For anyone who was connected with the Jesus People Center / Shepherds Inn in Canton, Ohio during the 1970's, this is YOUR page - where you can let the rest of the gang know what you've been up to since those days, and to find out what they've been up to. Please contact us - this website is incomplete without your info on here too. 
Steve Cain -
Hiya,
It is so great to be getting back in touch with everyone. Y'all were like my brothers & sisters (and not just because I didn't have any blood ones) The years I spent at "The Center" helped make me the person I am today, and continues to have a profound effect on my life.Lemme see, my daughter Amina lives in Chicago, & is teaching literature & creative writing at a college there. She has published many of her experimental short stories in various literary journals. No grandkids yet (sniff, sniff) For the last 14 years, I've worked in a correctional facility and am currently a drug & alcohol counselor/transitional services specialist, a fancy title that means I try to help the adult felons we have make the leap from being locked up, to probation & hopefully onto regaining their freedom. I really love my job, it is very challenging, & I have learned a lot from these folks. However, my main passion is my affiliation with a lpfm/internet radio station I've been involved with since 2000, called Radio Free Canton. I'm the "program director" (pick out all the music that's played on the station, including some cuts from Whirlwind) and I do a weekly show called Gawkers & Pedestrians with the DJ name of Frank Incensed. If you are so inclined, you can listen online at www.radiofreecanton.net or read more about the station at www.myspace.com/radiofreecanton. The biggest change in my life of late revolves around becoming a practitioner of Zen Buddhism about four years ago. Amid all the gasps, Zen has helped deepen my understanding of Christ's teachings, and has given my spiritual life a swift kick in the pants & this Dec. I became a ordained lay Buddhist practitioner.
But enough about mio, whats up with you guys? I have so many great memories of you all & am so excited to get back in communication with you. Thanks so much to Neptune & Mike for putting this together. - scain3@neo.rr.com Sue Covert -
I have enjoyed watching this web site evolve and my thanks to Danny/Neptune for his hard work, and to my brother for his perseverance in pushing for a reunion. I see he FINALLY put up his bio. I have continued to live in the Stark County area since the seventies. I was married in 1977, and have a son, Joshua, aged 28. I am single now and live with Josh in Canton in the Meyer’s Lake area. I graduated from Stark State with an Associate degree in Physical Therapy Assisting in 1988, from Kent State with a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies in 2000, and from Youngstown State with a Master’s degree in History and Historic Preservation in 2004. I am active volunteer for the Canton Preservation Society, and I am a member of numerous historical associations. My contributions to the Preservation Society include writing their cover articles as a serial history of the Hartung family, the former owners of the Society’s office located on Wertz Avenue. I have written articles on the Rochester Ladies Anti-Slavery Society, the Western Anti-Slavery Society, Oratory and Verbal Arts of Slaves, Health and Disease of Slaves, and Old Age and Slavery which are currently being published by Oxford Press in their upcoming African American Reference Series. I currently work in a skilled nursing facility in Wooster as a Physical Therapist Assistant, watch baseball and play NTN trivia for recreation, and continue to read voraciously. I am interested in collecting oral interviews for a more complete history of our time as Jesus People in Canton. I am sure I will have to set a week aside just to interview my brother, Mike. Please contact me at the email address or through Mike so I can arrange to interview you! - howlingwolf@neo.rr.comJeff Layton -
Throughout the 70’s and early 80’s Karen and I ran the Kent Lighthouse. From April of 1984 to October of 1994 I was the Music Minister at The Church of New Hope in Stow (pastored by Dave Klein). During that time I became credentialed with the Assemblies of God. In November of 1994 I founded Living Faith Worship Center A/G where I currently serve as pastor. I was ordained with the Assemblies in March of 1998. The church website is at www.livingfaithonline.orgI’ve had a few medical problems over the years: 3 Brain surgeries (1964, 1976, and 1989). The good news is that the tumor the doctor couldn’t remove in 1964 completely disappeared without a trace. I still had to have a 2nd brain surgery to remove a large cyst, but, being a songwriter, I got a couple of good tunes out of it, and life went on. I was told that I shouldn’t have any more neurological problems, and I didn’t… until 13 years later… when I had to have a 3rd brain operation. In 1976 the surgeon merely poked a few holes in the cyst to drain it, but he didn’t remove the membranes. So over the next several years those holes closed up and the cyst began to grow again. This time it destroyed my olfactory nerves leaving me with no sense of smell. It also had attached itself to my optic nerves and had to be detached… a dangerous procedure that could have left me blind. But my eyesight wasn’t affected at all. God still does miracles! - PastorJeffLayton@gmail.com Dan Richards -
