Category: Prayer & Updates

Here is a follow-up to the earlier prayer request for Patty Mitchell from her husband Wayne, pastor of the GCI congregation in Seattle-Bellevue, Washington.

We just returned from our day with several doctors. Thank God, we got some good news! What the doctors thought was cancer in Patty’s lungs and lymph nodes in her chest, turned out to be inflammation brought on by an infection she has been battling for three months. What came at us like a roaring lion, the true Lion of Judah tamed into a scratching house cat. There is, after all, only one King of the Jungle. And we roll with him!

Patty’s doctors started her on a regimen of supplementation, diet and hot Epsom salts baths to treat the inflammation. She also continues to be treated for papillary carcinoma. We meet soon with surgeons to discuss the extent of needed surgery. After that, she will have 12 weeks of chemotherapy, then bi-monthly treatments for a year. She should be clear then. If not, we will continue the regimen until she is.

So it’s very good news overall! Thank you for your prayers, kind words and loving support.

Cards may be sent to:

Wayne and Patty Mitchell
14509 254 Avenue SE
Monroe, WA 98272-9333

Last week, we asked for prayer for Harry Garden (seated at right in the picture), who was near death in hospice care. Harry died late Sunday evening, April 12. He spent the day surrounded by family including children and grandchildren.

Harry’s widow, Mary Ann, is happy to have family surrounding her at this time. She reports that Harry died peacefully and that his hope and faith throughout his illness was an inspiration to all who came into contact with him.

Thanks for your continuing prayers for Mary Ann and the rest of Harry’s family. Cards may be sent to:

Mary Ann Garden
11412 W Sheriac Street
Wichita, KS 67209

We are saddened to learn of the recent death of GCI Elder, John Hillerson on April 10 at the age of 100. John was born in 1914 and grew up in Luverne, North Dakota, on the family farm. He served in the US Army during WWII, then in 1942 married Elaine Vig. They had five children. Elaine died in 1960. In 1961, John married Mary (Beckman) Raaum, who died in 1996. In 1997, John married Arlene (Ingram) Gudmanstad, who died in 1999.

Following an honorable discharge from the military, John farmed for several years. He then worked for the North Dakota Credit Union League. He was a longtime resident of Fargo, North Dakota where he was involved with many career and civic organizations, receiving awards from several, including the American Cancer Society. John later was employed with the North Dakota Vocational Rehabilitation until he retired in 1978. In retirement, in addition to serving GCI as an elder, John was a member of the American Legion and a small aircraft pilot.

John is survived by five children, three step-children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Harry Garden, long-time GCI elder in the Wichita, Kansas area is in hospice care and his wife Mary Ann was told on April 7 that Harry has only a couple of days left. He has mesothelioma, a condition likely brought on by years of working with asbestos in construction.

Despite being very weak and now no longer able to eat, Harry has been a joy to his caregivers in the hospital and now hospice care. When asked how he feels, he says he “is going to meet Jesus sooner than he expected.”

Harry’s pastor Don Engle, who also is a hospice chaplain, is helping care for Harry and Mary Ann (seated at right in the picture). Don reports that their faith “remains very strong even though Harry is having quite a rough time.”

The family requests prayers that Harry’s transition from this life to the next will be as comfortable as possible. Cards may be sent to:

Harry & Mary Ann Garden
11412 Sheriac
Wichita, KS 67209-4096

We were saddened to learn that long-time GCI-Australia employee Val Leech died on March 30 after a short stay in the hospital. Her death, which was sudden, came as quite a shock to those who knew her.

Val was an outstanding employee of the church for over 40 years, serving in various roles, in the Australian office. She also worked for a short time in the U.S. home office. Val was widely known across Australia and beyond—respected and appreciated as a true servant, always diligent, cooperative and happily willing to help. She had an extensive range of interests, from books to airplanes, and a quick sense of humor. Val was an invaluable part of the life of the church family. “She was a gem,” as a friend of hers said, and will be missed by us all.

