July 2024 FRESH START

J U L Y 2 0 2 4 , I S S U E 4
FRESH Start
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE PORT CHARLOTTE SDA CHURCH
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
In the past several months, our church joyously
embraced over thirty-five new members! This issue
highlights those who responded to our questions. We
hope this will help you get acquainted with them and
will lead to warm friendships.
Port Charlotte Seventh-day Adventist Church has long
been graced by retired pastors finding a home here.
This edition is penned by retired pastor Don Byard, now
part of the newsletter team dedicated to celebrating
new additions to our church family. We are grateful for
his contribution.

Don Byard:
Feature Writer
Don Byard, a cherished member of
our church since February 2018,
retired after seventeen years of
pastoral service in Ohio, following
twenty years in Maryland and West
Virginia.
Raised on a dairy farm near
Mancelona, Michigan, Don credits his
strong work ethic to his upbringing by
his parents, who are members of our
church.
He delights in his three daughters and
four grandchildren, and enjoys hiking,
walking, and traveling. Having visited
all fifty states and numerous
countries, Don enriches our church
with a wealth of experience, pastoral
insights and warm spirit.

Photo credit: Emmanuel St. Cloud
what is “profession of
faith?”
BY DON BYARD
Profession of Faith has been adopted by the Seventh-day
Adventist Church as one of three ways of being voted into
membership in the local congregation. Most are familiar
with baptism and transfer of membership by letter, but
profession of faith (POF) uniquely provides another option.
When a person has been baptized by immersion, they may
request membership by profession of faith. Usually this is
because Seventh-day Adventist Churches do not have a
method of transferring membership across denominational
lines. Sometimes within the SDA setting, it is difficult to
transfer membership from one church to another because
of inaction on the part of the church holding the
membership. Often this is the case when transferring from
another country where communication is non-existent or
intermittent at best.
“ C h u r c h i s n o t
a n o r g a n i z a t i o n
y o u j o i n ; i t i s a
f a m i l y w h e r e
y o u b e l o n g , a
h o m e w h e r e y o u
a r e l o v e d a n d a
h o s p i t a l w h e r e
y o u f i n d
h e a l i n g . ”
NICKY GUMBEL
Occasionally, a person
isn't sure which
church holds their
membership due to
frequent moving,
poor record keeping,
or lack of a church
clerk to process a
request for a letter of
transfer. Handwritten
records were kept for
years and the
transition to digital
files has been slower
in some areas.
Membership by POF is
equally valid as
baptism or transfer of
membership by letter.

Professions of Faith
Alexey and Elena Novoselova
Photo credits: Ted Stringer
Pastor Alexey Novoselova and his wife Elena have
come to us from Russia where they have worked for
the church for 29 years in various capacities. They were
welcomed into membership of the Port Charlotte SDA
Church on June 15, 2024 by profession of faith.
Pastor Novoselova has served as a local church pastor
in several districts as well as in conference
administration, serving as treasurer, executive
secretary and president of various missions within
Russia. He also has served as Principal of an Adventist
High School. He is a devoted family man who enjoys
pickleball and baptizing people.
Besides raising children, Elena, a trained psychologist,
has served by her husband’s side in both local
churches and in mission administrative positions,
including family ministry, youth choirs, secretary, along
with leading the association of pastors’ wives. She likes
to cook and help people and families.

The Maugeri and
Abbott Family
John and Jennifer Maugeri, along with
their daughter, Jacque Abbott, and son
Alexander Maugeri were accepted into
the Port Charlotte SDA Church on June
29, 2024 by profession of faith. They
felt God leading them to PCSDA
Church.
Devon Mayborn
Devon Mayborn moved to Port
Charlotte from Houston, TX with her
sister, who now resides on the east
coast of Florida. She began attending
PCSDA Church two years ago and
found she enjoys the friendships she
has made here. She spends about half
of the year at her daughter’s home in
Richmond, VA.
John and Jennifer’s love of dogs is
obvious given the seven they own,
along with their operation of a dog
grooming salon they own together.
John also loves Jeeps, classic cars,
shooting and blacksmithing while
Jennifer enjoys camping with their RV.
Jacque has a new baby and is into
designing computer websites and
apps. She also enjoys sewing and
crocheting.
Alexander is happiest when he is
drawing and sketching.
Devon loves to read and study the
Bible as well as the Sabbath School
quarterly. As a retired RN of 29 years,
she enjoys helping others and is
looking forward to becoming involved
in community service through the
church. She was accepted as a
member on June 29, 2024 by
profession of faith.
Photo credits: Ted Stringer