(AKA "Neptune" at various times & places). While living in our 6th St. SW house, I was married in 1978. In early 1979 we moved to Boulder, Colorado and by the end of that year I was single again. In Colorado I worked in a woodshop, making furniture - my favorite job I ever had. After learning woodworking there I started a little craft business on the side, making Door Harps and selling lots of them at Arts & Crafts shows around the state. While living in Colorado, I made my first trip to Israel in 1982. Don Lawver went with me and we backpacked all around the Holy Land for a couple weeks. During most of my time in Colorado I attended church at Calvary Chapel in Denver, a branch of the famous Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa which was the center of the Jesus Movement in California in the early 70's. I loved Colorado and in many ways I still feel like a transplanted Coloradoan, rather than a native Ohioan. I stayed in Colorado until 1983, when my Canton roots somehow drew me back here again. Back in Canton, I returned to Trinity Gospel Temple, and started playing guitar in the church band again. When that next Easter came around I was back in the cast of the Easter Play, eventually playing the part of Jesus for 5 years. I went through a few jobs when I got back to Canton and in 1988 I got hired by the Post Office as a "Mailman", the job I still have. In 1989, I made my second trip to Israel. I went solo this time, and booked a small room at a Christian Hospice inside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem for the entire visit. I still think of that trip as "2 weeks alone with God in Jerusalem". In early 1990 I got married to Lora Ramsey, who was a singer in the choir at church. Lora & I both love to travel and we've been all around the country, including Hawaii. We've also made 3 more trips to Israel as part of tour groups from Trinity. Our 1997 trip to Israel included a visit to the country of Jordan. A trip to Israel in 2001 was less than a month after the 9/11 attacks. About half of our group had dropped out, but the rest of us still made the trip which included a few days in Egypt. There we saw the Sphinx, the Pyramids, and all of King Tut's amazing stuff. We also climbed Mount Sinai on camels - one of the most awesome things I've ever done in my life. On our last trip to Israel in the Spring of 2008, I was baptized in the Jordan River - Wow.Some of you may remember that I taught just one Bible Study back at the old Jesus People Center - on the subject of Israel in Bible Prophecy. That subject still fascinates me, and I've created a website around it - www.BiblicalZionist.com - which is primarily a collection of all the verses in the Bible related to dozens of topics connected with The Chosen People and The Promised Land. At last count it had almost 150 pages and over 4,500 Bible verses. It also has a few photos from each of my 5 trips to The Holy Land. I'm still in awe of the Jesus Movement that drew us all together in the 70's. We were part of one of the most incredible supernatural happenings in world history. Shalom & Aloha - DanRichards@neo.rr.comMike Covert -
Some time ago, I began meeting with some of our friends from the Center to enjoy fellowship and discuss old times. These sessions were lead and organized by the unquenchable Danny Davis who never ceases to amaze me with his wonderful spirit. Recently these sessions began to grow in number as a few others from the group became aware and decided to join us. I echo Steve's sentiments in saying that it is "like coming home" to visit with brothers & sisters that you haven't seen for many, many years. At our last gathering we began to explore the "what if's" of possibly making contact with more of you and thus this electronic effort was born. I sincerely hope you find this community bulletin board and join us in reconnection and reconciliation of the exile of time.As for me, I live in a woods in Stark county with my terrific wife Anne and my two greatest teachers (with apologies to Scott Holland) Stephanie Rose, who is now 9 years old and Dylan Michael ( I wanted his middle name to be Miles but Anne vetoed) who is almost 6 years old. Fatherhood has been the most humbling and gratifying experience of my existence. I am currently a remote consultant