Pastor David and Jeanette Bissell
Together David and Jeanette have been involved in helping couples renew and maintain a healthy marriage.David and Jeanette have been in church ministry close to 40 years. From 2001 to 2011 they served as the senior pastoral couple of a large church in the Midwest, after which David retired. In 2014, he returned again to active service as the interim pastor of a church in the Collegedale, Tennessee area. In 2005, he obtained his doctorate from Andrews University. His dissertation was on Restoring Fallen Pastors. In May of 2012, he was invited to do a webinar for the NAD (North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists) entitled Ministering to Pastors Caught in the Cycle of Moral Vice.
Dr. Bissell grew up in a Christian home, but for many years in his early ministry he had a secret sin. During that time, Jeanette suffered through the pain of dealing with his sexual addiction. In 1992, he went to a denominational leader to confess his sin, hoping to be accountable and remain in ministry. His sin was not public knowledge, but the church dismissed him from the ministry. After two years of acting out, David hit rock bottom and begged the Lord to heal him. It was then, about twenty years ago when a miracle occurred; he experienced healing on the inside. At the same time, Jeanette experienced an inner healing from being co-dependent.
Pastor Bissell shared the miracle with a former supervisor who supported his and Jeanette’s restoration to pastoral service. At the encouragement of church leadership, they returned to ministry in 2001. Their testimony is a powerful witness to the grace of God and renewal in the church. Together David and Jeanette have been involved in helping couples renew and maintain a healthy marriage.
“No one can predict what the Lord might do through the life of one repentant sinner. Sometimes a bird with a broken wing does soar again.”
—Erwin Lutzer
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