John Corey Update

Greetings Friends,


Health Issues:

In August I reported a significant drop in my cancer counts which was very positive after being on chemo for one month.  During the following month there was a big reversal, and a tumor began to form on my left clavicle, which now measures about 3" in diameter and 1" high.  I didn't notice it for about 3 weeks, but some of our grandkids remarked, "Grandpa, you have had that for at least 2 weeks.  There are other lesions that also show up in my back and pelvis with a PET scan.  My shoulder began to hurt a lot and the scan revealed a pathological fracture of my clavicle in the region of the tumor.  My oncologist was out of town for a week, and with other delays, I was able to begin a series of 8 radiations on the tumor on my clavicle today, Sept 29th.  With the lesions the Myeloma counts have again risen quite significantly and rapidly.  The radiation should help in stabilizing these counts, but I am also off of the chemo so other lesions will not be being treated during this time.  By the way, as far as I can remember I was diagnosed with Myeloma 10 years ago today.  Praise the Lord for all His grace and goodness during these years. 

There are two new Myeloma chemo treatments that are coming on the market.  My oncologist is trying to get me approved to start me on one of them when the radiation is completed.  One is approved for another type of cancer, but is generally effective for Myeloma and is being used in Europe for it, but he isn't sure that Medicare will agree to cover it.  The other is due to become available about January, and he is seeing if the company will allow him to receive it for me prior to that.  So far he hasn't heard from the company, though earlier in the year he was expecting it would be available to him by October.   Since, basically I have been treated with the other chemo treatments that are available, they no longer will be effective in my treatment, and the chemo I have been on is no longer effective.   Thanks for your prayers for Jeanette as she carries her part in all of this.  Also pray with us that the Lord will open the right door of treatment for me.

We are otherwise doing fine, and find the Lord to be our sufficiency in all of these things.  He promised His strength for the day and grace for every circumstance and He hasn't let up His side of the bargain.   We just need to continue our trust and rest of faith in Him.

Romans Project:

"Our sessions were well received and the highlight for us was hearing the testimony of those who had completed the Project requirements and whose lives and ministries had been transformed as a result. One pastor actually came to trust Christ alone for his salvation and was truly saved, realizing he had been trusting his good works,"  so Rick Calenberg, our Overseas Coordinator for the Romans Project, wrote after his recent conference in Liberia.  Rick and Mark Sherman were expecting maybe 300 pastors and ended up with a very dedicated group of 139 pastors who had to fight heavy rains and flooding to attend.  The church building became an island totally surrounded by water and those attending had to wade in knee deep water for a long distance to reach the building.      

Going on to Sierra Leone Rick wrote, "Today we had one of the best meetings I have ever had with young African church leaders who have promoted the Romans Project here and really grasp its purpose and potential to empower the church in this part of Africa. They are sharp and understand that they must embrace, own and promote the Project."  (Highlights from Rick) 159 pastors attended the conference that followed.

As Mark returned to the US Rick went on to Nigeria where God opened many doors related to the Romans Project, not the least of which was to present this project in a conference of 3000 pastors from ECWA (Evangelical Church Winning All), which is associated with SIM.  Many pastors among them were trained by Rick during the years that he taught at the JETS seminary in Jos Nigeria.  Rick reported that he expects that thousands of pastors in Nigeria will embrace this project and apply themselves to the book of Romans.  Rick and Gary Dozier, Associate Senior Pastor of our church, will be returning to Nigeria late October, likely carrying with them another thousand players and holding several pastors conferences related to the Romans Project.  Already we have 2100 players in Africa though not all have been distributed.     I am so thrilled to see how God is using this in so many pastors lives and their churches.  God is truly doing much during these days in building His Church. 

John for both of us. 

John Corey
16911 S Manor Dr.
Oregon City, OR 97045
503 631 7889  jwcorey@juno.com
"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift."