I received a short note from a woman who donated to the Campaign recently. She wrote,
"Chris, I wish I could give more, but I know the Lord will multiply whatever little we can give to meet the needs. Jacob does so much, with so little, he is an inspiration to us all."
Thank you for seeing the great big good Jacob does when he has so little! If you are inspired by Jacob, please consider giving to the Kidney Campaign like this woman did.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
A Hero For Our Times
Jacob and his wife, Sureshni live in Kegalle, Sri Lanka, where they’re pastors. I know because I’ve visited them. But to call them pastors is a bit of an understatement. I guess that depends on what you think pastors do. If you think pastors start vocational schools, feed and clothe widows, train missionaries, develop sustainable farms, house orphans, and lead churches, then yes, Jacob and Sureshni are pastors. But if you think pastors show up at church on Sunday in their Cadillacs, then no, they’re not pastors. Their church is a stone’s throw from their home and plus, their van broke down.
So did Jacob’s kidneys. He needs a kidney transplant or he’ll die.
This is where the story gets good. For months, doctors have been looking for a donor, someone who would give up one of their vital organs to save Jacob’s life. For the donor it would mean a surgical operation—at least five days in the hospital—followed by a long recovery. It would also mean that should something happen to their one kidney, they wouldn’t have another to fall back on. They would have to import, just like Jacob is trying to do. You might understand why it’s not easy to find a donor.
But now it looks like Jacob found one. You see, some brave soul offered their kidney to him. They decided to give away an extravagant gift, their own body part. The doctors are analyzing it and testing it and it seems they have a match – only one test to go. If all goes as planned, at the start of the new year, the doctors will place a new kidney into Jacob (well, it’s new for him). And that brave soul will be without one. Forever.
Who’s the brave soul? It’s Sureshni.
“But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”
Add hero to her list.
So did Jacob’s kidneys. He needs a kidney transplant or he’ll die.
This is where the story gets good. For months, doctors have been looking for a donor, someone who would give up one of their vital organs to save Jacob’s life. For the donor it would mean a surgical operation—at least five days in the hospital—followed by a long recovery. It would also mean that should something happen to their one kidney, they wouldn’t have another to fall back on. They would have to import, just like Jacob is trying to do. You might understand why it’s not easy to find a donor.
But now it looks like Jacob found one. You see, some brave soul offered their kidney to him. They decided to give away an extravagant gift, their own body part. The doctors are analyzing it and testing it and it seems they have a match – only one test to go. If all goes as planned, at the start of the new year, the doctors will place a new kidney into Jacob (well, it’s new for him). And that brave soul will be without one. Forever.
Who’s the brave soul? It’s Sureshni.
“But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”
Add hero to her list.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Donor Gives Twice!
It's great when you donate once to Jacob's Kidney Campaign, but one donor has donated twice! The mission we're on - to raise money so Jacob Perera can receive a kidney transplant - was so compelling to one young man that he donated twice to the campaign. I don't know exactly what moved him the most, if it was Jacob's tireless pursuit to serve the people around him, if it was Jacob's love for the poor and parentless, or if it was blind compassion. I know he has not been to Sri Lanka or met Jacob before. But I do know he was moved enough to give some of his finances so Jacob can heal, and then give again.
Because of the sacrifice of people like him, we have raised $2,750 so far. We have more to go, but we're on our way.
Thank you for giving!
Because of the sacrifice of people like him, we have raised $2,750 so far. We have more to go, but we're on our way.
Thank you for giving!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
$2400 raised in two weeks
Thank you to the individuals, families and businesses that have responded to the Kidney Campaign so far. In the first two weeks, we collected $2400. We are very encouraged by the giving. Please continue to pray for Jacob. He is currently on dialysis, which he receives in the capital city of Sri Lanka, which is Colombo. His home, family and churches are about two hours away, which means he travels to Colombo to receive the treatment. When the transportation isn't available (the van broke down), he stays in Colombo during the week. The sooner he can receive the operation, the sooner he can be off dialysis. Thank you for your support!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Welcome to Jacob's Kidney Campaign!
Earlier in the summer we raised money to buy a van for a needy family. It was the Yes We Can Van Campaign. Now we're raising money to save a man's life.
In 2005, less than a year after the devastating tsunami tore thru coastal Sri Lanka and 3 days after the Prime Minister was assassinated, I landed in Sri Lanka. My friend and I were to lead a conference for 100 pastors. Although my friend already knew our host, Jacob Perera, I hadn't met him yet. As I spent the next week with him, driving the hour-and-a-half from our hotel to the church and back, eating with his family in their home, and ministering in the conference, I came to love this man.
What a gentle man. What a sacrificial man. What a man of vision. I hadn't met such vision before. He was planning several new congregations, was launching a social organization to feed widows and orphans, train local workers in practical trades, and plant a Bible school, and start a sustainable farm. All this with no salary. He said he wanted to hold nothing back from developing the services that were on his heart. Jacob Perera is a wonderful man.
When I heard about his failing kidneys, I knew he wouldn't have the finances to pay for the operation. I decided to do my part, to sound the call, for this man, who does so much for so many. I simply cannot imagine Sri Lanka without him. What would his family do? What would his churches do? What would the orphans and widows he supports do? We might not be in Sri Lanka, but we can still help. Welcome to Jacob's Kidney Campaign!
