Job Loss and Health Crisis—From Barely Surviving to Thriving

After five years of marriage Michael Sherry lost his advertising job. With two small children and no way to make ends meet he and his wife, Marissa used money from a second mortgage on their home to help pay their bills.

Marissa shares, “We could lose our home and we could be homeless.”

Michael says, “Foreclosure was one issue. Another issue was putting food on the table.”

Marissa remembers, “I was scared because we had a mortgage. I was scared because we had babies.”

During this time, Marissa worked part-time at the CBN prayer center. Living on one salary wasn’t enough to make a dent in their financial obligations yet they still continued to tithe.

Marissa says, “It was not much, but it's all we had and we gave it.”

The Sherrys saw God provide however, after several months of not being able to pay their mortgage they were on the verge of losing their home. At times, Michael wanted to stop tithing and use the money for other needs.

Michael recalls, “I considered not giving and (SLIGHT LAUGH) Marissa always checked me. She said, ‘Are you giving anything that you have to God because whatever you have, even if it's a little bit, Mike, at this time, please give it.’”

Three months later, Michael got a job at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in sales that paid much more than the previous one. They were able to get caught up on their mortgage payments.

Michael shares, “I feel that the Lord always is so compassionate like a father has pity on his children, that he gave us that favor.”

Several years later, Michael was unemployed again. After four years of working various jobs, Michael landed a great job at a company selling dairy products. The Sherrys also found out they no longer had to pay their second mortgage due to them previously paying extra money for a lien on a home that was the obligation of the seller.

Marissa recalls, “It was a blessing. I didn't realize that we had this extra cushion. I go ‘Michael, any money we have, we're going to tithe from.’”

Then in 2018, the couple’s faith would be tested again when Michael suffered a massive heart attack. Marissa and the team of CBN prayer partners prayed for him around the clock.

Marissa remembers, “(EMOTIONAL) I think the hardest was going to the ICU with the kids. It was open heart surgery. We kinda felt ‘Oh, God, just, you know, let him live.’”

After a six bypass surgery doctors were amazed that Michael survived.

Michael shares, “The doctor had said. He goes, ‘But there's no heart damage, your heart's fine. It was just the arteries were stuffed. ‘I go, ‘Oh, my God, to me that was miraculous.’”

During Michael’s recovery time Marissa received two job promotions at CBN which also helped with their bills. After 5 ½ months, Michael fully recovered and was able to return to his sales job full time. And the $100,000 dollars of medical bills they owed were all covered by their medical insurance.

Marissa says, “I was just happy that not only was he alive, that God had sustained us through the whole time.”

Michael recalls, “The sales started picking up right away. Money started coming in.”

The Sherrys have maintained their faithful giving to CBN for 25 years because of their love for CBN’s prayer center and Superbook! Marissa has volunteered with Superbook outreaches to underprivileged children every month through their church and has seen how God uses it to touch the hearts of children.

Marissa says, “It’s been an incredible experience to see God move through Superbook. It's a powerful medium.”

The Sherrys’ want to encourage everyone to remain faithful even during the most difficult times because God will honor his word.

Michael shares, “The Bible says if you give the first fruits to him, He'll take care of the rest. And we found God to be faithful in doing that.”

Marissa shares, “All that we went through, God has been faithful to provide. He's given us favor beyond what we can ask or image.”