with the YMCA of the USA in Chicago, IL working from an office in my home. My responsibilities include working with architects, engineers and financial planners in the renovation & restoration of existing YMCA facilities as well as the development of new YMCA property throughout the USA. We are currently working on a renovation of the international YMCA in Jerusalem. I am also a member of the Y-USA faculty and involved in leadership development, development of publications & training courses and I travel extensively serving as a speaker/presenter as well as a trainer/faculty. I am the first consultant they have ever hired whose formal & traditional training is limited to a fairly poor high school educational record, which can only be attributed to a momentary lack in judgement on their part.I have been involved in music throughout my life as a performing and recording blues/jazz bassist & composer, which is my rather fleeting attempt to represent this wonderful art form to contemporary listeners who are probably unfamiliar with this genre and often equally as apathetic. I have had the pleasure of playing with some very talented & creative musicians. Music has become my second language. In addition, I am still a card carrying member of the War Resisters League and to illustrate my personal psychotic tendencies I have served as an official for high school and college basketball for 17 years, a curious hobby that I prefer to view as a study of psychology & human nature. I continue to be an active distance runner as my health allows, practice yoga regularly to restore my health and am an avid collector of old science fiction movies, vintage jazz records/cds and souvenirs from the sixties. - mcovert1@neo.rr.comDanny Davis -
After leaving Trinity in the Spring of 1973, I didn't have any desire to go to church anywhere else. Then in 1974 I married Sue Duck and had 3 sons - Daniel, Eric & Justin. Then in 1988 we got divorced. In 1978 our family opened a health food store in Perry Heights, Davis Harvest Health Market, and we've been there 28 years. I kept in contact with my best friends from High School & Trinity - Neptune & Ted Larson, and another very, very good friend Mike Covert. I always thought & felt that Trinity was home. In 1991 I returned to Trinity and after being there awhile I became a Sunday School teacher, a position I held for 8 years. Sorry I don't have a ww.email thing. Ronnie Brahler (1954 - 2006) -
"Ronald L. Brahler, age 52, of North Canton, passed away Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 24, 2006 following a sudden illness. He was born Jan, 11, 1954 in Canton to his parents, C. J. and Laura Brahler. He graduated from Oakwood High School in 1972. Ron enjoyed music and was a vocalist with the Backstreet Band and Timeless Band. We was a member of the Living Faith Worship Center in Green. . . " - From Ronnie's obituary in the Repository.We were stunned to hear the news - we had just visited with Ronnie in early December at Taggart's. He may have been the youngest one of the group that night. Some of us had seen him a few times since then. Then we got the calls or read the E-mails - he had died of a massive heart attack at home about 6:00 p.m. on Jan 24th. Many of us were at his memorial service at Jeff Layton's church on Feb. 4th. The DVD slide show we watched as we arrived had many great photos of Ronnie through the years. The soundtrack consisted of old Beatles songs on which Ronnie had recorded himself singing all the melody and harmony parts. Jeff had a wonderful service, and Ted Larson talked to us about his memories of Ronnie through the years. During the service we listened to his very impressive recordings of the Christmas song "Mary Did You Know?" and "Ave Maria", his Mother's favorite song. We'll miss you Ronnie. Thanks for all you've added to our lives.Ted Larson -
I got married to Beth Heasley in 1974. We had two children, Erica born in 1977 and Steven born in 1982. I became a grandparent in 2001 to my granddaughter Alexis. I worked for Treadway Home Improvements, Republic Steel for eighteen years, and for the Timken Company since 1997 as a mechanical maintainer. I enjoy visiting with family & friends (both old and new). I also like to play electric guitar, and I enjoy writing and recording music.I attended Dueber Methodist Church for a short time. In the early 90's I returned to Trinity Gospel Temple. I've been in contact with Danny Davis and Dan Richards ever since then. In more recent years I was in regular contact with Ron Brahler until his unexpected death. I've also been seeing Jeff Layton & attending his church (Living Faith Fellowship Center) whenever I can. (No E-mail address)Tim Marshall (Mern) -
(Mern sent this to me with the instructions to "chop...delete...& trim...", but I have no idea where to start. So, until he edits this himself, here's the long version. -D.R.)
