nearly dying of throat cancer. 62-year-old American Pastor Glenn Ford of the International Church of Budapest (ICB) urged his congregation to give "glory to God" amid signs of improvement following "months of prayers" and intensive medical treatment.
Ford, a former Vietnam War veteran, began his battle against the cancer he described as "the beast" in October after leaving Hungary for the United States as Hungarian doctors reportedly said his condition was "beyond operation." (NEWS ALERT: Cancer Strikes US Pastor Of Hungary’s First International Church; Ford Urges Prayers)
He was soon advised by his American doctor to receive a more "high performance" natural cancer treatment across the border in Hospital Santa Monica in Mexico, about 26 kilometers (16 miles) south of San Diego, California.
Following nearly 12-days of treatment, Ford said he experienced "a turn-around December 15, where the tumor is now becoming smaller instead of larger."
Alternative cancer treatments in Mexico have been criticized by some medical and govenment officials in the US who say they are not scientifically proven and could delay the allegedly more effective radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery.
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS
However Ford and other supporters of alternative treatments dispute that saying authorities and the powerful medical industry control billions of dollars in research funds and facilities, while natural therapists have received no backing to prove their case. The pastor complained earlier that "political pressure from the USA" even "caused Mexican authorities to harass" the Hospital Santa Monica. (Mexico Cracks Down On Alternative Cancer Treatments; Hungary’s US Church Pastor in ‘Crossfire’)
"We prayed to God to use natural things," he told his congregation Sunday, January 14 in an often emotional sermon with his wife Terry watching nearby. "While the treatment is not yet over, I certainly feel much better than I did when I left Hungary."
Ford, who is pastor of a church often praying for the sick, admitted he had sometimes questioned as to why God allowed the throat cancer.
"Satan wants to work at night. I have been through four hurricanes, all at night. One night when I was really having difficulties breathing, the thought came: "How would it feel to choke to death?" However my wife and I continued praying and calmness returned."
Referring to the Bible’s New Testament book of James, Chapter 5, Ford said he had learned to have "patience" and to remain "in the joy of the Lord" in the middle of his ordeal. Ford also noticed in the Bible’s Old Testament that Israel won battles when it showed patience and remained faithful to God, but that Israel lost when it walked away from Him.
LONG BATTLE
"I realized we are in for a battle, but that it was important not to give up. I want to thank everyone for praying for me," he stressed. The return of Glenn and Terry Ford came as welcome news for the busy ICB, which was the first new church to be recognized by Hungary’s government following decades of Communism when religion was discouraged.
The ICB (http://www.church.hu), which is part of the Association of International Churches of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, includes Christians of virtually all denominations and has been involved in several missionary activities. Since its foundation in 1989 the ICB gave away 300,000 copies of the Hungarian and English book "Is Jesus God?" explaining why Christians believe Jesus Christ is Lord, and 50,000 copies of American author Josh McDowell’s book on the life of Christ ‘More than a Carpenter’.
It also hosted a historic national conference for older pastors and their wives who remained Christians under communism, soon began a variety of humanitarian projects, including working with the homeless and refugees, and started evangelistic outreaches across the country.
The ICB opened a fund to support Ford’s medical expenses estimated at roughly $30,000. Supporters wishing to give financial support to the pastor and his wife Terry were advised to send monies through ‘Learning to Live Ministries’, 5650 Sheffield Place Melbourne, FL 32940 and request a tax receipt if needed. Or e-mail icb.church@gmail.com for more information.
