How Jesus Changed My Life at PCN...

Kay Bull
        In the throes of my addiction I tried to pretend that God did not exist. I knew that He did, I learned that as a child and my first time in AA. I knew I was doing the wrong thing- I know I have to serve someone and I was on the wrong path. The bottom line was I would rather get high more than anything. Then I felt so bad it was no longer a real choice. I focused on others “These idiots are messing up my life” I would say to anyone that listened. I now believe the idiot that was messing up my life was me. When my long skid off course came to a crash, I lost my job and license. I felt a spiritual bankruptcy, extreme guilt, and that my moral compass was so far off it would never get right again. I gave up trying to sleep “A good nights sleep are for those with a clear conscious” I would say to myself, I embarked in a deep gut wrenching grief about what addiction had cost me and my family. I began telling others what I had done and how I felt. 
       I expected anger and disappointment, but almost everyone: my family, my church family, and friends, especially those in AA just asked “Tell me how I can help? Let us love you until you love yourself again.” I knew God was speaking to me through these people. Instead of justice I was shown mercy. I am starting with a minimum of faith. I pray every day to do God’s will, not mine. I try to stay honest, pure, unselfish and loving. I know this minimum will grow to total security if I keep doing the right things. Today I do not try to hide from God. I am slowly beginning to see that my short comings, my addictions, my crazy behavior as not something to feel guilty about, but as something that God can help me overcome. I am beginning to separate the emotional from the spiritual. If I feel bad about myself today I see it as a consequence of my addictive behaviors, and certainly not the way God wants me to feel. He wants me to have faith, love Him, and always try to do the right thing. He wants me to enjoy the beautiful days He has given me. Thoughts of gratitude, not guilt are much more dominant today. I remember a sermon from Pastor that haunted me saying that God is chasing after me. Believing in God but defying Him is the worse kind of Hell. My quality of faith dictates the quality of my day. Material things do matter, sometimes I wonder how to keep my family afloat financially, and I wish I could help my son pay for college. But I have a gift that God has given me. I can be fully present for my family and friends. I am no longer hiding in my bedroom from them or God. I try to show the love that comes from God to me to all others, and put those thoughts into prayer and action.

Kay Bull 
Richard Ponn
       Many of you know my story but for those who don’t, about 10 years ago I made some really dumb choices in my life and start doing drugs. I got so involved that I eventually got caught up in legal issues; I was given many chances by the court but couldn’t shake this addiction. Even after being in rehab for a period of time I still couldn’t and because of this I eventually had to spend time in prison. Due to my absence in the home my wife had to start working full time and needed a daycare to help care for our two boys. This I believe is where God made his move, he lead my wife to Painesville Christian Academy. As I was forced to take a hard look at my path in life and my wife really needed the Lord in our lives, she was called to find out more about Painesville Church of the Nazarene. The people here really took her in like family instantly no questions asked. After I met Pastor Terry and saw how the teens of the church really enjoyed coming to church (which really floored me) I knew this is where we were supposed to be. We started attending regularly when I was released from prison yet I still had difficulties shaking the need for drugs. I believe God and my sister (who is with our Lord and savior) were determined to open my eyes though. 2 years ago I ended up with a rupture brain aneurysm and had an 8% chance of living. Needless to say the drug problem took a big toll on my health, my marriage and the trust my wife had in me. I went into the O.R. with nothing but a kiss from my wife, mom and children plus a great prayer from Pastor Terry. The biggest part that went with me though, was my faith in Jesus. I knew then that he and my sister would make me right again. Now here I am today, sober 2 + years, loving my church and grateful of my wonderful family. All of this is, 100%, thankfulness of my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. I thank him every day for giving me another chance and putting such a spectacular family in my life. Loving Christ Loving Each Other Loving Our Community. 

Your brother in Christ, 
Richard Ponn
Joel & Kristen Wolf 
       For 14 years Joel and I had been trying to find ourselves in Jesus’ world. We would alternate between both sets of parents’ churches, not really fitting in. We went because it was what we were supposed to do. Then we just stopped going; telling ourselves that Sundays were the only days we “had off.” Then in August of 2010, my grandfather passed away. At his funeral the priest talked about him and he really knew my grandfather. Later that day all I could think about was, “Who knows me? Who would be able to say those things about me?” No one of religious stature knew me---my husband, or my kids. So we decided to “Church Shop.” We came to PCN because Joel knew Terry. Needless to say once we got here, we went nowhere else. Since we started attending 12 months ago, my life has had several hills and valleys. I have no idea how I would of gotten through them without Jesus and PCN. I have prayed at the altar, cried at the altar, and been thankful at the altar. Something I had never experienced before coming to PCN. I prayed in the past but never really felt Jesus there with me. When I pray now, He is there with me. It is a feeling I never experienced before coming to PCN. I wake everyday thankful for Jesus, Terry, PCN, and my new friends. I wouldn’t be where I am now in Jesus’ journey for me---without PCN.

