Young People

Rapture!

About 2 years after the initial diagnosis my endocrinologist suggested that I "get my house in order" as I might have to undergo an emergency operation, which they were trying to avoid all along. I was told they would try to remove the pituitary tumor through the front of my face but I would also probably lose my entire pituitary gland. (You need your pituitary because it's your "master gland" which resides in the middle of the lower part of the brain!)  The sad news was that even if the operation was successful, the chance of the brain tumor  regrowing into a malignancy and causing severe problems was very high. I was beginning to have adverse reactions to the brain medication and my endocrinologist wanted to hospitalize me. Well, I had had enough of emergency rooms and dragging my kidlet along to doctors offices. I was physically exhausted and I begged my doctor to please just shoot me full of cortisone and let me go home with my baby. My son was the joy of my life and my literal reason for living.

During this time I went through much soul-searching and decided I would approach G-d and ask him to please heal me, not for myself  because I felt I didn't deserve it, but for my son and my parents, who were G-dly people. I felt they didn't deserve to see their daughter live (or die) like this. So I decided I needed a miracle as I was very tired of living in this condition. Once, I did think of taking my own life as the pain was becoming unbearable, but I knew that wasn't an option, as I would just end up in Hell. I could barely care for my son and I knew I was becoming a burden to my husband, and unfortunately... eventually, he did leave us. I didn't think I would ever smile or laugh again because I was filled with so much physical pain.

One day, I came across a brass key chain that had the words inscribed,
"I NEED A MIRACLE". 
I bought it because I did need a miracle. I felt it might help remind me to continue hoping and praying for a miracle.

One unusual day while traveling down Imperial Highway I noticed  Emmanuel Temple's building. I noticed it's name and remembered that "Emmanu-El" in Hebrew means "G-d with us". I realized that G-d could be found there. I even felt an odd sense of relief.
...I felt if  I could just get there and ask the Elders to pray for me, I might at least go to heaven, if I didn't make it through the following month.

The weekend finally arrived and with the little strength I could muster, I got ready and asked my husband to drive me to Emmanu-el. He did so, reluctantly. I had my own car but at this point I would lose my way while driving or become disoriented.

When I entered the Emmanuel Temple's Sanctuary  I realized I had been running away from G-d most of my adult life... I was the grand-daughter of an Apostolic (B'Nai Anusim-Marrano) pastor. My parents followed in their parents' footsteps... even my great-grand mother was Apostolic. Some ask me how can you be Jewish and Apostolic? My reply is Deut. 6:4, The Shema: "Hear O Israel, the L-rd Our G-d, the L-rd is ONE." (Can you sum up the Oneness doctrine better than that?)
As a child, I remember awakening late at night to the aroma of coffee, dessert, and the sounds of good-spirited scriptural debate and discussion going on in our home with my parents and their friends... Their lifestyle was a shining example of what living for Jesus was all about.

Fast forward to my first day at Emmanuel Temple:
I didn't hear a word that was preached that Sunday at Emmanuel Temple... but I definitely recall when (then) Suffragan Bishop Stewart asked if anyone needed prayer. I immediately made my way to the altar. Someone asked what was my need and I told them (nearly choking on the words), as it hurt my very being to say "I have a brain tumor,"...
(You see, I needed G-d in a very REAL way.)

Bishop Stewart and Elder Johnson, anointed me with Holy Oil, laid hands on me and prayed the prayer of faith.