Cindy is a wife, mother and grandmother who was raised in the charming lakeside town of Port Clinton, Ohio. She was fortunate to be raised in church by godly parents and always felt the calling of God on her life. As a teenager Cindy was very active in Christian choral groups traveling and ministering all over Ohio in the summers. She sang in the church choir, choral groups at school and played the piano for various events as well.

In the Fall of 1989, Cindy was led to attend a 10 week intensive ministry training school, the Institute of Ministry, at Christian Retreat in Bradenton, Fl. She had no idea how God would change her life in those 10 weeks. She met Joe Thornton and the 2 of them were given the opportunity to lead their class in praise and worship every morning. The 2 of them knew that God was doing something in them that went far beyond those 10 weeks. In fact, just 4 1/2 months after they met, they were married right there at Christian Retreat, a place near and dear to both of their hearts.

While raising their 2 daughters, Cindy and Joe were involved in youth and children's ministry in their church. They had the opportunity to minister to many youth and children who are now grown and still so dear to them.

In early 2014, Cindy, Joe and their girls endured the loss of their 3 remaining living parents within a period of 12 days. For many people this would cause them to question and turn away from God. But for Joe and Cindy, it drew them closer to Him than they had been in a long time. They felt God calling them back to the Institute of Ministry in January 2015 to fully pursue God's calling for the rest of their lives together.

Many doors of ministry began to open up for Joe and Cindy and they were able to volunteer at the Strawberry Lake, Minnesota Christian Retreat for a summer season, minister and teach in God Encounters in Minnesota and in Florida, as well as speak at the Institute of Ministry.

Cindy feels that God has specifically laid on her heart to minister to adoptive families and thus has written The Stories of Cindy Suzer series. She also truly has a heart for women and showing them their worth as daughters of the Most High God.