Personal update from Stovall
By Stovall Weems
Dear Church,
This weekend at church was amazing—what a strong finish to the Awakening fast! Kerri and I are so excited about all the things God has in store for us as a church. 2010 promises to be full of God’s strength and grace!
If you missed church this weekend, I would like to take a moment to fill you in on some personal news that has come to me recently. A couple of weeks ago, during a detailed physical, a heart murmur was discovered. After more tests were run, it was discovered that I have what is called a bicuspid aortic valve. The condition is an abnormality in the valve that pumps blood through the aortic root into the heart. Although my valve is in good shape and does not need to be repaired, a side effect of this condition is an enlarged aortic root, which I have. The more the aorta enlarges, the thinner the wall becomes. As the wall grows thinner, it risks rupturing. This has found to be a condition I was born with and have lived with all my life.
Upon examination, my aortic root was discovered to be enlarged to a state of high risk. Because of this, the cardiologist recommended that I go in for surgery to repair this problem as soon as possible. By the favor of God, I’ve connected with one of the nation’s top surgeons in this field. After prayer and planning, I will be visiting the surgeon this week for consultation and plan to follow his best recommendation for surgery. The surgeon may recommend immediate surgery, postponed surgery, or discover that God has intervened in some other way. One way or another, I am confident that God has it all under His control.
“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 58:8
I count this all joy and gladly endure any trial that my Lord has allowed me to experience! (James 1:2) Jesus is my Healer and I trust in Him and Him alone!
Although this surgery is serious, as is any open-heart procedure, Kerri and I have tremendous peace. We feel that the Lord brought this condition to light so that it can be addressed. Thankfully, it is a mechanical condition that can be completely repaired with surgery. I can go on to live a very active long life and I am very grateful for this. I would appreciate your prayers over the next few weeks. It is a joy to pastor Celebration Church, and I am looking forward to being at church this weekend (Feb 6-7th) to further update you on my progress.
All for JESUS!
Stovall
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Hey Pastor Stovall,
Evi and I and our families are praying constantly for you. You and Celebration Church have been a life-changing gift to us! Remember “ALL things work for good to those who love the Lord”.Rm8:28
God has just scheduled you for a turbo-charged high performance cardiac overhaul, taking you to a ho ‘nother level! I see you preaching @90 years ( I’ll be 107!) I’ll treat you an Ensure in the Annex! Anything we can do for you or your family let us know.
Love in Him, Owen.
I really want to thank all of you for your encouragement. I have read every single one of these comments and it really means a lot to me. I am so grateful for your support and prayers.
Stovall
Hi Pastor Stovall. The prayer team at OP Campus is also praying for you. I was given this scripture for you ~ Isaiah 55:10-12.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
You can count on our prayers for you. Our God can do anything.
In the morning oh Lord you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Ps 5:3
Pastor Stovall we are waiting in expectation. Our God is a prayer answering God. We love you.
Pastor Stovall, we love you and Kerri so much!!! Celebration Church has changed our lives and is a blessing to so many people. We are believing and praying with you. We know that God has you and your family in the palm of His hand. We are praying for peace as you guys walk through this time in your lives and for healing.
Hello from Zimbabwe!
Pastors Stovall and Kerri,
We love you so very much and thank you for the great work you are doing in Zimbabwe. God sees all this and He remembers. He is a great God who does great things and He has said in His word, “by His wounds we are healed”. We are praying for you and I can’t wait to hear the testimony of the miracles in store for you.
Be blessed,
Chipo
(Celebration Church, Zimbabwe)
PASTOR STOVALL
YOU ARE AN AMAZING PERSON FATHER HUSBAND AND PASTOR
YOU HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE AND I LOVE U, AS SO MANY OTHERS DO, WE ARE ALL PRAYING FOR U , GOD HAS GREAT PLANS FOR U ,
U WILL BE FINE , GOD BLESS
THNKS FOR EVERYTHING
SCOTTY J
Pastor we love you and your family so much. Thank you for Celebration church. We are praying for you and know that God is in control. I am doing the altar/offering at the first service you preach when you turn 90 yrs old!!! I’ll only be 88!
I recently spent time with my mom in NC who is 84 and had open heart surgery…she had one valve repaired, Mitral Valve replaced.. and 3 bypasses, the doctors and nurses were amazed of her quick recovery … my mom went in with the song in her heart that says:
“It ain’t over, till God say’s its over’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXNhArf-MSk
You will do great and will be a wonderful witness to all the people you come in contact with during the whole process.
We love you and will be praying for you.
God Bless
Vickie Kellner
When I gave in to God’s calling me into serving Him I have resolved that when He calls me home I want to be found in the field reaching the lost. Under your leadership I have never had a more sweet walk with our Lord. We all are in His capable hands and I know in my spirit that He has not brought us this far to drop us like a hot rock! I face a bone scan on the 3rd for cancer. I really don’t have a worry in the world for when we blink and shake off this clay suit we will still be in His perfect will. I love you and your family in the Lord and rejoice to be a part of the Body of Christ called Celebration Church!
