May 25, 2007

Dear Payer Partners,

Medical Update

One year ago last week I was told by Doctors at Mission Hospital in Southern California that I had a terminal stage four form of cancer in my throat which had metastasized to my lung. I was told by Doctors the next week that I could only expect to live for a few months and would not likely be alive for Labor Day 2006. They told me that I would most likely die from the cancer in my lungs as it was expected to spread very rapidly.

As word got out of my condition people all over the world began to pray for God to heal me. Last October and November, I was given 16 radiation treatments to my throat by a very optimistic Doctor who said "What do we have to lose"? I experienced severe pain and lost more than twenty pounds during those treatments. Doctors put a feeding tube into my stomach as I was unable to swallow even a drink of water. I have had no further treatments of any kind since Thanksgiving week 2006, although I go in for regular exams to measure any changes.

Here is where I am now. I have gained all of the lost weight back again. A CT Scan four weeks ago showed that the tumor in my throat had grown only about three centimeters longer down my windpipe, but there were no new indications of spreading of the cancer. That includes in my lymph nodes or any indication of the cancer in my lungs growing or spreading in any way! Statistics show that 97% of stage four cancer patients will die in twelve months from diagnosis. As of today I am officially among the top 3% of stage four cancer survivors! That is a miracle! We thank the Lord and all those who continue to pray for my complete healing and the welfare of my family. It was a joy for our family to travel to Disneyland together as a treat from our friends and family. The picture above is a great reminder of that day.

Job’s Life Story

I remember in May of last year pulling into the parking lot of the North Idaho Cancer Center for the first time. It is located about two blocks from my first Idaho Progressive Vision office and on the busy corner of Ironwood and Idaho State Highway 95. I must have driven past the Cancer center hundreds of times since moving to Coeur d'Alene four years ago and yet I never recalled actually seeing the building. I did not remember seeing it because I really did not perceive any need for the services that they had to offer.

I had a very similar experience with the book of Job after my diagnosis. While I had read the book at least ten times through in recent years, I still never really paid a lot of attention to it because I did not perceive any identification with it. I had lived forty-six years in nearly perfect health, and although I could tell you the basic story of Job from memory, I had never encountered the book in a way that I would actually have to "put my weight on it". I was sent a book by its author Bob Sorge, who heard about my situation and joined our prayer team and wanted to share the revelation that he had received on the book of Job. It is called Pain Perplexity and Promotion, A Prophetic Interpretation of the Book of Job (Published by Oasis House). That book has blessed me more than I could have imagined. I want to share with you some things I learned about Job, God, the Devil and even me from the book of Job.

First of all, it was God who challenged the Devil to a fight. This trial of Job was completely God's idea from first to last. The Devil took the "bait" by accepting God's challenge and God opened the door for Satan to bring havoc and destruction into Job's life, with the sole limitation in round one that the Devil not touch Job's physical body. The story tells us that not long after leaving the presence of God, Satan proceeds to destroy everything that Job owned and killed all of Job's ten children in a single day. The only thing Job was left with was his health and his nagging wife. Yet Job's response is just what God expected it to be.

He cries out, (Job 1:21 NLT) ""I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!"
In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God."

Theologians tell us that the book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible. Imagine, Job is facing this onslaught from Satan himself with not a single word of scripture and most scholars agree that Job lived before Abraham and therefore had none of the stories of the covenant between God and Abraham to draw strength from. Job's response to this horrible situation is he falls on the ground and worships the Lord. This would be the first and thereby oldest mention of a man worshipping God in the Bible.

I asked myself how I would respond if those things would have happened to me. Notice that Job said, "praise the name of the Lord". He did not thank God for the death of his children and the loss of everything he owned. He could not praise the work of God's hands at that time but Job shows us we can praise the name of the Lord regardless of circumstances.

