Cheryl McGuinness

Cheryl lost her husband on September 11, 2001. Tom McGuinness, 42, was the co-pilot of American Airlines flight 11 which was flown into the north tower of the World Trade Center. "I was a normal woman, living a very happy life and I never pictured that our dream would suddenly become a nightmare. I never imagined that our peaceful life would be completely shattered. And then came September 11," said Cheryl McGuinness.

Now, supported by her deep faith in God, Cheryl is reaching out to others who have also experienced tragedy by sharing her message of courage, determination and love. Her ministry, Beauty Beyond the Ashes, is dedicated to supporting and encouraging those who are feeling overwhelmed by their circumstances. Through the journey Cheryl and her two children have found a place of healing and forgiveness.

A sought-after author and speaker, McGuinness has appeared on "700 Club," "LIFE Today," "Good Morning America," MSNBC, CNN, and FOX News. She has also been featured in publications such as Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family, Charles Stanley's In Touch, Stonecroft Ministries' Progress Magazine, Salvation Army's War Cry, The Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, New York Times, and Newsweek. She shares her story, personally, through speaking engagements across the country.

Cheryl was born in Burlington, Massachusetts. She and Tom met in high school and started dating. She went on to graduate from the University of Massachusetts. Then, in 1983, Cheryl and Tom married and had two children: Jennifer and Tommy. While Tom was stationed in the Navy in San Diego, California, Cheryl worked at Guidant Corporation as the human resource manager. A few years ago the family settled in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. They joined Bethany Church in Greenland where she and Tom led a Bible study.

Cheryl's Messages:
In each message, Cheryl shares her personal experience from September 11th. She takes her audience with her as she relives the events of that day--how she first heard the news, how she told her children, and how, through it all, God carried her. But her messages are so much more than just her September 11th story. Cheryl uses her experience to share important principles. She challenges her audiences to see the application of those principles to their lives. Her messages are life changing.

Among the topics Cheryl regularly explores in her messages are the following:

Trust God:
With her September 11th experience as a backdrop, Cheryl shows how her faith enabled her to overcome her circumstances. She transfers her experience to her audience, leading them to see how the same God who saved her will enable them to overcome their circumstances--whatever they may be.

Peace:
The audience discovers "the peace which transcends all understanding," as Cheryl draws on Paul's letter to the Philippians. She explains what Paul means when he speaks of "peace." She discusses what peace is and isn't and she leads her audience to a greater understanding of God, His love for us and how they too can experience the peace Paul writes about.

Forgiveness:
How do you forgive the unforgivable? Cheryl shares her story of how she moved from anger to forgiveness. Using Biblical principles, she explains the hows and whys of forgiveness. She also shares how Tom prepared her for September 11th with some powerful teaching. Her thoughts on the importance of creating a meaningful legacy challenge her audience to create lasting legacies of their own.

Trust, Submit and Obey:
What does it mean to trust, submit and obey God? What does God really expect of us anyway? What keeps us from fully trusting in Him, submitting to Him and obeying Him? Cheryl addresses these and other challenging questions. Using her life experiences, she shows her audience how they can develop a deeper, more intimate, walk with the Lord.

Created, Cared For and Called:
Cheryl shares her testimony which leads to several key points from her book. She describes how God created us and from the very beginning of our lives, knows us intimately. Drawing from her life experiences, she explains how God cares for us throughout our life journey. Finally, she shares how He calls us to accomplish His purpose.

Courage, Confidence, and Contentment:
Cheryl shares personal insights of how God turned her fear, after the events of September 11th, into courage to set off in a new direction. She shares how God turned her uncertainty into confidence and the pain and suffering she experienced into true contentment.

Spiritual Intimacy:
In her message on spiritual intimacy, Cheryl shares her experience of drawing closer to God. She discusses what spiritual intimacy involves, why it is important and what we can do to develop a more intimate relationship with Him.