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VERONICA MAGUIRE - BOUNDARY BREAKERS MENTOR

Veronica Maguire first teamed up with Chaplain Josie Dean in February 2005 and later that same year joined forces with Athletes International Ministries, four months after the death of her beloved husband of fifty years. She is a mother of eight children, as well as a grandmother and great grandmother. She was born in Ireland, where her husband Michael Columba Maguire was also born. The two later met and married in the United States. Veronica comes from a large family and considers them a tremendous blessing to her life.

Veronica's heart's desire for thirty years was to minister to young people, and God granted that desire in 2005. She is now a full active minister for the Lord Jesus Christ and uses her ministry to serve as a mentor to those she reaches. She has the heart of Jesus for the kids at Black Canyon School for Girls and Adobe Mountain School for Boys. Many of them know her as "The Church Lady," "Nanny" and "Granny," titles which bring her great joy. To everyone she meets, she brings a warm smile, hugs, and words of encouragement and compassion. She makes an effort to make everyone she encounters understand that they are someone special and has been known to call the girls things such as "Ms. America" and the boys names like "Mr. Universe." She speaks with God's wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is always on her tongue. In addition to her spiritual mentorship, she has been known to teach the children she encounters various life lessons, such as the importance of learning and practicing etiquette. Veronica is also known for some of her favorite phrases used within her ministry, such as "Reporting for duty, Lord," "Be an organ donor, give your heart to Jesus," and "Where are you going to spend eternity, the smoking or non-smoking section?" She brings love and laughter to all she is involved with.

In teaming up with Chaplain Josie Dean, Veronica's aim was to become the best mentor she could possibly be to the young ladies at the Black Canyon School for Girls. Her success is easily measured in the amazing number of girls who personally request her to be their mentor. Veronica seeks to do her best to help the girls understand that she is there for them, and always willing to listen and offer advice. When one of the girls she has been mentoring is prepared to leave the facility, Veronica makes a beautiful needlepoint sign which reads "Jesus" for the girl to take home with her, as a reminder of who to keep focusing on.

The following verse is what Veronica considers her personal scripture conviction:

Ezekiel 33:7-9-11, NASB

"Now as for you son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel;
So you will hear a message from my mouth and give them a warning from me.
When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak to warn the wicked man from this way,
That wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from the watchman's hand.
Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord God, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked,
But rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways!
Why then will you die, O house of Israel?"