Hilda Stewart

Founding Director 

As the Founding Director and visionary for Cheerful Hearts, Hilda has held tight to the vision of this ministry for 18 years as an inclusive, healing place of rest and restoration. Hilda develops and oversees the ministries, activities, and events at Cheerful Hearts as well as serves the ministry team and clients as intercessor, advocate, and partner in faith.

She and her most supportive husband Michael have 5 grown children and 12 precious grandchildren.

Prior to being in ministry full time, Hilda worked in early childhood special education, focusing on infants and preschoolers at high risk for developmental delays. In 1992, Hilda was founding director of a preschool, still operating today, where she worked in tandem with the local department of special education. Hilda earned a BA in Psychology and a MA in Pastoral Ministry from Erskine Theological Seminary. She served for years as a pastor in a mainline denomination prior to saying yes to starting a ministry in 2005.

Cheerful Hearts Ministry was born when Hilda said yes to an invitation from Jesus to come on an adventure with Him creating safe spaces for women to know Jesus in a real way while being authentic and open, delving into their deep interior issues with Him. A lifelong learner and servant, Hilda has studied extensively both formally and informally. After seminary, she attended a two-year program called Advanced Discipleship Training on the Exchanged Life Model.

Hilda has been mentored by Dr. David Stewart, author of Healing Oils of the Bible and The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple as well as a participant of multiple courses under his teaching. Carlotta Waldmann, Cross Walk Life Ministries, mentored Hilda for a season after Hilda completed prayer minister with her in Ohio. Another significant influence is Dr. Mark Virkler and his life changing teaching on the 4 keys to hearing God’s voice. She has attended many seminars led by him and completed courses at Christian Leadership University. She holds many certifications including Sozo Facilitator, Emotional Release Facilitator and For My Life, Maps Facilitator. A highlight of her career is participating in an intensive program known as Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: a two-and-a-half-year journey with the Transforming Center in Illinois led by Dr. Ruth Haley Barton. This program yields a certification in Spiritual Formation. 

Hilda has been active for almost three decades in developing and leading weekend and one-day retreats for women in personal homes, state parks, conventions centers, churches and wherever the Lord would lead her. It is a great joy for Hilda, walking alongside other women who seek to find true peace and joy in a relationship with Christ. Hilda says, “It is over the top incredible when women find the treasure they are seeking, when their broken hearts begin to heal, and they have hope.”

She and Deborah Williamson, her partner in ministry for almost 20 years, often boast they are simple fisherwomen who have the best job in the world in front row seats watching ladies hear from Jesus and receive healing and hope!

She is truly excited about all the things in the future of Cheerful Hearts. Isaiah 43:19 has been highlighted time and time again. So, she leads us as we go forward in great faith of this new thing the LORD is doing.