What is God's response to Job's action? He is very proud of his servant Job. He invites Satan to turn up the heat on Job because Job can handle it. Does this seem like the God that you learned about in Sunday school? Where is "Jesus Loves Me This I Know" right now? Job maintains this posture of a worshipper all the way through his long testing. For example Job said in 21:15 that the heathen ask," Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us to pray?'" Job continued to pray not only in the face of fierce adversity but even during the long periods of silence from the throne of God.

Think about how God prepared His servants in the Bible who would be mightily used by Him through long periods of silence as His servants cried out to him. Noah get's one word from God and he goes out for the next hundred years and builds an ark. Abraham hears God for the first time and God tells him to go to a land that he has never seen with all his family and possessions. Joseph has two visions from God that so provoke his brothers that they sell him into slavery and as far as we know, Joseph hears from the Lord just once in the next fifteen years and then once more after two more years before the beginning of the vision comes to pass. Yet he never stopped trusting God or stopped praying and worshipping God.

Moses flees Egypt as a murderer and apparently lives the next forty years in the dessert hearing nothing from God until one day God speaks from a burning bush. Look at Elijah, Elisha, and Jeremiah. They faced tremendous trials from God because of the word that they received from the Lord. David was anointed King and then began nearly twenty years of running from King Saul who was determined to prevent him from taking the throne by killing him. Yet David continued to pray and worship God. Are you beginning to see a pattern? It seems that everyone who wants to be a friend of God is going to go through long and fiery trials.

In 1 Peter 4:12 Peter says, "Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you." Stand up in the face of this adversity; do the thing you know God wants you to do. It does not matter how much it hurts as long as it gives Christ the chance to manifest Him self in your mortal flesh. This is God's way. This is not my choosing, but has come in response to the prayer that I prayed more that one and a half years ago, "Lord whatever it takes to make me into the man you want me to be for your glory, I am ready". Are you sure you want to be a friend of God? I am! Because the work he is doing in you and me here on earth is ALL in preparation for eternity with Him.

I quit months ago trying to figure out what was going on in this trial I have been facing and have come to the conclusion that God is wanting me to be certain of only one thing - Him! To be fully convinced that ALL of the promises (2 Corinthians 1:20) of God are Yes and amen to those who are in Christ Jesus. To really know in the deepest place of my heart that He is ALL I need.

Concert of Prayer

On April 12, my wife Debra and I had a conversation that concluded with us stating that "if the Lord would open a door of invitation for me to lead a concert of prayer than I should accept it". The very next day, April 13, I received a call from Avery Willis one of my best friends and mentors. He asked me if I would prayerfully consider leading the concert of prayer at the Finishing The Task conference to be held the following week at Oklahoma Baptist University. Needless to say I told him "yes, I would be honored to do it". It is the very first ministry trip I have taken since my diagnosis. We had an awesome time of worship and intercession for the 639 unengaged, unreached people groups with populations over 100,000. Henry Blackaby, one of my favorite people in ministry led the group of about 100 pastors in prayer for my healing. I also had time to visit with some of my very best friends in mission ministry at that event including Steve Douglass (President of Campus Crusade), Bob Creson (President of Wycliffe USA), Jerry Rankin (President of IMB), Paul Eshleman (Executive Director Finishing The Task), Loren Cunningham (Founder of YWAM), Phill Butler and David Hamilton, .

My heart's desire is to be completely healed so I can devote the majority of my time toward serving for a global concert of prayer movement for the unengaged, unreached people of the world. I am convinced that the combination of prayer, worship, intercession for the unengaged, information, inspiration using highly effective video roll-ins, and images as well as testimonials all focused on those people groups and the commandment of Christ to make disciples of all the peoples of the world (Matthew 28:18-19) will be a key to mobilize an army of workers for the harvest fields. The combined affect is greater than the sum of its parts.

