A Moment With Pastor Fred

10/25/19

Cancer.  That word strikes terror into many a heart.  It’s a word some of you have heard – or a loved one has been told. In 2018, Mike Orth was told he had multiple myeloma. What led to the diagnosis was that he had a compression fracture in one of his vertebrae. For many years the Orths were part of HBC where Mike served as an elder. In 2013 the family relocated to Lubbock, TX. 

After surgery to place 2 rods in Mike’s back he endured 5 months of chemotherapy. To complicate his illness – he wore a painful back brace while his back was healing. After a stem cell transplant earlier this year, there were weeks where it wasn’t safe for him to leave the hospital or house due to his weakened immune system.  We, as a church, prayed for Mike.  And I’m thankful to say God in his mercy has brought the Orths through this trial. His cancer is under control and he takes one drug for maintenance. 

This past summer Mike was asked to preach at his church about what God had taught him during this trial. Mike will be here on November 3. He asked if he could preach that message for us. What a help and encouragement Mike will be as he unfolds how God sustained him during this time. His message is entitled, “The Importance of Endurance in the Life of the Believer.”  We’ve talked about such endurance from our study in James. I cannot think of a more practical message for us as a church. Mike’s timing is truly providential. Mike will flesh out how God’s grace was manifested to him. Thankfully it is for us all.