Pastor Crockett update

	Good Morning America interviewed Pastor on their set. Click here for: Good Morning America video Good Morning America story Good Morning America backstage photos

	ABC Channel 6 news story The local ABC news station from Indianapolis ran a special story about Pastor Crockett's amazing medical recovery last fall. Click here to watch.

	Anderson Herald Bulletin news story

Thanksgiving Testimony Service 2006

Letter From Pastor Crockett
	PDF Letter from Pastor Crockett after surgery

Testimony by Nathan Crockett at Bob Jones University Chapel (mp3 audio file)

UPDATE 10-17-2006
	Pastor Crockett is continuing to recover. He has begun giving the devotionals on Wednesday nights and preached the morning service Sunday, Oct. 15. The sermon will air on cable TV Oct. 29. He will preach again Sunday morning Oct. 29 as well. Please continue to pray for a full recovery.
UPDATE 09-18-2006
	Dear Friends and Family, It was certainly a wonderful time of rejoicing at Grace Baptist Church last night! After more than a month, Pastor Crockett returned to the pulpit of our church. Although he couldn’t preach a full sermon, he gave a few short words and opened the evening service in prayer. He was moving more slowly than he normally does, but he looked very well. Many families greeted him and conveyed their love with hugs, handshakes, and sweet words. It was definitely a joyful evening. As of now, Pastor is at home, taking the necessary time to heal. E-mails, cards, and a few phone calls will certainly be appreciated, but the family would still request that visits and phone calls be kept at a minimum, as Pastor Crockett is unable to speak for a long period of time and needs much rest. It is unknown how long it will be before he is able to resume a regular schedule. Pastor is, of course, anxious to be back preaching and ministering. We at Grace are thankful for the ministry he is able to do in spite of his condition. Pastor’s life and testimony continues to challenge us all. Please be in fervent prayer for swift healing. The pain and discomfort he is experiencing and the decrease in stamina are not easy for anyone, much less for an active man like Pastor. We at Grace are praying that the Lord will heal him fully in a short amount of time and allow Pastor Crockett to return very soon to what he loves most—preaching the Word of God to his people. He and his family are so appreciative of the thousands of prayers and the love and support that you all have shown. God has indeed shown Himself great and strong. We serve an awesome, wonderful Savior! Thank you all for your faithfulness in prayer. May God continue to bless you.
UPDATE 09-06-2006
	Pastor Crockett is now recovering at home. He will certainly need a lot of rest to recuperate. We have been asked to continue to send cards and e-mails at this time. Visits would easily tire him. Please continue to pray for a swift and full recovery.
UPDATE 09-05-2006
	Yesterday, doctors removed the drainage tubes from Pastor's lungs. He is expected to be released from the hospital soon. Please continue to pray for his recovery.
UPDATE 09-01-2006 1:45pm
	On August 9th, lung doctors informed us that Pastor Crockett had Stage 4 lung cancer that had apparently metastasized (traveled) to his brain. They now tell us they would have given him 10 months to live. But God had other plans. Yesterday the pathology report came back with the good news that there was no cancer in his lymph nodes. But the lung surgeon said there might be even better news from the pathology report of the golf-ball size “cancer” on Pastor Crockett’s lung. He said that the report had amazed the doctors, and he could not confirm anything until he met with the brain surgeon this morning. Yesterday’s good news got even better. Today the doctors confirmed that the nodule on the lung is a benign meningioma (tumor)! Instead of the lung cancer traveling to the brain, the benign meningioma of the brain had traveled to the lung. The lung surgeon and cancer surgeon put the two tumors side by side, and they are the same—contrary to the original “malignant” biopsy of the lung last month. Dr. Nahm, the pulmonary specialist, said he’s never seen anything like this, adding “and I have gray hair.” It is extremely rare. Apparently there are only three documented medical cases of this happening. At this point they tell us that my dad never had lung cancer—just the benign tumors, that the chance of recurrence is very slight and that even if it shows up again, it’s