By DAVID EPPS
Pastor

"How do go people go through these things without the support of a church family?" is the question that has been posed to me during times of difficulty, loss, tragedy, and stress. It was asked again on Wednesday evening a week ago by Pat Jones in the waiting area of Emory University Hospital.

Five years ago, Pat's husband, Father David Jones, minister of worship at Christ the King Church, experienced an episode which was diagnosed as a stroke. For five years, doctors continued to treat David, 40 years old at the time of the episode, for the stroke. Over time, his condition worsened. About a year ago, he began to experience seizures and other problems.

Then, two weeks ago, experiencing debilitating head pains, David was rushed to the Newnan Hospital emergency room where, after a CAT scan, it was revealed that David apparently had been suffering from a brain tumor and had never experienced a stroke at all. Why an emergency room doctor could detect a tumor when Father Jones' regular doctors did not will have to be sorted out sometime later.

David was rushed to Emory and surgery was scheduled. After the surgery, Pat was given the devastating news that the tumor was malignant, was growing, and was large. The doctors said that they couldn't get it all and that, even with chemotherapy and radiation, it was likely that the tumor would return. The prognosis was not encouraging. After much weeping and questioning, Pat finally was persuaded to return home for the evening as her husband rested.

During the night, however, a blood clot developed and David was rushed back into the operating room for emergency surgery. Pat was called at 2 a.m. and informed that her husband might not make it through the night. She called me and, within moments, I was at her house and then we were on the way to Emory. The news the next morning was grim. The intracranial pressure was still great and there was internal bleeding in the brain. David was still alive and that was about all the good news there was.

Since that time, Pat has rarely been alone. The telephone in the ICU waiting room has rung continually as members of Christ the King call to check on David and Pat and her family. With rare exception, a number of visitors can be found in the waiting room at any given time, day or night.

Church members have made dozens of visits; meals and snacks have been taken to the hospital; the Jones' home has been cleaned; a hotel room near the hospital has been provided to Pat by members of her church; baby-sitting has been provided for her granddaughter and rides to and from the hospital have been offered to members of the family. An impromptu 18th birthday party was even provided for Salem, the Jones' youngest son, last week at the hospital, complete with cake.

Of special meaning to Pat and her family was the full Service of Holy Eucharist last Sunday afternoon conducted in a waiting room at Emory by several members of the Christ the King clergy who were joined by other clergy from the Atlanta area.

David's wife has also been encouraged by personal calls from Archbishop Randolph Adler, head of the denomination, and Archbishop Randolph Sly, of the Washington, D.C., area. Several visits to the hospital were made by Georgia Bishop John Holloway, and Archbishop Dale Howard of the Southeast Province conveyed to the Jones' the prayers and love of the churches of the region.

Christ the King is not a large church. By Atlanta standards, it's quite a small congregation. But by the love and compassion extended by denominational leaders, you'd think it was a mega church and that David Jones is a superstar! Father Mark Johnson, formerly on staff at Christ the King, made a surprise visit from Wilmington, N.C., and bishops, priests and ministers from churches in Georgia and elsewhere have called, visited, encouraged, and prayed.

One night this past week, several members of the church's worship team played and sang songs of worship in the ICU room where David still sleeps peacefully. Scores of e-mail letters have been received from Christians around the country and prayer vigils have been held in churches from Washington to Florida. Even the hospital staff has commented on how supported the Jones family is by their church family. Last Sunday evening, a task force at the church was formed to assist the family over the next several weeks and longer, if necessary.

In sharp contrast, there are three families who share the ICU waiting room with the Jones'. Although they are all members and faithful attendees at evangelical churches, not once has a pastor dropped by to visit, or pray, or encourage. A few people call once in a while, but, with the exception of family members, there seems to be no visits from church members and no evidence or spiritual or emotional support. One lady, whose husband is in serious condition, wrote her pastor a letter and poured her anguished heart out to him. So far, she has received no response.

On Monday, the doctor said to Pat, "Assuming we get through this stage, we still have to deal with the cancer." Pat responded, "We'll do that. But not today."

Her response was certainly in keeping with what the Lord has been showing us at Christ the King in this situation we must cling to God today and trust Him for tomorrow.

On Tuesday, the doctor said, "It looks like the storm may be beginning to clear." Unless there is a setback, the doctors will begin to attempt to bring Father Jones out of his sedation. When they have done so briefly at the first of this week, he has responded positively and, on one occasion, gave his wife the "thumbs up" sign. We are praying that God will do the miraculous and see him through these difficult days.

When the Jones' have to deal with the chemotherapy and the radiation and all the effort toward finding a cure, they will not be alone. Their church family will be there for those days as well. We are fervently praying for David's full recovery. A gifted singer and songwriter, there are too many songs left to be written for the story to end now. He is also my very dear friend and I cannot bear to be without him.

But in answer to the question, "How do people go through these things without the support of a church family?" I have to say that I don't know. I really don't know.

Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples that you have love for one another." And the Apostle James said, "Faith without works is dead."

[David Epps is rector at Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church in Peachtree City. He may be contacted at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com or at www.ChristTheKingCEC.com.]

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