Category: Prayer & Updates

Please pray for Bettie Broadnax, mother of Jeff Broadnax who pastors GCI congregations in Grove City and Chillicothe, Ohio.

Bettie has been hospitalized for over a month, battling bacterial meningitis, a pulmonary embolism, and now pneumonia and a blood clot in her leg. Though treatment for these conditions is going well, her recovery is slow and difficult.

Jeff and his father Earl (a GCI member in Cincinnati) request prayers for Bettie and the rest of the family at this difficult time.

Cards can be sent to:

Bettie Broadnax
1739 Northcutt Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45237

Ed Graham, former WCG Television Department employee, has been diagnosed with colon cancer and the cancer has metastasized into his liver and spine.

Prayers for both Ed and his wife, Sheila, are much appreciated.

Cards may be sent to:
Ed and Sheila Graham
111 Pueblo Drive
Lake Kiowa, TX 76240.

We were saddened to learn of the recent death of Max Devereaux from a massive heart attack at age 90. A long-time elder, Max served as associate pastor in GCI’s Euless, Texas, congregation.

Max was born to William and Minnie Devereaux in 1925. He grew up in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas, the youngest of nine children. Max joined the Marine Corps in 1943 and served in the Pacific theater during World War II. He was a survivor of the battles on Iwo Jima and served in the Navy for three years.

Following his military service, Max worked for 35 years as a machinist in the aerospace industry. He married Oleta Mullens in Kansas in 1954. The couple moved to Texas in 1956, where they had one son, Paul.

Max is survived by Oleta, Paul, two married granddaughters, and two great-grandsons. Max was buried in the Dallas, Texas, VA Cemetery.

Cards may be sent to:
Oleta Devereaux
125 Wanda Way Apt 120
Hurst, TX 76053-6929

Your prayers are requested for retired GCI pastor James Reyer who suffered a heart attack and stroke. He is now hospitalized in Billings, Montana.

Please pray for wisdom, grace and favor for Mr. Reyer and his family concerning the best path to take as they proceed through a very difficult time.

Cards may be sent to:

James and Sondra Reyer
c/o Denny Sexton
7540 Buckskin, Drive
Shephard, MT 59079

GCI-USA Regional Pastor Ted Johnston requests prayer for his family. Michael Harris, 26-year-old son of Ted’s sister Jan (Johnston) Harris, died on September 7 as the result of a boating accident near Catalina Island in Southern California. Four others were on the boat with Michael—one has not been found and is presumed dead. The other three, including Michael’s girlfriend Kelly, are hospitalized with minor injuries. Michael had recently received a Master’s degree in psychology and was working as a high school counselor and basketball coach in Atherton, California. He is survived by his mother Jan, his father Peter (former president and CEO of the San Francisco 49ers), and younger brothers David and Richard.

Cards may be sent to:

Ted Johnston
12289 Venice Blvd
Foley, AL 36535

We have requested prayer for Pastor Arlen Bryant who is battling brain cancer (click here for the previous updates). Here is the latest report from Arlen:

I had an MRI recently and met with the oncologist who gave me some good news. He said the tumor had shrunk but was still there. He wants to step up the chemotherapy for the next year and then reevaluate the situation. I feel that God is answering our prayers in the matter.

Cards may be sent to:

Arlen and Jean Bryant
2054 Benton Young Rd
Cookville, TN 38501

As noted in an earlier prayer request, Brent Minke (18-year-old son of Pastor Craig and Debbie Minke of Canada), was badly injured in a mountain biking accident. Here is an update from Craig and Debbie.

We’re happy to report that Brent is feeling much better—now free of headaches and feeling back to his normal self. He’s still dealing with some swelling, bruising, etc., but he’s almost completely off painkillers. He continues taking antibiotics, hoping infection will not flare up. Time will tell if Brent will lose a tooth, and if he’ll have permanent nerve damage in his lower lip.

Words fail to adequately express our gratitude for God’s loving protection, mercy and healing, and our gratitude for you, our dear family, who have stood with us through this trial!

Cards may be sent to:

Craig and Debbie Minke
22899 – 14th Avenue
Langley, BC V2Z 2W8
CANADA

Here is an update from GCI Pastor Arlen Bryant concerning his ongoing battle with brain cancer (click here for an earlier prayer request with additional detail):

I want to let you know about my progress with radiation and chemotherapy. I completed treatments three weeks ago and am now waiting to have an MRI to see what has happened with the tumor. The doctor will then fill me in on the results and discuss further treatment options. He says I can’t have any more radiation, but we could increase the chemotherapy. I don’t look forward to that.

Thanks to everyone for their prayers for me and for my wife Jean.

Cards may be sent to:

Arlen and Jean Bryant
2054 Benton Young Rd
Cookville, TN 38501

We were saddened to learn of the recent death of Patricia Wilson, mother of GCI Pastor Don Engle and of Susie Dick (wife of former GCI Pastor and Administrator Randal Dick). Here is a note from Don.

It is with great sadness that I let everyone know that my dear mother Patricia Wilson recently passed away at the age of 85 in a hospice facility in San Antonio, Texas. She died peacefully surrounded by her daughters Susie Dick, Becky Campbell and Janie Yale.

Mom was buried in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 11 next to her sister Cassie. We had a beautiful celebration of her life at a graveside service. I gave a message based on Isaiah the prophet’s words of encouragement: “He will swallow up death in victory” (Isaiah 25:8 KJV). Marty Yale, my brother-in-law, sang and played guitar on a beautiful rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

We miss our mom dearly, remembering all she meant to her children and grandchildren. We look forward to being with her again.

Cards may be sent to:

Don & Alix Engle
1665 East Kay Street
Derby, Kansas 67037

Susan & Randal Dick
101 Browns Point Blvd NE
Tacoma, WA 98422-2502

We received the prayer request below from Craig and Debbie Minke. Craig pastors GCI’s congregation in Surrey (Vancouver), British Columbia.

Last Sunday evening our 18 year-old son Brent had a terrible accident on his mountain bike. Unconscious for five minutes, he was rushed by ambulance to the hospital. A CT scan showed no brain damage, thank God! He did, however, suffer a concussion, broken nose, broken upper jaw, a one-inch gash on his forehead and a three-inch gash in his mouth that did nerve damage. He was a mess.

A few days later we saw an oral surgeon and another CT scan showed that either he has a cracked tooth or root. His nose and jaw had not shifted although they were broken—another miracle! The doctor glued a splint onto his front teeth that will remain for six weeks as his teeth heal.

Aside from swelling and pain, Brent was recovering steadily last week until Friday, when infection set in. His tooth and/or upper jaw were abscessing, causing fever, swelling and severe pain. The surgeon drained the area (very painful) and now Brent is on antibiotics and strong pain killers. He’s now feeling somewhat OK, though he’s still swollen and the infection is still active. Please join us in praying for Brent, asking the Great Physician to healing him, in his mercy sparing him from permanent repercussions.

Cards may be sent to:

Craig and Debbie Minke
22899 – 14th Avenue
Langley, BC V2Z 2W8
CANADA