Please Pray for MH

As my long-time readers know, sometimes I ask for prayer in my blog. It's that time again. This prayer request, however, is not for an individual's health problem as my requests usually are. My home church, Meadow Heights Baptist Church, is under either spiritual attack or is in preparation for what is to come. Whichever, we have been since the beginning of this year. God has been doing amazing things among and through us, and we believe He has much more in store in the coming months. Perhaps partially because of this we have been enduring severe health crises churchwide.

Please pray for the physical health and spiritual endurance of MH as a whole.

These crises are bazaar. For example, early this year, my pastor had to have surgery on his vocal chord because of an hemorrhaging polyp. He could not talk for a while and had to undergo voice therapy. Members of the leadership staff stood in the pulpit each week on a rotating basis, and I think our church grew closer together and to God throughout it all.

Another example: A family took their four-year-old daughter to the hospital to treat her broken leg, and in the process of treatment, someone discovered she had an autoimmune disease called Takayasu Arteritis that attacks her blood vessels. She has already experienced Stage 1, so some damage to her aorta has already occurred. Prednisone and Methotrexate were prescribed for treatment. (My mom has had to take these medications for rheumatoid arthritis, so we know the effects they can have. Having to take them at such a young age, before full development, is sad.) She is also taking blood pressure medicine.

The young child's family says she is the youngest person her doctors have seen with this disease and are praising God for her broken leg. The family has had an amazing attitude throughout all this, trusting God and knowing that His hand is on the girl's life. They said in an email that they have given her to Him and are "continuing in His strength and for His glory." I truly admire them and are thankful for people like them in the Church.

One last example: Our youth coordinator/worship leader was diagnosed with walking pneumonia a few weeks ago. He was feeling better before last Friday night, when he woke up with severe pains. He was transported to Parkland Hospital in Farmington, MO, and was put into isolation. His many visitors had to suit up and wear masks before seeing him. For a while, the doctors did not know what was wrong with him, but I was informed today that his colon had ruptured from a bubble behind his chestbone. The burst released gas into his body cavity, and he became infected. As far as I know, he is so supposed to stay in the hospital untl at least tomorrow.

These examples and many deaths/life-threating illnesses (like a man's wife suddenly collapsed and died at a gas station and a boy was paralyzed from the chest down from a serious auto accident) have afflicted MH, and I ask for you prayers in regards to strength, endurance, perseverance in believing, patience, comfort, and God's healing. Most importantly, I ask that you pray that God would be glorified throughout all this.

Thank you so much!