Calvary Chapel's Chuck Smith to Undergo Chemo, Radiation
Calvary Chapel movement founder Chuck Smith will undergo radiation and chemotherapy treatment for his lung cancer sometime this week, announced Pastor Mike MacIntosh of Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego, Calif., via a post on his Facebook page this past Saturday.
Pastor Smith, 84, who was instrumental in starting the nation’s Jesus movement in the late 1960s, announced to his church congregation at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa during Sunday services on New Year’s Day that he was diagnosed with lung cancer.
It was first announced that he would have surgery to remove the cancer. However, The Christian Post learned last week that further analysis of tests taken the week before were needed before a surgery date could be scheduled.
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MacIntosh, who is one of the many dynamic Christian leaders pastoring churches today and having roots in the Jesus movement, posted on Facebook:
“Chuck Smith is doing fine. I spoke with him last week and this cancer is not going to separate him from Jesus. Please pray for him as he will begin chemotherapy next week and then radiation. He's the all time great guy and would never complain, so let's bathe him in prayer.”
Smith was recently asked by Harvest Ministries Pastor Greg Laurie during an in-depth interview held at Harvest Irvine church in Orange County and webcast live (now available on DVD) whether he was afraid of anything. As he stared back at Laurie with his well-known grin, pausing briefly, Smith answered, “Not really.”
Christian journalist Dan Wooding, founder of ASSIST News Service, asked Smith on Jan. 7 during an interview why he decided to make the announcement about his lung cancer during three Sunday services at his church.
“Well you know,” Smith told Wooding, “rumors can get going and they can get so distorted, and so I wanted them to hear it directly from me rather than from some other source where they would not maybe get the correct information. I wanted them to hear it from me and know the confidence that I have in the Lord; that He’s on the throne and He’s going to take care of it and I’m not really panicked and I’m not really worried.
“Whatever comes, as I said to them on Sunday, the worst thing that can happen is I could die, but that’s great you know,” Smith added with a huge smile, reported Wooding.
In December 2009, Smith was hospitalized for having minor strokes and released several days later.
During the recent interview with Wooding, he said, “This is different because with the strokes I was really physically weakened as a result and it took a little longer to rehabilitate from that. But this is something that I expect to just be out for just a short time.”
Wooding also asked Smith how people can pray for him.
“Well, just pray that the Lord’s will be done because whatever it is, I’m open to Him,” he said.
