On September 14, 2022, the Good Lord called home one of my dear friends, Juanita Ortiz. I first met Juanita, her husband John and their family in 1991 when I was just beginning my pastoring career at SGT. I can't exactly tell you I remember meeting her and any first impressions. I do remember her dropping off her son John Richard at our King's Kids Club, a Wednesday evening program we had for children ages 5 to grade 6. We always had contests and fun activities for the kids. One of them was "Crazy Hat Wednesday." John Richard was one of our winners. I had the picture of the winners on my office wall for many years and I wish I still had it. After I got married in 1992, Rev. John (I'll call him that since he and his son share the same name!) was asked to be the Sunday School Superintendent and he asked me to teach a class to the adults on the Old Testament. Being young and wanting to truthfully "impress the congregation", I said "yes." I started with one student and it grew to eventually to 4. Let's just say I was way over my head! Lesson learned! I did teach a few other times on Sundays and also on Wednesday evenings as well down the road. The Ortiz family and I developed an amazing friendship through the years. John Richard was a part of my Kids in Missions program and it was a pleasure to watch him grow in the Lord through the years. We eventually would become managers together at Chick Fil-A in Port Jefferson in 2016. I never had Elizabeth their daughter in any of my programs but she had a lot of respect for me and was always very encouraging to me. I do remember in the mid 1990"s they invited my family and I over their house one summer afternoon when they lived in Brentwood. We had a great time. The Ortiz family has and always will hold a special place in my heart.
Juanita was one person I always loved to joke with and tease. I always believe she was always misunderstood. She was the kind of lady who would tell you how she feels. Her outward appearance may have looked tough but she had a heart of gold. A true heart that loved Jesus and she wanted people to desperately know how awesome He is! Although she did smile, she also had a stern look on her face. I always told her she needed to come out of her shell and learn how to express herself. I loved trying to get her to laugh. SGT always did a Passion Play every Easter and a Christmas Musical called "The Glory of Christmas." Juanita was in the choir and Elizabeth and John Richard were in the orchestra. In fact John Richard played Judas every year! The pastoral staff of the church were asked to give announcements before we started the programs. We had to announce that we had a Nursery, Parent/ Baby Room...keep your cell phones off etc. I always used one of my ventriloquist figures and I used Grandpa Lou many times in the beginning. It was a huge hit. Grandpa Lou was Juanita's favorite and she told me that every time I used him in front of the church. After a few years I decided to change things up and use Shelton the Shark. He was also a hit. After one of the Passion Plays I walked up to Juanita and Elizabeth who were still in costume to tell them they did a great job. Juanita looked at me and said "Pastor Dave! You didn't use Grandpa Lou today. Everybody loves Grandpa Lou." Trying to explain to her that I wanted to use another character was a waste of breath. Later that year I used Shelton the Shark again and the same thing happened! Juanita was not impressed and of course made a comment about it. I tried to reason with her and even jokingly told her she hurt Shelton's feelings but to no avail.
2013 was the year I was forced to resign my pastoral position. I will never forget when it was announced to the church. It was a Sunday in Mid-May. I was leading our Kidz for Christ program and it was the early morning service. As we were dismissing the kids and parents were picking up their kids, the first 2 people I saw in the back of our gym were Juanita and Elizabeth. I will never forget the look on their faces. They both were in total shock as were so many other people. I had to play it real cool and tried very hard to put a smile on my face. It was not easy! Both of them asked many questions I was not allowed to answer. I don't think they knew the pain I was in personally and I tried very hard to act as if God was "moving me on" to bigger and better things. Both of them looked like they saw a ghost. My attitude was very simple. I just wanted to get the heck away from the church. It was not a good season in my life but I grew from it! My hope was to find a new position quickly but that didn't happen. 2 months later I said goodbye to SGT. July 21, 2013!
