About

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Denise Gater grew up in a loving family with devoted parents, being the middle of 5 children. They provided tremendous opportunity to excel in sports and education. Despite all this, Denise was in an extremely dark place emotionally by the age of 15. Severe knee pain cut short her competitive diving career, sexual abuse by her coach had been going on for years, and the weight of shame she hid left her numb, withdrawn, and hardened. 

Although Denise’s parents were loving, they had no belief in God. Surprisingly, it was her atheist father who encouraged her to go to a Young Life Camp that summer. It was there that her perspective completely changed about God and sparked hope and a desire to know Jesus intimately as her Savior and Lord. 

Shortly after camp, her knee pain miraculously disappeared (coincidence after 18 months off? I think NOT) and she returned to diving, competing at an elite level, earning a gold medal at the Pan American Games. BUT most importantly, 30 years later, God brought His deeper inner healing to her wounded heart in a profound way.  He entered the mess of her traumatic memories, from dark wounds long ago, and changed everything. He gave her a series of visions, beautiful images in her head that completely transformed her heart—a gift beyond words. Denise has shared her story and paintings in small groups, at women’s retreats, in a Bible college classroom, at a creative arts gathering, and one-on-one whenever opportunity arises. It is a true story of hope and healing for those who have been wounded. 

Denise received her BS in physical education from the University of Texas and her MS in exercise and sport sciences from the University of Arizona. She entered her career first as the assistant strength coach at the University of Arizona, then continued as an exercise physiologist and personal trainer at Canyon Ranch Resort and Spa in Tucson, Arizona. She was the age group diving coach for the Tucson Diving Club at the University of Arizona for eight years in addition to her full-time job. Her athletic endeavors were primarily in diving, however, she also enjoyed competing in Olympic-style weightlifting, finishing second in both the Clean & Jerk and the Snatch at the U.S. Weightlifting Federation Nationals. 

She met her husband, David, during graduate school. They have been married over 30 years and have two wonderful daughters. Denise and David now live in Florida, where David serves as Chair of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. They have served as volunteers together in the ministry of Young Life for many years. 

Denise is now mentoring at the Glory House of Miami, who is “devoted to healing and restoring the lives of those who have suffered the abuse and exploitation of human trafficking.”   Any profits from this book will go directly to help this cause.