About Me
“Surely your goodness and unfailing love (chesed) will pursue me all the
days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever,”
- Psalm 23:6 (New Living Translation).
Deborah Markowitz Solan grew up Jewish in Brooklyn, New York, during
the turbulent 1960s. The defining moment in her young life came in 1963,
when, at the age of five, she watched her mother collapse in uncontrollable
grief when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. It was the same year
that her grandfather (her mother’s father) died and she again witnessed the
horrible grief that her mother experienced. There was also dysfunction and
trauma in Deborah’s household, leading her, subconsciously, to think that no
amount of happiness in life could outweigh the tragedy of suffering and
death. And, she wondered about and greatly feared death and what comes
after we die. She made dangerous and unhealthy life choices throughout her
adolescence and lived a life without passion or purpose. Despite the sorrow
she felt within, she graduated high school at the age of 16 and was the first
student intern at Sesame Street - Electric Company magazines.
In her junior year of college at West Virginia University, she was divinely directed
to a spiritual weekend where she gave her heart and life to Yeshua (Jesus) the
Jewish Messiah. She graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor of
science degree in journalism in 1979.
Deborah had a 35-year successful, executive career in journalism, public relations,
and philanthropy and has worked with top corporate and community leaders,
university presidents, and physicians throughout northeast Ohio. She retired from
her administrative career in 2013 and began a second career as a substitute teacher
until 2020. She also taught a summer reading program for inner-city children for
many years.
She has been happily married to her husband, George M. Solan, Jr., for more than
40 years. They live in Cuyahoga Falls. Ohio, have a miracle cat, Emma. and a
beautiful and gifted daughter, Samantha (Solan) Kacik and son-in-love, Alex
Kacik.
Deborah has been a leader in all aspects of ministry including teaching children
and adults, leading women’s Bible studies, overseeing evangelism and community
outreach efforts and leading missions work.
Deborah led her mother (who had hated Christians) to the Lord 10 years after
she gave her heart to Yeshua. Five years later, Deborah’s mother led her
mother (Deborah’s grandmother) to the Lord. Samantha is also a believer.
Four generations of Jewish Christian women is a testimony to God’s
goodness and faithfulness!
Deborah and Megan Berkebile at the Kappa Phi National Council meeting. Megan coordinated Deborah's presentation about four generations of Jewish believers in her family. She also shared how God healed all the broken parts of her life and how He wishes to do the same for all people.
George and Deborah have been happily married for more than 40 years.
Deborah and her daughter, Samantha, and their family celebrate the Jewish holidays.