Category: Prayer & Updates

We are saddened to report the death of Torveig Aas, wife of GCI-Scandinavia Regional Pastor Carl Aas. We received the following announcement and tribute from Carl.

My wife’s health situation grew very serious over the last month. Two times in three weeks doctors drained fluid from the same lung, concluding it was Torveig’s damaged and weak heart that was the cause. Ten days ago she started having spasms and lapsed into unconsciousness. She died on July 8, entering into her rest with the Lord.

Torveig has been my best friend and helper for 44 years of marriage and we agreed that we have been so blessed and are so thankful to God for what He has done for us. Three times, God has stepped in when the doctors had given up. In 1978 God stepped in after the doctors told me to call her parents that her life was over. Then in 2009 she caught bird virus flu and her situation was so bad the doctors would at first not allow me to enter the hospital room where she was. But God stepped in suddenly and she calmed down and heat came back to her body and color to her face while the doctors stood outside the room looking through a glass wall. The last time was on February 7 of this year when her heart stopped while she was in treatment at the heart emergency ward. One of the doctors in the room was so surprised that she survived that when he came back three hours later he had to go over to her bed and touch her asking if she really was Torveig Aas. He could not believe it.

I believe with all my heart that God exists. My wife (shown as a young woman at left) has been the proof for me. I have seen the finger of God when the doctors had given up. But none of us are going to live eternally in this physical state. All of us will die one day. Eternal life is a gift God will give us on the other side of the door of death.

Torveig tried to make the most use of every day and to enjoy walking with God, because she knew how fragile life was. She had a number of serious chronic illnesses. The doctors told me that she was very healthy for being so sick. One doctor a few months ago did not believe that my wife was his new patient, because he had just gone through her journal and was expecting to see a wreck. Instead he saw my wife smile at him. You should have seen his face!

My wife’s suffering is now over, for which I am grateful, but I miss her deeply. She has been my best friend and companion since we met in the last year of high school in 1969. Now that era of my physical life is over. I look forward to seeing her in the resurrection! Let God be praised!

_____________________________

Torveig’s funeral will be held at Ski new church, in the town of Ski outside of Oslo on July 20 at 1:oo PM. Cards may be sent to Carl at:

Carl Fredrick Aas
Vevelstadasen 25
N-1405 Langhus
NORWAY

We are saddened to report the death of William Condley (age 77), pastor of GCI’s congregation in Russellville, Arkansas. His wife Ednita told us that William’s memorial service was held on July 8. About 350 family and friends attended.

When William went into the hospital to get his heart condition repaired, it was not expected that the complications from the surgery would lead to his eventual death. Ednita notes that it was a very difficult several weeks watching William struggle. In the end, with family by his bedside, his heart stopped and he died peacefully.

William had battled prostate cancer in the past and Ednita fought breast cancer just a year ago. Ednita’s four sisters have also died (one just last December). It’s been a very difficult season for her, but she notes that she has taken comfort from the prayers of friends and the Spirit of God at work in her life. Ednita also feels blessed to have her three sons, their spouses, and many grown grandchildren living nearby. Though she will miss William very much, she tells us that “I’ll be all right.”

Twenty years ago, Ednita (a teacher by training and trade) was instrumental in opening a new library in her community. Even with her and William’s illnesses over the past few years, she has continued to work there part time. She plans to resume regular part-time work there soon because, as Ednita says, “I love being around people.”

Cards may be sent to Ednita and her family at:

Ednita Condley
153 S. Main Street
Atkins, AR 72823-8235

Thelma (Tracy) Davies, wife of Louis Davies (associate pastor of the GCI congregation in Long Beach, California) informed us that her mother Birdie Fay Tracy died on June 21. Many long-time members will remember the Tracy family, including Birdie’s husband Clifton, their three daughters (Thelma, Sandra Kay Plummer and Rozalyn) and a son Clifton. Birdie turned 83 on June 18 and would have celebrated 67 years of marriage on September 3. A graveside service is planned for July 13 at 11:00 AM at Rose Hills Cemetery (Garden of Valor) in Whittier, California.

Please pray for the Tracy and Davies families in their time of grief. Cards may be sent to:

Louis & Thelma Davies
10071 El Capitan Dr
Huntingtn Bch, CA 92646-6609

We were saddened to learn of the death of John Coco who had served as an elder in the Chicago area. John was born in 1926, served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, then married Dolores Jones. They have five children and several grandchildren. Here is a tribute written by a family member.

It was with great sadness that we said goodbye to a man who was a hero in many ways. At John’s funeral, someone stated they did not believe John was afraid of anything. I believe that to be a true of him. It’s also true that he lived his faith, using it to bring change and growth, reaching out to the “little guys,” taking care of widows, picking people up for church, giving money and groceries to those in need, and encouraging younger ministers, assuring them that he had their back.

Though a jokester and a corker, I think all of us would say that he knew how to love—and that he did, genuinely. John loved God, his wife, family, and other people. He is dearly missed, and fondly thought of. He will not be forgotten.

Prayer is requested for retired GCI-USA pastor/district superintendent Don Lawson and his wife Sue. GCI President Joseph Tkach together with retired GCI Vice President Michael Feazell visited Don and Sue a few weeks ago. Dr. Tkach sent this prayer request.

Don has been Sue’s care provider since her diagnosis of leukemia a little over five years ago. The leukemia has not come back, but she is not doing well otherwise. Don was put on dialysis three times a week because his kidneys started to shut down. While testing to find out why, the doctors found myeloma, a cancer that affects cells in the bone marrow. He has been put on chemotherapy that causes burning to his skin, so he now has blisters/swelling all over his body, particularly on his eye lids.

