Our Story

Jim:  I joined the Navy in 1966 and was stationed out of Newport, RI. When I had about nine months left in the service, I began to think about what I was going to do after I was discharged.  I was unsure if I would return to Minnesota.  I began to pray for direction and that the Lord would show me who I was to marry.  

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My good friend from the Navy, Mike Dariano, and his wife Kathy would often invite me to their place in South Jersey on the weekends. During those visits, we would often go to Philadelphia for church. 

 

Fran: There was a traveling minister speaking at the Philadelphia Gospel Temple.  Somehow, I felt strongly that I should be at that meeting that day. It was such a strong feeling that I told my boss I had to be at that meeting, even if it meant firing me. Luckily, he told me to just go. 

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The pastor called me forward, and began to prophesy over me. He said I was a woman of great faith, and that the Lord was bringing me to a man from a distant land.  As Rebekah from the Bible was called, I was to go with him. 

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Mike and Kathy were in the back of the church that day and knew just who that man from a distant land was.  Even though we had never met, they came down front after the service and wanted to know if I would like to meet a good friend of theirs from Minnesota. 

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I had decided back to become a missionary and said that I did not want to meet anyone. But somehow, Mike and Kathy were able to talk me into meeting this man.

 

Jim: The next time I was down to visit, Mike and Kathy introduced me to Fran.  That was April of 1969.  In August, we traveled to Minnesota and I introduced Fran to my family and we were engaged just before I left for a military cruise.  I was discharged in January and we were married on February 28, 1970.