God

Gertrude Dixon says that when she begins writing a book, she seeks direction from God. Her second book, "Healing for the Nations," is available now at Shepherd's Table and in Christian Light bookstores. "It was God who inspired me to write this book," Dixon said. "He wants so much for his people to come together in prayer for families and our nations. " Dixon said troubles have plagued the human race since the beginning of time but never as they do today. Her solution may seem too simple to work but Dixon has seen the power of prayer in her own life and knows what a powerful force it can be. "Only through prayer and giving up wicked ways can we heal our sin-sick society," Dixon said.

When asked if he remembered when he was first called to the ministry, Lorne Digges has no trouble. "I was 4 years old, and I was diagnosed with leukemia," the 24-year-old Keedysville man said. Digges and his family struggled through a year of this horrible diagnosis, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. "Then one day we met with the doctor and he said the leukemia just went away," Digges said. "He said he couldn't figure out where the disease went. " It was then that Digges said he first knew that God had a plan for his life.

Editor's note: Each Sunday, The Herald-Mail publishes "A Life Remembered. " This continuing series takes a look back - through the eyes of family, friends, co-workers and others - at a member of the community who died recently. Today's "A Life Remembered" is about the Rev. Marlin Wheeler Mauk, who died April 12 at the age of 69. His obituary appeared in the April 15 edition of The Herald-Mail. With heart problems that were starting to affect his lifestyle, the Rev. Marlin Mauk once told his son-in-law, Rusty Meredith, that he wanted to pass away in a church.

Faith in God led couple to start special needs home By ANDREA BROWN-HURLEY / Staff Writer CEARFOSS - Many lives have been enriched because Richard and Audrey Tebbs took a leap of faith more than 30 years ago. The Tebbs wanted only to provide a safe, nurturing environment for their severely disabled 12-year-old daughter, Anita, when they put their faith in God and started Anita Lynne Home in 1970, they said. They never dreamed that Anita Lynne Home would grow to have more than 60 staff members and 35 adults with developmental disabilities, many of whom contribute to their community through the facility's work programs.

marlob@herald-mail.com Looking back on her earliest childhood memories, Jenny Wilt sees that her life has been defined by her love of gospel music and her faith in God. "Since my father was a minister, I played piano at his church - Wilson Chapel - many times when I was growing up," Wilt said. Wilt took up the piano when she was about 10 years old after a brief flirtation with the accordion. "I took accordion lessons for a while but switched to piano because the adult accordion was too heavy for me," she said.

Today, youth pastor and rapper Tyree Sterling holds a Bible in one hand and a microphone in the other with hopes that words in rhyme can bring young people closer to the word of God. Longtime Christian rapper Sterling has been promoting his latest venture, his first solo rap EP, "Voice of Triumph," under his rap moniker Shaddai - pronounced Shoo-die - Sons. The 13-track EP of full-length songs and samples of works-in-progress was put together by Sterling, his wife, Glory, and one of Sterling's former rap collaborators, Spencer Jackson, who produced the beats for this EP and encouraged Sterling to pursue Christian rap. Now that rap is not necessarily a pejorative in Christian-music speak, and the quality of Christian rap has evolved, fledgling artists like Sterling are trying to find their places in Christian music's widening boundaries under a genre known as holy hip-hop.

HALFWAY -- Wayne Tusing was new to the Virginia Avenue Church of God in 2000 when he first saw the annual presentation of "His Story," a dramatic play about the life of Christ. "It really made an impact on me," Tusing said. "My wife, Jackie, and I were saved because of this drama ... it was that inspiring. " Beginning the next year, and in each year since, Tusing has helped stage the production, along with longtime director Lisa Miller. Public performance dates are March 14, 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. each evening.

Nicholas Shane Bowen, 9, died Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at Winchester (Va.) Medical Center. Family will receive friends Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home. A memorial service will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Bethel Assembly of God with the Rev. Arnold Brown officiating.  

Janet Louise Kegarise, 73, of Hancock, died Saturday, May 4, 2013, at her home. Born June 16, 1939, in Hancock, she was the daughter of the late Roy Franklin and Goldie A. Ray Younker, and widow of Samuel Carlton Kegarise, who died June 23, 2001. She was a member of the Hancock Assembly of God and was formerly employed by Hancock Hair Stylist. She was a graduate of Award Beauty School. She is survived by one daughter, Goldie Lynn Merica of Warfordsburg, Pa.; one sister, Freda Kerns of Hancock; two brothers, Henry Carl Younker and Ernest Chester Younker, both of Hancock; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by one son, Calvin Dennis Younker; one grandson, Ezekial Younker; and one brother, Glenn Ray. Funeral services will be Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Hancock Assembly of God, 431 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Hancock.

DEC. 23, 1929-JAN. 30, 2011 MERCERSBURG, Pa. — Charles W. Amsley, 81, passed into eternal life while at his home on Jan. 30, 2011, surrounded by his family.   He was born Dec. 23, 1929, in Mercersburg, Pa., to Theodore and Helen (Mummert) Amsley.   He was married to Betty (Ramsey) Amsley on Dec. 13, 1952. They lived in Mercersburg, where they resided for 54 years prior to moving to Menno Village in October 2010.   He attended Hustontown Church of God for 40 years, where he served as superintendent and worship leader.