Dec
20
We taped this video of Matt on Friday, Dec. 18 and aired it this weekend at our worship services. Matt and his family feel very loved and are grateful for your continued prayers.
The following video can also be found on The Village Church YouTube Channel:
thank you for living your faith out loud. you continually challenge and inspire me.
i’m praying.
The flock at the Village church are blessed to have such a man as their pastor. Pray for him, learn from him, and imitate him.
Matt, I have followed your ministry from afar and am praying that you will have many years of fruitful ministry. May God’s peace rest upon you and your family as you walk this uncertain path.
Royce Ogle
Monroe, LA
Stay strong in the Lord. We’re praying for you!
Matt,
Hebrews 11:32-40 will continue to ring true for you and The Village. Thank you so much for being a Godly example in the midst of such suffering. Truly an inspiration and a reflection of God!
Thanks, Matt for sharing your life with everyone. Even though I’m don’t live in Dallas and you’re not my pastor, I feel as if you are. I am praying continuously for you and your family. And just know that this even happening is teaching me to trust in God and let go.
There is so much more I would like to write but my son is calling me from the bathtub right now….! Gotta go! Love you with the Love of the Lord!
Peace of the RISEN Lord!
Meg
[...] a new video message from Matt Chandler to Village [...]
Matt, I have been praying for you since Thanksgiving. I have never met you, but will continue to pray for you, your family, and your church throughout this “challenge”. Your maturity and your wisdom are amazing. I am a member of Pantego Bible Church. Today is my 59th birthday and I am loving how much I have been learning lately from your church’s website and the Desiring God website. So much to learn about our unspeakably wonderful God. Love to you and your family,
Suzy Finigan
Chandler Family,
Please know that there’s a community here in Orlando praying for you all. May the reality of Christ be so present in your life as you walk through this season together with Him.
Rob Duford
pastor
Pastor Chandler – here from Atlanta, it’s good to see you looking so well. Amazing! I was studying these well known verses, and wanted to share them as an encouragement. From 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:
May you not lose heart! Although your outer nature is wasting away, your inner being is being renewed daily. This light and momentary affliction is preparing you for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as you look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen – that which is eternal.
And while at times the road may get a little challenging during your treatment, may you know that God’s grace will be sufficient. May the power of Christ rest on you during times of weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Looking forward with you to what God will do for His renown and to manifest His glory in your life.
Lisa
[...] Message from Matt. Posted in Uncategorized [...]
Our prayers continue for all of you during these very difficult days. Thanking God for His very sufficient grace which is so evident in your life.
My His Presence and power continue to move in and through you.
Continued peace, comfort, and healing!
Matt
You look great. You are in my prayers. Thank you for being honest and open. Our son was born with spina bifida and we have claimed John 9 Where Jesus said this man nor his parents have sinned this happened to bring glory to God. Thank you for bringing glory to God by your attitude.
Dallas Nash forwarded this to me. Played in a fundraiser with a computer geek working for a group of MDS. They had 139 cancer patients and 119 went into remission with a highpowered nurtrition thing. They are connected to UAB in Birmingham. But the Lord is the Divine Healer. Jehovah Rophe. May He touch you even this evening.
I am praying for God’s will for you and your family… We sang the old hym “It is well” at my church this weekend (we are a contemporary church/strange to be singing that song) – I sing on the voacl team and so sang it 10 or so times… each time, your face came to my mind… your courage and ‘peace like a river that attendeth your way…when sorrow flow… whatever your lot – you have taught us to say, even so, it is well with our souls… thank you Matt, for being a man of godly integrity, character, and strength.
Matt we love you and will continue to pray for you and your family. You are truly one of my heroes in the faith.
[...] learned that he has a malignant brain tumor. In a brief update for his church today (watch it here), he shared that a verse which has constantly been on his mind is Ecclesiastes 7:2. "It is [...]
Dear Rev. Matt and loving family,
I was sent your blog today from a friend, Rev. Jay Hardwick, of Awaken Church in South Carolina. I worked with Jay for just over 3 years at the First Baptist Church in Shelbyville, KY, where he served at youth pastor. He and God made a great team there!
I stand in awe of your message on your blog. You love Jesus and it shows. I will pray diligently for you in the weeks ahead. God can do fantastic, awesome and wonderful things! I believe he will do just that for you.
I pray for your Christmas season and the coming together of friends and family. May God give you peace. May he wrap a blanket of joy around you all as you seek His presence and strength.
You are a friend of mine if you are a friend of HIS.