Oswald Chambers said, "PRAYER is not always a time of triumph; there are not only times of taking strongholds by storm, but times when spiritual darkness falls, when the great powers in the heavenlies are at work, when no one understands the wiles of Satan but God; at such times we have to stand steadily shoulder-to-shoulder for God. How often the Spirit of God emphasizes the "togetherness" of the saints." It was the final prayer of Jesus that we would be one even as the Father and Son are one, and that the world would know we are the disciples of Jesus Christ by our love one for another (John 13:35).

Never Give Up

In studying the great men and women in scripture who were mightily used by God in their generation, I have found a common trait. They would NEVER give up! Regardless of the circumstances they were facing. Let me share just a few examples to encourage you the way God has encouraged me. Noah saved his sons and their wives along with the animal kingdom in a process that literally cost him everything else to do (Gen 6-8). Abraham (Gen 22) was ready and willing to immediately offer up Isaac, his son of promise, knowing that God could bring him back from the dead to fulfill his will if need be. Jacob wrestled all night with God (Gen 32:22). Joseph was betrayed by his own brothers and sold into Egyptian slavery. Moses was pursued for his life from the very day of his birth. He led the people of Israel out of Egypt to the worst strategic location (from man's standpoint) between Migdol and the sea. Saul of Tarsus, who would later become Paul The Apostle, faced persecution and beatings, prison and suffering nearly every day from the day he first met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. I could literally name dozens more from the Bible that God chose to be in His story (History). This is the challenge that you and I will face in this brief life on Earth. If we really want to be used by God, abandoned completely to His will, then God will allow circumstances to come along that will work to shape us into the characters He has need of for the conclusion of His story. Don't you want to play the part God has for you during our brief time on earth as we prepare for all eternity? I do with all my heart. You see God says he thought of you for your special part before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 says, "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes."

Groene Family Update

Let me express the warm appreciation that Steve and Shasta Groene have given to those who have been praying for them as they have faced the worst tragedy I have heard of happening to any family in my life time. It is a joy to see Steve's positive attitude through all of the difficult trials he has had to face over the past two years this month. Doctors removed his voice box, but Steve continues to praise the Lord through a small electronic amplifier he makes a joyful noise unto the Lord. He is a tremendous inspiration to me. I see Shasta at school often and she runs up and hugs me and tells me how much she and her dad are praying for me to be healed.

Financial Needs

Since January of this year, we have faced the toughest time financially that we have had to endure since we launched Progressive Vision in 1995. It is another front that we have to pray and war our way through. God has never failed us yet and I know that He will sustain us by His love and mercy and also through the generosity of the people of God who share in our passion for the unengaged and unreached peoples remaining in our generation. We are responsible for these people. We can not simply leave them to the next generation. We must do what we CAN do and pray for God to do what ONLY He can do. Will you consider becoming a monthly prayer and financial partner with us for the next year. Just ask the Lord and do only what He says, no more or no less and it will be right. Remember that as you invest in our ministry by prayer and financially you share in the harvest that Progressive Vision is working to reach.

Prayer Warriors Update

I want to praise God for all the people He has prodded to pray for us during this long (over a year) ordeal. Just a couple of months ago, I met with Rick Warren at his office at Saddleback Church where he had invited me to be prayed for. It was such a blessing to be together with our former pastors of 8 ½ years.

We had an old friend from South Africa fly in to pray for me a couple of weeks ago. His name is Peter Pretorius (Picture at right). Debra and I have come to love Peter and his wife Anne so much over the past more than twenty years, particularly during the years I worked for James Robison, a great man of God who leads Life Outreach International and hosts Life Today. It was such a blessing to have Peter stay with us, pray for us and share some great promises from God's word that we can hold onto with confidence.

Avery Willis along with his son Brett were just up with us last week to pray again for us. We are very grateful for that steadfast prayer.

