Carla Dawn Johnson was born on July 1, 1961, in Bad Homburg, West Germany, as the fourth child and only daughter of Rev.
Upon Johnson's election as Director of the World Mission Division of the Church of the Nazarene in 1973,[14] Sunberg and her family relocated to Overland Park, Kansas.
From 1979 Sunberg attended MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) cum laude degree in 1983.
[4] After graduation from MidAmerica Nazarene University in May 1983, Sunberg became a registered nurse and worked in Kansas, Missouri, and Texas.
[15][4][16] For three years from 1983, Sunberg worked as a nurse in St Louis, Missouri, while her husband Chuck was associate pastor of the Southwest Church of the Nazarene.
[17] In her capacity as Director of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in the CIS Field, Sunberg used her training and experience as a registered nurse.
[citation needed] By 2013 the CIS Nazarene Education Centers were offering the following academic programs: Certificate in Christian Service, Certificate in Spiritual Formation, Diploma in Bible and Theology, and Diploma in Bible and Mission, through its affiliation with European Nazarene College in Busingen, Germany.
[17] While still living in Moscow, in 1999 Sunberg enrolled part-time at Nazarene Theological Seminary), and travelled there twice a year with 7 Russian students to attend classes.
[citation needed] In September 2011, the Sunbergs were appointed as co-District Superintendents of the East Ohio District of the Church of the Nazarene.
[48][49] In February 2007 Sunberg became the inaugural chairperson of the USA/Canada's Nazarene Women Clergy Council,[50][42][51] a position she held until she resigned in Spring 2010.
[64] In March 2014, Sunberg's latest book, Reclaiming Eve: The Identity and Calling of Women in the Kingdom of God, co-written with Suzanne Burden and Jamie Wright, will be released by Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City.
[citation needed] Sunberg was one of the speakers at the first Nazarene European Women in Ministry Conference that was held in Greystones, Ireland in November 2003.
[70] In October 2006, Sunberg was one of the speakers at Women Alive Ministries' Come to the Fire holiness conference held at College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas, that attracted more than 1,200 participants from 9 nations and 35 US states.
[41] In her capacity as WHWC President, on May 13, 2012, Sunberg preached at a service honoring Nazarene pioneer woman biblical studies professor and preacher Olive Winchester at a conference at the University of Glasgow.
In these two lectures, Sunberg explored the concept of theosis and becoming like God in holiness through the lives and teaching of the Cappadocian fathers and mothers.
In the second lecture, Sunberg described the faith journeys of the Cappadocian mothers and challenged students to embrace their call to deeper intimacy and union with Christ.
[82] In October 2013 Sunberg was one of the eight holiness preachers chosen to preach at the first Preaching Holiness in a Pluralistic World conference held on the campus of Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri,[83] and was one of the two keynote speakers at the Christian Women's Leadership Conference at Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
[81][86] Citing their exemplary professional achievement, Christian influence and dedicated service to the Lord, the Church of the Nazarene, Olivet and their family, Dr. Gregg Chenoweth, vice president of academic affairs, stated: "The Sunbergs are wedded not only in marriage, but in ministry.