This Christian needs help!
7/31/07
My own sister has just sent me the following email message from a man
who was the Associate Pastor at the church she used to attend in El Paso, Tx.
He now lives in Oklahoma. His name is Chuck Andrews and he’s only 49 years
old. I’m sure this was a very humbling message for this man to write. Thank you
for praying about this matter. It’s between you and the Lord at this point. How
can we, the Body of Christ, help?
Every blessing,
Michael Tummillo
A servant of God
Dear Family and Friends
FYI. We don’t particularly like to ask for help but some of you have asked
if there is a fund setup that you can give to in order to help Estela and I
during this time. A dear pastor friend of mine, Wade Burleson, pastors
Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid, http://www.emmanuelenid.org/ OK. They
have graciously initiated and established a benevolence fund to collect
offerings designated to help us. All donations will be confidential (neither Estela
nor I will know who gave or how much) and tax deductible.
Donations to this fund need to be checks, money orders or certificates of
deposits made to Emmanuel Baptist Church, Enid, Oklahoma. In the description
line of the check the person contributing needs to write either Chuck
Andrews Benevolence Fund or Andrews Family Benevolence. Emmanuel will ensure
that all monies designated for that purpose go into that account.
When they close the books at the end of every month they will send us ONE
check for the money that has been received. Every person, church, or family
that has contributed will get an acknowledgment from Emmanuel of the receipt
of the gift and the church will send out statements of contribution at the
end of the year for tax credit.
Please mail your donations to:
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Andrews Family Benevolence
2505 W. Garriott
Enid, OK 73703
As you may know, due to my heart condition I had to retire from ministry in
October 2006. My health has deteriorated over the past year to the point
where in March 2007 I was placed on the national heart transplant list in
the Status 2 category. I’m registered at The INTEGRIS Nazih Zuhdi
Transplant Institute in Oklahoma City. My heart function is now below an
ejection fraction of 20% (normal is 60-75%). The prognosis is continued
decline with a life expectancy of about 2 years without a heart transplant.
Since January 2007, we have depleted all our resources. I have an internet
home based business that I am building to support us but it has not yet
developed to the extent that we need. I believe that it will, but, with my
limited health ability, it may take a while longer. Estela is working
fulltime as a receptionist in a dental office and is also cooking meals
weekly and selling them to working mothers. This week she has 19 orders.
Our youngest child (25 years old), Stephen, is living with us and is a trim
carpenter. He is supporting us with his income until we can get back on our
feet. I take 14 different prescribed medications a day. Our financial
coordinator at the transplant center says that post-transplant medications
may cost us between $1500 and $3000 a month after insurance pays their part.
With God nothing is impossible!
In detailing some of these events it could be misconstrued as bemoaning,
self-pity, or complaining. But I assure you it is not. We have been so
blessed and God’s grace has been more than sufficient. Yes, we struggle
physically, financially, and with depression, but are secure in His love and
grace in ways that we could have never known before. Confidently, our hope
is placed in Christ and our outlook is as Paul exhorts in 2 Corinthians
4:16-18, “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is
decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary,
light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond
all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the
things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but
the things which are not seen are eternal. We are assured He will provide
our every need.
We ask that any benevolent gift not be taken from your normal church
contributions. We would like to emphasize that our relationship is not
dependent on or defined by whether you give or not (we won’t even know). If
you are able to give financially and choose to, we will be overflowing with
many thanksgivings to God. (2 Cor. 9:12) If not, we are just as grateful
for you, your prayers, and the relationship that we have with you.
May God bless you. We would love to hear from you. Feel free to pass this
along.
Chuck
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chuck Andrews
National Director
Rep ID #424638
Escape International
chuckandrews@cox.net
405-573-0493
405-834-2444
www.escapeinternational.com <http://www.escapeinternational
www.escaperep.net/chuckandrews
3405 Pathway Circle
Norman, OK 73072
Date posted: Tuesday, July 31st, 2007 9:28 pm | Under category: Post
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I WILL CONTINUALLY PRAY FOR A FULL HEALING OF THIS MAN, GOD IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO USE HIM AND HIS FAMILY. MAY THE LORD OF HEALING TOACH HIM AND HIS FAMILY.
THANK YOU MIKE FOR THIS FORUM. WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO KEEP US ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
CATHIE
ANZA, CA