Pierre Hancock & Michelle Teeny Friday, June 21, 1991

Her Story. . .

The first time Pierre and I spent any length of time together was when I went to Newfoundland for a visit in the summer of 1989. I had just completed my first year of teaching and was looking for somewhere interesting to visit. Pierre had come to Camp Meeting in 1987 and seemed like a fun-loving sort of guy – why not head that general direction? Somewhere in the back of my female brain, there must have been an interest factor, because prior to leaving on my trip, I picked up a University of Oregon sweatshirt for him and made him a quilt. What ever possessed me to make that quilt? Who knows, but it sure made an impact! He couldn't believe it!

That was a great trip – Pierre was attending college in St. John's at the time so we got to do quite a bit of sightseeing, including a very emotion-packed picnic on the side of Signal Hill, a Newfoundland landmark. In addition, we were able to visit the Apostolic Faith Church in Birchy Bay, Newfoundland. I felt something in that meeting that really registered in my heart. It was a sincerity that ran deep. I believe to this day that the sincerity I felt in that service was the same sincerity that drew my affections toward Pierre—no pretenses, just real people who really love the Lord.

Newfoundland is a long way from Portland and as the months went by, we corresponded more and more, talked more frequently on the phone, and began to realize how much we cared for each other. I remember with a smile our reluctance to be the first to tell the other, “ I love you.” I'm not sure why--now it's the last thing we say to each other before we fall asleep. We used to use phrases like, “ I really like you” and “I really like you a lot !” One time, for Valentine's Day, I sent him a tape of miscellaneous love songs. One of the songs on the tape was titled “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” When I talked to him on the phone he said, “Okay, say it.” Yikes! I got myself into that one.              

Another special time was when we both were excited to share a great song we had heard on the radio that was perfect for our situation. What did we find out? It was the same song!

We made several trips back and forth getting to know each other and trying to make sure this was the one God had intended for us. I can't put my finger on a particular day or prayer meeting when the Lord told me “yes.” It was almost a gradual assurance or recognition that this was His will.

The Saturday before Memorial Day in 1990 is quite memorable. Pierre had called, and we had been talking for a while when all of a sudden, I realized he was about to propose. Oh no! Not over the phone! I quickly said he could not propose over the phone and the moment passed. We finished the conversation and hung up.

Now I was in a dither, maybe I had misinterpreted what he was thinking. I didn't have to worry for long because he called back soon after. He told me that if he wanted to propose over the phone, he was going to propose over the phone, and then he did! He, there in Newfoundland, got down on one knee and proposed to me, here in Portland! My stepfather laughed about that afterwards. He said it was good that I was getting a husband who wasn't afraid to speak his mind!

We continued to correspond and visit whenever possible until Pierre finished his college degree in May of 1991. He came to Portland at the end of May and we finalized our plans for a June wedding.

I can still remember the first little disagreement we had. It was really over nothing. We were trying to make a decision about the wedding. Because my natural father had been killed when I was a toddler, I didn't know that differences of opinion were all a part of marital relationships. “How can we be getting married and not agree on something so simple?” I wondered. What I didn't realize was that it is okay to disagree on some of the small things. The big things, such as communication and seeking the Lord, are the really important issues on which agreement is essential. We had that part covered. We were established on the Rock and the Lord had let us know He approved of this marriage.

Two weeks after we were married, I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. What a wonderful day that was, not only for me, but for our relationship. It changed the way I looked at many things.

Big decisions were ahead as we had to decide where to live, Portland or Newfoundland. Why we didn't decide that ahead of time, I'll never know. I believe we were just waiting on an answer from the Lord. The Lord clearly let us both know, during the same prayer service, that we were to move back to Newfoundland. The Lord really taught us many wonderful lessons while we lived there, first in Corner Brook and later in Roddickton.

With the Lord's leading, we moved back to Portland in May of 1993. The Lord was teaching us that we wouldn't know His plan for our entire lives; we are to simply follow Him one step at a time. After arriving back in Portland, the Lord blessed us with work; Pierre in temporary positions, and me in a teaching position. Then one day, Pierre was asked to work at the church office. Who would have ever thought of that? Obviously the Lord!

God has truly blessed our lives. Is it all romance and roses? No, but has God blessed our marriage? YES! We have four beautiful children that we can teach about Him. We are able to serve the Lord together. He has been so good to us.

His Story. . .