Don and Sue have sold their home and are moving to live with their son and daughter-in-law. They well know that God is in control and this makes it so much easier for their family knowing how strong their parent’s faith is while they fight the battles ahead.

Please join us in praying for Don, Sue and their extended family.

Cards may be sent to:

Don and Sue Lawson
82383 Stradivari
Indio, CA 92203-3825

Thanks for your prayers for Pastor William Condley of Russellville, Arkansas (click here for the original prayer request). According to his son David, he continues in the hospital where he is now able to sit in a chair some and breathe on his own more and more each day. He will soon be moving to a rehabilitation hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas in order to regain his strength. William’s wife Ednita is doing well and will be with her husband in the other hospital.

Please continue to pray for both William and Ednita.

Cards may be sent to:

William and Ednita Condley
153 S. Main Street
Atkins, AR 72823-8235

We asked recently for prayer for Debbie Young, wife of GCI-Atlanta pastor Charles Young (click here for the original prayer request). Here is an update from Charles:

Debbie has recently undergone tests to try to determine the nature of the illness that is causing her a great deal of pain. One of the tests indicates that there is something weakening her muscles and thus causing pain. It also is making it difficult for her to swallow at times (the esophagus is a muscle). Further tests will be conducted to try to determine the nature of the illness and devise a treatment plan.

Charles is taking time away from work and pastoring to spend more time with Debbie during this difficult time. He and Debbie send their thanks for the continuing prayers. Knowing that God is faithful, they rest in our Lord’s amazing grace and healing mercies.

Cards may be sent to:

Charles and Debbie Young
6290 Ponderosa Ct
College Park, GA 30349-4038

We were saddened to learn of the recent death of GCI-Philippines Pastor Eligio (Eli) Toledo, due to a heart attack.

Eli pastored the Cabanatuan church. He had been ordained only about a year ago upon the death of the congregation’s Senior Pastor, Tony Gaspar. Pastor Eli is survived by his wife Erlinda and their four children, their spouses and several grandchildren.

Cards to the family may be sent to:

Toledo
17 Purok 2, Sto. Rosario
Sto. Domingo, Cabanatuan City
Nueva Ecija 3133, Phils.

As reported in an earlier issue of Weekly Update, GCI-USA Pastor William Condley was hospitalized following surgery and was on a ventilator and in a coma. We are pleased to share this update from William’s wife Ednita:

William is now awake! He still can’t talk because of the tracheotomy, but he is doing much better. They have now started physical therapy. He is still on the ventilator, but we are thanking God for his mercy. Thanks for all the prayers and cards. They have been a big help to all of us. Our love to you all.

Cards may be sent to:

William and Ednita Condley
153 S. Main Street
Atkins, AR 72823-8235

We are saddened to learn of the recent death of retired GCI pastor Lowell Blackwell. Below are tributes from some of his family members (edited versions of what they posted on Facebook).

From Lowell’s son, Jim Blackwell

My father Lowell (pictured below) died at age 82 on Thursday, May 26. Having lost his battle to cancer, he opened his eyes to eternity.

Lowell was born in 1933 in Waynesville, MS to Dean and Marie Blackwell. He grew up with three brothers, Dean (Maxine), Tom (Pat), and Mike (Carol), and one sister, Bonnie (T.O.) Hughes. Lowell met Margaret (Pierce) in high school and married her on June 14, 1952. They were married for 63 years.

Lowell’s amazingly interesting life included a host of careers. He started as a roughneck in the west Texas oil fields, then moved on to engineering for Boeing Aircraft in Kansas, where he also worked part time as a police officer. God then called Lowell into the ministry and he moved his young family to Pasadena, CA, where he obtained a bachelors in Theology at Ambassador College (Pasadena) and then began serving in pastoral ministry. Lowell and Margaret pastored WCG churches in Glendale and Bakersfield, CA; Bismarck and Fargo, ND; and Dayton OH, before moving to Indianapolis, IN, where Lowell returned to engineering.

In 1995, Lowell retired from engineering and God drew him back into the ministry. He served as a pastor in Plymouth and Mishawaka, IN, and then finished in Springfield and Rolla, MO. In 1998, Lowell retired from employed ministry and he and Margaret moved to Mountain Home, AR, then to Pendleton, IN. In retirement they spent time with kids and grand-kids and enjoyed travel to places like Australia, New Zealand, England, France, Israel, the Caribbean and Mexico.

Lowell is survived by his wife (Margaret), and six children, Lowell Jr. (Suzy), David (June), Susan Endres (Gary), Marcy DeShong (Morris), Tim (Susan), and Jim (Pam). They have 16 grand-kids and 20 great grand-kids!

From Lowell’s daughter, Susan Blackwell Endres

Dad fought the good fight, ran his race and won, and is now resting for eternity with his loving God. He touched many lives and ministered till he could not anymore. Now his gifts are in heaven. We were blessed as his children, and have many, many good memories.

From Lowell’s wife, Margaret Blackwell

I am at peace knowing my sweet husband of 63 years is at peace and with our Lord and Savior. No more pain, no more sorrow. Life will go on with the help of my “kids” and my God. His “Life Celebration” will be held at the Pendleton Christian Church on June 10. Jim Blackwell will officiate and you know his sense of humor! I think we all are all cried out—now is a wonderful time to remember my Sweetheart. Love to all.

Cards may be sent to:

Margaret Blackwell
123 Woodland Drive
Pendleton, IN 46064