Pastor Stovall,
Your heart is in the hand of the GREAT PHYSICIAN! I am confident that He works all things together for our GOOD! REJOICING WITH YOU IN THE GOODNESS AND FAITHFUL OF OUR FATHER!
Praying for you!
Deborah Holman
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, it’s recorded that He healed all of the sick people who were brought to Him. The Gospel of Matthew says, “and he healed all the sick” (Matt. 8:16). On another occasion, it says, “He healed all the sick among them” (Matt. 12:15). The Gospel of Luke records, “Everyone tried to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and he healed everyone” (Luke 6:19, NLT). We can see that Jesus healed all who came to Him with faith, and all you need is a tiny mustard seed of faith. “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven”(Matt. 18:19). Have an “expecting mindset”; I feel a healing on the way Pastor Stovall!!!
Hey Stovall,
I’m praying for you way over here in the UK. God will show his glory and help you make a full recovery in his own supernatural way.
God bless.
Iain
We are SO blessed to have you and Kerri as our pastors. We love you and are praying for you and cannot wait to hear the amazing stories of how God uses this “challenge” for HIS glory!
Our family has been so blessed to call you our Pastor for 10 years. We have witnessed your love for God and His people. We have seen the countless miracles God has done through your life and ministry. We are so blessed to call Celebration Church home. We know that God’s hand is upon you and your family and that He is in control. We love you guys and are praying for a speedy recovery.
Just think….what are you going to be like at 100%? Look out Satan!
With love,
Eddie, Nicole, Emily and Lauren
We love you, Pastor! God’s got it!!
Dear Pastor Stovall and Family,
I just wanted to let you know that you have had an amazing impact on my life and my relationship with God.
I will be praying that God bestows a miracle upon you! I know in my heart that you will receive God’s blessing since you have lead so many of us to him. You are a blessing to so many of us! Thank you for all you do!
May God be with you and your family during this trying time.
Love & Blessings,
Denise
As a fellow heart surgery girl (mine was not as serious though) I will be praying for you. I actually have a visit with my surgeon tomorrow for a six month follow up. You are in great hands!
I just read a tweet Matt Blair posted tonight concerning you . . . meanwhile I had found a Soaking site- http://www.julietrue.com/blog/healing-room/ – an online healing room. I was listening to the 2nd song and was compelled to go to your Twitter page and see what was going on . . . just as I was reading the words you had on Twitter -“and discuss my possible open heart surgery” the Words of the song at that very moment were speaking out – “Heart’s are being healed – Broken hearts are being repaired” (at the very exact time I’m reading your tweet) heart surgery is being preformed by the greatest surgeon of all time, Sounds of Healing . . .
I felt I needed to share this with you . . . it all came together in a moments time and my spirit just soared as the words intermingled. I’m believing a miracle healing is going to take place!!! Praise God!
Hope is rising . . . healing hearts . . .
Pastors Stovall & Kerri ~ How dear you both are to me. There are no adequate words to communicate my deep appreciation for your ministry in my life. The authenticity and integrity that you both exhibit are such precious gifts to our Celebration family. I pray that you are filled with such an encouraging sense that we are all standing with you in this time. I have a joyous anticipation in my soul for what our gracious Emmanuel is doing on your behalf! Love & Blessings to you~
Our prayers are with you and we have faith that you will be even stronger after your surgery, if this is the route God takes you.
My husband was also born with a bicuspid aortic valve, discovered after the doctors detected a murmer. Imagine our surprise, considering my husband was athletic and the picture of health. His heart became enlarged (7.3 cm) and he had open heart surgery to replace his valve with a mechanical one the day before his 38th birthday. While I struggled with great fear in the months preceding his surgery, the Lord was gracious in giving me remarkable peace when the surgery actually came. My husband was a rock throughout.
His surgery was a huge success, and within a month his heart was back to a normal 5.3 centimeters (which we were told would not happen). It has been 11 years, and while he is on Coumadin permanently, he has had no complications whatsoever. I just wanted to encourage you that God will bring your family through this, and bless you in more ways than you can imagine!
We are praying for you all. Also proud of you for taking your families needs into consideration and switching to Sunday night services. God will use this season to strengthen your bond with your kids.
God Bless!
P.S. Larry said he would be happy to talk to you if he can offer you any encouragement. You could reach him at this email address. Same for Kerri!
Praying for a healing miracle.
Pastor Stovall, I just want you to know that my prayers are with you and your family. You have had a such an impact on my life and although you don’t know who I am I have to thank you for all you have done for me. I lost someone very special almost 3 years ago. He attended several churches in the area and Celebration was one of them. After he passed God spoke to my heart and brought me to Celebration. I have been attending for almost three years and have found love and happiness for the first time in my life. Third year completing the 21 days of fasting and all I can say is THANK GOD. Thank God for you and the church. Funny I told my friend that on Saturday morning in my time with God I talked to him about you and thanking him so much for you and the church and how you have helped me so much with my walk with God. Then Saturday night I come to Church and hear your news. God is wonderful and he will be with you and your family. God Bless to you and your family.
