Testimonies of Richard and
Janice Schank
Janice’s Testimony
As this Christmas season dawns, and nostalgia fills the
air, my thoughts transport me back more than 25 years
ago to the small picturesque town of Princeton, NJ
where the Lord first brought an incredible couple into
my life—Pastor Jesse and Kay Owens.
It was 1981 and I had recently graduated from
Douglass College, part of Rutgers University in New
Brunswick, NJ. I was young and energetic, entering the
“real world” with my first full-time job. I was going to
the Jersey shore on the weekends in the summer and
traveling up to Maine to visit my Dad whenever I
could get away. In the midst of all this, my three sisters
(all of whom had recently been saved at an Assemblies
of God church in Burlington, NJ) invited me to attend
the Creation Festival in PA. While there, I accepted
Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I was thrilled about my
new-found faith and anxious to share Jesus with
everyone. I knew I needed the solid foundation of a
church home. I looked in the yellow pages of the phone
book to find an Assemblies of God church in my area.
You might say that’s how I “stumbled upon” Nassau
Christian Center in Princeton, NJ. But I know better—
that’s how God guided me in His infinite wisdom to sit
under the teaching of Pastor Jesse and Kay for a season
in my life.
The moment that I walked through the doors of
the stately old stone church that housed Nassau
Christian Center, I knew I was “home.” Pastor Jesse
personally welcomed me that morning with his warm
engaging smile and sincere greeting. I was amazed at
the depth of Biblical knowledge that Pastor Jesse
shared. As Kay led the women’s ministry, I learned of
her tender heart and compassion. I was hungry for
God’s Word and attended every one of the Sunday and
Wednesday services. Through Jesse’s teaching, the
Lord was speaking to me personally as I was seated
among dozens of people in the church. I joined a home
fellowship group, became more grounded in the faith
and, before long, the Lord gave me the courage to
share my faith with others.
Pastor Jesse has a wonderful way of perceiving
the gifts that the Lord has placed in His servants. One
day Jesse told me that he was in need of a Sunday
School teacher for the third and fourth graders and that
the Lord had placed me on his heart to fill that need.
Even though I had never taught children before, I
eagerly accepted the position. Preparing each lesson
plan was fun and insightful. By breaking God’s Word
down into precepts that could be grasped by my 8- and
9-year-old students, the Lord reinforced the simplicity
of His salvation message. I was blessed beyond
measure. The children were wonderful—I think they
taught me even more than I taught them!
At the same time, the Lord was working in my
life to lead me to my husband! I always say that Rich
and I have an arranged marriage and that our first date
was chaperoned. That’s true—Rich’s mother set us up
and his cousin chaperoned our first date! But through it
all, the Lord’s hand was guiding us. Our marriage was
arranged all right—by the King of Kings and the Lord
of Lords! On September 10, 1983 in our church home
at Nassau Christian Center, in the presence of our
family and friends, Pastor Jesse presided over our
wedding. Rich and I were just honored earlier this year
to have Pastor Jesse officiate at our 25th wedding
anniversary ceremony as we rededicated our vows.
Blessed beyond measure to have our three grown sons,
Alex, Brad, and Jeremy in attendance, and surrounded
by family and friends, we stood in the sight of our
Savior and Lord Jesus Christ to proclaim His glory
through the testimony of the 25 years of our marriage.
As Jesse told us, he sure did “tie that knot tight!”
Jesse and Kay know what a blessing our three
sons are to us. Each one of them is a miracle. We
celebrate each of them and their achievements, but are
especially grateful that they each have a personal
saving relationship with Jesus. One of our favorite
verses is found in III John 1:4—“I have no greater joy
than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
Jesse & Kay Owens with Richard & Janice
Schank
th
Schank’s 25 Anniversary Celebration
Richard’s Testimony
I am extremely humbled and honored that my dear
friend and former Pastor has asked me to share my
thoughts and testimony with you. I first met Jesse and
Kay in 1982 at Nassau Christian Center in Princeton,
NJ. My girlfriend, Janice, who has become my wife of
25 years, was attending Nassau. She was and is
beautiful. Not only beautiful, kind and loving, she was
also a Sunday school teacher – not a bad combination
for a life-long mate.
I attended college and following graduation, I
moved back home and went into business. I had goofed
off enough and now that I would be paid for my
efforts, I became very serious. I’ve owned eight
different businesses over the years and have worked
very hard to make them successful. I’ve had a couple
of businesses where I had a partner; it never worked
out. The only partners I’ve ever had that were
successful are Janice and the Lord. Janice and I have
worked together not only in business, but in life.
It took about three months before we were able
to get together, but when we did it never felt so right.
Within a year we were married. As I said earlier,
Janice was attending Nassau and was a believer. I had
not yet built a relationship with Jesus our Lord and
Savior. Janice, realizing how serious we were
becoming, gave me a Bible. As you know, the Word
says that we should not be unequally yoked and she
felt a conviction to share the Word with me. I attended
Sunday evening services occasionally, but it wasn’t
until she gave me the Bible that I began to grow in
Christ. She will tell you, she was very fearful of giving
me the Bible. She was concerned that I would think she
was a Jesus freak or something. She probably felt a bit
like Gideon with the fleece. THANK GOD THAT
SHE WAS FAITHFUL! If she hadn’t given me that
Bible, I don’t know where I would be today. It was the
greatest gift anyone had ever given me.
I began to devour the Word. It was like
pouring water on a dry sponge. I couldn’t get enough
and I read through the Bible a couple times cover to
cover. I was immersed in the Word and that is when it
hit me—this is TRUE! When someone tells you, there
is power in the Word, believe it! The Bible came alive
for me. I remember having the thought, I believe that
Cesar lived, that Magellan sailed, yet I had a problem
accepting Christ. I felt like the fool in Proverbs.
Jesse and I had met a couple times in his office
and he knew I had not yet made a commitment to
Christ. He knew I was wrestling with my intellect and
tried to help me understand the salvation message. I
remember one day, he really encouraged me to accept
Christ (as you know, Jesse can be very persuasive) but
I just wasn’t ready. I wasn’t going to accept Christ just
so I could marry Janice and make everybody happy. If
I was going to make a commitment to Christ, it was
going to be real and in His time.
Not long after that meeting with Jesse, I
meditated on Jesus and His place in my life. I felt His
call and in a parking lot outside a Diner in Princeton,
sitting in Jesse’s car, I gave my life to Him. Who can
resist the will of God? I came to realize that salvation
is a decision of the heart, not of the mind. We are
called to study and show ourselves approved, yet who
can understand the Creator? Who can contend with
God?
I’m sure I don’t have to tell you, it was and is
the best decision I’ve ever made. Strangely, it was also
one of the most difficult. I think the problem for me
was that I didn’t have the strength to submit. I know
that sounds like a paradox, but submission and yielding
my will for His was one of the hardest things I’ve ever
done. The good news is, once you do it, there is rest in
His arms. That is where I now find strength—in the
arms of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As you contemplate the joys and wonder of the
Christmas season, be sure to count among your
blessings those who have played such an instrumental
role in your life through the leading of the Lord. Jesse
and Kay Owens are two such people in my life, and, if
you are receiving this newsletter, that’s likely true in
yours as well. They are truly servants of the Lord. We
have felt the urging of the Holy Spirit to support
Global Renewal in their efforts of spreading God’s
Word with our prayers and financial support. We
encourage you to do the same. It is with great joy that
we can wish a Merry Christmas to Jesse and Kay
Owens and their extended family this holiday season!
Richard and Janice Schank