The first time Glen Sell held meetings at our church, he spoke about how our relationship with God is more than just an immediate "happening"; it is a process of growing and changing. A light turned on for Miles and he heaved a sigh of relief. It was so freeing that he remembers thinking, "Thank you!"

Miles was born April 27, 1963, to Morris and Joyce Pruett in Huntington, West Virginia. He was next to the youngest of seven children. Miles remembers a lot of turbulence and arguing in his family with his dad being an alcoholic. His mother died of cancer the day after his 19th birthday. Looking back, Miles can see God at work and a faith taking root and growing.

When Miles was in the third grade they moved to Bon Air. This was a fun time for young Miles. They lived in the suburbs and he remembers roaming the neighborhood all hours of the day and night, riding the streets on their bikes, and walking the railroad tracks to the store — they felt safe. In 1974 when he was in the fifth grade, they moved to Powhatan. Miles did not notice another new student; a very shy and quiet girl from Newport News. Miles loved sports and through his high school and college years, played soccer and tennis, and coached recreation sports and travel teams.

Sharon, the third and youngest daughter of Howard and Lillian Hertzler, was born February 4, 1963, in Newport News, Virginia. Sharon loved their home in the city. They were within walking or bike-riding distance of school, the store and her friends. She loved playing outside with her sisters and the neighborhood children. They built forts and had a playhouse with a real sofa, cabinets, and appliances. She loved animals and dreamed of becoming a vet. She has fond memories of being "daddy’s little girl" and riding with him in the dump truck or on the bulldozer. Her special reward for "helping" him was a chocolate milk shake. Sharon says, "Dad treated us like boys until we were old enough to date, and then we became his little girls to protect!" Sharon remembers Mom always being home for the girls and the great example of a Christian mother.

In 1974 when she was eleven, her secure world was turned upside down with the move to the "farm" in rural Powhatan County. Sharon says the only way her dad got them to consent to move was the promise of animals — lots of animals. They got calves, a horse and a donkey. The calves were supposed to be a money-making project, but she didn’t see it that way. She named her calf "Bandit," and he followed her like a puppy. She finally had to sell Bandit to another farm and was devastated when she learned that Bandit didn’t work out and had gone to market. Sharon remembers going to Richmond as being an all-day adventure. They packed bags of books and stuff as entertainment for the long trip.

Sharon quickly began to make friends at school and church. She also began to play soccer and was on the same team with a couple of boys who weren’t very happy about having girls on the team. Much to her dislike, they called her "pansy." To this day, Miles still denies being involved, but Sharon remembers differently and she was not impressed!!

Miles and Sharon started dating by accident, or maybe it was providential! Carl and Linda were dating and had tried unsuccessfully to get the two together, so they hatched a little scheme. Linda invited Sharon to go see a movie and Carl invited Miles. Sharon couldn’t believe she had been "tricked" into a date with Miles, but ended up having a good time. Soon afterwards they started dating. Miles said, "I was attracted to Sharon because of her smile."

The first year after graduating from high school, Miles went to Radford University and Sharon attended J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College and worked at Elam Animal Hospital. They wrote lots of letters — long letters every other day! Long distance dating became unbearable for the young couple, and Sharon decided to go to Radford to be close to Miles. They were good years with lots of happy memories.

Sharon says she kept asking Miles when they were going to get married. He would always answer, "When I get a million dollars!" One day Sharon sent him ten "$100,000" candy bars (now called "100 Grand" bars)! During their junior year at school, they were not happy with their roommates and decided that five years of dating was long enough. They were very much in love and decided the time had come to get married.

Miles and Sharon were married August 10, 1985, at May Memorial Baptist Church. Two days after returning from their honeymoon, they went back to Radford to their two-room duplex to finish their senior year at college. They have fond memories of their little apartment. Miles worked at the Sports Arena and drove a shuttle bus on campus to help pay expenses, and Sharon honed her skills at "super shopping!"

After graduating from college, they moved to Chesterfield Village Apartments in Richmond. Sharon, having a nursing degree, went to work in the medical surgical unit at Richmond Memorial Hospital and Miles put his business management degree to work as manager at a Radio Shack store. The following year (1988) they decided they were ready to move back to the country, and Sharon’s dad helped them build their house in Powhatan. Little did they know that this would be the last house Howard would build. Two months before the birth of their firstborn, Howard was killed in a tragic car accident. Sharon says, "This was very traumatic and difficult. I was so disappointed that daddy never got to see Steven. He could have taught him so much. It is one piece of life’s puzzles, and even though I don’t understand, I have learned to trust God and see Him at work."

Miles and Sharon have been blessed with two children, Steven and Stephanie. Steven is a soccer fanatic. He accepted the Lord and was baptized May 22, 2001. Stephanie has many interests, including piano, guitar, softball, gymnastics and horseback riding. Steven and Stephanie both attend Richmond Christian School. Spending time with the children is very important to Miles and Sharon. They enjoy playing sports together and going to the kids’ ballgames. They also enjoy traveling, seeing more of God’s beautiful creation, especially at the ocean.

For Miles and Sharon their spiritual pilgrimage has been one of learning to trust in God. Miles says, "We always went to church but there were a lot of bad choices made in our family. A youth pastor at our church in Powhatan took at lot of interest in us Pruett boys and his life and witness had a profound affect on my spiritual sensitivity. I accepted Christ when I was 13 at May Memorial Baptist Church. Pastor Thomas Mallory preached a very graphic sermon at Easter time on the crucifixion. The sermon spoke deep to my heart, and my brother and I both went forward to the altar.

Sharon was 11 when she and her sister, Linda, accepted Christ. Sharon says, "I was raised in a Christian home and if the church doors were open, we were there. Olivet Christian Church and Denbeigh Christian Church had an excellent children's church program, and the leader, Mrs. Poplawski, had a profound affect on my life. I grew up learning to know God and feeling His call on my life."

Miles and Sharon are grateful for the spiritual nurture they receive at PMC. Sharon says, "My parents taught us to serve and share, and that has been backed by a loving, giving spirit at PMC." Miles, who has been church treasurer for seven years, says he is continually amazed and inspired by the financial giving of our church. He says, "I don’t think I have ever seen a fund set up for a need that the goal has not been met." This past year, Miles and Sharon were asked to be care group leaders. Miles says, " I wanted to be more involved, but I couldn’t imagine doing that. When Pastor Tim called, I asked him if he was sure he had the right number!" For the Pruetts, this has been a real step in their faith journey in trusting God to provide.

By Pat Hertzler