FRESH Start November 2025

N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 5 V O L U M E 6 , I S S U E 7
FRESH Start
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE PORT CHARLOTTE SDA CHURCH
Season of
Thanks

Dear Church Family,
On behalf of my family and myself, I want
to thank you all for the incredible
outpouring of love and support this past
month! It reminds me of a great Bible
passage found in 1 Corinthians 9:11-12:
“You will be enriched in every way so that
you can be generous on every occasion, and
through us your generosity will result in
thanksgiving to God. This service that you
perform is not only supplying the needs of
the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in
many expressions of thanks to God.”
That about perfectly sums up exactly what
your generosity has done to the pastors’
families of our beloved church.
I am sure most of you know that
sometimes it seems like Satan works hard
at grinding down on pastors and their
families. Not unlike what he does to all
believers, but it seems that he does so in
particular to pastors hoping to affect the
whole body of believers. This church family
stepped up their appreciation and far
exceeded whatever plan Satan may have
had.
Photo credits: Ted Stringer and Rodney Grussling

May I just say that the entire month of
October is one seamless memory of
encouragement, from every angle
imaginable. I have been blessed by the
many meaningful words of
encouragement in the cards from
members of all ages, the delicious treats
ranging from homemade baked goods to
home-cooked meals with loads of
thoughtful preparation included, and not
least of which the very thoughtful gifts and
financial support you have shown us! I
don’t know what the other pastors’
families are planning on doing with their
financial blessing, but if you ask Hope, she
will tell you she is already planning our
next family vacation.
How do you adequately say thank you to a
church family that has done so much to
show their love and support? I am not sure
to be honest, but with God’s help in the
coming weeks and months I intend on
doing everything I can to care for your
family as you have cared for mine.
Thank you, Port Charlotte Seventh-day
Adventist church, you are a class act and
wonderfully represent our kind and caring
Savior and Lord Jesus Christ!
Love, Pastor Ben

UPCOMING EVENTS
AT A GLANCE
We have much going on in the next few months!
Please put these special events on your calendar.
November 1 - Distribution of boxes for Operation
Christmas Child, during children’s story. For more
information, read the article in last month’s newsletter at:
https://www.yumpu.com/s/spaLXYGx0SlOUMEe
November 1 - Potluck in the Grand Hall
November 1 - Presentation by Empath Health, following
the potluck, in the Grand Hall
Nov 8 and Dec 13 - 9-9:50 Good God Cafe in Grand Hall A
November 8 - 5:00 Family Youth Rally
November 9 - 10-2:00 International Fall Festival at PCAS
November 15 - Operation Christmas Child boxes collected
November 16 - 9:00 Pathfinder Garage Sale
November 16 - 3:00 Healthy Cooking Class and Potluck in
the Grand Hall.
November 19 - 5:00 PCAS Music Recital in the Grand Hall
November 29 - 5:00 “Svitanok Florida” a Slavic Children’s
Choir concert to benefit the Mekos Johnson family.
December 6 - Caravan of Blessings Christmas Caroling
December 13 - 11:00 PCAS Christmas progam
December 13 - 6:00 - Charles Haugabrooks concert
December 19 - 6:00 - Candlelight Christmas Concert by
various musicians from our church.
December 27 - 5:30 Don and Donna Mohl Concert
January 2 and 3 - Dr. David DeRose
January 21 - 5:00 Prayer Supper with Michelle Lang in the
Grand Hall
January 24 - 4:00 “Unmistaken” - Documentary on
Michelle Lang, produced by former member Chris Lang

The 2025 Southwest Region ECHO Youth Rally and Prayer
Conference is coming up on Saturday, November 8, 2025!
We're meeting at Port Charlotte SDA Church.
Join us for:
* Incredible worship with Engage Worship from Southern
Adventist University
* Prayer, Pizza, Play, and Prizes!
Doors open at 4:30 pm.
Don't miss out—bring a friend and
share the news in your church or youth group! See you
there!

