Category: Prayer & Updates

This prayer update is from Mark Queener and his wife Rhonda, concerning their 33-year-old son Brian Queener who attends the GCI church that Mark pastors in Belleville, Illinois. Click here for the original prayer request.

Brian is out of the ER and into a regular room at the hospital. We thank God for this progress—his kidneys, which had shut down, are now working normally and he is breathing on his own without the help of a ventilator. However, Brian’s pancreas may have been affected severely enough that he will have diabetes, and so we continue to pray for his complete healing.

Thanks to all of you who are praying for Brian and also for me and Rhonda.

Pastor Manuel Vasco, the GCI contact in the African nation of Mozambique reports that Northern Mozambique has been severely impacted by flooding (click here for a news report). About 32 of our congregations there have had their villages destroyed, leaving about 800 of our church families destitute. We don’t know the extent of injury or loss of life.

Through its US, Canada and South Africa relief funds, GCI is giving financial aid. Please pray that God provide those in need with food, other supplies and comfort.

Here is an update on a previous prayer request, provided by Surgay’s wife Jan.

Surgay remains in a nursing home. Progress is very slow. He is wheelchair-bound, and his back and legs are weak. However, he maintains a positive attitude. He is able to wheel around, sometimes going around filling coffee cups for other residents.

Surgay is experiencing some vision problems that the doctors say will likely not improve. However, they do hold out hope that he may walk again.

Please keep praying for Surgay and his family.

Jan Kalamaha

26101 55th Street SE

Max, ND 58759-9542

This prayer update is from Mark Queener and his wife Rhonda, concerning their 33-year-old son Brian Queener who attends the GCI church that Mark pastors in Belleville, Illinois. The original prayer request is at https://update.gci.org/2013/01/brian-queener/.

Brian Queener, who attends our Belleville, Ill., congregation, had surgery on Friday to remove dead pancreatic tissue and infectious fluid from his abdomen, as a result of severe pancreatitis. The procedure went very well, but his surgeon said Brian may get sicker before he gets better and that he may remain in intensive care for another 2-3 weeks. Please pray that he will recover quickly and completely, without any more complications or setbacks.

We were saddened to learn of the death of Loretta Young Cooley, wife of Billy Cooley who is the assistant pastor of the GCI church in Meridian, Mississippi. Loretta died on January 14 from a heart attack that occurred shortly after having been in an automobile accident. Her passion for spreading the gospel of Jesus will be missed by the members of her congregation and by the GCI district church planting network of which she was an active part.

Originally from Alabama, Loretta married Billy Ray Cooley of Meridian, Mississippi about 7 years ago. Together they served faithfully in ministry at Christ Community Fellowship Church, the GCI congregation in Meridian. A few years ago, Billy was ordained an elder and soon began serving as the assistant pastor in the Meridian congregation. Billy and Loretta’s love for youth and service in the community birthed in them a desire and passion for church planting. They were one of two couples within their GCI church district who felt called to church planting.

Cards may be sent to:

Billy Cooley

1709 Highway 19 S

Meridian, MS 39301-8223

This prayer update is from CAD office manager Charles Albrecht concerning his mother Bonnie Albrecht. Click here for the original prayer request.

Recently, my mother fell out of bed and was taken back to the hospital. Thankfully, she did not break anything. However, her pain level has increased because of the fall and while they were evaluating her they also discovered she has a bladder infection.

The doctors are still running in circles trying to determine the sources and treatments for her condition. It does seem that the doctors are finally talking to one another and we pray that they find answers and solutions soon. They anticipate that she may have to go to a skilled nursing center when she is released from the hospital. Thanks for your continued prayers.

This update about Brian Queener is from his father, GCI pastor Mark Queener. For additional detail, see the previous post at https://update.gci.org/2013/01/brian-queener-2/.

Please continue to pray for Brian. He remains hospitalized in St. Louis with severe pancreatitis and multiple complications stemming from that condition. He is scheduled for an invasive surgery on January 25 to remove dead pancreatic tissue and infectious fluid from his abdomen. There are risks associated with the surgery and, perhaps, even greater risks involving post-operative complications. He certainly needs God’s protection, intervention and healing.

This prayer request is from GCI pastor Rand Holm and his wife Beth concerning their granddaughter Grace Huynh.

Our daughter Sharran and her husband David Huynh ask for prayer for their daughter Grace. Sharran was holding Grace when she had a seizure. They took Grace to their pediatrician who confirmed it likely was a seizure.

The doctor ordered blood tests and referred them to a pediatric neurologist. Thankfully, Grace has had no further seizures. Please pray for those who will be doing the diagnostic work on Grace and that our granddaughter will have no further seizures. Also please pray for Sharran and David as this has been quite stressful for them.

Glen A. Weber Sr. of Wheatland, Wyoming passed away on Tuesday, January 15—two weeks before his 84th birthday.

Glen and his wife Frances, came into contact with WCG/GCI in 1955 and were baptized in July 1958. They were founding members of the Denver, Colorado congregation and for many years leaders in GCI’s Wheatland, Wyoming church.

Two of Glen and Frances’ sons are GCI pastors: Glen (Connie) of Pasadena, California and David (Rose) of Wheatland, Wyoming. They have two other sons: Gary (Diana), Wheatland; Joe (Katrina), Fort Collins, Colorado; and two daughters: Karen (Jake) Sinner, Cheyenne and Lois (Rick) Peterson, Big Sandy, Texas. All of these couples serve in ministry within their GCI congregations. Glen is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

The family thanks everyone for the the prayers offered on their behalf. Cards may be sent to this address:

Frances Weber

17 Cozad Road

Wheatland, WY 82201

This prayer update is from Mark Queener and his wife Rhonda, concerning their 33 year old son Brian Queener who attends the GCI church that Mark pastors in Belleville, Illinois. The original prayer request is at https://update.gci.org/2013/01/brian-queener/.

Please continue praying for our son Brian. He remains in intensive care at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He has severe pancreatitis and complications associated with that condition. His vital signs have improved over the past couple of days and his kidneys have started working again—at least to some degree. His condition is critical, but stable. He still needs to make significant progress on a number of fronts. Your prayers for Brian’s complete and speedy recovery are very much needed and appreciated.