I am so thankful for your ministry. I had been married less than two months when a welding accident shattered my left lower leg. Thankfully they were able to save the leg, and two surgeries later they had put me back together. I arrived home five days later to the first of many bills already in our mail box, and thought, “Okay, Lord, let’s see how You’ll provide.” The hospital was very familiar with Samaritan Ministries, took 40 percent off our bill, and was willing to wait for payment ‘til my need was published. As soon as my need was published the checks started pouring in. I can’t tell you how encouraging all the prayers and notes were, and what a blessing it was to have others help during my need.

As I sit here a year later, I have a clean bill of health from the doctor, and all the bills are paid. The Lord sure used believers all across this country to be a real blessing to us. What a faith-building reminder that, “My God shall supply all your needs.” Thank you all for being a part of it!

Merritt Acheson
Colville, WA

I have described my medical problem in the following letter but I want to preface it with the miracle of God’s blessing I have received during this health crisis. Thank you for the opportunity to share my story. I am blessed all over again when I tell it. I was diagnosed with Stage III Ovarian Cancer this fall and was operated on November 23, 2005. At the time of finding the cancer I was told I had a tumor the size of a football and I was full of a gallon of cancerous fluid that spreads cancer to everything it comes in contact with. I was scheduled for emergency surgery. The surgeon was due to travel out of state that day but rearranged his trip to the afternoon so he could operate on me that morning. As he left his examining room he turned and said, “You will be in my prayers.”

It took four days to schedule the surgery and in those four days I had thousands of people praying for me all across the world. Until that time I did not comprehend the number of prayerful warriors there were near me and afar. When the surgeon returned from the surgery he was literally shaking his head in disbelief. He still couldn’t believe what he had witnessed. The surgery which should have lasted 1 to 2 hours lasted 4 hours. The surgeon met my family and friends in the waiting room, shaking his head and saying, “I’ve never seen anything like this, the tumors just crumbled and fell in my hands.” The cancer had also spread from the primary site and he methodically searched and removed everything visible. The cancerous ovarian tumor had spread to numerous secondary tumors, but when he took his scalpel to remove them, they fell in his hand. I do not know the number of dead tumors that had spread from the ovary, but I know that he had never seen anything like it. The hospital pathologist had never seen anything like it, and they had to send the tumors to Mayo Clinic for analysis.

The cancerous ovary had two different varieties of cancer. But the spread tumors were dead. The surgery took four hours for the de-bulking process, total hysterectomy and appendectomy. The surgeon said he felt like when he sewed me up he had gotten all of the cancer out and no cutting was necessary to remove the spread tumors. The surgeon confirmed that the cancer had also spread to my appendix and several lymph nodes, one very close to the aorta. The time of my surgery my tumor marker CA-125 tested 280. Following the surgery the test was 155. After my first chemo treatment the test was 30, which is in the mid normal range for women with ovaries. It was 17.9 at the time of my third treatment on January 23. He has scheduled me for six, possibly nine treatments. He said he was encouraged by the sharp drop in my marker numbers. I hope he is encouraged enough to halt the chemo soon.

I have felt the prayers of friends and family and strangers from the West to the East Coast. Their prayers have blessed my soul and body. As I continue my chemotherapy I know it is God’s power working in the medicine, the doctor’s hands, and my body. I know God answered prayers and blessed me. I claim this and will not waiver from this knowledge.

Elsie Jane Nofsinger
Helena, MT

I am very encouraged by the loving and generous response I received on my special need for a pre-existing skin cancer. My medical bill was $2980 and I received $1013. I greatly appreciate also the encouraging notes and prayers among the 56 responses. I am thankful to be a part of something that is far more than an insurance company.

Robert Whattoff
Savoy, IL

With the encouragement of Samaritan Ministries we asked for a discount from the hospital. They granted us a 65 percent discount and the radiologists and ER physicians later honored this discount as well. This gave us money from Samaritan families that we didn’t need and passed along to others for their needs. Although Marshall had to be off work for two months, God provided for our needs, including a new job. The new job also gave us some insurance so future burden on Samaritan Ministries will be less, while providing the means for us to continue contributing each month.