International Fall Festival will
be held on Sunday, November
th
9 . We need volunteers
for this event to work
concession stands, games,
and international street food
booths. We will be happy for
any time you can give. We
have a Slavic booth, Filipino
booth, English booth and a
Haitian booth. We need more
countries represented to
make this the best fair ever!
To the country that sells the
most tickets, first prize gets
their picture in the school
yearbook.
If you are interested in
volunteering or representing a
country, please contact the
home and school leader,
Nancy Stringer at 941-962-
9998.
All proceeds will be donated
th
to the 7th-10 grade field
trips.
Tickets $1 per ticket
$25 Wristbands includes or one ticket each:
• BeyBlades
• Giant Checkers
• Giant Tic Tac Toe
• Giant Jenga
• Giant Chess
• Bug hunt
• Obstacle course
• Cornhole
• Axe throwing
• Bounce houses for
kids and youth
• Bring your RC car to race
ALL PURCHASES WILL BE THROUGH TICKETS OR WRISTBANDS AT THE FAIR
• Horseshoes
• Coloring station
• Electric Train station
• Wood Train station
• Magnetic tile station
• Build a box
• Bubble station
• Lawn Darts
• Lego stations
• Lego pinewood car
derby
Wristbands do not include:
Hayrides 3 tickets
Dunk Tank 2 tickets per ball / 3 for 5 tickets
Pony Rides 5 tickets (80lbs or less)
Petting Zoo 5 tickets stamped for all day
Pacman Arcade 1 ticket per game – Prize for highest score
Facepainting – prices will vary
Jail – 1 ticket to arrest a friend or foe, 1 ticket for bail
International Street Food – prices will vary
Pie Eating Contest – 10 tickets first come first serve

November 1: Short presentation during children’s story. Shoeboxes
available to all who would like to take one and fill it. Each shoebox has a
brochure and fun fill-in-the-box letter that can be sent to a child. People
can use their own sturdy shoeboxes at home, purchase shoebox-sized
plastic bins, or purchase Operation Christmas Child plastic bins at Hobby
Lobby. After church we will have a table set up in the lobby with any extra
shoeboxes available. Or you may pick them up at the church office.
We recommend items in packaging have the packing materials removed
due to the difficulty of removing packaging material without a sharp knife
or scissors which are usually unavailable in most places these boxes go.
Other ideas and suggestions will be available at the table in the lobby this
week and next week.
November 8 and 15: We will be collecting the shoeboxes.
Operation
Christmas
Child
Click on these
helpful links:
How to Pack a Shoebox
Gift Suggestions
Build a Shoebox Online

Our Pathfinder club is hosting a garage sale fundraiser. This opportunity
was given to us by Pastor Ben to help raise funds for camping equipment
and supplies. Unfortunately, during the camporee in Gillette, Wyoming,
many of our tents were damaged due to severe weather conditions.
We’ve learned an important lesson: Walmart tents are not strong enough
for harsh weather.
This time we want to invest in high quality, reliable tents to ensure our
Pathfinders stay safe and protected at future campouts.
We’re asking for your support! ?
Please come out and support our Garage Sale Fundraiser — every
purchase and donation helps!
Our Goal:
• Purchase at least 10 reliable tents ($500 each)
• Buy canopies and additional camping supplies
Help us keep our Pathfinders safe and ready for their next adventure!

PCAS
Music Recital
November 19 at 5 pm
Grand Hall

Svitanok Florida Children’s Choir
NOVEMBER 29 AT 5 PM
IN THE CHURCH SANCTUARY
The Svitanok Florida Children’s Choir, directed by Oleh
Mayovskyy, will perform a sacred holiday concert on Saturday,
November 29 at 5 pm. The choir is coming at the invitation of
our Slavic church.
This a benefit concert. Donations will be collected for the
Mekos Johnson family.
"At the very heart of this Christmas season is God.
We can honor Him by being kind to one and all."

