack of formal credentials became the catalyst that sent her back to college.

 

“I started with two courses every semester—spring, summer, fall—until I completed my bachelor’s, then my master’s, and finally my doctoral degree in urban education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,” she shares. That perseverance birthed Alston’s Preparatory Academy, which served students through eighth grade and educated over 200 children at its peak.

 

However, in 2013, when they needed a larger facility, God spoke clearly: “Close the school.” Though nothing was wrong operationally, she obeyed without hesitation, teaching a powerful lesson in radical obedience. “I know His voice,” she says with certainty. “And when He said close it, I obeyed.”



HEARING GOD’S VOICE

Dr. Venner’s ability to discern God’s voice has been central to her journey. She thinks that every believer has the capacity to hear God, but many don’t recognize it. “We all have spiritual senses, just like natural ones,” she asserts. “We can see, hear, feel, taste, and touch in the Spirit. The more you pay attention to those moments, the more you recognize when eternity is breaking in.”

 

Her life is a series of divine assignments directed by those encounters—from closing a flourishing school to walking through her late husband’s cancer diagnosis and death. Even then, she was guided by God in every decision. “I asked the Lord, ‘What remains?’ And I heard Him say, ‘There’s still purpose.’ That’s how I moved forward.”

 

KINGDOM ASSIGNMENTS

Dr. Venner travels extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and Africa—carrying a message of hope and releasing Kingdom solutions to both individual and societal challenges. She is uniquely gifted to communicate the Word of God across cultures and ethnicities with clarity, relevance, and power.

 

She was the founder and apostle of Global Outreach Ministries and Training Center for more than 20 years. In addition, she is currently launching InnovateHer Academy as well as the Exceptional Woman Network, both of which reflect her passion for equipping and empowering others. Alongside her ministerial responsibilities, Dr. Venner is a certified life coach with several respected organizations, including the John Maxwell Group, and she is a proud member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF).


 

Dr. Venner operates in many roles, yet she views them as unified expressions of a single divine calling. “They are not separate. I am all of them. When I write, I’m educating. When I speak, I’m building. It’s all part of who I am in Christ.”

 

As an apostolic leader, she is passionate about awakening believers to their divine identity and kingdom assignments. “An apostle is a builder,” she explains. “We don’t just build churches; we build people. We help them discover the ‘why’ of their lives.”

 

Dr. Venner maintains that every believer is called to ministry, not just a select few. “We’ve made ministry something elite. But according to Mark 16 and Matthew 28, every believer is sent. Apostolic ministry revives that understanding. It gives people urgency to do something with what they’ve been given.”


Her message challenges religious traditions that stifle the supernatural move of God. “We’ve built churches that function like three-legged stools. We’ve embraced pastors and teachers but neglected apostles and prophets. As a result, we’ve created religious routines rather than Kingdom movements.”

 

Dr. Venner continues to encourage believers to encounter God in life-transforming ways through her new Live Podcast InnovateHer which will air on Wednesdays.

 

THE COST OF OBEDIENCE

A widow, after 44 years of marriage, Dr. Venner walked through grief with grace. “I asked God, ‘Who am I now?’ And I cried, and I mourned. But God walked me through every stage.”

 

Even in loss, she chose to obey. When she felt led to move from Wisconsin to Texas, she began shipping her belongings home—just two weeks before airports shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was divine timing,” she says. “God was ahead of me.”

 

Her obedience has birthed ministry expressions like The Gate Revival Community, a gathering space for worship, healing, and deliverance, and Innovate Summit, an Apostolic hub for leaders. Her latest initiative, InnovateHer Summit, is a powerful women’s conference launching May 15–17, 2025, at the Global Spheres Center, Corinth, TX, with a special focus on widows. “Widows are a forgotten population,” she says. “God told me: Don’t charge them anything. Just encourage them to get there.”

 

WRITING WITH PURPOSE

Dr. Venner is also a prolific author with six published books, each one birthed through prayer and prophetic insight. Her titles include:

  • Next-Level Spiritual Warfare: Advanced Strategies for Defeating the Enemy

  • Next-Level Believers: Advanced Strategies for Godly Kingdom

  • Image Bearer: Restoring the power and truth of the image of God in you

  • Encountering the Living God: Unlocking the Supernatural Realm of Heaven

  • Breakthrough Prayers Decrees and Confessions: Overcoming Demonic Resistance Through Warfare Prayer

  • The Everyday Leader: A 70-Day Devotional Guide for Leaders of All Ages

 

Each book unveils a fresh dimension of the Kingdom—whether it’s understanding spiritual gifts, operating in the supernatural, or reclaiming leadership identity. “My goal is to awaken people to who they are in Him,” Dr. Venner shares, “and to help them manifest both the power and fruit of the Spirit.” Her books are informative and transformational, offering practical applications to help readers integrate the principles mentioned into their daily lives.


Read more about Dr. Venner Alston: Subscribe to VBD Magazine's April 2025 Issue (Free)


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Photo Credit: Jason McCoy Photography

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