Category: Prayer & Updates

This update is from Evelyn Dailey, who serves as Bernie Schnippert’s administrative assistant in GCI Legal Services in Glendora, CA.

My husband Joe, who has had kidney disease for 16 years, now has end stage renal failure. He is on dialysis and is scheduled for kidney transplant surgery on May 4 at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Joe’s sister, Kris, is his donor. We seek your prayers for a successful outcome on that day and a quick and complete recovery for both.

We are deeply thankful for God’s guidance and benevolence through this entire process and are profoundly grateful for the gift that Kris is providing. Her willingness to undergo this procedure will allow Joe to discontinue dialysis and regain near optimal health and kidney function. Her acceptance as a donor means that she is in exceptional overall health and should do just fine with the one remaining kidney.

Your ongoing prayers and support have truly been felt and have upheld us through this journey.

With deep appreciation and gratitude,

Joe and Evelyn Dailey

480 S. Orange Grove, Unit 24

Pasadena, CA 91105-1720

 

 

A few weeks ago, we requested prayer for Denise Olson, wife of GCI pastor Ray Olson (click here for the original request). Here is an update, written by Denise.

Dear friends and family,

My first memory after the surgery was pain. So when the staff asked me my name and when and where I was, I stubbornly declared my name is PAIN. I thought to myself, they know my name why are they bugging me? Leave me alone or lessen the pain, then I will tell you my name and where we are!

I was pretty much out of it – so some things were said intentionally and some not (drugs make one have to apologize a lot!).

Thursday and Friday were not too bad but Friday night until Saturday night was the worst. My pain and nausea were increasing as my activity increased. I actually felt weaker instead of stronger. I never had an appetite so trying to eat was hard.

I can tell you all in no uncertain terms of the change that followed. God gets all the credit!

My hero Ray came Sunday after church and brought an audio recording of the Bible. From noon Sunday to Monday at 9:00 am, God’s New Testament was read out loud without ceasing. Every hour God’s word strengthened me. I went from pain, nausea and hardly talking or eating, to walking and talking. Everyone was astounded at the advancement in just a day!

My doctor said I was a strong lady. I stand on The Rock – he is my strength. God’s spoken Word was my healing and I will give glory to no other!

I was transferred to a regular room later Monday and discharged Tuesday morning.

How can I thank all of you? I don’t know how, but know this: I felt your prayers and I truly was carried upon them. God heard and acted. Thank you Almighty Lord! And may the Jehovah Rapha who is healing me, bless you.

Mushy, gushy, love to all.

Denise Olson

W6711 State Road 33

Juneau, WI 53039

 

In a previous update we requested prayer for Charles Shelton, the pastor of the London, KY congregation. Here is an update written by Charles.

Hi all,

The doctors have determined that my cancer is follicular lymphoma, type B small cell. The good news is that it is treatable. The bad news is that it is regarded as incurable.

The doctors will not comment on the mortality time frame. The internet says I have from less than one year to 20 years (with a median of 10 years).

I began chemo recently. I guess we will have to see how the cancer responds. Regardless, I know I am in God’s hands, and that is good enough for me.

I want to thank all of you for your calls, cards and prayers. They have been a comfort to me and my family.

Yours in Christ,

Charles Shelton

2674 Climax Rd

Orlando, KY 40460-8939

 

Leslie Schmedes was admitted recently to Foothill Presbyterian Hospital in Southern California, experiencing extensive bleeding. Doctors gave him blood, then performed emergency surgery to remove a small section of his colon. The surgery was successful and the bleeding has stopped.

Les now needs prayer concerning his recovery – he is in a lot of pain. He is in the ICU (so no visitors). His wife Darlene is at home trying to get some sleep.

Thanks for your prayers for Les and Darlene.

Cards may be sent to:

Leslie & Darlene Schmedes

840 E Foothill Blvd Space 82

Azusa, CA 91702-2607

 

Jimmie’s wife Marj recently sent this update (see the original prayer request at https://update.gci.org/category/prayer/page/11/).

