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AFCM Regional Meeting
April 9 & 10, 2010
Region 3 Member
Highlight
Dick and Sara Niles
HOW WE
MET:
Sara and Dick were reintroduced in Chicago through Dick's college
roommate and his wife. All four of them had attended Earlham
College (a small Quaker school). They started dating in 1964 and
were married in 1966. Sara grew up in Greencastle, IN and Dick in
Winchester, MA (outside of Boston).
OUR
CALL AND BACKGROUND:
Sara was saved at a young age and Dick accepted the Lord into his
life at college. He was called to the ministry then and changed his
major from chemistry to religion and a pre-seminary track. However,
upon graduation Dick started working for the Social Security
Administration in Chicago. Sara continued her studies and received
her Masters at the University of Chicago's School of Social Work--
working first in a private adoption agency and, after the children
were raised, in medical social work.
When
they moved to Fort Wayne in 1973 the Lord started sending Christians
across their path who talked about "something more" and the “Baptism
of the Holy Spirit"---not something spoken of in their Methodist
church. After devouring a stack of Charles and Frances
Hunter's books, they came to "Two Sides of a Coin" and responded by
receiving the baptism with the evidence of speaking in tongues
together at home at 1 AM.
As
God tugged even more on their hearts, they started a long journey of
ministering to the sick and hurting, visiting often in hospitals and
nursing homes. Our desire to minister to the sick and hurting arose
from their experience with their oldest son. Rob was very sick for
11 years (age 5-16), and they spent months at a time with him in
Riley Children's hospital. This experience gave them a heart for
others going through similar challenges. Dick and Sara love to
minister together, especially on a one-on-one basis, as the Lord
brings people across our path.
When
Dick was in his early 50"s the Lord spoke to him (seemed audible)
and said "Do you remember when you opened your heart to me? I asked
you to enter the ministry. I haven't forgotten. Have you? I will
not speak of this to you again." Dick took a very early retirement,
returned to school and became licensed/ordained through AFCM. He
then began a journey as a chaplain for Hospice for 13 years. Since
retiring in 2005, Dick and Sara continue to serve as Hospice
volunteers, pastoral visitation for their church, elders, home
fellowship leaders, Hospice consultants for the church staff and
counseling center, and also serve as pastoral prayer support for
their senior pastor.
Their
hearts desire is still to become more like Jesus and be conduits for
the Lord's love and compassion.
OUR
FAMILY:
They have been blessed with two sons and one daughter (ages 42, 42,
and 38). Their nine grandchildren include two teenage girls adopted
from a Ukrainian orphanage. What a gift from the Lord their family
is!
AFCM Regional Meeting
April 27 & 28, 2009
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