Prayer Request for an Urban Hero
For any of you who have read my book (“Looking Forward: Facing The Future Of Christian Leadership”), you will be familiar with Pastor Harry Lehotsky, who tells some of his story in the Introduction. Harry is one of my heroes- an unapologetic inner city, New York city Baptist minister living and serving our Winnipeg neighbourhood for several years. He played a significant role in Kim & I deciding to plant out ministry where we did, including providing our first apartment as a married couple (which served as our YWAM office) and selling us our amazing mission house at price that was attainable to us.
In addition to being a pastor and urban activist/adocate, he is also a weekly columnist for the Winnipeg Sun. In the April 30th post of his “Inner City Diaries”, he bemoaned the terrible lack of funcationality of the Manitoba Health Care System, as he had been suffering from some serious pain. Tests were possibly going to be delayed until November. As a result of his column and pushing, he managed to get in earlier. And thank God he did.
I just learned that Harry has been diagnosed with an advance stage of pancreatic cancer. I have not heard the prognosis, but am familiar enough with this disease to know that it is one of the highest risk cancers. I ask that everyone take some time to pray for Harry and his family during the coming challenges they will inevitably face. Pray for healing and restoration.
Harry is a hero – thanks for the heads up. He’ll be in my thoughts and prayers.
Thanks Ralph.
according to Harry’s statement, 2 different doctors have both given him between 6-9 weeks to live. It’s inoperable and appears to have spread to spleen, lymph nodes and liver. He has asked only for pain medication so he can concentrate on tying up loose ends and plan for smooth as possible transitions for his various ministries… once that is accomplished he will consider his options for fighting this.
He spoke at Riverwood last summer and we all remember it as the most impacting message of the summer.
Pray like the dickens for this man and his family.
Greg,
This is so typical of pancreatic cancer. I am at once grieved and angry. Prayer seems so futile, but that I trust in God.
Peace,
Jamie
I’ll pray, but either way, we gotta praise God. If he’s healed, praise God for a miracle, and if he’s not, praise God, he gets to see Jesus before we do.
Brother Maynard quotes some stuff from Harry’s interview on CBC that is heart-breaking and inspiring at the same time.
Wendy’s father died from pancreatic cancer five years ago — it’s one of the most aggressive cancers there is. Wendy’s dad was diagnosed and buried within five weeks.
Everybody PRAY! And read Harry’s words at Maynard’s site!
Rob,
I am so empty today as I consider the seeming hopelessness of this situation. Thanks for praying.
Peace,
Jamie
I join you in your grief and prayers.
Ted,
Thank you for your heart and prayers.
Peace,
Jamie
i’ve been following the dialogue on resonate. i am so saddened by this jamie. my mom works in a soup kitchen in regina. the founder was a heroic woman who just last month succumbed to cancer.
all those questions of the goodness of god start to bubble up from wherever we keep them hidden during times like this. my prayers are with you and his family.