Prayerfully,
Marlene Gash
of Morehead, KY
Well, God is absolutely good. My mom is currently going through some more problems, previously having cancer, that pose a threat to her health. My family and I are having to remain in faith and pray for endurance. I pray that God continues to show Himself strong through this weakness, for God is faithful and He is mighty to keep His word.
In all things, rejoice, For God is our Redeemer!
In Him,
Sky
[...] http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/?p=456 [...]
Pastor Matt,
I do not attend your church, but found out about your journey through friends that do attend. Know that our prayers are with you and your family as you travel through all this.
I wanted to say thank you for your words in this video … I have been in Stage 5 Kidney Failure since January 2006. Although listed for a cadaver transplant for three years, there has been no match yet. The doctors say only a living kidney donor will suffice.
After three years, we are beginning to wear down- physically, emotionally, spiritually. Your words today give me hope and something to hang onto.
SO, thank you for this. May this Christmas be one of miracles and blessing in your family. Know our prayers are with all y’all.
Kelli
Living in grace
God is so marvelous and how he has used you to convict, challenge and even smack me up side the head has been a blessing. I have no choice but to pray for you and your family.
God bless you and your family! You have been such an encouragement to my husband, Isaac and I. We’ll continue to be in prayer for you and your family! May the Lord continue to encourage you during this time and hold you in His precious arms!!
My pastor shared this verse with us tonight and I found it so awesome and I just wanted to share it with you…
“..I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands…”
-Isaiah 49:16
In Christ,
Isaac, Rebekah, and Natalie (8 months) McKenzie from Seattle, WA
Matt,
Much love and prayer from Ukraine. We are really far away but appreciate your ministry and have learned much from you and hope for you a speedy and full recovery by God’s grace.
Jake,
Chernigov, Ukraine
Matt,
You and your family (your immediate and church family) are occupying my prayers. May the LORD our God use this situation for His glory. I am praying for your healing, but also asking for God’s will to be done.
Grace and peace.
What to say in a stream of support and comments? Thank you so much for allowing God to be God in your life and showing us what it is to suffer for Christ. I am SO encouraged in your transparency and honesty and franky, strength which obviously testifies directly of Christ working through you. Will continue to support through prayer and pray the absolute best for you and your family.
Matt I have listened to your podcasts for about a year now and I thank the Lord that I stumbled on to your preaching “accidentally.” I pray that God will allow you to continue preaching His Word for many years to come because, frankly, the church desperately needs you.
For Christ and His Kingdom,
Chris
Thanks for you courageous testimony Matt. You have no idea how much that ministers to us.
Love you Lauren& all the Chandler crew.
In Him / Brad M
UK
[...] Message from Matt. [...]
[...] This is how a pastor can shepherd his people into the goodness of God even in the midst of difficult circumstances and personal illness. Matt Chandler, Lead Pastor of The Village Church near Dallas gives his church family some perspective as he faces chemo treatments after the New Year. On Thanksgiving morning he had a seizure, then doctors found a brain tumor, did surgery, and it turns out the tumor is malignant. Brain cancer. Last week he tweeted, “Why not me? Why not you?” Indeed. [...]
Matt, you are preaching your best message now, pursuing God in joy while suffering. He is enlarging your platform for speaking into people’s lives the truth of the Gospel. Our family is praying for you often.
May the Lord bless and strengthen Pastor Matt and his family. The light that has been on display through this ordeal is a testament to the commitment that God receive the glory in all things.
[...] via Message from Matt. [...]
[...] via Message from Matt. [...]
Matt and Family,
Greetings from Basking Ridge,NJ! Matt, your convicting video comments reminded me of what C.S. Lewis also attests to:
“Indeed, if we consider the unblusihing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are halfhearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum b/c he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
May you and your family rest in His presense!
Chad
Hi Matt and Lauren. Thank you for your witness. As you now know, the impact of your ministry is huge in God’s Kingdom. Thank you for the Village Church website. We have been challenged and matured through your preaching and teaching, if I remember right, for about 3 years now. We have a Walk to Emmaus Prayer Group that is praying for you in Powell, Wyoming. Please allow the love of God and of everyone you know, and the strangers that you don’t, to carry you through this time.
Also, please be encouraged: It was a time such as this, 13 years ago, of a man and his family here in Powell that helped to guide me to Christ. I saw that Jesus was the truly important thing to him, even as he and his family lived through the struggles of their circumstance. And I have already heard that at least one person has come to the Kingdom through your story since Thanksgiving. What an awesome God we serve! Remember the life of Joseph and where he tells his brothers in Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
May God continue to give you strength and the comfort of his presence.
