Luke 8:50
But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”
When I heard the news from Cindy, my heart sank, writhing in intense pain and sadness. She had just been with her doctor and the news she brought took both of us to our knees. The child she was carrying under her heart was almost certainly Downs Syndrome. I summoned what little strength I could to comfort Cindy, but what could I say? I knew her and her husband Tony would love their child regardless, but I also knew it would be a very difficult challenge for an already challenged family.
Cindy and Tony were both in the navy when they arrived in San Diego in January 2000. I was the rector in our El Cajon congregation and welcomed them with open arms. They had been told by my cousin Cliff that I would be there for them. Cliff was their minister in New Jersey. They arrived with a young boy who was their nephew, and they were his guardians.
The economics of the San Diego area was not always easy, especially for military families. The cost of living in San Diego was very high. Despite the financial challenges Cindy and Tony were a happy couple with a profound faith. I enjoyed serving them.
As the years went by Cindy gave birth to two baby boys. Each were premature and spent their early days in incubators. I would marvel at the sights in the hospital as Cindy would place her hand into the incubator and the tiniest of delicate fingers would grip her index finger in a clear warming indication of the love bond between mother and child. The boys grew quickly and became a great joy to the congregation family. They had sweet personalities that captured the hearts of all of us.
Now Cindy was pregnant again. Three months into the pregnancy, I gave Cindy, Tony and the new life Cindy was carrying the Confinement Blessing on a bright Sunday morning. In privacy of the Sacristy, we experienced the blessing of God for this new life. The family was aglow with anticipation of the new member of the family.
Secretly, Cindy confided in Tony after they returned home that she sensed that I had a concern over the family and maybe this new life they were expecting. Cindy carried her thought in her heart. I did not know this, nor did I consciously harbor any concern for the child. I put all my trust in God’s blessing for a blessed outcome. My only concern was the economic burden another child would bring.
In the weeks that followed, standard testing was done with the pregnancy, and everything seemed normal. Since the previous pregnancies had ended in a premature baby, extra care was being taken to ensure that this one would be normal.
After one of these tests, Cindy called me with the unexpected news that the child tested positive for Down’s Syndrome.
After I arranged for a family visit that night with Cindy, I poured out my heart to God. I feared what the family would have to endure with such a burden. Knowing the characters of Tony and Cindy so intimately, I knew they would love this child with all the love a parent could muster. After praying, I immediately called our Apostle to give him the sad news. I must have caught him at a bad time, because he was not very talkative. Upon hearing the news, he simply said, “I have just returned from being with our Chief Apostle. When you visit the family, give them this word that he used, ‘Fear not, just believe’”.
When he hung up the phone, I sat there somewhat stunned. How can I bring these terse words to these parents? I sat there struggling within myself to accept these words. I didn’t know where this word came from in the bible. I was wrestling with my own faith to try to gain some understanding. I was in such a deep struggle that I didn’t think to search the bible for its source or context. When I finally exercised trust in my Lord, I embraced these few simple words without any semblance of understanding. Finally, I was prepared to make my evening visit.
With hours of fervent prayer behind me, I enter Cindy and Tony’s apartment. After our welcoming greetings we prayed together. Then I explained that I had reached out to our apostle to advise him of the circumstances. With some lingering concerns as to how they would receive the brief words from the apostle, I explained.
“The apostle, on hearing the news of the test results, said, ‘tell them this, Fear not, just believe.’”
Instantly, an aura of peace came over Cindy and Tony with their complete acceptance of these words. I felt a tinge of shame coming over me. What I had to wrestle with they immediately believed. I secretly admired their profound faith. Yet another lesson I learned from this family.
We talked and discussed what the future would hold. Cindy explained that in six to eight weeks the doctors would perform another test to confirm the first one. In the meantime, we would continue to pray for God’s blessing and for our own strength to accept what would come to pass.
Over the next weeks, I frequently sought to encourage Cindy and Tony. Believing without fear became our mantra as the days of waiting marched onward.
Then the day of the next test dawned, and our prayers intensified.
The call came from Cindy, “The test is negative! The test is negative for Downs Syndrome!”
With relief and unspeakable gratitude for God’s precious blessing we cried together. When I hung up the phone, I called our apostle with the great news. Together we praised and thanked God for His love and response to our prayers.
I was now intent on finding the actual text in the bible. My search led me to Luke 8.
Luke 8:40-42, 49-56
New King James Version Luke 8:40-56
A Girl Restored to Life
40 So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him. 41 And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.”
50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” 51 When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. 52 Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.” 53 And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.
54 But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.” 55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. 56 And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.
As I read this, my heart sank when I read the words “and she will be made well”. I thought about how I would have seen the words the apostle gave me differently if I knew this. Pondering this I realized that God fashioned it as he did so I would wrestle and accept them without the added understanding afforded by the words “and she will be made well”. I was tested. It opened the way for my growth and edification of my faith and trust in God. It was a turning point never to be forgotten.
But this was not the end to the story.
When Cindy gave birth, a full-term healthy baby girl arrived to bless the family. Now the joyful task of welcoming new life into the family and our congregation.
Cindy came to me with a request, “what should we name her? Tony wants to name her Samantha, but I don’t want anyone calling her Sam or Sammy!”
(I later learned that Cindy and Tony had been discussing several possible names for the baby. Each name that Cindy suggested a name Tony said, “No.” After Tony awoke from a sleep he announced, “Samantha is her name!”)
Cindy and Tony agreed to name their baby girl Samantha Angelle.
On Sunday March 2nd, 2008, I was privileged to Baptize baby Samantha Angelle. In my message to Tony and Cindy I said that I was convinced that she was already praying before she was born. I confessed that Samantha taught me a new depth of prayer life as I journeyed with them to this very day.
The following week we were in Pasadena for a service with our Apostle. Samantha was to be sealed and it was also a Confirmation service for a group of youth.
I was in the sacristy with the Apostle and other servants prior to service. At the right moment I mentioned to the Apostle that one of the babies for sealing was our miracle baby, Samantha. Upon hearing this he became silent, and I saw him wrestle with his emotions as he surly revisited the many fervent prayers we had rendered and the wonderful response from our God.
After service I rejoiced with the family for the amazing journey we had travers- ed with the blessings of God’s hand to bless and guide us through.
Samantha Angele – Miracle Baby
Carol and Baby Samantha at her Baptism
Samantha in my arms at her Baptism
Samantha’s Holy Sealing with Apostle Kolb
Fear Not, just BELIEVE!
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TURNING POINTS
The experience with Samantha brought many turning points for me. I realized the great power of faith and trust in the Lord when faced with a challenge that first appears without any plausible solution. There are formidable forces afoot when souls are teamed with others who share their faith and join in fervent prayer together. There is nothing that is too difficult for God to change or move or heal. Patient waiting for God’s meticulous timing and self-introspection while going through the valleys of adversity bring potent personal growth. Faith is edified.