Thank you, 
Kristen Wolf 

Erik & Andrea Yorke

My family and I moved to Mentor in November, 2008 from Cincinnati. The first order of business was finding a church, but it was not easy to find a place where we felt at home. We visited many churches, but never felt the Lord telling us that was where He wanted us. Then, about 15 months after beginning our search for a church, my husband, Erik, found Painesville Church of the Nazarene, and Painesville Christian Academy, online. We decided to check it out, both because we needed a church home and we wanted our son, Connor, in a Christian pre-school. I wasn’t 10 feet inside the door on our first visit when I turned to Erik with tears in my eyes and said, “we’re home!” We joined the church, I was hired as a teacher and we enrolled Connor in the pre-school. In the last year, we have experienced many obstacles. I was diagnosed with cancer and Erik was laid off. But, those are small things in the long run because God’s plan for us is bigger! If all this happened before we were brought to PCN, I would have fallen apart. But, now I am able to give my concerns to the Lord, and I know He is working in my life. He brought healing to my body, and I know He will provide for Erik’s job loss. Since becoming members of this community of believers, I have been blessed beyond measure. I was baptized and I have experienced the love of Christ through the outstretched arms of His people. However, the biggest blessing came in March when Connor was saved. He came to me and, by asking questions, testified that he believed in Jesus, and that He died for our sins and rose again! Although we have always prayed and talked about Jesus at home, being in a Christian pre-school allowed Connor to basically hear about Jesus all the time! He was becoming enveloped in His word. I believe he was saved because this church and school supported what we were teaching him at home. Now every night when he prays, he says, “Thank you for my God and my Jesus living in my heart.” That is a very powerful thing for me to hear from such a young, innocent child! I am so blessed to be part of the church and school families. Thank you for all that you are doing to touch the lives of others! 

 

In Christ, 

Andrea 

Dave & Shari Aaserud

When my wife Shari, daughter Aimee and I moved to Ohio 13 years ago, we looked for a church and God directed us to Painesville Nazarene. While we were initially attracted by the strong children and youth programs that could minister to our growing family (Emily was born a year after we moved here), we were quickly “captured” by the love of Jesus that the people at Painesville Nazarene showed us. With no relatives in the area the church became our family, welcoming us and loving us in so many ways. Our Painesville Nazarene church family means so much to us. On a personal level, Jesus has recently been changing me in the discipleship areas of prayer and personal Bible study (devotions). While I have been going to church pretty much all my life, I have struggled quite a bit with having a consistent daily prayer and devotional life. Over the last year or so, through sermons, small group studies and accountability, God has really helped me in these areas which are so important in growing as a Christian and knowing Him better. I thank God for my Painesville Nazarene Church family and how you have helped my family grow in Christ through these years. 

 

Love in Christ, 

Dave Aaserud

Jeff & Jen McCauley

When we started dating a few months before our 21st birthdays, neither of us thought much about religion. We were so swept up in our new relationship that we never really came up. Jeff came to church with me a few times, but we never really had any meaningful discussions. We were engaged that summer. Excited and happy, we started planning a wedding. That was the first time religion became a major topic of conversation, and it stayed that way for 13 years. I was raised Catholic, and Jeff was raised in an independent Baptist church. They could not have been more different. It quickly became clear that the two of us had reached an impasse on what to do about religion (to the point where we had a civil wedding ceremony). We both were adamant that we could not convert to the other church; the differences were just too great. We were in the same book, but we could not get on the same page. When it came to going to church, we tried alternating weeks; one week at my church, one at his. That was a compromise, but it left us feeling disconnected; we didn’t have a “home” church where we could make friends and get involved. Plus, we still weren’t seeing eye to eye when it came to doctrine. Eventually, we stopped going to church all together because neither of us was happy about the situation, and we felt incomplete going to church alone. Jeff and I were both Christians, but not having a place to worship together was very hard for us. We were in dire need of a church to call home where we could worship together and find like-minded friends. 

In 2009, Ashton was invited to the winter retreat here at PCN. Jeff came to pick her up, and he stayed for the service when he noticed some friends from high school in the sanctuary. He came home very excited, and went back the next week. Both he and Ashton started going on Wednesday nights, too. I was feeling left out; I had stopped going to St. Mary’s because no one wanted to go to church with me. After a month or so, Jeff convinced me to check it out. We have been coming every week ever since. 

 We both firmly believe that God led us directly to PCN to give us a church where we could worship together. Some of our neighbors were already here (including Pastor Terry and Miriam), and Pastor Brian and Jen Forney (high school friends) went out of their way to make us feel welcome. The disagreements are over; instead, we focus our energy on helping each other and our girls be followers of Christ. Now that we are on “the same page,” our family has never been stronger. Our faith in Jesus is the rock that our marriage stands on. The one thing that we have learned from this 13 year journey to find a church is that God has a plan for all of us, and all we have to do is follow His plan. The peace and comfort that we have found in Him has strengthened us as individuals, parents, and husband and wife. 


With Christ, all things are possible. 

Jen and Jeff McCauley