PUT ON GERALD FOLKERTS BLOG AND MINE....
TO GERALD FOLKERTS AND FAMILY
Wow, can I share a little story. I met your Dad at a Willowcreek Conference in 2001. The CRC Home Missions Board had a meeting first there – and we were all willing to see and learn what God would do. I was there for Bethany CRC in Fenwick with 2 others and your Dad from Covenant Church in Winnipeg. When I went I looked across the room and I met someone who so resembled our dear friend, John Folkerts that I went up to him and said – by any chance do you have a brother in B.C. Well, of course – you looked so much the same. I kept a wonderful prayer journal for awhile and I looked it up – my pastor made me do a write up about the experience and I mentioned it in there.
I hope your church has grown as much as ours in the last 7 years. Previously we would have had to get past 3 committee meetings, council and just maybe we could go up and speak. Today we called the pastor, asked the praise team to say something for us and play this CD I liked called
What a Good God
What a good God You've been to me
Your goodness and Your grace everyday I've seen
What else can I do but give my deepest thanks to You
What a good God You've been to me
What a faithful God You've been to me
You've provided far beyond everything I'd ever need
What else can I do but give my deepest heartfelt thanks to You
What a faithful God You've been to me
What a loving God You've been to me
You shed Your blood on the cross
So that I can stand here and be free
So what else can I do
But give my deepest thanks to You
What a loving God You've been
What a faithful God You've been
What a good God You've been to me
The only problem was the Praise Team wanted John and I go up to talk. FEAR, DREAD, I CAN’T DO THAT – IT’S MY FIRST SUNDAY BACK, I PANICKED – JOHN GENTLY TOLD ME JUST COME WITH ME I’LL TALK. We walked up front and John asked for a moment to get it together. We were able to share that many of us in this church are experiencing trials, not just us. Yet we have the comfort that we can rely on God to walk with us, and carry us through these challenging times no matter what they are. I can’t believe I’m up there! This is not me. But you know what, cancer has made me bolder for Jesus. Our mission statement is "Bethany is a God-honouring community witnessing for Christ".
Now I find out that the exact same week – your Dad was diagnosed with a brain tumour for the first time and I had recurrence. You were diagnosed Sept. 4th and me the 7th. I had surgery the 11th and he the 12th. I had colon cancer 3 years ago and have been given clean bills of health right from 5 months ago to 2 weeks ago on different tests. Within 3 days I experienced some of the same things as your Dad. Low energy on the left side of my body, first my arm, then my leg, and then my left foot dragging. We pushed things (we have a cancer specialist doctor in the family from Syracuse, New York) because of my history of cancer and from Sunday to Thursday I had a CT scan, doctors appt., MRI, brain surgery to remove the cancerous tumour. Thanks to fast action at the Welland Hospital to have a C-scan, we found out in the emergency room Sept. 7th. See my blog at the bottom so I can keep this shorter.
God is amazing through both our journeys – I just finally had time to read your blog with tears this morning and thought we both needed to tell our congregations how important that Willowcreek conference was – our church has grown in wonderful ways. Hopefully yours has too. It sounds like a caring support for you too.
We have been corresponding with John & Wendy (our dear friends and your brother).
One step at a time! I feel the prayers of everyone. I can tell that we both feel God’s presence in this all and we both have wonderful communities around us supporting us. And I have a feeling we both were inspired to set up a blog because of John & Wendy’s son’s friend who set up the blog for their son.
Sorry I tried to limit my words? My husband might tell you that has been hard for me to do lately. I only need 4 hours of sleep at night! So my day is ½ done when he wakes up!!
www.jocelynlangendoen.blogspot.com
John & Jocelyn Langendoen
Fenwick, Ontario
Gerald Folkerts
Winnipeg
www.gravelroadjourney.blogspot.com/
Wow, can I share a little story. I met your Dad at a Willowcreek Conference in 2001. The CRC Home Missions Board had a meeting first there – and we were all willing to see and learn what God would do. I was there for Bethany CRC in Fenwick with 2 others and your Dad from Covenant Church in Winnipeg. When I went I looked across the room and I met someone who so resembled our dear friend, John Folkerts that I went up to him and said – by any chance do you have a brother in B.C. Well, of course – you looked so much the same. I kept a wonderful prayer journal for awhile and I looked it up – my pastor made me do a write up about the experience and I mentioned it in there.
I hope your church has grown as much as ours in the last 7 years. Previously we would have had to get past 3 committee meetings, council and just maybe we could go up and speak. Today we called the pastor, asked the praise team to say something for us and play this CD I liked called
What a Good God
What a good God You've been to me
Your goodness and Your grace everyday I've seen
What else can I do but give my deepest thanks to You
What a good God You've been to me
What a faithful God You've been to me
You've provided far beyond everything I'd ever need
What else can I do but give my deepest heartfelt thanks to You
What a faithful God You've been to me
What a loving God You've been to me
You shed Your blood on the cross
So that I can stand here and be free
So what else can I do
But give my deepest thanks to You
What a loving God You've been
What a faithful God You've been
What a good God You've been to me
The only problem was the Praise Team wanted John and I go up to talk. FEAR, DREAD, I CAN’T DO THAT – IT’S MY FIRST SUNDAY BACK, I PANICKED – JOHN GENTLY TOLD ME JUST COME WITH ME I’LL TALK. We walked up front and John asked for a moment to get it together. We were able to share that many of us in this church are experiencing trials, not just us. Yet we have the comfort that we can rely on God to walk with us, and carry us through these challenging times no matter what they are. I can’t believe I’m up there! This is not me. But you know what, cancer has made me bolder for Jesus. Our mission statement is "Bethany is a God-honouring community witnessing for Christ".
Now I find out that the exact same week – your Dad was diagnosed with a brain tumour for the first time and I had recurrence. You were diagnosed Sept. 4th and me the 7th. I had surgery the 11th and he the 12th. I had colon cancer 3 years ago and have been given clean bills of health right from 5 months ago to 2 weeks ago on different tests. Within 3 days I experienced some of the same things as your Dad. Low energy on the left side of my body, first my arm, then my leg, and then my left foot dragging. We pushed things (we have a cancer specialist doctor in the family from Syracuse, New York) because of my history of cancer and from Sunday to Thursday I had a CT scan, doctors appt., MRI, brain surgery to remove the cancerous tumour. Thanks to fast action at the Welland Hospital to have a C-scan, we found out in the emergency room Sept. 7th. See my blog at the bottom so I can keep this shorter.
God is amazing through both our journeys – I just finally had time to read your blog with tears this morning and thought we both needed to tell our congregations how important that Willowcreek conference was – our church has grown in wonderful ways. Hopefully yours has too. It sounds like a caring support for you too.
We have been corresponding with John & Wendy (our dear friends and your brother).
One step at a time! I feel the prayers of everyone. I can tell that we both feel God’s presence in this all and we both have wonderful communities around us supporting us. And I have a feeling we both were inspired to set up a blog because of John & Wendy’s son’s friend who set up the blog for their son.
Sorry I tried to limit my words? My husband might tell you that has been hard for me to do lately. I only need 4 hours of sleep at night! So my day is ½ done when he wakes up!!
www.jocelynlangendoen.blogspot.com
John & Jocelyn Langendoen
Fenwick, Ontario
Gerald Folkerts
Winnipeg
www.gravelroadjourney.blogspot.com/
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