With much love to you and your family from your family in Christ in Powell, Wyoming.
I don’t know you, precious Chandler family. But I am praying! Thank you for sharing your heart and your journey. Hugs to your whole family.
Thank you sharing your heart Matt; you are awe inspiring. Merry Christmas to you and your family; you are in our prayers here in PA
I am the God that healeth thee, I am the Lord, your healer………………..
Blessings~
Susan
I’m still praying for your little ones…that their days are filled with structure, consistency, joy and peace and love
Pastor Chandler,
I found your blog while looking at the MercyMe website online. I am praying for you, and hope that whatever journey He takes you on, that your faith stands strong.
Many Blessings,
Summer Benoit
Hugo, MN
[...] Latest Update from Matt Chandler 2009 December 21 by Jonathan Dodson Message from Matt. [...]
Pastor Matt,
Glad to see you!
Will and have continually been praying!!! I only wish I could do more.
God bless you Brother Matt!!!
[...] via Message from Matt. [...]
Matt,
I’ve never met you or even seen you, but I listened to so many of your podcasts this summer as I studied abroad. It was a time of such growth for me. When I heard this, of course I was devastated, but I’ve been praising the Lord for he is SO good. I’m on my knees for you and your family. I’ve been praying for all of you by name. Much love from a part of the body that’s been so touched by you and your family.
~Kate
Matt,
I am a 5 year cancer survivor, and the time of my chemo and radiation was an amazing time for my church, my family and me. Leading from the weakness of illness and treatment meant a lot of mistakes, a lot of grace, and a lot of growth. I will pray for all of the above for you and your family, your church and community. Be blessed, and keep your eyes open for God’s hand in the lives of the people around you. This is the type of situation where God does some of His best work.
Blessings,
Bill McCready
[...] Post Brain Tumor Operation Posted on December 21, 2009 by Jonathan Here is Matt Chandler giving a follow up video after his brain tumor [...]
Matt, I learned about your illness via Mark Driscoll’s facebook blog and then again this latest update from John Piper’s facebook blog. I am deeply grateful to them for intoducing your ministry to me. I will keep close tabs on you. You have my deepest prayers for you and your family. I understand well teh journey ahead for you and your wife.
Ellen J.
Casper, WY
Matt, Our prayers are with you and your family. You are an inspiration to all. God Bless You.
Hi Pastor Matt!
I live in Houston Tx, but i have been listening to your Podcasts online. You have been such a great blessing to me and my room mate. we are praying for you, your family and church. we love you with the love of christ.
Your video at church was inspirational. Your sermons make me think, inspire me to be a better person, and have made such a difference in my life. I am praying for you.
Please know as I’m sure you already feel the prayers of thousands for your health, your family and your church, we continue to go to the altar on your behalf! I’ve never met you, never been to The Village, my only contact is through podcasts and I can truly say God is using you and this church to reach the lost! May the Lord God hear our prayers as we ask Him to heal you. May our Lord Jesus Christ receive all the glory and honor!
Matt,
I was reading the Valley of Vision today while praying and thinking of you, Im glad to hear on twitter that you too were reading it as well today…my husband and I have been really praying for you, I also was diagnosed with a brain tumor two years ago when I first got married..at 23, I would lay in that MRI machine over and over and wonder how anyone could possibly do this without HIM. I learned through my trial that He is not merely a means to an end, He IS the end. You have been such an influence on my husband and I even all the way here in Seattle. Thank you. My favorite prayer from “the Valley of Vision” is called God and Myself.
“May I never despise His death by fearing
its efficacy for my salvation.
And whatever cross I an required to bear,
let me seeing Him carrying a heavier.”
We love you and are praying for you and your family along with many friends from Mars Hill Seattle.
Matt,
I’m a PCA pastor in Taipei, Taiwan. You’ve been a great encouragement across the many miles. I ran into you providentially at the Dwell Conference in NYC. You had slipped into the meeting unannounced and I noticed your name tag. You and Tim and Mark have blessed me so much over the past two years. I’ve listened to you regularly and the spirit of Jesus shines in you. May His Spirit strengthen your mortal body during this time of trial and may the Lord give you many years to serve your congregation and so many of us around the world. Thanks Matt. I’ve been praying for you daily and will continue to do so.
Dennis Brown, Pator
Friendship Church
Taipei, Taiwan
Pastor Matt,
The world is so small, I heard about you through a woman visiting our church here in Germany and wrote your name in our prayer request form.