While a senior at Aquinas H.S., we were given an assignment in Theology class to go out and visit another church (other than Catholic) and do a report about the experience. (My Dad is Pentecostal, and Mom is Catholic, so I was like - I don't have to "go" anywhere!!!) Marcia (Mars Bars) Bircher did her assignment on the Shepherd's Inn. (We just called it ""The Center".) She was jazzed about it and invited me over for a meeting one evening, and that is how it all began. Marcia and I have been friends all our lives. Our friend and classmate Louie Ruflin, (another "sandbox buddy" of ours from Louisville) also got interested and he soon moved into the 6th St. house. I moved in the Cleve. Ave. house at the time when the Kimbles and the Kelloggs were still there. During my time at the center, I became great friends with Suzy Nelson, Cindy McCauley, Rick & Debbie Kimble, and Mitch Gubanez. I also housed Lao refugees at the Cleve. Ave. house a little later on. Very soon after I moved into the Cleve. Ave house, folks at the center went their separate ways. I lived with Don Lawver, Cindy McCauley & Mitch Gubanez at the Cleve. Ave. house. Mitch and I were in a "nameless" band, and so we decided to find a house to rent where we could practice our music. Suzy Nelson and myself, along with a friend of mine from Aquinas, Antoinette Mirocke rented a house on Smith Ave. off W. Tusc. in Canton. (same street where Cindy's parents lived.) About a year later, Don Lawver asked if I might want to move back in the Cleve. Ave. house, as it had been split into 2 units, front and back, So initially I took an upstairs bedroom in the back. The Cains were living in the front half at the time and Don, Cindy McCauley and I shared the back. During this time, Mitch Gubanez and myself were doing a little "church shopping" and I ended up at Beech Mennonite in Louisville, OH. and moved to a little casual commune out there for a year. I worked for several years sponsoring refugees from Laos. I moved back into the Cleve. Ave House, and rented the front from Don Lawver, where I lived with 2 Lao refugees. Several of us from Beech Mennonite went up to Minnesota and worked at Green Giant one fall, then afterwards I went out and visited Neptune in Boulder. Back in Ohio I continued refugee work and worked at Western Sizzlin Steak house in Canton. Then I moved to Santa Cruz with Cindy McCauley and Brenda Holland for 3 years, where I worked at the local hospital in the business offices. After Santa Cruz, I drove my 65 VW Microbus to Columbus where I worked at The Limited, Inc. headquarters for several years. Brenda moved back to Ohio, and I quit my job in Columbus. She & I lived on a non-electric organic farm in Charm, OH one winter doing caretaking, then I went up to UP Michigan and worked at a mushing camp for 6 weeks. Back in Ohio, I started attending 1st Mennonite in Canton, and began working as a Naturalist for Ohio State Parks. After 8 years with the parks, I went to a private Camp/canoe livery near Mohican State Park for a year. Afterwards, I moved back to Canton and continued my involvement at 1st Menno, working as Missions advocate and doing the church newsletter and website. I had a chance to go to Laos, and stayed there with some Lao friends for 33 days in a remote southern village. For a year I lived near Camp Buckeye, down by Beach City, and attended a local conservative Mennonite church there for a while, before moving out to the Beloit area where I bought a house. I was working for a Mennonite owned roofing company at that point. After 4 1/2 years of roofing, I met my partner Ray Dabkowski. Ray is from Geauga County where he did lots of work with Geauga County Parks leading bird walks. I moved from Beloit to Chesterland, Ohio with Ray, and rented out the house in Beloit. I worked in Mayfield Heights at the MicroCenter there, selling PC's and Macs for 3 years. Two years ago, Ray and I moved to Dunedin, FL, where his mother and his brother's family lives. We love it here. Ray's brother is a civil engineer and had re-designed the downtown area and got all the traffic out of town and turned into a pedestrian-friendly, local merchant based community. Here