On January 4, our family experienced a crisis. My daughter Kerri, along with her husband Brent and their children, serve on the mission field in Zambia. They had come home to SC in November in anticipation of the birth of their 4th child. Little Ellie was born, beautiful and healthy, on December 22. Less than 2 weeks later, Brent called to tell me that he had taken Kerri to the emergency room with symptoms of weakness and numbness, vision difficulties, and an excruciating headache. Diagnosed in the ER with bleeding on her brain, she was being transferred to another hospital for further testing when he called. Keeping the panic down and the faith up was going to be difficult for me as I made the 2-hour drive to the hospital.

Early in my Christian walk, I was privileged to be introduced to the teaching ministry of Kenneth E. Hagin. I am aware that many have been critical of Brother Hagin's ministry. But I lived in Broken Arrow, OK, for a year back in 1979-80, and was blessed to be able to regularly sit under Brother Hagin's ministry during that time. I was able to observe him "up close and personal," as they say, and I found him to be one of the most honorable men of God I have ever known.

Brother Hagin died in 2003. One of the ministry tools he had made available was a CD of him reading all the scriptures pertaining to healing. I grabbed that CD on my way out the door for my trip to the hospital. During my drive, Brother Hagin's soothing voice reading the many wonderful promises of God brought peace to my spirit.

Further testing showed a blood clot on Kerri's brain (a stroke), a rare complication of pregnancy, but one treatable with blood thinners. Now, several weeks past that frightening evening, she is doing well and will make a full recovery. I am thankful for the prayers of so many and for the faithfulness of God in bringing her, and all of us, through this trying time. And I am thankful that though he is now with the Lord, God still uses Brother Hagin to speak words of faith and encouragement.