This will be a program of
music and the Christmas
story from the Bible. If
anyone is interested in
being a part of the
program through music,
readings, greeting, or
the children’s pageant,
please contact
Dawn Tritch text at
207-317-0037. The
program will be finalized
by December 1.

December 27
5:30
Folk Mountain
Gospel Concert
by
Don and Donna
Mohl

Coming in January
Make a Fresh Start
in the New Year!
Don’t Miss Our
Health Seminar Weekend
with Dr. David DeRose
January 2 and 3
Our Health Ministry Team
wants to support your
efforts to improve your
health habits in the coming
year. They have arranged
to have Dr. David DeRose
spend two days teaching us
ways to live a healthier and
happier life.
We may have two
presentations on Friday,
one on Sabbath morning,
and two on Sabbath
afternoon/evening. More
details will be available in
the future on our website,
and in the bulletin and
announcements.

Coming in January
Dr. David DeRose is a
physician holding board
certifications in both
Internal Medicine and
Preventive Medicine. He has
a Master’s Degree in Public
Health (MPH) with an
emphasis in Health
Promotion and Health
Education. In addition to his
conventional training, Dr.
DeRose has three decades
of experience in the
alternative and
complementary health field.
He has worked at some of
the nation’s most innovative
health centers including
over six years as a founding
physician, and later Medical
Director, of the Lifestyle
Center of America.
His health communication skills
have been honed by more than
twenty years of radio and television
work and a busy public speaking
schedule. Dr. DeRose is currently
heard on some 200 stations as host
of the nationally syndicated health
radio program, American Indian
Living.
To find out more about his health
ministry, go to
https://www.timelesshealinginsights.org/
Dr. DeRose is a published
scientific researcher, who is
also known for his ability to
take complex subjects and
explain them in lay terms.
This is an excellent way to begin 2026!

Coming in January
Join us for three special events!
Don’t forget to invite your friends and neighbors!
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 • Sabbath, January 24, 2026 •
5:00 PM • Grand Hall
Morning Service
Join us for a heartfelt evening of Experience a powerful sermon
fellowship and faith. We will by Chris Lang and children’s
provide an evening supper while story presented by Michelle
Michelle Schaefer-Lang shares Schaefer-Lang. A spiritually
her inspiring journey of
enriching service for all ages.
unrelenting faith and the
transformative power of prayer.
Sabbath, January 24, 2026 •
4:00 PM • Sanctuary
Don’t miss the free community
screening of UNMISTAKEN: The
Michelle Schaefer Story. Watch
the approximately 90-minute
documentary followed by a 30-
minute Q&A session. A moving
story of faith, resilience, and
hope. Parental Discretion is
Advised. PG-13
Donations are greatly appreciated to cover the cost of bringing the ministry to our church family and
surrounding area. Please label your tithe envelope “prayer ministry”.

A
H
appy
nniversary
75th
Photo Credit: Barbara Goffin
BY DON BYARD
Don and Evelyn Burr Byard
th
celebrated their 75 wedding
anniversary on October 12, 2025.
The Byards were married on October
14, 1950, in Hart, Michigan with Don’s
sister Kay and her deceased
husband, Bert Anger as witnesses. It
was a special touch to have Kay
attend the anniversary celebration
seventy-five years later.
Statistics suggest that roughly 0.0016
to 0.01% of couples in the United
States will make it to 75 years of
marriage. At any given time, there
are only 1000 couples in the U.S. that
have been married 75 years or more.
Family and friends from seven states
attended the celebration,
representing the many lives that
have been touched by the Byards.
Their family of five children, ten
grandchildren and 14 great
grandchildren are thankful for the
blessing of their influence and
example.

