Pastor Sean is Married

[Richard Myers]

It is a joy to follow the life and work of our dear friend, Pastor Sean Brizendine. We are following his transition from Michigan church pastor to missionary to Papua New Guinea. With even greater joy I share the news that Pastor Sean will not being going alone. This coming Thursday we will be celebrating his marriage to Joella Meyer. We let Sean and Joella share their story.

God Is Writing Our Story

Sean and Joella are so thankful for how God led in the years that elapsed prior to their first meeting in 2024. They both have a meaningful faith journey and have passed through many trials that have helped them to experience a deep level of understanding of one another as they have become so close in Christ. There is abundant evidence that God wrote their story—and they look forward to what He has in store for their future!

Sean grew up in a loving, Christian home with his parents, John and Elaine Brizendine, who had a background of being Seventh-day Adventist Christians in their earlier years. Before Sean and his sister Kristen were born, their parents became involved in a non-denominational church in Modesto, California, where Sean and his sister grew up. He and his sister were homeschooled by their mom. Sean prayed to accept Christ with his mom at the age of five and was baptized when he was 10. From about the time Sean was seven, his father John suffered from Pick’s disease, a rare frontal lobe dementia, which led to his death when Sean was 12 in the year 2000. Later that year, his mom found out she had cancer, and that battle led to her death in 2002, when Sean was 15. Sean was so thankful that his mom pointed him to the truth of the Sabbath from creation in the Bible and the hope of the second coming, especially in the final weeks of her life, anchoring him with the hope of their being reunited on that glorious day.

Bruce and Cathi Corgiat graciously became Sean and Kristen’s guardians and cared for them after their mom died. Upon recommendation by his Uncle Farrel Brizendine, his dad’s older brother, Sean attended a Seventh-day Adventist college called Pacific Union College in Angwin, California near where his aunt and uncle lived. Sean shared that he was not planning to become a Seventh-day Adventist, but God led him in 2007 to see an email on the campus about finding the top 20 reasons to become a student missionary, the incentive for which was receiving $20. This led to an interest in finding out about what it would entail to be a student missionary, and since he would need to be a Seventh-day Adventist to do that, he met with Pastor Tim Mitchell regarding what it would mean to join the Adventist Church. In reviewing Sean’s background and biblical beliefs, a profession of faith service was planned for March 3, 2007. When Sean called his Uncle Farrel to invite him to the service, his uncle’s response was tears of joy!

Later in 2007, God made it clear to Sean that He was calling him to become a pastor, and Sean changed his major from business to theology. The summer of 2008 was his first time canvassing ministry books door-to-door and was so impactful in his spiritual life that he was rebaptized July 12, 2008. In 2009, Sean transitioned from being a college student to founding a non-profit ministry in northern California with a few other Seventh-day Adventists. It was during that time that he met Pastor Larre Kostenko and many other godly friends, including Tim and Selas Bowman. He enjoyed the opportunity to preach, give Bible studies, and be involved with others in Christian service.

However, sensing that God still was leading him to become a pastor, he applied to finish his studies at Andrews University in 2011, and upon finishing his undergraduate Theology degree in 2013 went into the Masters of Divinity program at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, and completed that in 2015. While at Seminary, Sean was very blessed to be mentored by Pastor Terry Nelson in ministry experience, and was encouraged to consider serving in Michigan as a pastor. Sean was specifically praying for almost two months every day for a call in northern Michigan and was elated to receive a call to pastor in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan starting June 1, 2015—exactly seven years, seven months, and seven days after the Lord had initially called him to become a pastor on October 25, 2007.

Sean enjoyed serving with Pastor Holmes for seven years in connection with congregations in Bessemer and Greenland, while also serving as Houghton’s pastor when that church was added to the district on November 19, 2016. Sean was ordained to the gospel ministry on September 5, 2020 by Elder Jim Micheff. Both Pastor Terry Nelson and Pastor Holmes were Sean’s sponsors at his ordination. A few months later, Pastor Terry Nelson passed away in 2021, and Sean felt the loss of a great mentor who always made himself available to coach him through ministry situations where Sean was growing. Pastor Holmes was a true friend and mentor, and when he died in 2022, Sean keenly felt the loss.