The familiar chords of “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” resounded throughout the church, but I was hardly aware as the main sanctuary doors opened. Standing before me was the most beautiful girl in the world, and in just a few minutes she would become my wife. As she walked the long aisle toward me, I could barely contain my excitement, and the lyrics of an old love song played in the back of my mind, “I give all of myself to you, only you, my dream come true.”

That wonderful day began a lifelong journey with my closest friend in the world. We have encountered some bumps along the way, but we've enjoyed more blessings and fun than either Michelle or I expected. The closing song at our wedding was the theme song to Indiana Jones' Adventures, and in light of our courtship and marriage, I think it is very appropriate.

Michelle and I met for the first time when I came to camp meeting in 1987. I was nineteen at the time and coming to camp was the trip of a lifetime. I had sold my motorcycle to get the money to go, but that camp meeting set in motion some connections that would change my life. Michelle and her cousin, Tami, entertained my cousin, Lindy, and me most of the time we were here. One time, seven of us climbed into Michelle's Hyundai hatchback, and headed to the beach. While at the beach, Lindy and I got into a sand-slinging match and Michelle was the only female to join in the fun. Thinking that I would really show her how to play at the beach, I maneuvered myself closer to her as I kept throwing sand, all the while keeping my eye on the surf rolling in. When a larger than average wave started breaking just behind us, I quickly grabbed her and pulled her into the water. I later found out that she was not at all impressed with my performance and so it was a great surprise when I received a call from her during the summer of 1989.

I was attending the summer semester at university, and when my roommate told me that a girl named Michelle wanted to talk to me on the phone, I didn't expect it to be her. She asked me if I would mind her coming to visit for a couple of weeks. Not really knowing what to say, I opted for the possibilities a trip like that would offer. I never dreamed that by the end of the two weeks, I would be severely bitten by the love bug.

Before Michelle arrived, I had a conversation with Jeananne, one of my college friends, who asked me what I was looking for in a girl. She didn't know that I had a rather extensive list already established in my mind. As I finished my list, she looked at me and said, “You'll never find her. She doesn't exist.” I responded with, “Then I guess I'll never get married.”

As it turned out, Jeananne ended up being Michelle's and my supervisor for a job we were working on while in Newfoundland a few years later. Following a meeting one day, she held me back and whispered, “I can't believe it! You actually found her!” It took me a second to figure out what she was talking about, and then I just grinned in affirmation that yes, I did find the perfect match for me.

Before I proposed, I once told my pastor that God would have to hit me with a two-by-four before I would make a lifelong commitment like marriage. She encouraged me to figure out what I was looking for in a wife and then allow the Lord to direct my decisions. I guess it's only fair to share some of that list to give you a better idea of how I knew that Michelle was the one for me.

First, my mate had to love the Lord as much or more than I did. Second, I required the approval of those who I knew loved me and wanted only the best for me. My parents had to wholeheartedly approve of the match. All of my siblings also had to approve of her. I had to have the approval of my ministry, and then my close friends had to approve. Although it may seem a little extreme, I felt very strongly that my wife would have to be compatible with the established relationships in my life. I also felt that when you married, you didn't just marry one person, you married the whole family—in the sense that those people will be actively involved in your life. I also applied these criteria to myself from Michelle's perspective. If there was someone in her family that drove me crazy, I evaluated being able to deal with that person if we did get married. If all of these criteria were met, I felt very comfortable in pursuing a deeper relationship.

I also felt that since I would be spending most of my time with this individual, we needed to share some hobbies, or recreational activities. Our outlook on life needed to be similar. I like people and enjoy socializing and getting to know others. I needed someone who equally enjoyed spending time with others and entertaining friends.

The list could go on with lesser important criteria, but one other item that was on my list that I didn't even know was met until after we were engaged was that my wife would be someone who could play the piano. I've been singing solos in church since I was eight years old, and thought it would be nice if my wife could accompany me. It wasn't very high on the list, but it was there. A week after a telephone conversation about music, I received a cassette tape of piano music from her. When I asked her who was playing, she mildly responded that she was the pianist. I could hardly believe it! I would have married her anyway, even if she couldn't play a note, but she has accompanied me many times while living in a branch church.

One closing aspect of our courtship that has become a trademark of our relationship is the handprint we use in our correspondence. Yes, we still send occasional love notes to each other. At some point during our dating period, we adopted the concept of “kindred spirits” from Anne of Green Gables and we still use it today. That little handprint communicates more than many words ever could.

Pierre and Michelle Hancock are still happily married and now have four children. They live in Eureka, California where Pierre is the pastor of the Apostolic Faith Church.