Category: Prayer & Updates

This prayer request is from GCI pastor Rand Holm, concerning his wife Beth. Rand and Beth live in Southern California.

I humbly seek your prayers for my wife Beth. Recently we headed out the door to walk our dog, Kali, around the block. I was outside with Kali, several steps away, as Beth came out the door. She lost her balance and fell straight down on the hard concrete, hitting her left hip, elbow and shoulder. I was just out of distance for being able to help break her fall. She hit really hard.

Thank God, no bones were broken. I feel devastated for her and so bad that she is in a lot of pain once again. Please ask the Lord to help her through this and heal the trauma of the fall. In the past, falls that were not this bad have created a pain cycle that lasted for about ten days.

Thank you so much for your prayers for this precious child of God.

-Rand

Cards may be sent to:

Beth and Rand Holm

599 Rio Grande Circle

Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-1555

We receive reports daily about the huge wildfires burning in Colorado and elsewhere in the United States (click here for a recent report). Here are updates on some GCI members and friends that are affected:

• Cliff and Mary Snyder live near the wildfires in the Fort Collins, Colorado area. They had to evacuate their home but, thank God, so far their property has not been damaged.
• Dennis and Lorraine Pelley, and Kelvin and Karen (Pelley) Langford live near the fires burning in the Colorado Springs, Colorado area. They remain in their homes, but report that the smoke is awful and they must stay inside to breathe.
• Hal and Ella Marie Schatz report that their daughter Christen and her son David who live in Colorado Springs are safe, but have been told to evacuate their home.

Please pray for these families and others in harm’s way. And also please pray for the thousands of evacuees and the firefighters in Colorado and elsewhere.

This update is from GCI pastor Gordy Lindquidst who lives in Minnesota where there has been extensive flooding.

I want to update you on the flooding problems here in Duluth. We received 10+ inches of rain in the last few days. Governor Dayton has declared it a disaster area. Though there was no loss of life in the Duluth area, three people lost their lives in Wisconsin outside of Ashland when they drove into a sinkhole caused by the rain. Damages will be in the hundreds of millions for this area.

I have talked with everyone in the Duluth congregation who lives in the affected area. Though some had water in their basements, none suffered any catastrophic loss. Like many cities across the country, Duluth has not had the revenue to keep up with all the maintenance that has been required for streets, sewer and water lines, etc. Looks like the federal government will now be helping us repair/replace the damaged streets, sidewalks, etc.

On a lighter note….if it had only rained a few more days at our house, I would not have had to walk down to the lake to fish; I could have done it off my deck!

This prayer request is from Charles Albrecht who manages the GCI Church Administration and Development office in Glendora, CA.

My mother Bonnie Albrecht, who lives in the Dallas area, was taken to the hospital last Wednesday with excruciating pain in her legs. They determined that she has a bulging disc causing a pinched sciatic nerve. They sent her home on Thursday, but she basically became immobile over the weekend and was readmitted on Monday. They are continuing to run tests and will be looking at physical therapy.

I would appreciate your prayers for her, for my Dad Kenyon, and for other supporting family members.

Cards may be sent to:

Kenyon and Bonnie Albrecht

9978 Witham Street

Dallas, TX 75220-1743

 

This update is from Steve Elliott concerning his earlier request for prayer for his wife Elaine.

It has been a difficult time for us as a family since January when Elaine was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. The cancer was found early at Elaine’s annual mammogram and for that we are thankful. We immediately went to Stanford University Hospital for further diagnosis and treatment. Now, in early June, she has completed surgery and chemotherapy. The process hasn’t been pleasant, but it hasn’t been as bad as it could have been. Now, all she has left is a couple of months of radiation therapy at the Stanford-Emanuel radiation center in Turlock where we live. So, we are extremely thankful.

We appreciate those of you who knew and prayed, and we will appreciate all of you who pray that there will be a good outcome to all of this.

Here is an update on Pastor Charles Shelton (a follow-up to the earlier prayer request).

After losing 30 pounds, Charles’ weight loss has stabilized and he says he’s feeling better. The fluid buildup in his chest has decreased significantly giving Charles and the family encouragement. He faces a final round of chemotherapy on June 25-26, after which he will see the oncologist on July 19 for a new PET scan. He has been able to get out to fish a bit, but has been told to avoid crowds so he hasn’t been able to go to church for several weeks. Overall, he’s encouraged and wants to thank all for their thoughts and prayers.

 

Please pray for Jane Parsons, wife of Sonny Parsons who pastors GCI churches in Big Sandy, Texas and Texarkana, Arkansas. Jane recently had major spinal surgery that lasted nearly five hours. Though the surgery went well, her bones are soft and the lining of her spinal cord was nicked and caused a spinal fluid leak. This causes severe headaches, nausea and disorientation. Until the leak is stopped she has to lie flat and not be up. One of the fears is meningitis from infection.

Cards may be sent to:

Jane Parsons

110 W Gilmer St

Big Sandy, TX 75755-2401

 

Following are updates from Pastor David Perry concerning previous prayer requests for Sharon Washington and Donna Dunbar.

Sharon Washington (click here for the original request) had surgery on June 8. The surgeon told her husband Abner that though difficult, the surgery removed the source of the pinching of her sciatic nerve. However, it is not assured that the pain she has experienced for a long time will go away. Only time will tell if the damage to the nerve was temporary or permanent. Sharon is now at home and on the mend. Thanks for your prayers for her and for Abner.

124 Kenwood Cir

Indianapolis, IN 46260-2354

Donna Dunbar (click here for the original request) remains in the hospital, on a ventilator, recovering in ICU from the lengthy surgery to remove her esophagus. She has run a fever at times with low blood pressure, however medication is helping. The surgeon says she is taking “baby steps” in her recovery, though the family is praying for larger ones. Please continue to pray for her.

741 N Cherry St

Ladoga, IN 47954-9350

Sharon Washington, wife of Abner Washington, assistant pastor in New Life Christian Fellowship, Indianapolis, IN, will have lower back surgery to relieve pressure on her sciatic nerve on June 7. Prayers that this surgery can relieve the extreme pain she has been in are much appreciated.

Cards may be sent to:

Sharon Washington

124 Kenwood Cir

Indianapolis, IN 46260-2354

Donna Dunbar, wife of Jim Dunbar, assistant pastor in Living Hope Fellowship, Lafayette, IN is battling cancer. Following six weeks of chemo and radiation, she had major surgery to remove her esophagus. She remains hospitalized as she recovers.

Cards may be sent to:

Donna Dunbar

741 N Cherry St

Ladoga, IN 47954-9350