Welcome to a new feature on the website. Consider this section a treasure hunt, a place to discover more about those we sit next to in church. Musicians who lead us in worship, volunteers who provide our potlucks, manage our media, teach our children, maintain our church. Couples who stay married for decades, parents who birth children, members who use our new wheelchair ramps, people who survive life-threatening accidents. We have almost 2800 such treasures right here in our church family. Come and see who they - who YOU are!
Tom and Debbie Saknit
Sometimes, unfortunately, we don't really get acquainted with people until we are saying good-bye. Tom and Debbie Saknit are in the midst of relocating their daily lives to Seattle, Washington – but their membership and church activity will remain at LSU church where, 13 years ago they found a "difference in the pew" and in a small group that became more than just a bunch of people for them. It was with tears that they said good-bye last week to their Wednesday night group at the Tyner's house. "You are family to us," they said, "and we will miss deeply this time we have spent together every week for so many years."
Tom and Debbie are deeply entwined with the LSU church community. Deb has helped Karen Tyner with behind-the-scenes baptism care. Tom has been part of the Media Task Force, photography ministry, and both are faithful members of the Soloman's Porch Sabbath School. Tom will remain chair of the Media Task Force and will return approximately once each month to Riverside for business and to connect with their friends here at church. Tom says that he will miss most, "the opportunity to study with truly great thinkers."
Deb has worked as a Registered Nurse at Loma Linda University Hospital since graduating from nursing school, and it is "time for a change." They are blessed to have found a home just a few doors away from one of their lifelong friends, and work for Deb will require a mere 15 minute commute. This couple is well-known for their talents in friendship, entertaining (they even took a gourmet cooking class together), and being determined to live life fully, "we are best known for being clog dancing champions in 1974 and 1976."
Really it's their sense of humor we are going to miss. On his own, Tom is so straight-faced when saying things like that, you would never know it was a joke – but with Deb sitting there rolling her eyes, you realize they are inseparable in their humor. Deb recounts memories of when they were at San Pasqual Academy together, she would roll her eyes even then, at Tom's antics during band and think, "grow up." When Tom labels their love story as "Stalker to Saknit, Debbie's pursuit story," Debbie reveals how Tom "annoyed me tremendously." Their marriage exudes the joy of two people with more than a few shared adventures in their photo albums.
The Saknits say they have been changed during their time at La Sierra. It was from "traditional Adventist backgrounds" that they came, and as they leave, beliefs which were laced in legalism have shifted to reflect the grace which they found apparent at LSU church.