This will be a great way for us to share our GPS stories with each other. If you are having lunch with or going somewhere with or talking to or even emailing someone whom you have been praying for an opportunity to share Christ with, post it here and we will join you in praying for that conversation. If God does a great work in the lives of someone you have been praying to come to Christ, if he or she takes some steps toward a decision for Christ, or if he or she makes a decision to become a follower of Jesus, post it so we can celebrate with you. Your good news will encourage the rest of us to press on with the folks we are praying for and sharing with. This blog is intended to be prayer-based and evangelism focused. Therefore, in this forum we are wanting to stay away from physical needs and other concerns unless they are a way that someone might come to know Christ. If you have a prayer need that is physical or other issues and is not evangelistic, we will continue to put those kinds of needs on our prayer sheet at church. Simply call or email the office and we can handle it. I am excited to be reading and to be posting news about people coming to know Christ and being prayed for to come to know Christ. Please, post your stories here...
I currently am sitting in the waiting room at Emory Hospital while Jon (I have found out most folks know him as Skip) Thompson is in surgery. We prayed together before leaving his house and heading to Emory this morning. While waiting in pre-op, he said he was scared and nervous. I pray that God will use these physical difficulties and this bout of cancer to soften Skip's heart to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Skip has some tough days of surgery and treatment ahead of him after today's biopsy. Thanks for praying with me that Skip will come to know Christ.
On Friday, May 1, the doctor who performed the surgery came and gave Skip the news about how the surgery went. It wasn't good. Because the cancer around his voice box has progressed to attach to his spine behind his throat, the doctor will not be able to do the surgery to remove the cancer. Chemo may slow the growth of the cancer some, but medically there is not a whole lot they can do.
Keith Green and I went to see Skip on Saturday. One thing he wrote (Skip cannot speak because of the trach they inserted to help his breathing) early in our Saturday conversation was something like: "Today is the start of a new year that will probably be my last year." I knew Skip was dealing with the prospects of dying. When asked about dying, he wrote: "Just thinking about what I will miss..." meaning what he would miss on this earth.
Keith and I shared with Skip the passage in John 11 where Jesus tells the sisters of Lazarus: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" We talked about how we can know Christ in the forgiveness of sins and how if we "believe" or "place our faith in" or "trust in" Christ, then we will live, even though we die here. After talking/writing for quite a while, I asked Skip if he wanted to receive Christ. After thinking for what seemed like a few minutes (I was trying to give him an opportunity to process), he wrote: "Don't know how." I smiled and said I could help. I led him in a prayer to give his heart to Christ, to ask for forgiveness of his sins, and to ask Jesus to come into his heart and life. After we prayed together, he wrote: "That felt good." I believe Skip gave his heart to the Lord on Saturday. I look forward to walking with him through the growing process. I praise the Lord for answered prayers and a new soul in His Kingdom.
2 doctors gave Skip reports: Dr. Wadsworth spoke of that which will probably end in death. Dr. Jeff (that's what Skip calls me) spoke of the life that is offered in Christ. In a matter of 24 hours, Skip heard both reports. Skip has a new hope, regardless of what the cancer does. Hallelujah!
Jeff just called to tell me that Skip has passed away. Even in this sadness I cannot help but be thankful for this time in our church. Through GPS one soul has been saved and is now with his and our Christ. Thank you Lord, for those that have given so much of themselves to witness and minister to Skip. Thank you Lord, as Skip is with you now. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for answered prayer.
Last night I had the opportunity to talk with one of the folks on my Who's In Your Wallet? card. He lives across the street and we porbably haven't spoken 20 times in the 6 1/2 yrs I've lived there. But we talked. I threw up some Faith Flags as we talked so he knew what was important in my life. Pray that Mike and I are able to build a relationship so I can earn the right to share what God has done for him.
This will be a great way for us to share our GPS stories with each other. If you are having lunch with or going somewhere with or talking to or even emailing someone whom you have been praying for an opportunity to share Christ with, post it here and we will join you in praying for that conversation. If God does a great work in the lives of someone you have been praying to come to Christ, if he or she takes some steps toward a decision for Christ, or if he or she makes a decision to become a follower of Jesus, post it so we can celebrate with you. Your good news will encourage the rest of us to press on with the folks we are praying for and sharing with. This blog is intended to be prayer-based and evangelism focused. Therefore, in this forum we are wanting to stay away from physical needs and other concerns unless they are a way that someone might come to know Christ. If you have a prayer need that is physical or other issues and is not evangelistic, we will continue to put those kinds of needs on our prayer sheet at church. Simply call or email the office and we can handle it. I am excited to be reading and to be posting news about people coming to know Christ and being prayed for to come to know Christ. Please, post your stories here...
ReplyDeleteI currently am sitting in the waiting room at Emory Hospital while Jon (I have found out most folks know him as Skip) Thompson is in surgery. We prayed together before leaving his house and heading to Emory this morning. While waiting in pre-op, he said he was scared and nervous. I pray that God will use these physical difficulties and this bout of cancer to soften Skip's heart to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Skip has some tough days of surgery and treatment ahead of him after today's biopsy. Thanks for praying with me that Skip will come to know Christ.
ReplyDelete2 Doctor's Reports:
ReplyDeleteOn Friday, May 1, the doctor who performed the surgery came and gave Skip the news about how the surgery went. It wasn't good. Because the cancer around his voice box has progressed to attach to his spine behind his throat, the doctor will not be able to do the surgery to remove the cancer. Chemo may slow the growth of the cancer some, but medically there is not a whole lot they can do.
Keith Green and I went to see Skip on Saturday. One thing he wrote (Skip cannot speak because of the trach they inserted to help his breathing) early in our Saturday conversation was something like: "Today is the start of a new year that will probably be my last year." I knew Skip was dealing with the prospects of dying. When asked about dying, he wrote: "Just thinking about what I will miss..." meaning what he would miss on this earth.
Keith and I shared with Skip the passage in John 11 where Jesus tells the sisters of Lazarus: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" We talked about how we can know Christ in the forgiveness of sins and how if we "believe" or "place our faith in" or "trust in" Christ, then we will live, even though we die here. After talking/writing for quite a while, I asked Skip if he wanted to receive Christ. After thinking for what seemed like a few minutes (I was trying to give him an opportunity to process), he wrote: "Don't know how." I smiled and said I could help. I led him in a prayer to give his heart to Christ, to ask for forgiveness of his sins, and to ask Jesus to come into his heart and life. After we prayed together, he wrote: "That felt good." I believe Skip gave his heart to the Lord on Saturday. I look forward to walking with him through the growing process. I praise the Lord for answered prayers and a new soul in His Kingdom.
2 doctors gave Skip reports: Dr. Wadsworth spoke of that which will probably end in death. Dr. Jeff (that's what Skip calls me) spoke of the life that is offered in Christ. In a matter of 24 hours, Skip heard both reports. Skip has a new hope, regardless of what the cancer does.
Hallelujah!
Jeff just called to tell me that Skip has passed away. Even in this sadness I cannot help but be thankful for this time in our church. Through GPS one soul has been saved and is now with his and our Christ. Thank you Lord, for those that have given so much of themselves to witness and minister to Skip. Thank you Lord, as Skip is with you now. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for answered prayer.
ReplyDeleteLast night I had the opportunity to talk with one of the folks on my Who's In Your Wallet? card. He lives across the street and we porbably haven't spoken 20 times in the 6 1/2 yrs I've lived there. But we talked. I threw up some Faith Flags as we talked so he knew what was important in my life. Pray that Mike and I are able to build a relationship so I can earn the right to share what God has done for him.
ReplyDelete