Staff photo / Bob Coupland The sixth annual Men’s Mile Marker gathering was Feb. 28 at St. Blaise Parish-St. Joseph Church in Austintown, where local men heard from guest speakers about keeping right with God. Committee members are, from left, Ernie Ramhoff and Bob Gugliotti, both from St. Blaise Parish-St. Joseph Church, Jon Pappas of Light Community Church; Scott Crawford of St. Blaise Parish-Immaculate Heart of Mary Church; Chad Rachic, event coordinator; Pat Castronova of St. Blaise Parish-St. Joseph Church; and Don Hughes and Bob Wirtz, both of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.

AUSTINTOWN — Men from local parishes gathered to discuss ways to stay “right with God” as part of the sixth annual Men’s Mile Marker gathering at St. Blaise Parish-St. Joseph Church.

Chad Rachic, team leader/event coordinator, said the theme was “Keeping Right with God,” with those who attended being challenged to think about God first with all activities and speakers centered around that theme.

“We want the men to put God first and talk about their faith in an environment where they won’t feel judged,” Rachic said.

He said there were more than 45 people in attendance.

“I hope those who take part today will gain an understanding of putting God first in whatever they do in their life because no matter what they do, having God first will help put everything into place,” Rachic said.

Jon Pappas of Light Community Church in Youngstown said he always tries to share the name of Jesus with others and how he was saved by Christ.

“I say to others, ‘are you a follower of Christ?’ And share my life experience,” Pappas said.

Guest speaker Jeff Fusco of St. Blaise Parish-Immaculate Heart of Mary Church shared his personal struggles of being in a serious car accident as a boy and almost dying from COVID-19.

He said despite what he faced in life, he kept his faith in God and shared his inspirational contacts that helped him survive.

“I have always felt it is important to be alright with God. God is so immense that he loves everyone,” Fusco said.

He said everyone experiences bad things in their lives such as job loss, financial problems, relationship problems and family issues.

“This event, the Men’s Mile Marker, has us all on a journey. God has plans for each of you,” Fusco said.

He said he feels he is the most blessed person to get thro\ugh bad and serious situations.

Fusco said at age 5, he and a friend were being driven by the friend’s mom to the YMCA when she could not get the brakes to work on Meridian Road.

“She could not stop and we hit the back of a truck. I went through the window of the car. Gas station attendants got to me,” Fusco said.

He said when he woke up, he noticed his brand new striped shirt was all red from blood from a large cut in his head.

“I felt cold. My head was cut open. I was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where I needed stitches,” Fusco said.

He said as he grew up, he always kept faith with God.

“I lived my life for what God had for me. I lived with Christian values and kept Jesus at the center of my life,” Fusco said,

In 2020, Fusco said he caught COVID-19 and became very sick and was taken to an urgent care

facility by family members.

“I could not open my eyes. When I went to the hospital, I collapsed on the floor when I was going in,” he said.

Fusco said for two months, he was in the hospital and had organs shutting down, lost a lot of blood, was in and out

of consciousness, coded five times, had a temperature of 104 degrees and was on a ventilator for 28 days.

“I remember the doctor saying to my family I had less than two hours to live, and if I did survive, I would be in a wheelchair because of brain damage,” Fusco said.

He said he was taken by helicopter to the Cleveland Clinic, where he said he had “an amazing miracle” with visions of God talking to him.

“I was really sick. I was on my death bed. I got the affirmation of my life with what I had survived in my life. God had always been with me even though I didn’t realize it then,” Fusco said.

He said he recovered from COVID, but he had to relearn to walk and talk.

“The whole time I was in the hospital I kept my faith that God has a place for me. The prayers from people kept me going. I tell people the ultimate journey is to be with God. Every day is an opportunity,” Fusco said.