Welcome to the
Family
By Don Byard
Dawn Carrato
Dawn Carrato moved to Florida from Buffalo, NY
to be near family who made a permanent home
here. As she was searching for a church, her
neighbors, Lisa and Elton, invited her to attend
the Port Charlotte SDA Church. Despite the
church being a little farther away than she found
convenient, she visited and felt the Lord calling.
She had to follow. She loves the beautiful people
who welcomed her. She was baptized and voted
into membership on September 27, 2025 by
Pastor Gavin.
Dawn’s hobbies include oil painting, chickens, her
two dogs, and she is a prayer warrior. She has a
Facebook site called Pray with Me.
Photo credit: Ted Stringer

Welcome to the
Family
Grace Hockman
Grace Hockman was voted into membership of
the PCSDA Church by letter of transfer on Oct. 4,
2025. She moved here from Pennsylvania to join
her son in Punta Gorda. After visiting several
churches in the area, she felt the PCSDA Church
had the home-like feel she was seeking.
Grace enjoys bike riding and walking around her
neighborhood. She has also found inspiration in
the ladies’ book club at the church.

Kids’ J.A.M.
Healthy Food Choices
October 25
Families were treated to a story about Daniel
enacted by Dawn, Todd and Neville Tritch. Daniel
and his friends declined the king’s food and
instead ate healthy food. After ten days they were
in better physical and mental condition than
those who ate the king’s rich diet.
To reinforce this lesson, the kids played a relay
game and dug out healthy items from bins filled
with packing peanuts and took them back to
match them to the correct shapes on poster
board. They also had a craft activity of creating
pictures from paper fruit.
Photo credits: Rodney Grussling

PCAS 1
st
Grade
BY LEISA-GAY MULLINGS,
FIRST-GRADE TEACHER
God loves variety! He
made so many different
kinds of animals – big
and small, land and sea,
furry and feathery.
In our first-grade class we
are studying about
animals. Recently, we
focused on the life cycle
of a chicken, learning that
a young bird hatches 26
days after an egg is laid.
The students had so
much fun learning and
watching the process and
taking care of the
chickens.
“In all things of nature
there is something of
the marvelous.” -
Aristotle

OCTOBER 4, 2025
PATHFINDER & ADVENTURER
Induction
Photo credits: Ted Stringer
Michael Teter, an officially
appointed volunteer with
Florida Conference
Pathfinders and the
Cluster Coordinator for
Cluster 9 and E-tracker
committee representative
for South Florida was
present to officially induct
new members to our
Pathfinder and
Adventurer clubs.
What a joy it is to continue
to watch our clubs grow
and thrive, under the
leadership of Lucie Poincy
and David Molina!

Cooking Classes
The Health Ministry Team has had great success with their
cooking classes. On September 28 they demonstrated
how to prepare tasty and healthy Caribbean food, by
members of our church. On October 26 Padma Medidi
showed how to make healthy and delicious Indian dishes.
Padma has been featured on 3ABN, and has published a
cookbook. Over forty people were in attendance at each
of these events, and the team has been pleased to have
many visitors from the community interested in healthy
living, and especially in nutrition and healthy cooking.
In addition to cooking, there were presentations on how
to read food labels, and how to calculate your BMI (body
mass index) and know what you need to do to make sure
your BMI is in the right range.
Invite your friends and family to the upcoming health
ministry events – you will be glad you did!
Photo credits: Wave Willliams

"Oh give thanks
to the Lord, for
He is good, for
His steadfast
love endures
forever!"
Psalm 107:1

The Holidays
are coming soon!
For delicious holiday recipes shared by church
family, review last year’s newsletter here:
https://www.yumpu.com/s/SBHTDsWRIVbZOfUi
941-629-1333
2036 Loveland Blvd.
Pt. Charlotte, FL 33952
www.pcsda.net
FRESH Start Team:
Photographers:
Rodney Grussling
Ted Stringer
Wave Williams
Writers:
Don Byard
Laura Dancek
Leisa Gay-Mullings
Ben Shurtliff
Editor:
Laura Dancek
Contact:
pcsdalaura@gmail.com