Before serving together as a minister and minister’s wife in the Church Of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) for over 40 years, Brother Bob and Sister Sandy were just high school sweethearts starting their life in the military while stationed in Guam.
They were just two young Americans living for the moment, and that was enough.
Then a car went off a bridge. And sank.
Trapped underwater, seatbelt jammed, Bob made a promise to God in the dark. What followed was a Bible study he never planned to attend, a truth he never expected to find, and a wife who went for him one night — and came back the next night for herself.
This is a story of two people who have never stopped choosing the life they surrendered to.
Episode Timestamps
00:00 I’m Not on That Side Anymore: The Moment That Started It All
01:21 Meet Brother Bob and Sister Sandy Pellien
02:12 First Day of High School, English Class, and a Pair of Boots
05:16 The Bonfire: Where It Became Official
06:39 A Proposal Written on a Letter From Boot Camp
11:24 Newlyweds and the Vietnam War
15:20 Beach Bums in Guam: Scuba Diving, Motorcycles, and Living for the Moment
17:21 The Night Dive That Changed Everything
18:57 The Car Goes Off the Bridge
20:33 Trapped Underwater: “I’m Not Done Yet”
20:55 The Promise He Made to God in the Dark
22:43 Brother John Kolp: The Man of Very Few Words
28:24 Sandy Hears About the Accident: “No Big Deal”
31:34 The First Bible Study at the Church Of Christ
33:19 Brother Bob Raises His Hand in the Middle of Bible Study
36:29 Sister Sandy Goes the Second Night — This Time for Herself
38:24 “I Wanted the Rest of the Story”
40:11 Before the Church and After the Church
43:04 “We Were Just Gratifying Ourselves”
44:14 What Freedom Actually Means
54:49 Sharing the Truth — and the Pushback About the Messenger
01:02:36 Baptism Day: Brother Bob
01:05:29 Baptism Day: Sister Sandy
01:11:12 Eight Hours to Jacksonville, Every Weekend
01:13:28 Cassette Tapes and Worship Service at Home
01:19:12 “I’m Not on That Side Anymore. I’m on Your Side Now, God.”
After hundreds of hours of driving up and down Florida. Sleeping in parking lots. Watching those early ministers run themselves into the ground trying to teach the words of God — Brother Bob’s determination was set. He was ready to help. Whatever that looked like.
And Sister Sandy was right there next to him…without hesitation, without negotiation, or questions. She was in.
They didn’t know what came next. They just knew they were done deciding for themselves.
The second half of their story is about what happens when two people hand everything over to God, completely… and in Brother Bob and Sister Sandy’s case, together. Trust me, I’ve known Brother Bob and Sister Sandy for decades and there’s so much I didn’t know about them until this conversation.
Listen to part two of this story when it drops wherever you listen and watch podcasts.
If Brother Bob and Sister Sandy’s story moved you today, share it with someone who needs to hear that the life God has planned for you is bigger than anything you could have chosen for yourself.
For more Making Changes podcasts, visit incmedia.org, the INC Media app, or find it anywhere you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening, and may your change uplift you.
Mentioned in the episode:
- Making Changes Season 4 https://incmedia.org/making-changes/
- That’s in the Bible http://incmedia.org/thats-in-the-bible
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