Cuppa for Cancer in Broome

Posted on October 1, 2009 
Filed under News

broome-cuppa_sm2Quite apart from being an outreach idea, this story from The North West Network is a wonderful testimony to the gospel of Jesus at work in the Diocese of North West Australia. (Used by permission.)

“Why do I have cancer? Is it because I am bad and deserve it? What if I die – am I ready? How will I handle the dying process? What do I really think will happen to me after I die? If I don’t die how do I want to spend the rest of this fragile life?”

These were some of the questions that Helen Morrell, a breast cancer survivor, put to a group of over 70 women who gathered in the grounds of the Broome Anglican Church. The event was a combined community outreach and fundraiser for the Cancer Council. The women from the Broome Anglican Church baked and advertised and invited their friends to a “Cuppa for Cancer”, also known as Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea – we operated on ‘Broome-time’ and had an afternoon tea instead. We raised over $600 for a good cause and promoted the work of the Cancer Council. But at the heart of the planning was the best cause ever. We wanted as many of our friends in town as possible to hear about what God had done in sending His son Jesus for us, and how that works in real situations in real people’s lives.

After an abundant spread and a cuppa, we all sat back to listen to Helen’s testimony of her life with cancer and her life with Jesus. She described her reactions and emotions as she received her diagnosis, underwent surgery and then radiation, the special diets, the shuttle travel between Broome and Perth. How she processed these trials was through the glasses of her Christian faith. Just four years previously she had attended a course at church that explained the Christian message.

In her words, “While doing that course I gave my life to Jesus. I was laying in bed one night thinking that I really didn’t want to live, and then I had a strong sense that Jesus was beside my bed and he said ‘will you give me a chance with your life’. And I said OK. I really did believe that he had been on the earth and that he was God’s son and that he died for my sins on the cross. I confessed all the sins I could think of ever committing and asked Jesus to forgive me and thanked him for taking my punishment on the cross. I was overwhelmed with a sense of love and forgiveness and peace. After that I continued to go to church and joined a bible study group and with God’s help I started to develop my faith and learn more about Jesus. I wanted to learn of his ways and follow them.”

When cancer was diagnosed, Helen realised that the Bible had all the answers to her questions. It was a matter of whether or not she was going to stand on them or not. “I wanted to but I felt weak. I didn’t want my faith to be just an intellectual thing but I wanted to put it into action, so from then on I tried to filter all of my thoughts, emotions, fears and actions through God’s word. His word tells us not to fear. It tells us that he loves us dearly and that he will help us. It tells us that there is a life after this one and that if we accept Christ, that life will be so much more wonderful than we could possibly imagine. It tells us that this life is only temporal, and it tells us that God is in control.”

This didn’t exclude choosing a wise course of treatments with the aid of specialists. But “there was always the uncertainty of their effectiveness – ultimately, I was putting my future in God’s hands. I realised that He had a plan for my life: that it was out of my control. I realised also that it wasn’t rescue in this life that was the utmost but to know I had peace with God and assurance of where I was going in the next life. Of course I prayed and still do for healing in this life and I would love to live until I am one hundred. More importantly I want to develop my faith and learn to be like Jesus and accept graciously whatever God has in store for me.”

In God’s kindness, Helen’s cancer has not spread or relapsed. She continues to fellowship at our church and support others in her role as a cancer support volunteer. She closed by pointing to life’s unfairness, and lack of solid hope: “I am going to hold onto the hope that is offered to me by Jesus – that of his return one day soon and a better world to come under his perfect rule.” As a church we followed up by saying, if Helen’s relationship with Jesus struck a chord we would love to help. Everyone was offered a free gospel to take home and to fill in a response card if they would like to be prayed for or attend a course that explains what Jesus did and what it means for us.

We don’t know yet what fruit will be borne by that afternoon in May. But I believe God was glorified by our public declaration that a relationship with Him is the rock on which everyone can build their lives.

Kathy Mildenhall
Broome Anglican Church