We just returned from the cardiologist where we got the results of the tests on Jim’s heart. All tests turned out OK. Stress test fine, the echogram showed no problems and even though his heart is skipping beats the doctor said it is not bad enough to be concerned about. The mystery of Jim’s weakness continues, but thankfully his heart is OK.

We send our love and thanks to everyone.

James Lloyd Friddle, Jr.

7404 Stillwater Dr

Bayonet Point, FL 34667-2293

 

We recently requested prayer for Steve McVey (https://update.gci.org/category/prayer/page/3/). Here is an update from Steve from his Facebook page. Steve is now back home.

Good news! The doctor has given me a definitive diagnosis. It’s autonomic neuropathy, a nerve disorder that affects involuntary body functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, perspiration and digestion. There are many, many reasons why it happens and those reasons are often never conclusively identified, but the main thing is that they know how to fix it. (My doctor thinks it’s genetic with me.) In my case, blood pressure doesn’t regulate like it should. It’s way too low and with the slightest activity it decreases. That makes the heart rate accelerate to a ridiculously high level. Not being able to overcome the malfunction of the arteries, blood doesn’t reach the head and down you go. The good news is that medicine will regulate it! I am so thankful for that fact.

Thanks again, my dear friends. I know 100% that I’ve had all I need at every moment through this ordeal because of the Christ who indwells me but, at the same time, I also know that His family finds strength (as I have) in sharing our love and prayers at times like this.

 

GCI pastor Tim Sitterley recently suffered a heart attack. We thank God that he survived. Here is an update from Tim, written in his trademark humorous style.

I’m writing this because the stories of my imminent demise were slightly more impressive than the truth.

The truth is that when I went into the ER in the middle of the night recently I thought I was possibly suffering from pneumonia due to the flu. Turns out I was in the middle of what the cardiologist called “severe congestive heart failure on the brink of arrest.”

The praise report is that I ended up in the hospital about 12 hours before it was too late. The prayer request is that, due to the extensive damage, I’m having to deal with over 50% loss of heart function. That may improve, but they won’t know for a few weeks. So please pray that the doctors will be able to determine what brought this on (the current theory is stress-induced hypertension combined with a viral infection), and that blood flow and heart function will return to something approximating normal.

Since I left the hospital, my wife has taken complete control of my diet. I’m beginning to think Paul was right…death may have been preferable.

Cards of sympathy (or exhortation, if you like) may be sent to:

Tim and Linda Sitterley

25785 Hall Road

Junction City OR 97448-8537

 

 

We are saddened to learn of the death of Mrs. Wilma Wilson, wife of Frederick Wilson, the assistant pastor of GCI’s congregation in Stratford, CT.

Wilma died on April 10 after a fall on the stairs at her home in Connecticut. She was 88 years old. She had been a WCG/GCI member since 1965.

Cards may be sent to:

Mr. Frederick Wilson

9 Shelton Street

Seymour, Connecticut 06483

In September 2011 we gave an update on Jewel Love, who is battling prostate cancer. Here is another update from Jewel and his wife Lelia.

We would like to thank all of you for your prayers. Our loving God has heard and answered.

One of the methods they use to monitor the effectiveness of my radiation treatments is to check my prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The lower the PSA reading the better is my progress. At one time my PSA was 14. But on my last doctor visit it was 0.51. Our God is good! It was very good news to us and we want to share it with you.

Again thank you. Please continue to pray for us as we continue to pray for you.

Cards may be sent to:

Mr. & Mrs. Jewel R. Love
850 Gail Ave
Redlands, CA 92374-2544

Please pray for Steve McVey and his wife Melanie. Steve, who leads Grace Walk Ministries, has been interviewed on several of GCI’s You’re Included programs.

Last Sunday evening, Steve collapsed while at home and was hospitalized. At first, doctors thought he’d had a heart attack, but tests so far have been inconclusive. Further testing is being conducted as Steve remains hospitalized.

Please pray that the doctors accurately diagnose and treat Steve’s condition, and that, through God’s gracious intervention, he recovers quickly and fully.