March 2025 FRESH START

M A R C H 2 0 2 5 , V O L U M E 6 , I S S U E 2
FRESH Start
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE PORT CHARLOTTE SDA CHURCH
The
Power of
Prayer

BY BEN SHURTLIFF
SENIOR PASTOR
Experiencing God’s
Presence Together
Can you recall a time
when you prayed to God
and He answered your
prayer? Think about that
for a minute. The God
who conducts the affairs
of the cosmos, the
universe, the unknown
expanse throughout
space heard your
request and answered it.
That should mean
something to us. We
shouldn’t just gloss over
the fact that the most
important being in the
universe makes himself
available to us day or
night. No politician,
doctor, or person of any
variety can do that. Yet
God is available 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week, 365
days a year.
One of my favorite Bible
verses regarding prayer
is found in 1 John 5:1,
“This is the confidence
which we have before
Him, that, if we ask
anything according to His
will, He hears us.“
God wants us to have
confidence in Him that
when we come to Him,
He hears us! I have been
so encouraged to see
what God has been
doing this year with our
church and the very
special time we share
together at prayer
meeting. Never before in
my ministry as a pastor
have I seen the numbers
of people praying
together like what is
happening now. Never
have I seen tailored
prayer meetings for
children and high school
age youth until now. God
is definitely doing a new
and beautiful thing on
our campus and if you
have yet to experience it,
I can tell you,
unreservedly, that you
are missing out.
Just this past Wednesday
night there was singing,
sharing testimonies of
God’s goodness,
meaningful prayer for
forgiveness, intercessory
prayer of all kinds, and to top it all off
a joint prayer while holding hands
surrounding the sanctuary for a
mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit! I
am so grateful to serve a church that
has caught the joy of prayer and
prayer meeting. I leave every
Wednesday night on fire and full of
love, joy, peace, and conviction that
God, our Father, is working all things
out for our good! I sincerely hope that
if you are reading this, you too will be
able to share the blessing of what God
is doing each Wednesday night at 6:00
pm in our sanctuary. If you need a
ride call me (305-903-3326) and I can
help make suitable arrangements.
Hope to see you at prayer meeting
this coming Wednesday at 6 pm.
Cover Photo: Ted Stringer

Notice
At Port Charlotte SDA Church, we
love sharing the wonderful
moments of our community,
including those involving our youth,
through photos in any media
created by our church. Please note
that unless we are notified
otherwise, we assume permission to
use images of your child(ren) for
these purposes. If you prefer not to
have your child’s photo included, we
kindly ask that you contact Laura
Dancek at: pcsdalaura@gmail.com
Youth Bowling Night took place on February 1.
Photo credit: Ben Shurtliff
Thank you for helping us respect
your wishes while celebrating our
vibrant church family.
The Mark Anthony cooking and health
presentation was well attended
on February 16.
Photo credit: Wave Williams

UPCOMING
Events
Sight and Sound Presentation in the Grand Hall
6 pm, Friday, February 28
Fellowship luncheon on March 1. Don’t forget to bring at
least two dishes and enjoy this wonderful time together!
Please join us. We are now able to seat more people!

UPCOMING
Events
Faith Night with the Charlotte Rays
March 9 at 1pm
SIGN UP NOW!
How to get berm seating
tickets for $10?
Sign up while at church on
March 1 and by Sunday March 2
in order to receive the $10 offer.
Any tickets purchased after that
date will have to pay the regular
berm price individually at around
$20 and then join our group at
the park.
We will meet at the entrance of
Port Charlotte Sports Park
Stadium at 12:30 pm in order for
everyone to be able to enter and
then sit together for the game.
Food can be purchased at the
stadium or individually before the
game.

Kids’ J.A.M.
On January 25, our children discovered just how wonderfully unique they are.
Each one as special as a snowflake!
Photo credits: Ted Stringer

Gifts of Love
BY BRANDON MOLINA
Gifts of appreciation were presented to the officers of the
Charlotte County Sheriff Department. A poster, signed by our
children during Kids J.A.M., was delivered, along with plenty of
sweet treats. Three of our homeschooled families and Donna
Judy, leader of children’s ministries, made the presentations.
When they first told us at Kids’ J.A.M. that we had to write our
names down on the billboard, I never thought we’d take it
ourselves to the police department. Of course, I was excited for it.
When we got there, I thought there would be more officers. Turns
out, they weren’t there yet and if it weren’t for the lady at the front
desk, we probably would’ve never gotten in. She welcomed us with
open arms, and honestly, if I saw a group of people bringing a
bunch of cookies, I would’ve done the same thing. I am glad that
we did that because a little kindness can go a long way. I pray that
the whole police department will get to know Christ, and I hope
that if you haven’t accepted Christ as your Savior that you get
inspired by this. My name is Brandon Luca Molina, and I have a
Savior that is the Almighty God!!!
Photo credits: Donna Judy

