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Happy 35th Anniversary Pastor Tom & Wendy!
 Recently Pastor Tom and his wife Wendy celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. Over the past 35 years they had three children and now 5 grandchildren. They've moved from California to Nebraska, and changed careers several times. So I thought we might like to hear what they've learned along the way that has kept them together through all these years.
As children both Pastor Tom and Wendy grew up in broken homes that had been torn apart by alcoholism and divorce at an early age. These experiences placed a deep seeded desire to defy the odds in their own lives and make their marriages work. It turned out that many years later while attending Pepperdine University they would cross paths. While Tom was trying to befriend Wendy's roommate, the two began talking and soon discovered they had grown up on the same street in Burbank. Pastor Tom said, "When I met Wendy I was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and red plaid pants, but you know, love is blind, it must be." The two were soon married and began building their lives together.
Pastor Tom said, "The first 20 years were the toughest, but at about the 20 year mark you start to meld. You kinda know what each other are thinking, like esp, it's nice. You get into a good groove. Things that used to bug you about the other person are now endearing."
Wendy says, "We've found a deep love that came through a lot of hard work."
They both admit that they faced the same issues that others face but they both also loved Jesus, "Our faith kept us in it." When asked what they feel are the most important factors for a successful marriage they said first of all you need to go into it with a strong commitment to God's will and you must have a teachable heart. They've learned to put the other's feelings above their own and appreciate each other's strengths. When I asked them what made the difference they both said the same thing; it was their love for Jesus and a serious commitment to making it work.
It's clear to all who know them that Pastor Tom and Wendy are a committed couple that deeply love each other and understand each other in ways no one else does. What a wonderful pair and beautiful example of God's will for marriage. Congratulations to you both!
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Last week the People's City Mission was pleased to learn that we have received our sixth consecutive four-star rating from Charity Navigator- America's Largest Charity Evaluator, for fiscal management. You may be asking, so what does this mean to me?