Mother’s Day. For many, it is a time to celebrate that special bond between children and mothers. But for others, it is a day of reflection and sadness as they mourn the absence of children from their families.
Several years ago, Senior Pastor John Morgan became aware of these very different emotions on Mother’s Day, and began to reach out to these childless families in what has become a tradition. Known around Sagemont simply as “the Mother’s Day Prayer,” this time of prayer for couples desiring children has resulted in many families seeing those dreams come true. Countless couples have conceived in miraculous ways after praying this prayer with our pastor, while others have discovered the joys of adoption and foster parenting. We take this opportunity to share just a few of the stories in which God has given a resounding “Yes” to these prayers.
ϖ Tiffany and Shaun Helmle married and eventually decided it was time to start their family. After months of no success, they realized something might be wrong and decided to see a specialist. The doctor ran several tests and then decided the best course of action was for Tiffany to start taking steroids. Tiffany, a nurse, was extremely reluctant to subject her body to the side effects of steroids, one of which includes a weakened immune system. As she and Shaun agonized over the right decision to make, on Mother’s Day 2008, Shaun’s parents, Richard and Carol Helmle, stood up with Shaun and Tiffany and prayed with Bro. John as he led the church in praying for couples who wanted a baby.
A few days later while driving to work, Tiffany told God she would do whatever His divine wisdom told her to do. If God told her to take steroids she would do that and trust Him with the outcome, and if He told her to let it go, she would let it go. God answered the couple’s prayers, not with the affirmation to take steroids, but through a phone call from her doctor’s office that very day saying her most recent blood work showed she was pregnant! Andrew was born February 8, 2009, a healthy 8 lbs 11 oz. bundle of answered prayer.
ϖ Erika and Russell Bondy married and planned on waiting about five years to start their family. Six years later, when Erika finally did become pregnant, they were overjoyed, but the day after Erika’s birthday, tragedy struck, and she miscarried. A while later, Erika again became pregnant, but their dreams were shattered once more when she miscarried after 10 weeks. She was hospitalized, and began to see a specialist.
Russell’s sister, Paula Johnson, called them to explain the Mother’s Day Prayer and asked if she could stand and pray for them. After receiving permission, Paula stood along with Russell’s parents, Glenn and Brenda Bondy, and many others in 2008 and interceded on behalf of Erika and Russell. Prayers were once again answered when, in August 2008, they received news they had conceived. Their son is expected to be born close to Mother’s Day, 2009.
Because of the miscarriages, Erika has taken on a new mission. She wants to help other couples who have had miscarriages to find the hope and comfort that she has found in God. Erika now knows it wasn’t true, but she felt totally isolated as she went through her grieving process, feeling that she and Russell were the first people to experience such pain and loss. Now she wants to make herself available to talk with other women going through the same experience so they will have a friend who can truly listen to their feelings and minister to them.
ϖ Norman Jr. and Kathy Gouger also tried unsuccessfully to have a baby for almost four years. After the initial year and no success, both went to a specialist and found their chances of having a baby were very low. After consultation, the doctor told them their best option was in vitro fertilization (IVF). Norman and Kathy struggled with the question, “Are we trying to play God by doing this?” Finally deciding it was the right decision, they went through with the process. Coincidentally, Kathy’s stepsister was having the same procedure for the same reason. Her stepsister conceived and had twins; Kathy did not. Once again, Norman and Kathy were dealt a huge blow.
The Gougers continued to pray and seek God’s will. They learned a valuable lesson that has stayed with them to this day - in the midst of the struggle, thank God for where we are and what we are learning. Even though it hurt, they knew there was a purpose. After about eight months and a second round of IVF with no success, they decided to focus on their daily lives and wait and see what God had in store for them. In the Mother’s Day church service in 2006, Norman and Kathy stood at their seats and prayed along with Bro. John for God to give them a baby.
Kathy had turned down several chances to become an elementary school principal, so she decided it was time to pursue that job. Six days after accepting a principal’s job at her school, she received the news that she was pregnant. Kathy says, “When technology can’t do it, God can.” Jenna was born in April 2007. Norman is a Captain for the Houston Fire Dept., and works two 24-hour shifts each week. He gets to spend precious time with baby Jenna, and Kathy is blessed with relatives who watch Jenna when neither she nor Norman can be home.
God has given them an understanding of how others feel in situations like Mother’s Day or a child’s birthday party when everyone’s attention is focused on the children, and yet having a family of one’s own seems to be impossible. Like Erika Bondy, Kathy also wants to be a living testament to comfort women going through the same struggles, and to encourage them to let God reveal Himself in His own time and with His own unmerited favor. Little Jenna Grace Gouger is living proof of that.
ϖ Oren and Cindy Martin knew they were called to be in the ministry as soon as they were married. Oren began attending Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and Cindy went to work. Almost five years went by, and deciding they wanted to start a family, they thought it was strange that they had never conceived up to this point. They began to pray and seek God’s guidance about starting their family. Another year went by and Cindy went to see a doctor. She eventually became pregnant, but on Easter weekend she lost baby Jedediah, which means “beloved by Jehovah”, in a miscarriage. Cindy conceived two more times, but each ended in a miscarriage. The specialist found out that Cindy had the presence of a particular gene in the blood commonly referred to as Factor V Leiden Syndrome, which predisposes one to blood clots.
Oren’s mentors and “spiritual family” in Kentucky include his professors at the seminary and the pastors and elders at his church. They began praying with Oren and Cindy, while Oren’s family at Sagemont, his parents, Nancy and Bob Wilson, and his sister and brother-in-law, Shiloh and Chris Green, stood up for them at the 2007 Mother’s Day service and prayed. The Martins had tremendous faith, and they thanked God for allowing Jedediah to help diagnose Cindy’s disorder. They looked forward to the future, filled out papers to become adoptive parents, and even spoke with Shiloh about being a surrogate mother. Although they may still adopt in the future, their fourth pregnancy resulted in Jonathan Owen, who was born in November of 2008. Oren is working on his Doctorate in seminary, and will soon become one of the greatest witnesses to what God can do when you pray.
God has been answering prayer for children for many years. While we at Sagemont have seen many families grow as a result of the prayer specifically on Mother’s Day, God has been answering similar prayers for many throughout history.
ϖ Dan and Beth Doster struggled with many years of infertility. To make matters worse, Beth was very ill and in extreme physical pain. She eventually could no longer hold down a job, and the doctor bills became overwhelming. Beth finally became pregnant, but unfortunately the pregnancy ended in miscarriage. The physical, emotional, and financial pain added up to more than the Dosters thought they could handle, and they decided it might be time to just give up. As they were struggling, however, they continued to pray and go to counseling.
Stuart Rothberg was teaching a Wednesday night lesson on Hannah. (Hannah could not conceive, and promised God if He would give her a son, she would give the boy back to God.) When the lesson was over, Stuart prayed for the “Hannahs” in the room, and Dan and Beth joined in. Months later, Beth gave birth to their son, Andrew.
Today, 14 ½ years later, Andrew is fully aware of the miracle he is, and he is reminded of that almost daily. He knows he is the result of a promise and that God has a purpose for him. Andrew has a heart for God, and, according to his parents, he has developed wisdom beyond his years. Andrew is Dan’s and Beth’s miracle.
As these families will testify, God still answers prayer. Sometimes the answer is “no,” but these that have seen children enter their families are reminded every day of God’s miraculous works.