Jan 8,2008 my mother suffered an aortic dissection which landed her on a ventilator the dissection caused an anuersym, which saved her life. She is alive and well today but it was a long road but God is so faithfully. I know wha† you and your family are going through decisions aren’t easy and we are human but continue to press in on his word and be constantly renewed in your mind. I agree with you all in faith that God will heal you miraclously.
Pastor Stovall, Kerri and family: You are all in our prayers and if you’ll let us know the day of the surgery I’ll commit to a 24 hour fast… water only ! God is in control !
Hey Stovall,
we’re the guys who put Awake21 into German. You have a bunch of people praying for you here that you have never met, neither have they met you, but we are connected.
Joining our faith with yours, that you are the healed of the Lord.
Blessings,
Desmond & Sandy Frey
At 5 years of age, we found out that Michelle had a double aortic arch (2 arteries coming off her heart squeezing her esophagus and trachea) and Epstein malformation of the tricuspid valve..enlarging her heart and eventually causing an irregular rhythm.
The doctors were amazed…she should have been a blue baby and stunted in growth and only able to eat certain foods that were easy to swallow.
Michelle was on track for height, a chubby wee girl who loved steak, danced, and did gymnastics!
On four occasions, doctors have wanted to operate; and four times God has stopped it from happening.
She should not have been able to have an easy pregnancy and delivery, considered high risk. It was a breeze.
She shouldn’t even be alive…she is now 26!
A word that was spoken over her at 5 was: ‘it’s like this…your eyes are brown, mine are blue – they look different but they both work just fine’.
That’s how it has been for my miracle girl all of her life.
I believe it has been the same for you. God’s hand has been on you throughout your life, keeping you safe. Whether He heals you through surgery or miracle…whatever He does, you will be fine, and He will get the glory!
dear pastor stovall and keri:
the fenwick family is praying in power over you and your family! so thankful for our church and it’s mission to life a God-first life. so thankful to have just been in a season of prayer and fasting, which has blessed our family beyond expectation and aligns our will with our Heavenly Father!
we praying boldly over you, expecting a miracle…whether that miracle is instantaneous or a process, we are BELIEVING! we pray also for peace, comfort, wisdom and understanding over the five of you through such “unexpected” circumstances and for protection over your family through these next four to six weeks.
like you have often said of late…God doesn’t respond to need, but to our faith! we are asking and believing, not doubting, in the name of Jesus over your body!
keep us updated so our prayers can follow you through!
love and blessings in Him! the Fenwick family
Know that you have prayer partners in Pennsylvania!
I LOVE to pray, have asked your prayer warriors to pray over my prayer request often, and it’d be an honor to cover you and yours in my unceasing prayers, just as I have continued to pray you’d take part in a Leadership Conference with Ed Young here in Phoenix one day!(hint, hint
). The peace God is giving you already, is such a HUGE FAITH building opportunity for all to witness from you; I’m sure you’d opt for another method to provide as much, but God knows just what’s needed, and He knows you’re the man to work in and thru, and how flattering is that to be used by God in such a GRAND way?!!? He has you covered. And I have you covered in prayers as will so many others!
Pastor Stovall my prayers are with you! I just wanted to let you know my son has what is called as Marfan Syndrome and one of the major things that he has to visit the Cardiologist annually for, for the rest of his life to be checked. Because he has an enlarged aortic root in his heart and he is only 5yrs we caught this at a very young age:) He takes daily heart medication that is supposed to help. And I pray that it does…they said more than likly in his late teens or as an adult he will probably have to endure open heart sugery as well. I pray everyday that my little boy will be healed and maybe he will be maybe not but we will see.
I story just kind of took me back because I am very familiar with what you are going through.
I just wanted to share.
God Bless!
Andrea Sisk
Stovall, My prayers are with you!
Sharing the Journey,
Gee Sprague
CrossRoad Church, UMC
Thank God for all His glory that you will be able to proclaim through this situation. Whatever the outcome, He will be praised. We will be praying for you & the family & thank God daily for you & the vision of Celebration Church!!! Be blessed!!!!!
PASTOR STOVALL YOU ARE IN MY AND MY FAMILYS PRAYERS AND WHAT I LEARNED FROM U AND SAY ALL THE TIME IS DONT WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING, PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING TELL GOD WHAT YOU NEED AND THANK HIM FOR ALL THAT HE HAS DONE. WERE THINKING OF YOU. WHEN MY MOM PASSED 12/28 I COULDNT GO IN AND SEE HER UNTILL I HAD SAID THAT PRAYER. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR MY FAMILY AND MY KIDS, MICHAEL WAS THE ONE THTAT STOOD UP AT YOUR MEETING, NOT SURE IF HE COULD COMMIT 100%. THANKS AGAIN SANDI ATHA
We love you so much, Stovall. I can’t tell you what an impact you have had on Grady and I or what you and Kerri have meant to our family for the last 6 years. Our family will be praying for you and believing that God has it all in His hands. You are “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses” who know how beautifully God’s hand rests and will continue to rest on your head. We stand at the ready to intercede and look forward with joy to how God is going to get the glory yet again for something amazing in the life of Stovall Weems.