Prayer Requests and Updates from 12/12/25 – 02/02/26
02/02/26 Prayer Request – (Dave Havir, pastor, COG Big Sandy) I just received a prayer request for Scott Shaffer, who lives in Minnesota but is wintering in Nashville, Tennessee (which ironically is having a terrible time with heavy ice accumulation). [First report]: Scott fell and hit his head on Sunday. He was taken to ER today. He has a brain bleed on the left front part of his brain. If untreated, there is a high probability that this would be fatal. He had surgery today to relieve the pressure. They don’t know if his speech will come back or if he will have the use of his right side. He would be in the ICU for 1-2 weeks, then in rehab 4-6 weeks. The family knows God can change the outcome if it is His will. [Second report]:His sister’s update from the surgeon. “He is out of surgery and it went well. “Tomorrow morning, he will have a CAT scan to determine if there is more hemorrhaging or not. “He will call me midday tomorrow to tell me the results of the CAT scan. “He said that he did not try to drain any blood from the brain as that could be more dangerous. “The next 3 to 5 days is when the brain will continue to swell, with this weekend being the most amount of swelling. “He’s not sure when he will regain consciousness, but the CAT scan is the next step. “He said we’re just going to take it one day at a time right now.”
01/30/26 Prayer Request Update – (Scott Hoefker, pastor, CGM) Richard Self of Deridder, LA (brother of Elizabeth Behan) is doing better, and continues to learn to live with the allergic complications from the stainless screws that were used in surgery, when his ribs were plated, (instead of titanium). He thanks everyone for your continued prayers.
01/16/26 Prayer Request Update – (Scott Hoefker, pastor, CGM) Here’s an update from Steve Schemenauer, Dave’s brother. David Schemenauer, (a member of the Elkhart, Indiana UCG congregation who had a very bad accident while skiing with his family in Colorado on April 4, 2025) “He returned home in September. He is currently paralyzed from the Chest down. He has use of his right hand, though his left hand has poor motor skills. He suffers from Nerve pain… since the nerves have been severed. He had an elevator installed in his home…He goes to work 1-2 times a week, but mainly works from home. He requires daily assistance getting out of bed etc. Surprising… he is attending the Atlanta gift show this week. He has an amazing motorized chair that does most everything. His mood is better than one might expect, but always in need of Prayer.”
01/16/26 Prayer Request – (Scott Hoefker, pastor, CGM) From Steve Schemenauer. “In other news: I have Gleason 8 (Aggressive) Prostate Cancer. I have been through 19 sessions of Radiation with 26 more to go. So far I am doing fine. The radiation has about an 80% chance of killing the Cancer. Thanks for your prayers. I am not worried. God is still in charge, and He knows what He is doing.”
01/07/26 Death Announcement – (Ben Faulkner, pastor, Church of the Sovereign God, Tampa, FL) We are saddened to report the death of long-time church of God member Dan Carlson. Please remember his wife, Becky, and step-daughter, Dusty, in your prayers as they go through this time of grief and loss and mourning.
01/07/26 Prayer Request Update – (Ben Faulkner, pastor, Church of the Sovereign God, Tampa, FL) Elizabeth Brown, CGG, 21 years old, has received some good news: the cancer is localized rather than systemic. She and the family thanks everyone for your continued prayers.
01/07/26 Prayer Request – (Ben Faulkner, pastor, Church of the Sovereign God, Tampa, FL) Travis and Heather Kinnunen, CGG, are asking for prayers for Heather, who is in heart failure and also has some lung issues, including COPD. To make matters worse, Travis and Heather are at risk of losing their home because they are far behind on their mortgage payments because Travis’ construction work prospects have been slow and intermittent. They thank everyone in advance for your prayers.
01/06/26 Prayer Request Update – (Scott Hoefker, pastor, CGM) Bryana Saquilmer (fiancé of Noé Monsanto) and Noé (CGM Guatemala City, Guatemala) ask for your continued prayers. He was in the hospital in December, (starting 12/08/25) due to a herniated disk in his back. The team of doctors initially felt that it would require surgery. He has been now for several weeks unable to drive, but is having physical therapy to help him walk, and possibly avoid the surgery. Once I have the details of the date of surgery (if it is still needed) I will pass on to you. He is currently still in a large amount of pain.
12/31/25 Prayer Request Update – (Scott Hoefker, pastor, CGM) Here’s an update for Karl Wilson (TX). The cancer has spread, and he recently had a PET scan that indicates bad news. They plan to do a biopsy on January 2nd to see if he now has also small cell cancer. Here’s a link to a church service where Karl is leading the service and personally updates everyone about his situation. https://www.youtube.com/live/YBBzoQ_eDfY?si=-FQG41NEWS9bKVFo . The portion with prayer requests and intercessory prayer starts about the 13:50 mark and concludes about the 21:40 mark. Just click the link below to be taken to the CGI Tyler YouTube page for the Sabbath Service from Tyler, Texas.