in Dunedin, we have 2 doggies, 3 box tortoises, and 3 fishies in our little pond I built at the entrance out front. We are friends with all our neighbors on the street, and we have great fun riding bikes, kayaking on the sound or on the Weeki Wachi river, taking out jet boat out to the barrier islands, hanging out at the beach, snorkeling, and hiking and exploring the area. We have done lots of awesome work outside our new house here, we got tons of flowers in our gardens we made, and enjoy the year-round growing season. We have had oodles of house guests, since we extend an open invitation to all our friends and family. There is a 40 some mile bike trail, and we can walk or ride bikes for daily banking, groceries, library, etc., We enjoy walking to the marina for sunsets. We love taking the dogs to "doggie beach" out on Honeymoon Island. We are both members of the "Friends of the Island Parks", a non profit org that promotes preservation and stewardship of the barrier islands here. I got hired by the state at Honeymoon Island State Park in November, where I am currently developing a 7 week training session to train a team of Naturalists who will conduct tours and activities once our new Nature Center opens (slated for July) Ray and I are also on the committee for "Island Fest", our big 2-day fund raiser. I am working on Osprey Village (Nature Interp area at the festival) and the website to promote the event. Ray is doing all the printed promo materials for the friends. Ray also works full time at "Evatone", a huge printing firm in Clearwater, doing variable programming. They own several of the biggest digital presses in the world, and Ray is their main man there. He plans to retire from Evatone in 4 or 5 years. For me, the state job is only 20 hours a week, and my full timer is my own business, "i-Design Internet Technologies". I provide solutions to people who need strong web presence, and develop extensive websites for a variety of businesses and organizations. I also run a few other little gigs like www.i-bin.com, www.dunedinweather.com, and www.dunedinet.com as well as the www.islandparks.org website for the parks. Maybe in a few years will move to Costa Rica - who knows!!!! Actually, we want to be able to go to Ohio, and stay from spring migration through fall migration, then winter here in Florida. We will follow the birds. (We still own the little house in Beloit and rent it out.) - Tim@i-DesignTech.com Jeff Poulos -
Greetings! Twenty-eight years between old friends isn’t so long – is it? Less on top, more in the middle, a touch of gray, and a lifetime of memories is what some of us now share. Gravity, mixed with time, can be a cruel thing... Snapshots – I graduated from Malone College with degrees in Early Childhood Education & Business Management, live in Canton (across from Stadium Park), and work at the Child & Adolescent Service Center as the Fund Development / Marketing Director. I’m single, never married, no kids, no pets. My greatest love is music – a common theme for many of us. I have spent the last 30 years developing my craft as a blues guitarist, singer and performer, recording and playing nightclubs & music festivals throughout northeastern Ohio. I have been blessed to play with many wonderful musicians in bands, including the Memphis Band, the Bluesburners, the Topkats, and my own trio, the Jeff Poulos Blues Revue. I’ve had the privilege to open up for legendary blues artists like Son Seals, Albert Collins, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and the Nighthawks, and performers like Southside Johnny and Michael Stanley. As a community volunteer I currently serve on the Canton Palace Theatre Board, the Rainbow Repertory Company Board, and the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Blues Festival Committee. Spiritually, my journey continues, as I question, discover, rebel, and become more humble by my own shortcomings. I’m grateful to Dan Richards for his friendship, and shepherding one of the lost sheep to the gatherings at Taggart’s. To quote Jerry Garcia: “What a long, strange trip it’s been”. So, how are you? Feel free to contact me at: jpoulos@casrv.org 