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Marvin and Sherry Neely
Unified in Jesus
By Leah Stanley
If Sherry Neely has learned anything in her life it's probably that you should pay close attention to your friend named Marvin who lives in the same apartment complex that you do.
"My daughter introduced me to Marvin in 1995," Sherry said smiling at her husband, "and we started walking together, but then we each pursued other relationships and wound up in short-lived marriages to other people!"
Marvin and Sherry maintained their friendship throughout their respective divorces, and for a while they continued to date other people, initially not able to see what God had put right in front of each of them. But as time went on a relationship began to bud, and the love they share today is a precious testimony to the ultimate beauty of God's great plan for life.
"God definitely placed us together," Marvin said, looking affectionately
at his wife. Sherry decided to move her church membership to Central in April 2003, the same month she and Marvin were married. Marvin, who had been actively attending Central since 1997, wanted to share everything with his new wife, including his church membership, and together they attend Sam Wiley's "Helpmates" Sunday School class.
"This church is tremendous about prayer," Marvin said, adding that he's been actively involved in the House of Prayer ministry since 1997. The prayer outreach of Central Church never meant more to him than early in 2003 when he learned he had cancer.
"All the ministers here have shown me great support through this," Marvin said.
Ironically Marvin's battle with cancer is something else that he and Sherry have in common; she was diagnosed with breast cancer and was not given much hope of survival.
"But that was 10 years ago," she said, "and I'd say I'm a survivor!"
From their respective previous marriages, Sherry has one daughter and Marvin has one daughter and two grandsons. Marvin has not been able to work while going through the cancer treatments, but Sherry works for Carmichael International Services as a transportation coordinator, and Marvin has started to write a book in which he's detailing his personal testimony.
"I served in Vietnam," Marvin said, "and I've had several experiences in my life that I came through and thought, 'How did I survive that?' But God just let me know He wasn't finished with me yet." Marvin and Sherry agree that the unity at Central is one of the most wonderful things about this church.
"It's just like Ernie [Frye] has been saying, that we find unity through the difficulties and trials we experience," Marvin said. "It's making us more Christ-like."
The Neelys agree that they are excited about what God is doing at Central.
"There's revival going on here," Marvin said, "we can see it and feel it."
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