Please pray for Dewey Peterson, lead pastor of GCI’s congregation in Crossville, Tennessee. Dewey recently spent five days in the hospital where an arterial blockage was found and temporarily corrected. Bypass surgery is now scheduled for April 3. Dewey is also recovering from a painful bout with shingles.

Please also pray for Dewey’s wife Georgia who also is battling health problems of her own.

Cards may be sent to:

Dewey and Georgia Peterson
12 Mariners Pt.
Crossville, TN 38558-2771

Wayne Mitchell, GCI lead pastor in Seattle-Bellevue Washington, asks for prayer for his wife Patty who is battling a new form of cancer after recent major cancer surgeries. Wayne and Patty are grateful that the new cancer is small and appears to be contained. Additional surgery is anticipated and the prognosis is hopeful.

Along with his prayer request, Wayne wrote this: “The Lord is so gracious to us. No matter where we go or what we enter into, he is already way ahead of us.”

Your prayers and loving support for Patty and Wayne are greatly appreciated. Cards may be sent to:

Wayne and Patty Mitchell
14509 254 Avenue SE
Monroe, WA 98272-9333

Here is an update on our earlier prayer request concerning the situation in Vanuatu, which was recently devastated by super-cyclone Pam.

Rex Morgan (GCI pastor in New Zealand) reports that communications have been restored in Vanuatu and Billy Taren, the pastor of GCI’s congregation in Rory, on the island of Malekula, advises that six of the homes of church families were devastated by Pam, and all of the gardens in the village were flattened. During the storm, members sheltered in our church building, a solid concrete and timber structure that suffered only minor roof damage.

Billy reports that the members in Rory will run out of food in about three weeks, so William Davies, GCI’s pastor in nearby Santo Island, shipped them food. Our pastor in Fiji, Isei Colati, will be there soon, bringing support from members in Fiji who made a special collection to assist their neighbors in Vanuatu. They have sent a large quantity of vegetable seeds to help re-establish the gardens, along with medical items and other supplies. Having experienced tropical cyclones in Fiji, Isei is well aware of what is most needed to help the Rory members at this time. In Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila, GCI members Euan and Eveline Kanas lost part their roof and sustained some water damage in their home and have already made temporary repairs.

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Note: If your congregation would like to help members who suffer from disasters like the one in Vanuatu, you can donate to the GCI Disaster Relief Fund. The Fund assists members in disaster areas with emergency needs such as food, water, medicine, clothing, temporary housing, home and/or church hall repair, temporary local pastoral salary expense and other emergency needs. Monies received into the Fund that are not immediately needed will remain in the Fund to be allocated in future disasters. To donate to the GCI Disaster Relief Fund, have your treasurer set up a one time or monthly donation through the GCI Online system (http://online.gci.org). If your congregation prefers to send a check, make it out to Grace Communion International, indicating on the memo line that it is for the GCI Disaster Relief Fund. Send the check to:

GCI Disaster Relief Fund
Grace Communion International
P.O Box 5005
Glendora, California 91740

Prayer is requested for GCI-Canada elder Perc Burrows. Perc is suffering with various health problems. He sleeps a lot, suffers shortness of breath and walking is a problem due to lack of balance. He and his wife Shirley are looking at obtaining a walker to help improve Perc’s mobility.

Perc and Shirley (pictured at right) have served faithfully in the Toronto, Canada, churches for many, many years, and are widely known in our fellowship. Your prayers for Perc and Shirley at this time would be greatly appreciated.

Cards may be sent to:

Perc Burrows
208-115 Bonis Avenue
Scarborough, Ontario M1T 3S4

Please pray for Jim Cook, pastor of the GCI church in Bangor, Maine. Jim suffered a mini-stroke on March 6, losing his ability to speak. Though his speech is returning, he still occasionally “drops” words. Your prayers for Jim and his wife Theresa are much appreciated.

Cards may be sent to:

Jim Cook
PO Box 50
Windsor, ME 04363-0050