After my SGT career, the Ortiz family were constantly reaching out to me and praying for me. i was invited to John Richard and Courtney's wedding but I was unable to attend. Like I mentioned before John Richard and I were managers at Chick Fil-A in Port Jefferson. I would open the restaurant clocking in around 5:30 a.m. and John would close working mostly 3p.m. to 11p.m.. We did work together on occasion and I did see him at manager meetings. I did see Juanita, Rev. John and Elizabeth every once in a while. They always invited me to birthday parties and Fourth of July Barbecues. I am very grateful for their friendship! In 2018, Elizabeth and John Richard had a surprise party for their parents. It was a combination retirement, anniversary and birthday party at a country club in West Sayville. They asked me to get them their after the guests arrived. I had to lie and say my car broke down and I would need a ride. They thought the were invited to an anniversary party for a couple named John and Ruth. By the grace of God we were able to pull this off and Rev. John and Juanita were surprised. I did wonder for many years if Juanita knew because she is the type of lady who could be a female "Columbo."
Deep down, Juanita was never settled in her heart that I was not in any ministry full time. She would message me on Messenger and try very hard to invite me to her church. Her goal was to get me on staff at her church. I recently looked at our correspondence on Messenger and started to laugh. She invited me to Potluck dinners, special services and even an Easter Fair her church had. The Ortiz family began attending an Assembly of God church in Port Jefferson. Juanita would always write "Come to our church, Pastor Dave! You never know! They might need a Children's Pastor one day!" I would read her messages and just smile. Little did I know that God would use her to bring me to the church I am at now in Rocky Point. In 2021, Juanita invited me to a Fourth of July Patriotic service. John Richard was now the worship leader of the church and Elizabeth was on the worship team. I finally agreed to attend. The worship team did a series of patriotic worship songs. I did arrive a few minutes late and saw Juanita and Rev. John in the front row. Juanita was wearing a hat! Their were a few people I recognized from SGT who were ow attending the Port Jefferson church. After the service I had the opportunity to meet the Pastor, Tom Strigaro and his wife Kirssi. They both said they had heard wonderful things about me so I knew Juanita was "bragging on me!" I will never forget as I walked out of the church, Juanita turned to me and said "We need you on staff here Pastor Dave. You need to come back next week!" Talk about being direct! I did not return the next week much to Juanita's dismay but little did I know God would use her to get me where I am today!
To make a long story even longer because I know I have shared this story a number of times, I was able to connect with Pastor Tom and did attend Axis Church in Port Jefferson in February this past year. He and his wife went through a similar situation I went through. We were able to meet and connect. I decided to leave the church I was attending and began attending a new church Pastor Tom was planting called Lift Jesus Higher Fellowship. They began meeting in early March in a VFW hall in Rocky Point. Although it was not my intent to join the new church to become a pastor there, it was Juanita's intent! I learned as I began attending of a nickname she was given by a man named "Tony Pancakes," SARGE! Yes! That did fit her personality to a tee! Juanita may have looked as though she had a tough exterior, she did have a heart of gold! In late August, the Ortiz family invited Pastor Tom, his family and I to their home for a barbecue. We had a great afternoon of laughs and amazing fellowship. Little did I know it would be the last time I would ever see "Sarge." The family all came down with a nasty virus. In early September I received a message from Sarge telling me she was being taken to the Emergency Room. She could not walk! The virus she had affected her body and Juanita was put in Intensive Care. So many people were praying for a miracle. When I was Installed as an Assistant Pastor on September 4th, I had two regrets. One was my family from Pennsylvania was not able to attend and my second was Sarge was not there. She did watch from her hospital bed on Livestream and I was happy about that! On Wednesday evening September 14th Juanita Ortiz went home to be with Jesus. Although we will all miss the Sarge, we know she is singing her heart out and worshiping the Lord! She will definitely be missed! Please pray for her family. Thank you Sarge for allowing God to use you to impact my life. I am forever grateful!!
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