You blessed me so much with your teachings in Catalyst Conference in Atlanta.
Pastor I pray for you and your whole family that His peace that passes all understanding be upon you. That His resurrection power be upon you today and for always.
Susana
Germany
We have been praying & watching the Lord do amazing things @ The Village & through you since shortly after we were married in 2001. We live in Ruston, La & are long-time friends of Brandi Howard. We love you Chandler family & pray His will is completed to the fullest in your lives. The sustaining grace of the Father is so obvious–especially in the times in which we love now. The weight of what is going on in the spiritual realm during these days produces a “groaning” that most shut their ears to. Praise the Lord for being true servants & in many ways being a voice that cries out in the wilderness “prepare the way of the Lord”! His ways are truly NOT our ways, yet we “remain” in them [Him] in order to see His glory revealed. We truly love you & are praying for Him to be glorified to the fullest–not as man would have it! He is your portion, as you know.
Matt,
My family and I attend Mountain Lake Church in Cumming Ga. Shawn Lovejoy, our lead pastor, shared what is going on in your life with our church family this past Sunday. I wanted to let you know that we are praying for you! I am praying for you… Thank you for being the inspiration that you are, and I can’t wait to hear, and see all of God’s amazing work in your life in the months and years to come!!! God bless you and your family.
Mandy Wyatt
Praying for you and trusting God to reveal Himself in amazing ways that will strengthen your faith and leave a legacy of truth for your family. May your suffering be a song of praise to the One who suffered so greatly for all of us. Your gifts are a measure of His love for you. Love you, brother.
I thank God that we do not live by the things we see but we live by faith that all things work for the glory of God. That we live by His Word not by what man says. I pray for you, your your family for the peace of God that passes all understanding,that you sense His loving arms surrounding you,and that you experience His joy.
You’re a blessing to me in Malaysia… may your suffering strengthen you in the Lord and be a sweet aroma to our Father. I’m praying for your return and that your first sermon will be anointed with power from the Spirit and that hearts and minds will be transformed for God’s glory!
[...] Check it Out Here [...]
In love and concern I offer you this link. Pray James 1:5 over this and find the alternative to treating your disease instead of returning to wellness without CA.
Just pray.
http://www.burzynskiclinic.com/
This doctor cures some of CA.
Thank you for your testimony of joy in Christ whatever the cost.
Hi Matt: I heard about your story from the team at Family Life Network in New York. And while I don’t know you and have never been to your church, I find you incredibly inspirational. Your strong faith and complete trust in the Lord is something I strive for. You and your family are in my prayers. I pray for your complete healing and strength during your treatment.
It’s so great to hear from you man!! We are praying for you and your family. We are trusting God with you!
Thanks for all the truth you have taught us over the years, it’s made an incredible difference in our family that will be felt for generations! We’re looking forward to your speedy recovery and return.
We love you and your family and we pray for much continued peace, strength, and joy in Him.
David & Susan Jones
+Kaitlyn, Jacob, Joshua, & Lauren
My husband fought stage 3 throat cancer in 2007. Never in my life would I have ever thought I would thank God for cancer. But we do…it brought us into a world we never wanted to be, but through this we saw God more clearly. The people we met through radiation and chemo…the patients, the nurses, the doctors, the receptionists…were all a source of encouragement to us and a wonderful light from God. We carried John Piper’s 10 Ways to not waste your cancer with us to every treatment and shared them with others.
As Christians, we sometimes can feel that nothing can shake our faith. Yet cancer and the effects of treatment are scary, debilitating, and many times discouraging. It was with joyful discovery that we leaned into God’s Word, and realized that our cries of despair and hopelessness were not symptoms of loss of faith, but rather voiced eloquently in the Psalms. God wants us to cry out to Him and He will lift us out of the muck and the mire…whether through cure or through glorious eternal life.
May you and your dear family find extraordinary strength in your weakness, joy in the defeats, and hope in midst of suffering and that through leaning on each other and the Cross you will be lifted up on eagles wings.
May you experience God’s richest blessings in this path set before you.
Carol
My husband of 27 years, a faithful pastor and godly man, went to be with Jesus on Dec. 31, 2000 after a 3 1/2 year battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. It was the most meaningful, growing time of my life and also the hardest. One verse that sustained me through it all was Deut. 33:27a: “The Eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms…”. It does not say ‘underneath WHAT”..underneath ANYTHING this world or the devil can throw at us, are THOSE ARMS, sustaining, holding, strong enough for the daunting task at hand. Sink into those Arms. He will carry you. Much love and prayers for you and your whole family…Laura
[...] a new video message from Matt Chandler to Village [...]
