We are Gary and Janet Searles. We live in East Wenatchee and both grew up in the Wenatchee area: Gary in Malaga and Janet in Entiat. We have 5 children ranging in age from 24 to 36, 3 together and 2 from Gary’s previous marriage, plus 7 grandchildren. Some of our kids are living for Jesus, some are not. There are challenges we continue to face that are direct consequences of our actions during our marriage, that have affected the lives of our kids. Forgiveness does not always come easy.

Janet grew up with a firm foundation of faith in Jesus, but walked away from it and lived a lifestyle of addiction and failed relationships for many years. Gary, too, was living that lifestyle. We both experienced divorce in our 20s. We married 31 years ago and sought to live for Christ but infidelity caused separation early on. We pushed through, but lived a difficult marriage for many years. Eventually Gary had a ‘come to Jesus’ moment after hearing Pastor Josh make a comment to the men of Grace City one morning that their sin would come out. He first confessed his further infidelity to Jesus, then to Janet. By the grace of God, and seeing the sincerity of his repentance, forgiveness came immediately and we were able to work through a lifetime of betrayal, anger, apathy and mistrust and come to a place of healing, restoration and forgiveness. We found that time spent daily in God’s word and prayer together is a major key to continuing to grow in love in our marriage and our personal relationships with Jesus Christ.

Gary has worked in Alaska for the last 16 years of our marriage, while Janet was a stay-at-home mom who raised and homeschooled our 3 children. We’ve lived on one income for most of our married lives. In the last 5 years we’ve begun to intentionally practice living debt-free and have seen the fruit of that lifestyle in the freedom it brings, and the ability to be more generous in giving to others because of what God has given to us.