12/27/25 Death Announcement – (Ben Faulkner, pastor, Church of the Sovereign God, Tampa, FL) From Rick Beltz, husband of Eileen M. Beltz (Deland, FL). Eileen, 76, died peacefully at home while under Halifax Hospice care at 1:35pm on Dec. 24, 2025, from metastatic carcinoma, stemming from a 3-year battle with serious intestinal and digestive issues, as well as a lifetime of various health ailments. Eileen grew up in Springfield, MA and began attending the Sabbath keeping Churches of God with her dad in 1971. She was a faithful servant of God for over 50 years and always had a joyful attitude. She loved music, singing, gardening and crafty things. Most of all, she loved God and his truth. She leaves behind her loving husband of 48 years, Rick, of De Leon Springs, FL, sons Matthew and wife Kelly of Danville, PA and Jonathan and wife Stacy of Murrieta, CA, and 7 grandchildren. Also a sister, Anne Marie Massarella of Conway, SC, and a brother, Ronald Emerson of Springfield, MA. The Beltz family wishes to thank everyone for their many prayers, cards, letters, phone calls and their ongoing, heartfelt concern and encouragement during this most trying ordeal of our lives. She has run the race and has patiently endured to the end. I Timothy 4:8 The victor’s crown of righteousness is now waiting for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who eagerly wait for his appearing.
12/12/25 Prayer Request Update (from Ken Swiger, pastor, SDCA) Danny Jacques (NC) shared the following information regarding his lovely wife, Aggie Jacques [long-fought battle with infection in foot]. They had been celebrating good news as the doctors told her that the last surgery had done the trick and her foot was finally well. But then there was a new development. After 15 months, 8 surgeries, and not being able to walk, Aggie was told her foot was well… Last Friday she was told that the foot that was thought to be healed had opened and another surgery would be necessary to close. ALSO she was told that if this surgery did not repair fully, she should make preparations to lose the foot and part of her leg. Please pray special prayers for her that this will not happen.
12/12/25 Prayer Request Update – (Scott Hoefker, pastor, CGM) via Nancy Loveman, Connie Williams (LGM, Montgomery, AL) “Doctor called me with good news and bad news. Good news is that my lymph nodes are clear so the tumor had not metastasized. The bad news is that there were not clean margins on the tumor so there are still cancer cells left in my body. I will go back to surgery on January 28 to remove more tissue which will (prayerfully) take care of the remaining cells. Please keep me in your prayers.”
Ongoing Previous Requests
12/17/25 Prayer Request Update – (Scott Hoefker, pastor, CGM) Here’s an update from Patty Graham, she asks that we continue to pray for her husband Stan Graham. “…His condition continues to decline. He’s having trouble walking so I’m concerned about him falling. The liver cirrhosis creates a condition known as Ascites which causes fluid in the abdomen. It’s overdue in being drawn off, so he’s very uncomfortable with the pressure. He’s losing weight because his appetite has somewhat decreased. We spent a week in Memphis with our daughter and family during Thanksgiving, so this helped his spirit tremendously. He loves being around loved ones! We hardly ever travel and when we can, our daughter in Arkansas comes down and drives for us. We have learned to be content here at home. Transporting Stan to appointments and treatments keeps me busy. I hope you and Gayle are doing good. We think of you often.” (The Grahams live in Pensacola, FL)
11/12/25 Prayer Request Update – (Scott Hoefker, pastor, CGM) Sherry Garrett (Lynn Haven, FL) Sherry has improved since the minor stroke she had in January of this year. She still has balance problems, but she has greatly improved. She still needs a cane to help her go up or down stairs, mostly for going down. She uses me to steady her when we go for walks. Bill and Sherry wish to thank everyone for their prayers.
10/11/25 Prayer Request Update – (Scott Hoefker, pastor, CGM) via Connie White (from Mark’s wife Michelle) Mark Mickelson (WA). “We want to thank you all for your love and prayers. Mark’s latest was quite an ordeal, but we look back on it, and see how many times God intervened. The issues developed due to Mark’s bladder being damaged from radiation and the cancer. It is continually bleeding now. When he is lying down, the blood is eliminated through the kidney. When he’s up, the blood builds up in the bladder and causes it to spasm severely which is painful. They were able to give him a pain med that stopped the spasm and calmed the bladder. This will be the norm now, but we have the pain med to address it. He will be spending most of his time in bed. Again, we can’t thank you enough for your love and heart felt prayers. It has helped us get through this ordeal.”
Disaster Relief and Church Assistance Fund: In times of distress and disaster we at CGM continue to help many who are suffering by the impact where they live. Many have asked “How can we help through you all?” We share resources from our “Disaster Relief and Church Assistance Fund” made possible by generous donations from those affiliated with CGM and others. You may donate here https://cogministries.org/donate/ if you wish to do so. You may also send funds to our P.O. Box, and in the subject line earmark such as “Disaster Relief/Church Assistance Fund”. (i.e. October 2024 Hurricane Helene and Milton, January 2025 Fires in the Los Angeles area, both received substantial help thanks to generous donations received).
05/11/22 Prayer Request – (Scott Hoefker, pastor, CGM) From Larry Field, (Clarinda, IA). “I would like to ask for continued prayers – it’s my back/pelvic area. I was badly injured in 2016 when a machine fell on top of me, breaking my pelvis in 4 places, and severing a bunch of nerves. It also cracked my tailbone and came extremely close to severing my spinal cord. I would/should have been paralyzed, if not for God’s intervention. Lately the pain in my pelvic area has ramped up to extreme levels, and it is very difficult to walk. The strongest non-prescription drug, Tylenol, is no longer effective. My body just is resistant to pain medication, for some reason. I’m not getting much done at all, and I’m falling seriously behind on everything here…please pray that there be some relief, at least for this pain, if it be God’s will”.
(These prayer requests and updates listed are partial, as there are a large number received each week, so we simply cannot list them all. These come from several fellowships of the body of Christ throughout the U.S. and world.) Any prayer requests or announcements to be shared on the CGM website and/or this weekly update should be sent directly to Scott Hoefker by Wednesday of each week, (via e mail if possible). You may also use the “contact us” page on the CGM website to do so.)