Welcome to the Family
James Jensen
January 25, 2025 was a highlight for the
Jensen family when 11-year-old James
Jensen publicly declared his desire to follow
Jesus through music and baptism. After
singing a song about a funeral for the old
self to allow a new life in Christ to emerge,
James was baptized by Pastor Ben.
James moved here from California and has
been enrolled in the Port Charlotte
Adventist School since September. He
enjoys singing and basketball.
Photo credits: Ted Stringer
BY DON BYARD
Alex and Iryna Plaksin
Alex and Iryna Plaksin arrived here from
California looking for a lot on which to build
a house. They found the perfect one near
our church. They were welcomed as
members of the PCSDA Church on Feb 8,
2025.
Alex, a 5th generation Seventh-day
Adventist, is Russian and married his
Ukrainian wife Iryna two years ago. Alex’s
father and grandfather were both pastors,
a dream to which Alex hopes to fulfill
someday.
Traveling and languages are hobbies of
Alex who has visited 67 countries and
speaks 6 languages fluently. Iryna enjoys
photography and the arts. Both are
passionate about cooking and gardening.
They also love to worship through song and
music. Presently, two Frenchies and a cat
complete their household.

Welcome to the Family
Kenneth Ketchum
Kenneth Ketchum has a desire to love people
through service and was seeking that
opportunity. His memory of his wife serving as
a member of SDA churches in New York was an
inspiration to him to fill his need for change,
transformation, and healing in like manner. The
presence of members from the Caribbean
community also drew him to the PCSDA
Church. He was welcomed into membership on
February 8, 2025.
Kenneth has a wide variety of interests ranging
from gospel praise and worship skating to
public health ministry and wellness
presentations, including vegan food
preparation. Water sports are another interest
including distance swimming and deep-water
kayaking. Pickleball, shadowboxing and
kickboxing are his on-land sports. He also is
involved in athletic training for children
Photo credit: Wave Williams
and seniors along with steam
room and sauna stretching.
He also enjoys drama and stage
play performances as well as
dramatic Bible readings and deep
Bible study and analysis.
Lola and James Fucillo
The Fucillo family, Lola and James, moved to
Port Charlotte in 2016. After visiting the SDA
Churches of the area, they chose PCSDA
Church because of its multicultural diversity,
community involvement, and close proximity to
home. The involvement of youth in the church
services was also a drawing card.
Lola’s hobbies include a day out thrift
shopping, craft fairs, gardening, reading, and a
love for animals. James enjoys music and
learning about different people and places.
Both delight in Bible study as well.

Welcome to Our Family
John and Norma Kelley
John and Norma Kelley became members of
PCSDA Church by letter of transfer on Feb. 8,
2025. Pastor Dale Wolfe, former pastor of
PCSDA Church, was their pastor in Atlanta. He
told the church there how warm and inviting
the Port Charlotte Church was back in the
1990s. When John and Norma decided to make
the move to Florida, the decided they would
like to live in this area. They found that the
church is still warm and friendly and count it a
blessing to make this their church home.
John enjoys exercising at the gym. He and
Norma both find pleasure in nature walks,
noting the differences between here and
Georgia. They both like to take day trips to
explore new places. Christian movies about
true life events, studying God’s Word, and
sharing Jesus with others are important
interests to both John and Norma.
Natalia Cravet
Natalia Cravet has been an Adventist since
childhood and has lived in America for 20
years. In her search for a state where she
would like to stay forever, she and her husband
Ghenadie settled on Florida after living in
several states. Living close to the church, they
find it convenient to attend PCSDA Church
where they find joy in serving God and helping
people. Ghenandie and Natalia became official
members of PCSDA Church on February 22,
2025 through Profession of Faith. Natalia
already serves as a deaconess.

Baby Dedication
BY DON BYARD
Amelia May Kahler
February 1, 2025 was a special day for the Kahler family. Parents, Dan and
Jannine Kahler, along with brother Leo, dedicated their precious
daughter/sister, Amelia May (Mili) to the Lord, recognizing He is the owner
of her life. Their prayer is that she will grow up to live a life pleasing to the
Lord through wisdom, a peaceful spirit, and a loving heart. Leo had been
praying for a baby sister and is pleased God answered his prayer.
Photo credit: Rodney Grussling

The Church Directory App
is now available for everyone, and it is quite handy to have
on your phone! With just the push of a button, you can call
or email the church, watch church services, read the latest
announcements, go to our online giving, and more!
Port Charlotte
Seventh-day Adventist
Church
941-629-1333
2036 Loveland Blvd.
Pt. Charlotte, FL 33952
www.pcsda.net
FRESH Start Team:
Photographers:
Laura Dancek
Rodney Grussling
Colin Stringer
Ted Stringer
Niquecoy Webb
Wave Williams
The real benefit of this app is to be able to match faces with
names, and to get contact information. Please email a photo
of your family to be included in the directory, if this image is
above your name:
Writers:
Don Byard
Laura Dancek
Brandon Molina
Ben Shurtliff
Editor:
Laura Dancek
Contact pcsdalaura@gmail.com with your photos or
questions.
Contact us at:
pcsdalaura@gmail.com