After putting down his name and email for contact at the Adventist Frontier Missions booth at the Michigan Camp Meeting in 2023, Sean learned more about the need for more missionaries among unreached people groups, though he had been aware of some of this since about 2012. Upon receiving a recruitment email on August 24, 2023 that cited Romans 15:20 about the decision the apostle Paul made to preach “not where Christ was named,” Sean applied to become a career missionary with Adventist Frontier Missions. The application process led to him praying about where God was calling him to serve, and Sean distinctly remembered God putting Papua New Guinea on his heart back in 2008 when he was listening to a very powerful message on the infinite love of God. One of the three areas Sean was asked to pray about going to serve was the Ama tribe in Papua New Guinea, and upon learning of the great need there, had prayed about that opportunity. He elatedly accepted candidacy with Adventist Frontier Missions to begin to prepare to launch to that tribe on December 19, 2023, trusting the Lord to guide in the timing of the launch and how God would provide the needed support to make that possible.

Over the years, Sean had at times prayed about whether God would have him remain single based on Matthew 19:12 or be married, based on Genesis 2:18, Proverbs 18:22, 19:14, and Proverbs 31:10-31. Sean had the impression from the Lord upon praying about this area of his life earlier in 2024, “I’ll make it clear. You don’t have to worry about it.” Upon seeing all of the providences that led in his relationship with Joella, he is deeply at peace knowing God has led in the area of His plan for a godly marriage with a woman who will get to serve with him in ministry.

Joella was born in Colorado into a loving, Seventh-day Adventist Christian family. Her parents, Joel and Joyce Meyer, were involved in ministry at Eden Valley in Loveland, Colorado. Joella is blessed to have a younger brother, Mark, and a younger sister, Joanna. When her family launched to Nepal as missionaries with Adventist Frontier Missions around 1994, Joella experienced a deep love for serving God and sharing His love with others. Facing a very difficult situation, the Meyer family had to flee Nepal in 2001, when Joella was 15. Joella was homeschooled along with her younger siblings.

After completing high school, Joella received medical missionary training at Uchee Pines and then worked as a lifestyle counselor on and off for a couple years. Their family served at Monument Valley in Utah in ministry to the Navajo people for nine years. After that time, Joella went to work with refugees in Texas with Reach the World Next Door for two years.

Joella’s parents moved to Idaho in 2018, and so did Joella later in December of 2019. Her sister Joanna and her husband Friedrich with their two sons, Elijah and Joseph, moved to Idaho in 2020. The Meyer family are very close-knit and involved in ministry.

Joella found work as a caregiver and has most recently served as a paraprofessional with students in various educational settings. Joella has had a deep desire to serve in the mission field, and has at times shared this with those who know her well. Her best friend, Corrie Sample, lives in Tipas, Papua New Guinea, and back in early 2023, Corrie shared how Adventist Frontier Missions had been seeking to find a missionary willing to go to the Ama tribe, which is located about 10 miles south of where Corrie and her family live. Joella distinctly remembers the Lord putting on her heart the impression, “You could go to the Ama tribe.” Joella’s parents did not want her to launch to serve by herself if or when she did go to the mission field, sensing that it would not be the safest or wisest plan. Joella had been praying at times for how God would lead her into mission service in His timing.

Tim and Selas Bowman moved to Idaho from California and so did Pastor Larre Kostenko upon his retirement from ministry as a pastor there. Sean had maintained a friendship with the Bowmans and with Pastor Larre Kostenko, even visiting them in Idaho in September 2022. Joella came to know the Bowmans and Pastor Larre Kostenko at the Orofino Seventh-day Adventist Church, as she already lived in Idaho when they moved to the area. In 2024, Selas overheard Joella share an expression of desire to serve in the mission field, and since Tim and Selas knew that Sean was launching as a missionary, the thought came to Selas that it would be nice if Sean and Joella could meet. Selas had mentioned this to Joella and also called Sean on the phone, encouraging him to get to know Joella. Sean offered to pray with Selas about the matter, and added Joella to his prayer list. Sean called Pastor Larre Kostenko to ask if he knew more about Joella and her family, and upon hearing positive things, was given Joella’s phone number from Pastor Larre Kostenko. Pastor Larre said he would call Joella and let her know that Sean was going to give her a call.