benign. The brain surgeon told us he intends to bring this amazing news to a conference with other neurosurgeons that he’s attending in October. Thank you all for your prayers and support. God has shown Himself strong. He’s shown my dad what He showed Paul in Philippians 1, that “to abide in the flesh is more needful for you (the Philippian believers). And having this confidence, I (Paul) know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.” God apparently recognized that we still need Pastor Crockett with us for our progress and joy in the faith. So that we might have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus because of his coming to us again. So let’s rejoice and glory in our great Redeemer whose grace is sufficient and whose resurrection power is made perfect in our weakness. Pastor Josh P.S.: My dad is still dealing with a good deal of pain and discomfort, but he had a very good night's sleep last night. I appreciate your continued prayers for his swift and full recovery.
UPDATE 08-31-2006 4:20pm
	Praise the Lord! Pastor's pathology results came back clear of cancer. It is so wonderful to see this answer to pray. Thank you so much for praying! Pastor has a long road to recovery and is in a lot of pain, but there is such a sense of relief now that these results are known. The doctors do not believe that any radiation or chemotherapy will be necessary. We serve a great God!
UPDATE 08-31-2006 1:30pm
	We are thankful that Mrs. Crockett was able to get some much needed rest last evening. The pathology results have not come back. Please pray for Pastor as he continues to improve and for the family as they wait for the results.
UPDATE 08-30-2006 10:30am
	Pastor is recovering in a regular room and is able to eat solid food. He is in a great deal of pain and has limited mobility. We do not have the results of the biopsies yet, but will certainly share them as they become available. Please continue to pray regarding the biopsies and the healing process.
UPDATE 08-29-2006 10:00am
	Pastor's lung surgery yesterday went well. Doctors are performing biopsies on some lymph nodes from the surgery and will make their recommendation if radiation or chemotherapy is necessary once the results from the biopsies come back (probably in 2-3 days). Pastor is doing well today. He is able to sit up and has had some pudding! Pastor and his family appreciate your prayers!
UPDATE 08-23-2006 1:00pm
	Pastor's lung surgery is scheduled for Monday, August 28th. His sodium levels are a little low, but that should be adjusted by the higher sodium diet he has been prescribed. He is recovering very well from the brain surgery. Thank you for all the continued prayers on his behalf! We have seen the Lord work in so many ways already.
UPDATE 08-19-2006 3:30pm
	We have been given another great answer to prayer! Pastor's doctors believe that he will not require chemotherapy or radiation after his next surgery! That would certainly be a blessing.
UPDATE 08-18-2006 3:30pm
	Pastor continues to improve a little each day. The doctors are hopeful that the lung surgery can take place a week from next Monday or Tuesday. Thank you for continuing to remember Pastor in your prayers.
UPDATE 08-16-2006 7:30pm
	Just before breaking for prayer, Pastor Josh gave us the most current update on Pastor's condition. After meeting with surgeons in the afternoon, the family has learned that Pastor will need to have the lower right lobe of his lung removed as soon as possible. This time frame will be determined by the recovery from his brain surgery. The family also learned that some of the most excruciating pain in his head and back was caused from blood leaking into his spinal fluid. On a brighter note, Pastor has been sitting up in a recliner and eating solids. Pastor Josh even told us that he was happy to have some cheesecake. Also, praise the Lord that his cancer has now been down-graded to stage 1 (it had been stage 4). Please continue to pray that he will get the rest his body needs to recover so that the lung surgery can take place as soon as possible. He is still not able to have visitors at this time, but will be anxious to see us all when he feels up to it. We will keep you posted.
UPDATE 08-15-2006 12:30pm
	Pastor is able to sit up for short periods of time and is also able to walk with the aid of others. He continues to be in a lot of pain. We do not know when the lung surgery will take place. Please continue to pray that he will heal quickly and get the rest his body requires.