He Knows the Secret Desire of Our Heart

It is funny sometimes how the Lord can encourage us in ways that are so special to us. Let me share with you one of those instances of God giving me the desire of my heart. Several months ago, I woke up suddenly from a deep sleep with a desperate need for air. Debra began to pray for me immediately. In my mind I thought of Dodie Osteen the mother of Joel Osteen who many of you would recognize from television. I had read Dodie's book "Healed of Cancer" several months before and had been struck by the way she described a one year journey through a long dark tunnel. Sitting up in my bed in the middle of the night gasping for air, I thought of only one person that I would like to talk to. You guessed it; it was Dodie Osteen whom I had never even met. I can only describe that moment as one in which I did not say a word to Debra or anyone else, but had a strong desire to talk to Dodie. Well in a matter of ten minutes or so the air hunger subsided and I went back to sleep. This was Wednesday morning at about 2:00 am.

That same Wednesday evening at 6:00 PM the phone at our house rang (unlisted number) and Debra answered it and yelled upstairs to me that I had a call from a lady saying her name was "Dodie Osteen". Our conversation was probably only twenty minutes or so long, but it meant more to me than a call from the President of the United States, or Billy Graham or anyone else. I told Dodie about my experience sixteen hours before and she laughed and said, "I 'm sorry it took me so long to call you, it has been a very busy day". Isn't God great? She covenanted in agreement for my complete healing. She said it is a three-way covenant between God, you and me. God will not break His, I will not break mine, how about you Marcus? Are you going to break yours? I said "NO!" With God's strength I would stand in agreement for complete healing.

Prayer Requests

We have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have been faithfully praying for me and my family during this long and fiery test. It has been the biggest blessing to know that we have people praying all over the world for our family, which is an encouragement when we wake up in the middle of the night and experience any anxiousness or concern. Here is our list of prayer requests if the Lord has called you to pray for us.

• Pray that God will be glorified in all of this - that His name will be honored through our lives in every way!
• Pray for Debra, Annelisa, Matthew and Hunter (they are standing strong in Christ Jesus)
• Pray that the Peace of God will continue to rule in my heart and in our family.
• Pray against the spirit of fear.
• Pray for the joy of the Lord which is our strength to abound in us.
• Pray for us to hear God's voice hour by hour clearly telling us what to do.
• Pray that my airway and esophagus will open up fully and that my vocal chords will function as my immune system now fully awakens to work perfectly as it was designed to do by God and that my "killer T-cells" will destroy this Cancer, and for the Lord Jesus Christ to restore my throat to better than original condition (I want to sing better than I did before - see Psalm 71:22). 100% Healing!
• Pray for our ongoing ministry needs and personal financial challenges that we face during this battle. Pray about what role you might have as partners with us.
• Pray that I will finish the race that God has laid out before me in a way that most honors my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (A full life span)
• Give Jesus Christ praise for ALL He is doing to show forth His glory! Our family is doing that at our end.

We love you and appreciate your prayers and support through this battle. Please forward this e-mail on to anyone you think may be ministered to or would be willing to join in prayer for a miracle of healing. You can do that best by clicking "Forward email" at the bottom of this e-mail and then they will be added to our list of prayer partners. You can also easily be removed from our list by clicking the "Safe unsubscribe" button at the bottom as well. If you are getting this e-mail forwarded from someone else and would like to receive these e-mail letters directly from me click on the upper left "Sign up!" button. Please take a moment and send me an e-mail to let me know you are praying for us. You have no idea how much it means to Debra and me.
We deeply appreciate all of the beautiful cards, and letters that have come. If you are able right now to financially support our ministry (Progressive Vision) monthly we would be very grateful for that help. We face extra medical expenses each month that are not covered by our insurance and we know He will continue to supply for all of our living expenses as they come each month. We are trusting the Lord to supply all of the ministry funds we need for our part of Finishing The Task as well.

You can send any letters or tax deductible gifts to;
Progressive Vision
P.O. Box 670
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816

Please feel free to designate how the gift should be applied on your check.

Firmly in the grip of our faithful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

Marcus Vegh
President