Cory Arp
Jesus Changes Everything
As a child, I was fortunate to have grown up in a home with parents that introduced me to Jesus. However, I never fully surrendered my life to Jesus. This was evident as soon as I was out of their home. What followed were six years of running away from God, which He eventually used to bring me to the point of full surrender and repentance. By God’s grace, today I am a new man, who is far from perfect, yet growing closer to Him day by day.
the arp’s
My family and I have been a part of Public Church for close to three years. My wife of seventeen years is Kristen Arp, and together we have three precious kids named Ellie, Emery and Ezra. Kristen and I are both natives of Cleveland, and both grew up in the same church where we eventually married. I say eventually only because I am nine years older than her, and her father asked me to wait for her basketball season to come to an end before I proposed! It’s a great story, and one that we love to laugh about today. Our family is the single most important part of our lives. We love to travel to new places and spend time together, especially outdoors. Together we work very hard to teach, train, and encourage our children to be all that God has created them to be. We truly believe that children are a blessing!
The public church vision
As part of the Public Church family, I am usually upstairs playing with kids and serving in Sprouts/Roots, or playing drums with Public Worship on Sunday mornings. Our front door is a revolving one during the week. We love inviting others in, whether it be Community Groups, neighbors, family, or friends we’ve made along the way. Being intentionally influenced by God’s people, and the call to make disciples, are both what spur us to build solid community in our lives. We are so thankful that Public Church has been a family for us to grow in and build up.
What I do for fun
Pickleball is one of our favorite activities to enjoy with friends, unless we can include tacos as an activity- tacos are our favorite!
Randy Gordon
Jesus changes everything
When we were pretty young, my parents would send my brother and I to the church a few blocks away from our house every Sunday, while they stayed at home. After a few visits from the pastor of that church, as well as some other experiences, my parents both began to follow Jesus. Because of that, I grew up in the church, although my interest in God was fairly inconsistent. My junior year of high school was spent wanting to have a foot on each shore. I couldn't convince myself that there was no God, yet I also didn't want to give up the things that prevented me from truly following him. It was a year of wanting God, but fighting against Him at the same time. The tipping point happened that summer when I went to a camp and heard an ex-hippy evangelist speak so passionately, and in a way that resonated with me, about full surrender to God being the only true path to peace and freedom. That talk had a profound effect on me and is what the Lord used to lead me to that full surrender. And while my trajectory of growth over the subsequent years was not as steady as I would have liked, I look back on that summer as the time during which my journey of following Jesus really began.
The gordon’s
Doralee and I have been married for twenty-eight years and have a twenty-three year old daughter and a seventeen year old son. We have three dogs: Titus, Remi and Speck. As a family, we have been in the Cleveland area since 2016.
the public church vision
Within the church, we lead a community group on Sunday afternoons in our home, and we also serve on the Global Team. This team provides opportunities to learn more about God's heart for the nations, as well as how to better pray for believers living under persecution.
We are also involved in International Friends Network, which has enriched our lives with many diverse friendships.
what i do for fun
Fun facts: I started growing my beard in preparation for playing the apostle Paul under house arrest for a Vacation Bible School in Alaska, and I am attempting to learn Turkish. Plus, Doralee and I have tried to encourage community in the greater Cleveland area by hosting both indoor and outdoor house concerts.
JJ Hulet
jesus changes everything
I think one of the amazing things about God and His grace is that every story is completely different, yet also the same. While we all have different stories, Jesus changes everything and that ultimately looks the same whether it’s a radical conversion or someone who knew Jesus from an early age. We all fall short without His grace. I was blessed to grow up in a healthy home that introduced Jesus from the beginning. Still, when I was a teenager, I wrestled with embracing Jesus for myself. Ultimately, I did, which began a journey of almost twenty years of following Him since. Anything I am is only because of His grace. Anytime you want to swap Jesus stories, come find me.
the hulet’s
Danielle is the love of my life, and we have soon-to-be three kids, Nolan (6), Harper (5), and baby boy, who we can’t really land on a name for. Danielle daily amazes me in how she cares for her kids, me, and her students at Ocoee Middle School. Nolan is smart, sensitive, kind, and loves to worship. Harper is bold, beautiful in every way, and I’m convinced will accomplish anything she puts her mind to. I love to talk about my family, you probably shouldn’t get me started!
The Public Church Vision
I have a similar approach to the Public Church Vision as I do to the idea that Jesus Changes Everything. We all have the same vision, to invite people to embrace the journey of following Jesus, but we all have very different ways to do it. For me, this starts within the church body. I always want to be a person who builds up Christ’s church so that each person can go and fulfill their unique way of sharing Jesus. I also teach communication, and work in the field, so I aim to help people communicate honestly, effectively, and in a way that builds strong relationships, families, and ultimately glorifies God.
What I do for fun
I love to be outside. Whether it’s a bike ride, working in the yard, or just finding a way to be in nature, I’m refueled by fresh air. I am a big baseball fan, watching, playing, a little coaching, any way I can be near the greatest game on earth. I love coffee, cooking, going on dates with my wife, and being with people I love.