UPDATE 08-14-2006 11:00am
	Pastor is in a lot of pain and is continuing to get much needed rest. The doctors say that some air in the brain is causing additional pain, but that is not an uncommon side effect after this type of surgery. Thank you for your continued prayers.
UPDATE 08-13-2006 9:10am
	Pastor continues to do well. He has been moved to a room on the 5th floor. He is in a lot of pain, as is to be expected, thus he is kept sedated much of the time. The family has requested no visitors at this time. Mrs. Crockett has been able to get a lot of needed rest and wants everyone to know that she appreciates everything that has been done for the family.
UPDATE 08-12-2006 10:05am
	Following yesterday's surgery another CT scan was done. The scan did not reveal any further problems. Pastor has been moved to a regular room and is able to drink fluids. Thank you for your continued prayers for Pastor and his family.
UPDATE 08-11-2006 8:30pm
	We received word that the tumor that was removed from Pastor's brain was benign. He is recovering in ICU.
UPDATE 08-11-2006 7:30pm
	Pastor Crockett’s surgery went very well. The doctors successfully removed the brain tumor, and Pastor is now in recovery. We have not been informed yet if the tumor is malignant or benign, but the important news is that it was removed and Pastor is doing well! As soon as more information is known, we will post it here. Thank you all so much for your prayers.
UPDATE 08-11-2006 3:00pm
	Pastor did not get into surgery until 1:45pm. The surgery will last until at least 5:45pm. Updates will be posted here and e-mailed to you as soon as anything is known. Thank you again for your prayers.
UPDATE 08-11-2006:
	The PET scan revealed no further signs of cancer in Pastor Crockett's body! Thank you for your prayers! The surgery scheduled for Friday morning will determine if the brain tumor is cancerous or not. Please pray for complete healing of Pastor Crockett and that the tumor in his brain will indeed be benign.
UPDATE 08-10-2006:
	On Friday, August 4th, Pastor Leigh Crockett was taken to the Community Hospital emergency room. He had been having convulsions and was confused and unable to respond to familiar questions. Tests at Community revealed a small amount of blood on his brain. Doctors suspected he had had a stroke. Pastor was then taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where an MRI was run, revealing a small, grape-sized tumor in a ventricle of his brain. Doctors next ran another CAT scan of his body, trying to determine whether or not there were more tumors. By Sunday morning, it was revealed that he did indeed have another mass on his lung. A biopsy was performed, and the church and family anxiously awaited the results. On Wednesday afternoon, doctors informed the family that Pastor Crockett has stage 4 lung cancer. This type of cancer is one of the worst and hardest to treat, and stage 4 is the highest stage. The doctors took a PET scan on Thursday afternoon to determine if there is any other cancer present in the body. These results have not come back, as of 4:00pm, Thursday August 10th. The doctors have scheduled brain surgery for 11:30am Friday, August 11th. This surgery will remove the tumor, which even though it might not be cancerous, could cause Pastor further problems. Please be in prayer that this surgery goes well. The church and family are now praying that the PET scan reveals no other cancer in the body, and that the tumor in the brain is completely eradicated. These successes will allow the cancer to be reduced to stage 1, which is much more treatable and boasts a higher survival rate. Pastor Crockett’s spirits remain high. His entire family is at his side, and his church and friends across the globe are supporting him in prayer. We would ask for your prayers, too. Pastor, his family, and we as his church are trusting in the Great Physician and Omniscient God to work His perfect will in this situation. We trust in Him Who holds the future! Your prayers, cards, e-mails, and thoughts are very appreciated by the Crocketts. E-mails for Pastor may be sent here to the church. Cards may also be delivered here (432 W 300 N Anderson, IN 46012). Flowers may be delivered to the church or directly to him at the hospital. He is at Methodist Hospital 1701 Senate Blvd. Indianapolis, IN 46202 Room A5035. Doctors have requested no visitors until after Sunday. This will give Pastor a chance to rest. Thank you all for your prayers and support. The Lord alone be glorified!