Matt,
Blessings to you and your congregation as you endure trials for the sake of the Gospel. Praying you DO have many many many years of articulating the truth and confronting the culture with the Light of the Word.
In Christ,
Joel G
[...] by Church Experts Sunday, 20 December 2009 Top Members | Popular News 15 Likes Message from Matt | The Village Church : From Our Pastors We taped this video of Matt on Friday, Dec. 18 and aired it this weekend at our worship [...]
We are so encouraged how God is working and speaking through you during this trial He has sovereignly ordained for your life. Be assured of our daily prayers, sometimes more than once as prompted by the Holy Spirit. You look great and to the naked eye it looks like you have not had any brain surgery! Amazing! Thanks for sharing your game plan and be assured of our prayers for each member of your team. We are praying that many will come to know Jesus for the first time or be drawn back to Him if they are prodigal as so many will be involved in your lives during this process. Last year God called home our sweet 25 year-old niece in a short battle with colon cancer. But, as a result, we know of one person’s salvation and others who returned to Christ after being prodigal for awhile. God was and continues to be glorified through her life……and of course, yours as well. May He bless you with unbelievable endurance and strength in the days and weeks ahead.
We love you, Lauren and your children very much,
Jan & Tom Blake (Dallas campus)
[...] Matt has recorded a short video message that was taped on Dec. 18th, and shown to the church family, which can also be found HERE! [...]
[...] by people who possess confidence and assurance that comes from their great faith in the Lord. Matt Chandler is one recently that is doing this for [...]
[...] been following Matt Chandler’s journey as he, together with his precious family, courageously battles cancer. He was [...]
[...] If you follow the soon-to-be-link, you can view a video from Matt, that was viewed at the Village church, and can be viewed by you… HERE! [...]
[...] than anything we experience, suffer, gain or lose in this life. I’ve been encouraged that he chose the latter, and am counting down to them posting the sermon he preached this weekend (after his first week of [...]
To Matt and your family,
I was so saddened to hear of your news. You have touched my husband and me more that you will ever know. Your ministry and podcasts have literally changed our lives. Please know that we are praying for you, your wife and your children and our hearts ache for you.
Praying for you, Matt. Keep the faith. Glenn
Praying for you and your family the peace that surpasses all understanding.
Matt,
my stomach dropped when i heard the news. (my younger brother who is 22 and a Marine was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and is still undergoing the chemotherapy and radiation. it definitely lifts the veil…)
i think about you and your family often and pray for you. you’ve heard this many times at this point…but the way you relentlessly, un-apologetically, and boldly speak truth out of the Word of God in every sermon is moving and inspiring. the sheer number of people who are drawn to your sermons are a testament to that desire we all have for raw truth! thank the Lord for a man of God like yourself. you have a made a huge impact in my life and a great deal of my friends here in Indianapolis, Ind.
May God bless you and heal your body…you are so loved.
Becky
A Prayer for Matt Chandler and Family
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
- Ephesians 3:14-21
Matt: I live nowhere near The Village Church. But as a fellow pastor, I want to thank you for pastoring me through your teaching. I was saddened to hear of the diagnosis, but know that our God can do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or think. Prayers of the saints are being lifted up for you and your family as you walk through this.
May the God of all comfort, comfort you.
In Christ,
David Burke
Dear Matt,
I want you to know that you are in my heart and prayers. I have personally been blind, deaf, and paralyzed. I also went through brain surgery and had my neck rebuilt. God is faithful. He will sustaine you through all things. I am praying for the peace of God to encamp round about you and your family. I recorded our miraculous journey and would be happy to mail you a copy of my book if you want it. Just email me and let me know. As you know and have learned Jesus is with you and He will sustain you. Be blessed as you travel through the valley of the shadow of death. Truly, you will know Him more and understand Him at greater levels. My heart and love go to you and your family.
Much love and prayers,
Donna Renfro
[...] they came up with this plan. There are some additional video updates from Pastor Matt here and here, that are both very [...]
[...] seen the first update, watch it here. If you haven’t seen the second update, watch it here. If you’ve seen both, then you can pass go and collect 200 dollars. Ok, bad joke. Everybody [...]
[...] Powlison Tim Keller Matt Chandler Paul Washer CJ Mahaney and, of course, the pastors from my church [...]