Niquecoy Webb
Niquecoy Webb was welcomed into
church membership by Profession of
Faith on March 2, 2024. He was
introduced to the PCSDA Church by a
friend who brought him to church.
His interests include cooking and
photography. He is using his
photography skills to record church
events to include in the Fresh Start
newsletter.
Photo credit: Wave Williams
Vivette Archer
On April 13 Vivette Archer joined our
church family by profession of faith.
Photo credit: Wave Williams

Transfers
Anatolie and Irina
Gubceac
Anatolie and Irina Gubceac’s
membership was transferred on March
9, 2024. Friends of theirs in the PCSDA
Church influenced them to attend our
congregation. Anatolie’s interests
include fishing and gardening. Irina
finds joy in flower arranging. Both
enjoy the beach.
The Moxley Family
The membership for the Moxley
family’s transfer of membership was
accepted on March 15, 2024. Joseph,
his wife Hope, and daughters Precious
and Peniel have been sharing their
musical talents for the past several
months and leading the planning for
VBS which took place June 24-28 even
before their transfer was complete.

Bruce and Phyllis Price
On November 4, 2023 Bruce and
Phyllis Price transferred their
membership from North Florida after
having a house built in Rotunda
Heights. They felt blessed by watching
the Port Charlotte Church services
during Covid and sensed God’s leading
them to this church. Both Bruce and
Phyllis enjoy the beach, swimming,
working with flowers and shrubs,
traveling, biking and some sports.
Photo credit: Laura Dancek
Hannah Forbes
Hannah Forbes found her way to Port
Charlotte through her new husband,
our associate pastor, Gavin Forbes. She
enjoys working, being outdoors and
especially being involved with youth
ministry. Her transfer of membership
was completed on June 15, 2024.
Photo credit: Niquecoy Webb

The Freed Family
The Freed family officially joined the
Port Charlotte Church on February 3,
2024. John E. and his wife, Michele,
moved here after retirement with their
son John C. (JC), from Columbus, IN.
Michele worked as an RN at the
hospital in Columbus for 20 years. She
also helped her husband, a CPA, start
an insurance agency which he
managed for 30 years. John also
served as church treasurer for 40 years
in their church.
Photo credit: Niquecoy Webb
Both John E. and Michele enjoy
pickleball and belong to a boat club.
John enjoys fishing when the
opportunity presents itself. They have
three other children, two of which live
in California, and one in Iowa.
Their son, JC, is good with computers
and loves to drive. He has found
employment that involves driving
locally.
Maria Jacques
Maria Jacques (not pictured)
transferred her membership to the
PCSDA Church on October 7, 2023.
Though a private person, she enjoys
singing for God. She shares her love of
singing at any invitation, including
nursing homes, the park, church, or
Sabbath School, etc. She attends the
Spanish congregation of our church
where she shares her music regularly.

Jannine Kahler
Jannine Kahler officially became a
member of the PCSDA Church on July
13, 2024. She comes to Port Charlotte
from the Philippines via stints in New
Jersey and Washington state. Her
family recently moved to Florida to be
closer to her husband’s mom. Jannine
just delivered a baby girl. She, along
with her husband and son, feel blessed
to be part of the church family.
Her interest in sports has been
replaced with being an at home mom.
She enjoys experimenting in cooking
and baking. The family relishes being
outdoors as weather permits.
Photo credit: Wave Williams

