An Impact Member, who is heroically struggling with cancer right now, was recently mentioned in the Christian Chronicle. Here is what was published:

Barbara Garcia, who is battling cancer, receives encouragement from Jean Salas, a cancer survivor, after services Sunday, Sept. 4, at the Impact Houston church. Charlie Middlebrook, an Impact Houston elder and minister whose wife, Mollie, has been diagnosed with breast cancer, said a special prayer for Garcia during the service. “I just want to thank everybody who’s been helping me because I could not make it without the church,” Garcia told the congregation. (Photo by Bobby Ross Jr.)

The past two weeks have been saturated with hospital visits and prayers for health and recovery. Two weeks ago is when we first learned about Mollie. That's hard-hitting enough, for all who know her and Charlie. Yet, God is shining through the way He is showing His strength in her. Around the same time, we learned about Mayra Cuenca, the 14-yr.-old daughter of Onesima, a long time member and current custodial staff member. Mayra was taken to a clinic for a high fever, was rushed to the nearest hospital due to an unusually low blood count, eventually fell to seizures 4 days later needing to be resuscitated twice, and eventually regained consciousness a day or two after. Now, two weeks later she is beginning to move the right side of her body and say a few words. One day she was participating in my Sunday night cell group, and the next day she was in the hospital. Thankfully, things are on a slow but steady upswing, and the once devastated mother is now a pillar of strength, peace, and thankfulness. She, like Mollie Middlebrook and Barbara Garcia, are testimonies to the power of prayer. Onesima is amazed at the support, love, and prayers that have been poured out to her family and just wants to say "Gracias y Thank you."

The Impact family has been rocked by these events, as if their world wasn't teetering enough as it is. Men have been made physically weak with concern. Men, like Darrell Washington, who depends on God's strength and any opportunity to serve up at the building to get him through each day, hang onto every word of news to best know how to pray. Maria Saldana, whose newborn boy is still trying to breath on his own, is redirecting concern to Mayra. Many others are waiting by the phone to take food to family, clean the church building, pay hospital parking expenses, and fervently pray and encourage. People who are struggling with family issues, facing financial horrors, looking desperately for work, fighting the addictions that have destroyed their lives, and then the others who only thought their minor headaches were too difficult to figure out or handle, all came together in different ways and in different times and in different groups to let Barbara, Mollie, Mayra and Onesima know that their hurts and concerns were important to them too. Last week a church shared its struggles. This week a church will share its struggles. Every week the church is to share its struggles, because God wants us all to know that we are not alone. God wants us to know that the ability to "make it" is not on our own, but together, and in Him. Like a prayer partner of mine likes to say, "It’s not about what I can do. Its all about what You can do, Lord." Our weak and feeble prayers, may not seem like much, and really shouldn't, but the power is in He who is listening, and answers.

It is amazing to see people who are hit by hard news and hard times. We want to help, and should do what we can. Prayer however is not just for the desperate. It is for the hopeful. Our hope comes out in praise, but it can also come out in tears. The women that have been mentioned each have been hurt and challenged, but have kept faithful. They are a testimony to the power of God in our lives. The church can and is called to be a great testimony to the power of God in our lives. Keep praying in strength and in weakness, and let God continue to shine through what He wants to bring.