The kidney transplant will cost about $20,000 USD (about 2,250,000 Sri Lankan rupees). Let's see what we can do. Let's save a life...and save others along the way!
In 2005, less than a year after the devastating tsunami tore thru coastal Sri Lanka and 3 days after the Prime Minister was assassinated, I landed in Sri Lanka. My friend and I were to lead a conference for 100 pastors. Although my friend already knew our host, Jacob Perera, I hadn't met him yet. As I spent the next week with him, driving the hour-and-a-half from our hotel to the church and back, eating with his family in their home, and ministering in the conference, I came to love this man.
What a gentle man. What a sacrificial man. What a man of vision. I hadn't met such vision before. He was planning several new congregations, was launching a social organization to feed widows and orphans, train local workers in practical trades, and plant a Bible school, and start a sustainable farm. All this with no salary. He said he wanted to hold nothing back from developing the services that were on his heart. Jacob Perera is a wonderful man.
When I heard about his failing kidneys, I knew he wouldn't have the finances to pay for the operation. I decided to do my part, to sound the call, for this man, who does so much for so many. I simply cannot imagine Sri Lanka without him. What would his family do? What would his churches do? What would the orphans and widows he supports do? We might not be in Sri Lanka, but we can still help. Welcome to Jacob's Kidney Campaign!
The kidney transplant will cost about $20,000 USD (about 2,250,000 Sri Lankan rupees). Let's see what we can do. Let's save a life...and save others along the way!
Letter From Jacob
Dear Chris,
Greetings in the Name of Jesus!
God is good and He will always be! Our ministry is growing and Sureshni and I together with my children are so thankful to God for His faithfulness.
I have started with the dialysis, up to now I have gone three times from the 9th of March up to date. I have been advised to go through the transplant soon. We have started by faith trusting in the Lord to be our Guide in all the decision we make. Right now I am in and out of Apollo Hospital getting ready for the kidney transplant. The surgery is going to cost something between Rs. 2 million to 2 1/2 million. For me it’s a huge amount of money!
The people had a prayer meeting for this purpose. The whole process is quite a struggle with the high living costs rising in Sri Lanka and getting people to support is becoming very difficult. But God is so faithful to my Ministry and I have enormous faith in God that He will open ways and means for me to get this done. The main battle I had was to find a donor and at this moment not one three of my believers have come forward to do so even before the request was made. My God is so faithful to me. I am so grateful to God’s children like you who can help me at this time as I make known the need to you. Any contributions for the surgery and your prayers will help me a great deal and also to go forward with my Ministry.
Sureshni my wife is a strong pillar of strength and support to me as well as in the Ministry. She is undergoing much stress with my condition and with 3 children, but she is faithful in what she is doing for the Lord. She takes good care of me and is praying that God will take me through this period of illness with much wisdom to undergo the dialysis and the transplant and live long to serve the Lord and for the family. My children too are so committed to the work of the Lord and their wish and prayer is that “DAD WILL BE HEALED”. They are buds blooming into flowers and almost in their teens and they need me very much.
Though I am in this stage, nothing stops me from committing myself fully to do the best for the Lord.
Thank you dear friends for your unlimited support in prayer and I know you will help me out to find the finances needed for my surgery in the best possible way.
Sureshni, my children, my Church and myself are so grateful to you people who have been with us at all times and been a great support to us.
God bless you.
Yours in Christ,
Jacob
Greetings in the Name of Jesus!
God is good and He will always be! Our ministry is growing and Sureshni and I together with my children are so thankful to God for His faithfulness.
I have started with the dialysis, up to now I have gone three times from the 9th of March up to date. I have been advised to go through the transplant soon. We have started by faith trusting in the Lord to be our Guide in all the decision we make. Right now I am in and out of Apollo Hospital getting ready for the kidney transplant. The surgery is going to cost something between Rs. 2 million to 2 1/2 million. For me it’s a huge amount of money!
The people had a prayer meeting for this purpose. The whole process is quite a struggle with the high living costs rising in Sri Lanka and getting people to support is becoming very difficult. But God is so faithful to my Ministry and I have enormous faith in God that He will open ways and means for me to get this done. The main battle I had was to find a donor and at this moment not one three of my believers have come forward to do so even before the request was made. My God is so faithful to me. I am so grateful to God’s children like you who can help me at this time as I make known the need to you. Any contributions for the surgery and your prayers will help me a great deal and also to go forward with my Ministry.
Sureshni my wife is a strong pillar of strength and support to me as well as in the Ministry. She is undergoing much stress with my condition and with 3 children, but she is faithful in what she is doing for the Lord. She takes good care of me and is praying that God will take me through this period of illness with much wisdom to undergo the dialysis and the transplant and live long to serve the Lord and for the family. My children too are so committed to the work of the Lord and their wish and prayer is that “DAD WILL BE HEALED”. They are buds blooming into flowers and almost in their teens and they need me very much.
Though I am in this stage, nothing stops me from committing myself fully to do the best for the Lord.
Thank you dear friends for your unlimited support in prayer and I know you will help me out to find the finances needed for my surgery in the best possible way.
Sureshni, my children, my Church and myself are so grateful to you people who have been with us at all times and been a great support to us.
God bless you.
Yours in Christ,
Jacob
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