Category: Prayer & Updates

We’re pleased to report that Roger will be going home from the hospital later this week (for the earlier prayer request click here). He will be receiving in-home physiotherapy for several weeks to assist with his mobility. The doctors are happy with his progress, but he will need to be monitored for some time.

Roger and his wife Anthea extend their thanks to everyone for the cards, emails and prayers of encouragement.

Cards may be sent to:

Roger & Anthea Lippross
1015 Coto de Caza Ct
Beaumont, CA 92223-8522

We were saddened to learn of the recent death of Bob Wheeler, Assistant Pastor of GCI’s Eugene, Oregon church. The announcement below is from Bob’s pastor Tim Sitterley.

Bob passed away early in the morning of April 12. He had a severe heart attack the evening before. Though the hospital staff did everything they could to open Bob’s blocked arteries, the damage was too great, and he died on the operating table. Bob’s wife Linda and I were allowed in the room at the end, and I was allowed to pray for and anoint Bob before they turned off the ventilator.

Please pray for Linda, Bob’s son Matt, and his daughters Ruth and Rebecca. Also please keep the Eugene and Salem congregations in your prayers, as the loss of Bob will leave a large void. Bob was a good friend and able assistant in ministry.

Card may be sent to:

Linda Wheeler
5466 Sugar Plum Street, SE
Salem, OR 97306

We were saddened to learn of the death of Lloyd E. Burgess (pictured as a young man and then more recently at right). Lloyd was an elder in GCI’s Lancaster, California, church. Lloyd died on March 29. The day before he had been taken to the hospital because he was weak and having difficulty breathing. His pastor Raul Ramos met him there and found Lloyd in good spirits. Raul was shocked to learn that Lloyd passed away just a few hours after their visit.

Our brother in Christ will be greatly missed. Please pray for his wife Betty (who resides at a nursing facility) and his daughter Joanna. Cards and notes to the family may be sent to Joanna and Ken Mitchell:

Joanna and Ken Mitchell
3350 Twincreek Ct
Palmdale, CA 93551

This is an update on the prayer request from last week for Roger Lippross.

Thanks for your prayers for Roger. His wife Anthea sent us this update:

Roger thanks everyone for their prayers and concern for his recent stroke. He is doing okay. Given the extent of the stroke, it will be a long recovery. He is having therapy twice a day (physio, speech and cognitive). The doctors are pleased with his progress so far. The next week is critical regarding the swelling in his brain and possibility of another stroke. In spite of this he is very positive about the outcome.

Cards may be sent to:

Roger & Anthea Lippross
1015 Coto de Caza Ct
Beaumont, CA 92223-8522

This prayer request is from Anthea Lippross, wife of long-time GCI elder Roger Lippross, who was Production Director of Publishing for WCG from 1975-1988.

Please pray for my husband Roger. On March 27 he had a stroke and is now at the Redlands Community Hospital in Southern California where he underwent tests. The latest tests showed that Roger had had previous strokes. He is progressing well and waiting to be transferred to a rehab facility that concentrates on physiotherapy. He thanks everyone for their concern and prayers and with Gods help will be up and back in the saddle.

Cards may be sent to:

Roger & Anthea Lippross
1015 Coto de Caza Ct
Beaumont, CA 92223-8522

Dishon Mills, who pastors GCI congregations in the Boston, Massachusetts area, will be having oral surgery on April 13 to address a growth in the bone below the gum line that is pushing on a wisdom tooth and thus weakening the jaw and causing a good deal of pain.

If the surgery goes well, he will resume his duties a day or two after surgery and resume a normal diet in 4-6 weeks. However, there are three potential complications: 1) the surgery could sever the nerve leaving him with permanent numbness in part of his lip (highly possible); 2) his jawbone could break, resulting in his jaw needing to be wired shut for 4-6 weeks (possible); and 3) the cyst could contain cancer cells necessitating multiple dramatic surgeries (unlikely).

Dishon is trusting God for the outcome, and asks for prayer that the surgery and recovery will proceed without complications.

Cards may be sent to:
Dishon Mills
2 Junior Terrace
Randolph, MA 02368-5137

Margaret Blackwell requests prayer for her husband, retired GCI pastor Lowell Blackwell, and for herself.

Lowell is battling terminal melanoma cancer and is now in hospice care. Margaret reports that his pain is under control, he is not bedfast and is living at home. His short-term memory is not good, but that is expected.

Margaret also asks prayer for herself. She has problems with sciatica and will be having back surgery.

Cards may be sent to:

Lowell and Margaret Blackwell
123 W. Woodland Drive
Pendleton, IN 46064-9534

We were saddened to learn of the recent death of Audrey Petcu, wife of longtime GCI elder Virgil Petcu. The couple was married more than 68 years ago and served together as the backbone of our St. Louis congregation for much of their lives.

Please pray for Virgil. He looked after his wife’s needs in her declining years as diligently and carefully as he served the needs of the church.

Cards may be sent to:

Virgil Petcu
9108 Tutwiler Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63134

Since our last update on retired GCI pastor Roger Abel’s health struggles, he had to leave the rehab hospital and return to the ICU, once again battling pneumonia. He is now doing better and is scheduled to return to rehab. His family asks for continued prayer that Roger will not get pneumonia again (caused by aspirating) with the resultant disorientation and muscular atrophy.

Cards may be sent to:

Roger and Donna Abels
1827 Ransom Dr.
Ft Wayne, IN 46845

We are saddened to learn of the recent death of Chris Linke, long-time elder in the Thunder Bay (Canada) congregation who had recently moved to Kitscoty, Alberta. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Emma.

Cards may be sent to:

Emma Linke
P.O. Box 460
Kitscoty, AB T0B 2P0