Elder Connie Balthrop

Elder Connie’s early years were spent in Richmond, Virginia where she and her 4 siblings were raised and where, at a young age, she received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She attended Virginia State University as an accounting major and following graduation, spent the ensuing 24 years in the corporate world beginning in public accounting (where she obtained her CPA certificate), moving to financial and general management positions in the communications industry (radio broadcasting and cable television), and finally, ownership and management of 3 successful commercial radio properties in Milwaukee, Wis., and Jacksonville, Fla.

She is convinced that God was providing her with diverse marketplace experiences that would later be used for kingdom building. Just such an opportunity presented itself in 1999 when Connie was asked to spearhead the economic development efforts of Petra International Ministries through its social service and economic development affiliate, Operation Nehemiah.

Elder Connie’s prophetic gifting has fueled her passionate pursuit of ever-increasing intimacy with Christ as she leads Petra’s Prophetic Ministry and believes God for an anointed prophetic presbytery to be birthed from Pittsburgh. Connie is an Administrative Elder and she is a member of the leadership team of W.O.V.E.N., Petra’s Women’s Ministry.

She is married to the love of her life, Elder Jim Balthrop, and has 3 purposed sons, Marcus, Darius, and Gerald, 5 gifted grandchildren, and 4 beautiful great-grandchildren.