When Sean and Joella connected by phone, they began to share their testimonies of how God had led in their life and experience of ministry. They found out that they had a lot in common, having both experienced significant trauma at the age of 15—Joella having been with her family fleeing from Nepal and Sean having lost his mom at that age. Their shared convictions in important areas of life and character were very encouraging to both of them as they enjoyed their increasingly lengthy phone conversations. They enjoyed getting to know each other better over the phone, but Sean thought it wise for them to get to meet in-person when he was going to be speaking about mission in the Pittsboro Seventh-day Adventist Church in North Carolina.

Joella flew out, and Sean picked her up from the airport, and they had a nice time connecting in ministry with one of the elders of that local church and his wife. As Sean and Joella openly discussed their life goals and plans, it become more and more evident that they were very harmonious. The mutual interest they shared in exploring a relationship together led Sean to ask Joella if she would be willing to court him, and she said, “I would be honored to.” They called Joella’s parents and had prayer with them right after beginning their courtship, and they found God continued to deepen their understanding of one another’s interests and character in such a way as to make more evident His plan of leading them together into a life of service.

When Joella remembered that she had had that impression about going to the Ama tribe in 2023 and shared it with Sean, it was so clear to Sean that their lives were even being led by God to the same ministry destination! This all had been happening before they had ever met! It truly is a miracle!

When Sean came to visit Joella’s family in Idaho in May 2024, things went very well, and he prayerfully asked Joella’s parents for their blessing on asking for their daughter’s hand in marriage. They were happy to give their blessing. Sean elatedly proposed to Joella in a beautiful area of nature surrounded by wild flowers and mountains. Joella elatedly accepted the proposal and they called Elder Jim Micheff to see if he would perform their wedding.

Elder Jim Micheff had lived next door to the Meyer family in Eden Valley in Colorado and had known the Meyer family for many years. He had also seen Sean grow in ministry in Michigan since he started pastoring in 2015, and had ordained him in 2020, so it was very special to be able to confirm that Elder Micheff could perform their wedding on July 11.

They are so happy that they can have this special wedding service at the Orofino Seventh-day Adventist Church. Sean repeatedly says how much he loves the name of the church’s town—“Orofino”—for it means “gold refined.” Like gold tried in the fire, Sean and Joella have experienced God’s working by the Holy Spirit in their characters to prepare them to be ideally matched in a godly marriage in which they choose to prayerfully keep Christ in the center.

Sean and Joella realize that God clearly arranged their marriage. Like the story of Isaac and Rebekah, Sean and Joella see how God worked through earnest prayer and the influence of consecrated friends to bring them together. They look forward to seeing the Ama tribe ignited with the love of Christ, helping them break free from the fear of spirits so they can be empowered to become a Seventh-day Adventist church-planting movement to reach their own tribe and others!

Both Sean and Joella are dedicating their lives to be willing to serve God however He leads. They are blessed to have all the evidence of His love and care in their past history, and trust He will guide them each day in helping to hasten Christ’s return and share the everlasting gospel wherever He leads. They anticipate serving on the Ama project for six years with Adventist Frontier Missions and are praying for the Lord to provide the needed partnerships to help them be able to complete training in preparation for a launch in the Lord’s timing.

[rahab]

Praise God 

[JimB]

All in God's timing! What a wonderful testimony.

Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.

[Dorine]

Truly a miracle.

[Richard Myers]

Pastor Sean and Joella-Wedding July 11, 2024

[rahab]

Very nice 

[Dorine]

Thank you for the pictures Richard. So glad to see you were able to make it there. We would love to have been there but our traveling days are over I'm afraid. This is certainly a marriage made in heaven. Our prayers go with them everyday as they embark on a mission together for Jesus. Looking forward to the many experiences they will have to share with us.

[JimB]

Very nice! A new marriage blessed by God is always something to celebrate!