Marshall and Pattie Parker
Pfafftown, NC

To say thank you is an understatement. The timely manner in which the funds were sent in to meet this need was a testimony in itself. The hospital was surprised at how quickly the debt was cleared after our accident in spring 2005. The auto accident my wife and I were in was unbelievable. We rolled several times across the median on Interstate 30. My neck was broken in three places and most of my ribs. Thanks to the answered prayers, God healed me. My wife suffered a broken arm that required surgery but because of God’s mercy, she was spared from more injuries.

Then in October 2005 while ministering in Helsinki, Finland, my back went out. I was flat on my back and in great pain. By the prayers of God’s people, I was able to make a trip to the states to have back surgery. The quickness of you, the share givers, was a testimony to those that do not understand this program. Thank you for all the prayers, cards and words of encouragement. Jessie and I have been able to share how this program works and now have a few friends in ministry that have become Samaritan Ministries members.

We are both healed from our injuries and able to minister to the field where God has called us. Again, thank you for all of the cards and words of encouragement along with the shares to pay the debt of my hospital bill. Please pray for our traveling safety, as our ministry requires for us to travel a good bit.

Joe and Jessie Morell
Mountain View, AR

It has been incredible to see how this program works. I have been blessed with good health again, but now I know more about the finances involved with being sick. The discounts are out there and are a real faith builder. It takes some extra effort to ask for them and coordinate payment, so I pray now for those who feel so sick and have to deal with that aspect of their illness.

The notes were encouraging and I felt such a connection with brothers and sisters I will probably not meet here on earth. The information from Samaritan about obtaining discounts was very helpful. Through a website I stumbled upon I learned to ask if they would allow me to pay what Medicare allows and that got me a huge discount on my hospital stay—$25,000 down to $1750. God has been so good.

Julius and Marsha Young
Wildwood, FL

Samaritan Ministries was an answer to prayer as we searched for medical insurance or an alternative. We have not been disappointed. It’s a privilege to share in the needs of others both financially and also prayerfully. It is different knowing that the funds you send are going directly to a brother or sister in Christ rather than a big company making large profits. I’ve been on the receiving end as well. The Lord has provided for the medical expenses through our fellow members and it’s encouraging to know that folks are praying for you and also to receive the caring notes. I hope I will never have to look elsewhere again.

We tell others often about Samaritan Ministries and encourage them to join. I greatly appreciate SMI’s open mind to healthy eating, nutrition, etc. That’s refreshing! I think it’s key in returning to health or staying healthy.

Jane A. Camfield
Travelers Rest, SC

I was amazed and blessed by how much doctors were willing to cut my bills simply because I asked. Three different offices cut my bills in half and even the hospital gave me more than 10 percent discount.

It is so nice receiving the checks in the mail from individuals along with notes of encouragement. Some even sent advice to help with the problem. It is so much more personal than conventional insurance and less hassle. It feels like a big family. I have been praying for the needs in the Prayer Guide. I will never meet those people or know if my prayers have been answered but I have to believe God’s Word that tells me He will answer. There is a connection there even though I don’t know the people.

Nancy Runyon
Coldwater, MI

Samaritan Ministries is truly a blessing. We had been members for quite a while before we had a medical need published. We have had three children since we’ve been members. All three of those needs have been met. We are thankful for the work the Karis Group has done on our behalf to negotiate our bills with the health care providers. Our first child was born before we were members and six years later, we were still “paying for him.”

The balance of $1610.25 was published as a Special Prayer Need and now has been paid in full. God is so good, and He provides for us. He has blessed us with four beautiful little boys and our health. Thank you to all of you who have made Samaritan Ministries a successful ministry. To God be the glory.

Jim and Shannon Startup
Port Jervis, NY

God gave us the opportunity to be able to give a gift to the unpublished request this month. It was our first time giving like this and I can't tell you what a blessing I felt! Writing that check and sending a card. As I read the newsletter and the thank you notes that are printed there, the folks often express how great it is to have such a personal touch...feeling so connected to the family of God. I felt just a bit of that this week, in the sending of my gift. Reminds me that when we obey God it always turns around to a blessing of us! Thanks for your work in this ministry. Your labor IS NOT in vain :)

Marjorie Johnson
Breezy Point, MN