Baptisms
Daniel and Sarah Collante
The last Sabbath of the year, December 30, 1923, was a
highlight for Daniel Collante, age 7, and his sister Sarah
Collante, age10 as they were baptized together. Both
had studied under Pastor Ben in preparation for this
special occasion. Daniel is in the Primary Sabbath
School class and Sarah is in Juniors. Both attend the
Punta Gorda public school.
Sarah loves to sing and Daniel has a mind for numbers,
especially the big digits. He stated that he wanted to
keep the commandments and go to heaven when
Jesus comes. Both he and his sister requested baptism
on their own volition. They are the children of a single
mother, Tamara Collante Tejada, who requests your
support and prayers for her family.
Photo credits: Ted Stringer
Trecia Lunan
Trecia Lunan credits her grandmother, who had a significant
part in raising her, for sowing the seeds of SDA beliefs in her
life. She was baptized on December 23, 2023 because of that
influence.
Photo credits: Ted Stringer
Trecia considered it a privilege to care for her grandmother
in her last illness. This experience ignited a love and passion
for helping the elderly and shut-ins. Trecia’s primary job is at
a spa doing facials but she also has worked for Bright Star
Care for 2 years, caring for others and doing what she feels
God has called her to do. She describes herself as laid back,
but friendly and willing to help wherever needed.

Yenifer Lopez
Yenifer Tabora Lopez chose to
be baptized at the beach
where she enjoys spending
her spare time. She also
enjoys walking with her dog.
She joined the Port Charlotte
SDA Church due to the
friendliness she finds there.
She always feels very
welcomed. She is also a friend
of the GoThere4 team.
Photo credit: Rodney Brydson Ocean
Moshie Fisher
On April 27, 2024 Moshie
Fisher was baptized by Pastor
Ben. Twelve years ago they
both went to Ecuador on a
mission trip, when Moshie
was a youth. Recently,
Moshie decided to give his
heart to the Lord and be
baptized.
Photo credit: Ted Stringer

The Johnson Family
Seven-year-old Mekir Johnson publicly
professed her love for Jesus through
baptism on May 4, 2024, the same
day that her sister, Mahogany
Johnson, was dedicated. Her baptism
was delayed in January due to her
sister being born on the Sabbath of
her first scheduled baptism.
Mekir prepared for baptism through
classes at PCAS and loves to sing and
crochet blankets. Her friendly
personality endears Photo her credits: to everyone.
Wave Williams
She is the daughter of Mekos and
Tiffany Johnson. Siblings Mekos
Johnson Jr. and Armonnie E. Harewood
St. Fleur transferred their membership
to PCSDA Church on April 6, 2024.
Photo credits: Ted Stringer

Photo credits: Wave Williams
The Hall Family
On May 11, 2024, Pastor Gavin had the privilege of baptizing the Hall family.
Stacy, and her two children, Tony, 14, and Emmy, 13. They began attending
PCSDA with Stacy’s brother, Ronald Negrich, at the end of 2023. The Hall
family enjoy beaches and fishing. Tony plays baseball. Emmy and Stacy
volunteer with special needs adults. They are grateful to be a part of this
church family.
Stacy Emmy Tony

Baby Dedications
Daniel Kai James Jere
Nine month old Daniel Kai James Jere
was dedicated on May 25, 2024.
Daniel’s parents are Danielle Roye
and Silvester Jere. Many of you know
his grandmother, Shawneen Baker.
Photo credits: Ted Stringer

Baby Dedications
Anthony Moore
Anthony Moore, Jr., eight month old
son of Anthony Moore, Sr. and
Victoria Muller, was dedicated to the
Lord on June 8, 2024. Baby Anthony’s
Aunt Crystal and godmother,
Brianna, stood beside the parents
for this blessed event.
Photo credits: Ted Stringer

J U L Y 2 0 2 4
I S S U E 4
Not a
member?
941-629-1333
2036 Loveland Blvd.
Pt. Charlotte, FL 33952
www.pcsda.net
If you are interested in
joining our church, contact
the membership clerk, Tria
Shurtliff.
305-775-3380
tria43@yahoo.com
The church newsletter is available on our
website. To receive it via email you may
subscribe at the bottom of any page of our
website:
pcsda.net
FRESH Start
Photographers:
Ted Stringer
Niquecoy Webb
Wave Williams
Writer:
Don Byard
Editor:
Laura Dancek
pcsdacommunication@gmail.com