Most of you already know that our fellow elder here at Christ Reformaton Church, Mack McConkey, has been seriously ill for nearly two months now. He is still hospitalized and tomorrow the doctors have surgery planned to try to get Mack’s pancreas functioning correctly. Mack has continued to have one trial after another and he has not been improving.
Not only did I want to ask you to continue to pray for him and for this surgery, but I wanted to tell you a bit more about Mack. Mack and his wife Rite (pronounced “reet”) were at this church when I came 27 years ago. Mack came to faith in Christ in his ’40’s and he and Rite were married about one year before I was called here as pastor.
Mack has faithfully served the Lord with us all these years. He stood firmly with us through many hard trials and I want to tell you about one of those trials in particular.
Back in 2010 this ministry the Lord has called us to in exposing domestic abusers in the church and helping their victims, began. It was and continues to be clearly the Lord’s doing. The books, the blogs, the original sermon series – all of it. And right at the beginning there was opposition. One or two people in particular tried to stop it from ever starting. And even after the ministry began, there were efforts to drive me and others away. There were people who hated the light that was starting to shine on their wickedness and that original sermon series on abuse was the start.
Mack stood firm with us all that time. So did Rite. They and others like them who are still in this church refused to let the enemy stop what the Lord had begun. And so we were enabled to persevere and the Lord has used all of this for His glory and for the rescue of many oppressed victims of abuse – many of you who follow this blog are included in that number.
I just wanted all of you to know a bit more about Mack – that he is a genuine Christian, a true brother in Christ, and if the Lord should so choose to spare him, we certainly could use him back here with us once again.
Julie
Praise God for Mack and Rites faithfulness to Him! Praying for Mack.
Innoscent
Thank you Jeff for the update and what you shared about Mack and Rite. Praise God for such faithful servants!
I was hoping you’d announce that Mack was back home doing better.
I will certainly pray about the surgery, it’s always a risky business. But the Lord is in charge and loves his faithful ones tenderly. He sees the end from the beginning and always does what’s best.
cindy burrell
Your testimony regarding Mack’s faithfulness in the face of such opposition – within the body, no less – speaks volumes. I’m sure he and his wife are weary. I join everyone here in praying for your very dear friends.
healinginhim
How wonderful to hear of a true servant of the Lord. Not flamboyant or charismatic. Just a good honest disciple of Jesus Christ.
Continuing to pray. <3