The Four Things Mark Hall of Casting Crowns Wants You to Pray for as He Gets Surgery for Cancer
As Mark Hall, lead singer for popular contemporary Christian band Casting Crowns, undergoes surgery Wednesday to remove a kidney containing a "solid mass" doctors are 90 percent certain is cancer, his wife, Melanie, is asking fans to pray for four specific things.
In a post on the band's Facebook page Tuesday, Melanie revealed that she was "humbled" by the outpouring of support her family has received since they went public with Mark's health troubles last Thursday.
"I'm completely humbled by the number of people that have expressed their love for us and are interceding in prayer. There are no words to express the gratitude in this wife's heart. Thank you for praying for us. We have had friends and strangers from all over the world tell us they are praying — an orphan school in Kenya, neighbors we just met, long lost high school friends, Christian music artists from their concerts, schools, offices, pastors in South Africa, chaplains in the Army, churches, radio DJs, fans, missionaries in Brazil, and countless others I couldn't begin to name. Thank you. Your prayers are felt," noted Melanie in the post.
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"Many of you have prayed that we would have peace in the midst of this storm. Let me tell you that God has honored that prayer. Mark and I have peace that we are where we are supposed to be and that God has allowed this in our lives for a reason. And He has assured us that He is using this to bring people to Him," she explained.
Melanie then pointed to the four specific things she wants people to pray for below.
1. Please pray that God will watch over everything related to the surgery and that it goes well. Pray that we have favor with the hospital staff and doctors.
2. Please pray for complete healing and a quick recovery for Mark.
3. Please pray that God will give us opportunities and discernment to share Christ's love. And pray that we will have strength and courage to represent Him well on this journey.
4. Please also pray that God will give YOU an opportunity to share His love through this. Many of you have said that friends, family members and co-workers are asking you questions about God because of what is happening to Mark. Please, please use these opportunities to point people to Jesus. It may even be one of the reasons God has allowed this.
God has always used songs to lift my spirit. But lately He's using one of my own. #JustBeHeld God knew 3 years ago I would need to hear it.
— Mark Hall (@markhallCC) March 9, 2015After listing the prayer requests she then highlighted I Peter 3:14-15: "'Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.' But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the Hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
"We are trusting in our Father God who Loves ALL immeasurably, forgives graciously, redeems fully, and HEALS completely," she added.
On Wednesday morning, Mark also tweeted warm thanks to his church with a supportive photo posted to Instagram.
"I'm really feeling the love from my church today. Thank you so much for all of these pictures ...," he noted.
