(Photo of Andrea holding certificates of completion of her eight chemotherapy treatments on July 11, 2025 and completion of radiation therapy for breast cancer on October 10, 2025. Hope lives!)

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds (stripes) we are healed. -Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

Our Gathered In His Name Intercessory Prayer and Outreach held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, was truly providential. Earlier in the week, we sought the Lord to determine the location where He would send us to pray for people. Shortly after, a sister in Christ told us about an encounter she had with a woman at the bus stop who felt comfortable sharing with our dear sister in Christ some of the challenges she was facing. Our sister in Christ was heading to work and by God’s divine leading, He timed it for our sister’s path to intersect with this bereaved woman. Our sister in Christ seized the opportunity to pray with the woman which she later admitted given that she is naturally shy, it was somewhat out of her comfort zone—and yet she availed herself to this divine appointment.  The area was Wheaton, an arts and entertainment district of Montgomery County near Silver Spring, Maryland. Nearby was Wheaton Regional Park and on that coming Saturday, October 18, the park would host “The Park Goes Pink” in recognition of October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There was a particular focus on health disparities and breast cancer’s impact on the African American community and the need for more initiatives to equip women to better understand their genetic risk and navigate the healthcare system.

Data shows that 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Per the National Breast Cancer Foundation, “In 2025, an estimated 316,950 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and an additional 59,080 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer will be diagnosed.” This event at the park was especially real to us/real to me having supported a dear sister in Christ and this ministry’s co-founder, Andrea, through her breast cancer journey since learning of her diagnosis this February. We praise God for her faith in Christ, for the prayers of many which have availed, her wonderful medical team and the many ways that she has been supported throughout this journey as she is coming to the other side of it, and victoriously so! We saw this event at the park as God directing us to pray with those who were dealing with a breast cancer/cancer diagnosis, had gone through breast cancer, or had lost a loved one to breast cancer or was supporting someone through a breast cancer diagnosis. This was indeed the place.

Andrea truly wanted to join us and would have though she was on international travel for work (God is good, strengthening her!) and would not be back in time for Saturday’s outreach. Nonetheless, three of us arrived at the park (God gave us a beautiful fall morning). Before greeting people and extending ourselves to pray for them, we had devotional and prayer with our key scripture from Isaiah 53:3-5, with focus on verse 5: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds (stripes) we are healed.

As we prayed for physical healing from the disease for those facing a cancer diagnosis, we also and most importantly prayed for their spiritual healing. “Cancer” is a six-letter word that within it carries fear, disbelief/shock, questions, uncertainty, anxiety, depression and a host of other emotions and thoughts running the gamut of “what ifs,” as this word rocks our world and plans.

We prayed with several people in the park that morning. Some were facing major health decisions and needed God’s wisdom and direction. Some requested prayer for family members who are processing a recent diagnosis. Some needed prayer for pain relief in their bodies, and others sought prayer for God’s direction in their lives, for peace, protection and provision for their families, and prayer for our nation. Some simply needed to be filled with hope and to hear that “with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26, NIV)

Preparing to pray for people at “The Park Goes Pink” event at Wheaton Regional Park on October 18, 2025 in recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

From the event stage we heard stories shared by women as breast cancer survivors who imparted hope to those in attendance. Every person and their story matters and their need for prayer in those situations is not lost on us.

In reading Isaiah 53:3-5, and the brutal death Jesus suffered for us so that we would be victorious, that we would have healing—and most certainly spiritual healing, one could question what good will come from our suffering. Would we be better for not experiencing pain in life? I am currently reading a really good book entitled Faith Embodied: Glorifying God with Our Physical and Spiritual Health, by pediatrician, former public health officer, epidemiologist and now senior pastor, Dr. Stephen Ko. As he talks about lifestyles that help us embrace physical and spiritual health, and the awesome way God created our bodies, he mentions a baby diagnosed with congenital insensitivity to pain. This condition that I had not heard of before, is inherited through a rare genetic mutation in the SCN9A gene that often leads to long-term injuries and a shortened life span. For a moment, one could think how good it would be to never feel pain. Yet, Dr. Ko explains how complicated this person’s life was for not ever experiencing pain, not having a way to describe their situation or relate to others who can feel pain.

As it turns out, pain can be a gift as God uses and redeems our suffering for His purposes, usually as an encouragement to others to keep their hope amid their trials.

-Nicole