Category: Prayer & Updates

John Nelson was ordained last month as an elder and commissioned as a member of the Grace Fellowship pastoral team. Grace Fellowship is the GCI congregation in Pikeville, KY.

The following week John underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. Though he is making good progress, his recovery is slow.

John wants to get back to work and we need our team member. Please join with the Pikeville congregation in praying for John’s quick and complete recovery.

Cards of encouragement may be sent to:

John & Shirley Nelson

165 Cecil Hills Drive

Pikeville, KY 41501

 

We received this prayer request from Ingrid Mandel, wife of retired GCI pastor Willi Mandel.

I would like to ask our members for prayer. I have severe spinal stenosis, arthritis and, since last September, a pinched sciatic nerve on the left side of my spine, resulting in extreme pain all the way down to the foot. I can’t sleep, sit, walk, stand without great pain. I have had every possible treatment without any relief. The doctor has told me that my problem is irreversible and there is nothing they can do for me. Even surgery is not possible. I am taking medication but nothing has helped. Now the doctor is talking about narcotics.

God has healed me many times of back problems and I am looking forward to his healing again.

Mrs. Ingrid S. Mandel

747 Tanner Drive

Kingston, ON K7M 9G7

CANADA

 

Some time ago we asked for prayer for Elaine, wife of Steve Elliott of Turlock, CA (click here to read the original request). Steve sends this update:

We are thankful that Elaine’s surgery and recovery went well and that the pathology reports were “as good as we could have hoped for,” in the words of her surgeon. Now, it’s on to radiation and chemotherapy. The latter is necessary because her cancer is an aggressive type, and though there is no indication of the cancer spreading, it is required to insure there are no cells straying where they shouldn’t be.

So, we are grateful to our God for good reports, and for your prayers, and we ask you to continue in helping us in that most important way.

We are saddened to announce the death of Ira Queener, father of Mark Queener who pastors GCI’s congregation in Belleville, IL. Ira died at age 79 on Monday.

Ira who lived in Mascoutah, IL was born in LaFollette, TN. He retired as a telephone maintenance foreman from Civil Service at Scott Air Force Base after 43 years; he then worked for several years at True Value Hardware in Mascoutah. He also worked at the Mascoutah Senior Center and delivered Meals on Wheels. Ira was a member of the First Baptist Church in Mascoutah and served as a deacon. He enjoyed gardening and was a US Air Force veteran of the Korean War.

Ira is survived by Martha, his wife of nearly 57 years.

Cards may be sent to:

Mark & Rhonda Queener

1108 Linden Place

Mascoutah, IL 62258-5400

John and Naomi Biswas, Roger Lippross, and Robin and Arline Connelly left from Southern California on March 11 for a GCI conference being held in Bangladesh. They ask for your prayers for a safe, healthy and successful time.

This conference is of great significance in that it is the first ever Asian GCI Conference. Our members there are looking forward to presentations from visiting ministers and their spouses concerning various spiritual and physical health topics.

The following prayer request is from Amber’s father and GCI legal counsel, Bernie Schnippert.

Although it is time for another health update from me, and things are not going well (I am not recovering from a bad reaction to a medicine), this update will be about an even more serious Schnippert health matter.

We had thought that my middle daughter, Amber Patrick, who is age 37, had beaten breast cancer. However, we learned recently that the cancer spread into her back and other vital organs. Five or six of her vertebrae are cracked by the cancer, and it is in her lungs, bones and liver. Unless she responds almost miraculously to the nuclear and chemical therapy, the prognosis is very grave.

On top of our other health problems, my family, daughters in-laws, etc. are finding themselves in shock, dismay, and mental exhaustion over this serious matter, with tears flowing freely.

Please pray for Amber, for my wife Arlene (who now has two close relatives with cancer – me and Amber) – and all our relatives. Amber is married to Josh Patrick, the son of Don and Joyce Patrick, and has a 5-year-old daughter, Megan, who needs a mother.

Cards and letters are encouraged and may be sent to:

Amber Patrick

2322 Oakhaven Drive

Duarte, Ca. 91010

In the last Update, we asked for prayer for Naomi Biswas. She is feeling better, though she is up and down and the cause of her breathing problems is still undetermined. She is resting, and will be having further tests. She still plans to go to Bangladesh with her husband John for the GCI Asian conference.

She thanks everybody for the cards and continued prayers.

The following update on Jason Richard’s condition was sent on February 11 by his grandfather, Martin Manuel. It updates us on what was reported last time.

It is with smiles on our faces and joy in our hearts that we report that Jason returned home today feeling good and strong. The doctors are not sure of what triggered last Sunday’s episode; they found his PICC line (an IV that carries medicine) out of place and moved it yesterday. Although these adventures are difficult for all of us, especially Jason, we see the benefit of having more thorough examinations than he can receive at home or in monthly outpatient clinic reviews.

While in the hospital, Jason told us that he can now take the shots, IVs, blood draws, and dressing changes without pain. He was awake during the procedure yesterday and took it all in stride. That is tremendous progress! He is now much more prepared for his heart transplant when it comes.

Your prayers mean so much to Jason and all of us, for we know that our wonderful Father, Son and Spirit hear and act upon them. We look forward to reporting what we hope is the next step – the transplant.

Thank you! And praise our God!

Martin

The following is from Gary Moore, GCI national director in Canada.

I’m saddened to announce the death of my mother, Ina (Donna) Moore on February 10 at age 86.

My Mom lived in Toronto and was a member of the Toronto East GCI congregation. She died at the Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto where she was fighting pneumonia. Though the care the hospital provided was first class, she was not able to recover.

My brother Karl and I are very grateful for the long and full life our mother lived. She was a wonderful mother to us, and died in the faith. We commit her to our Lord in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection, and his eternal love. Her funeral will be held on February 15.

Cards may be sent to:

Gary & Wendy Moore

33263 Meadowlands Ave.

Abbotsford, BC V2S 6V1

CANADA

Karl & Brigitte Moore

1092 Greene Avenue

Westmount, QC H3Z 1Z9

CANADA

 

 

Please pray for Naomi Biswas, wife of John Biswas, the leader of the Bengali Evangelical Association. Naomi is quite ill with a problem with her lungs and breathing. She has been off work and is going for further testing later this week. Please pray that she will regain full strength and be able to resume her nursing job and be healthy in time for her scheduled trip with John to Bangladesh for the GCI conference in March.

Cards may be sent to:

Naomi Biswas

10690 Elm St

Loma Linda, CA 92354-2411