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Meet Jerry and Marlene Bergman
(Pictured here with their granddaughter Emily Margaret
Minor on the day she was dedicated to the Lord.)
Two of our
precious snowbirds, Jerry and Marlene Bergman live in Ontario, Canada
and North Fort Myers, Florida.
They have two children and three grandchildren.
Jerry and Marlene came to First Assembly on a day trip
many years ago. They had heard Pastor Betzer on
Revivaltime and came to church out of curiosity. The Betzers had just come to First Assembly
and the attendance was small with lots of empty pews.
The music was wonderful, the preaching was inspiring and
the enthusiasm was contagious. They
sold their condo in North Miami and decided to become a
part of First Assembly when they retired.
Jerry came to
know the Lord as a young lad when his cousin, Gwen Shaw
was staying with his family in route to China as a
missionary. She was babysitting one night and led
him to the Lord. Gwen later became the founder of
a large international intercessory prayer/missions
ministry - Endtime Handmaidens and Servants Inc.
Marlene also
accepted the Lord at an early age, following a family
altar time. Her father had been reading about the
"Second Coming." Marlene awoke in the night; the
house was in darkness. She and her brother were
alone in the darkened house. She was sure that the
Lord had returned and she had been left behind.
Marlene wasn't a bit surprised that the Lord had left
her brother behind but she was terrified. (Her
parents were cooling off outside on the porch.)
Her Dad heard her cries and using John 3:16, helped her
pray the Sinner's Prayer. With relief she
went back to her bed changed forever! The date was
August 27, 1947.
At First Assembly, the Bergmans
attend Sunday School and church, Primetimers and
other special events when they are in Fort Myers.
All the women's activities are of great interest to
Marlene. She has been involved in lay leadership
and had the privilege of traveling on speaking circuits
with several Christian organizations. Her speaking
style includes object lessons and mini dramas.
Currently she conducts a weekly Inspirational Bible
Study Group in her mobile home park.
Marlene has found email to be a wonderful tool for
sending devotionals around the world. She is
currently writing her third devotional book.
For over thirty years Jerry and
Marlene owned and operated a Graphic Arts business in
Canada. At one time they had 135 employees with
offices in Canada, Vermont and New York City.
Jerry has a wonderful time on the golf course and is
always looking for golf buddies. Recently he has
started a Christian Video Outreach in his mobile home
park,
offering Gospel music videos on the big screen at the
clubhouse. He would like to challenge others to do
the same in their condo party rooms or clubhouses.
Part of Marlene's
personal testimony is that of a wounded veteran
Christian who "burned out" while ignoring her own
battered spiritual journey. She says, "I was a
'strong tower' of influence with a broken and lonely
heart. I was 'there' for everyone else but without
a thought for myself. When I learned I didn't need
to 'do' to 'be' what He wants me to be . . with
obedience as the key, I truly became free in Him.
I learned
that my capabilities had become the fence that people
could not surmount. Expertise is NOT a gift unless
it is His expertise and we become His conduits. My
personal painful journey was filled with incredible
loneliness. I dared NOT let the facade/mask be
lowered. The fear of losing control dominated my
life. When I allowed God to break through that, I
allowed Him to pick up the pieces as the Counselor He
had been waiting to be and I began to heal. I
finally discovered the wonderful bounty available in the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit after 33 years of attending
Assembly of God churches. I also learned that
there are hundreds of Christian leaders and their
spouses who also felt that way at some time.
Transparency became God's gift to me. The
staggering journey became a gift as I encountered
counselors of various persuasions, tapes, seminars and
even a stay in a convent. These tools became gold
mines in ministry to others. Max Lucado's writings
taught me to treasure transparency." The
Bergmans declare, "The Lord keeps every promise.
He is all He promises to be."
"When all my dreams were
shattered
And I thought that I was done
God graciously came and met me
Those dreams had just begun"
Genesis Journey by Marlene D Bergman
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