Sean McCallum is the Web master for ACT 3. He is a talented and wonderful 31 year old designer. He is a great husband and father. And he is one of my dearest friends. I simply could not do all I do without him. I met Sean about four years ago and we connected instantly. I loved his humility, teachableness, generosity of spirit and commitment to do a job right. The more we got to know each other the more we liked one another. We often share meals and brainstorm about ACT 3 stuff. We talk about everything under the sun. We even like baseball and share games. (Sean is an extra special friend since he is a Sox fan and likes the Cubs about as little as I do.) He has become more than a employee for me, he is much more like a son.

One of the things I learned about Sean early in our friendship was about his transplanted heart. He was the first such person I had ever met as a friend. In 1991, as a fourteen year-old kid, Sean got a virus in his heart, a rare thing for sure. The damage was so great that he was kept alive at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago for some months while they prayed and waited for a new heart. Eventually one became available and the surgery was performed. Day-in and day-out Sean knows that another day is another gift from God. He handles this well but he has his moments like anyone would in these circumstances. I admire him and have never seen him ever question God about his life circumstances. He simply knows that God is good and he has granted him more life that he may have never had without a wonderful providence that saved him many years ago.

Sean also prays for total healing all the time. So far the answers have been there. He faces a number of potential problems but his liver and kidneys remain normal and his coronary artery disease level is not bad. But all this can change quickly. Sean has to watch his diet and exercise as much as he can. It is not easy for him since he is on so many medications for organ rejection and these have immense side effects.

Now, on Tuesday, October 21, Sean faces his annual all-day heart check. We shared lunch and prayer on Thursday of last week and I prayed specifically for Sean's day and for his continued complete healing. Would you join me in this prayer vigil? I will be praying very intensely on Tuesday and would love to have many hundreds of you lift up Sean McCallum with me. Here was Sean's email request for prayer:

Dear John:

I'm having my annual heart catheterization, angiogram and biopsy. Please pray for a strong and healthy heart, lowered cholesterol, clear arteries, and healthy kidneys and liver. The medications I'm on tend to take their toll on other organs. Pray that the procedure goes smoothly and that no damage is done. I have to lay flat, keeping my leg straight for eight hours after the procedure to prevent any significant arterial blockage in my leg. All of this makes for a long day so please pray for peace and protection and that doctors would continue to be amazed at God's provision in my live. Also praise God as I'm coming up the 17th anniversary of my heart transplant on the 26th of November this year.

Also, I always seem to get stressed out about this test. Pray that I trust God with my life and these procedures.

Sean

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Comments

  1. Rick Schnetz October 20, 2008 at 10:19 am

    Dear Sean,
    I ask the Lord to keep you before me throughout this day; that I may lift you up in prayer before Him. May He be glorified in you.
    Psalm 46:10
    “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”
    May the Peace and Healing of Jesus Christ be with You,
    _Rick

  2. Rick Franklin October 20, 2008 at 2:03 pm

    Thanks John for letting us know about Sean’s needs. I’ve known Sean since my brother, Doug, was his Jr High small group leader when he went through the initial heart transplant. We were missionaries in Costa Rica at the time and the church we were a part of down there was praying fervently for him. Please let Sean know the Franklin family will be praying for him tomorrow.

  3. Sean McCallum October 27, 2008 at 11:59 am

    I wanted to report back as testimony to the power of a praying community the following that I sent to others in my extended prayer family:
    I greatly appreciate your prayers. My tests went extremely well, and God continues to bless me with increased health. My heart is strong and all preliminary signs point to positive test results. Doctors reported my coronary arteries are “pristine”. Each year has been an opportunity to demonstrate my faith to doctors and nurses and those relationships continue to build. My hope is that no matter the circumstances, God is glorified. I’m so grateful for God’s provision in my life both physically and spiritually. I had an overwhelming sense of peace going into this test and have been affirmed by the power of prayer and am grateful for the prayers of my Community Fellowship, Wheaton Bible Church and other extended prayer families. The Holy Spirit strengthens my faith and I feel especially blessed to have the prayer support of so many over the last 17 years. Praise God!
    Rick Schnetz, Psalm 46:10 has been a precious verse that I’ve held onto since the pastor at Wheaton Wesleyan Church spoke it to me in the months before I had m heart transplant. I will continue to meditate on this as it has proven to be an anchor in my life and special reminder that no matter the results God is greater than my circumstances and that as the creator of my body he can heal it or allow it to be a blessed reminder of his provision in my life.
    Thank you Franklin family for your ongoing prayer! I’m reminded of fun filled games of Lazer Tag in Main Street Chapel or over at the park. I also pray for you regularly when I receive the Community Fellowship Friday Update eNewsletter.

  4. Rick Schnetz October 27, 2008 at 9:39 pm

    Sean,
    Thank you for sharing so that we may all rejoice with you!
    Psalm 46:10 has also been an anchor for me since my wife had a severe stroke four years ago, and once again in June when I had surgery for colon cancer.
    I strive, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to live in the spirit of that Psalm every day even though things are going well and there’s a tendency for me to take control.
    Bless you,
    _Rick

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