Dear Church Family,
As many of you know our beloved brother Ken Lauderdale has been diagnosed with a serious case of anal cancer. He and Linda have spent the last several days at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Clinic in Houston, Texas. The doctors are hopeful that with the treatment they recommend Ken will be able to have an active cancer free life.
They have just arrived back in Athens and plan to fly out on Christmas day to begin a six week treatment that will include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. After the surgery there will be another round of radiation.
As you can imagine the travel, lodging and related expenses will cost several thousand dollars. Further, Linda will be with Ken much of the time; she will come back and work for only a few of the weeks that Ken is getting treatment. Ken obviously will not be able to work at all. This will add a financial burden to their already difficult circumstances.
Of course the church will give to Ken and Linda out of the benevolent fund to help with some of the costs. The elders wanted to give any member of the congregation an opportunity to help financially as well. If you would like to be part of helping defray some of these costs, you can give cash or make your check payable to the Athens Church of Christ. Please hand the check to one of the elders, or put it in an envelope if you put it into the contribution basket on Sunday. In this way, they will get all the money that you earmark for them.
We know that all of us will be in prayer for Ken and Linda as they face this challenge in their lives.
With love and respect,
Your Elders