Cancer Launched a Ministry
No one would have charted this journey by their own design. It can be best described as God’s providential design. Jim Risk, a two-time cancer survivor, has been the volunteer Ministry Coordinator for the Cancer Support Group (CSG) at a non-denominational church in NE Ohio for about 10 years. I asked Jim a few questions to get the story.
How did having cancer affect your view of life?
I saw how God uses trials to bring us closer to Him. Cancer affects even the strongest people who live with a black-and-white view of the world. When cancer hits, the things of the world are no longer important. People with cancer tend to either seek and investigate and go deeper with God or they run from God.
When the coordinator of the Cancer Support Group at your church stepped down, someone else “volunteered” you to take over. What was your initial reaction?
I don’t recall all the details, but in 2007 I had gone through cancer treatments and, in 2008, I went through a job change. I never wanted to lead CSG as Ministry Coordinator. I was sort-of forced into the role when the prior leader left unexpectedly and I was volunteered for the leadership role without my knowledge by one of the other CSG members. After finding out that I had been promoted to the role of Ministry Coordinator, I must admit that I was scared to death to lead the group. At the time I did not think I was qualified to lead.
What changed over time?
My heart changed. I saw the suffering that people experienced in their trials. It impacted me every day. My church was getting calls from people with cancer and they were sending me a written summary of the call for prayer and follow-up. As God was working on my relationship with Him, I saw that I could use the platform of cancer to share the Gospel. My wife Kristina became very involved, working behind the scenes often harder than me. It became evident that this is where God wanted us.
Even though I reluctantly agreed to the role, I can now see that being Ministry Coordinator for CSG is part of God’s plan for my life. He has allowed me to experience a calling in my life which I never knew was possible. I believe that God orchestrated the steps of my life to put me in the position I am today.
What is the primary purpose of the Cancer Support Group?
Our purpose is to see unbelieving people impacted by cancer become committed followers of Jesus Christ. Through an ongoing ministry we have an opportunity to build relationships with them and to point them to Christ during their cancer trials.
How do people respond to hearing the dreaded words “you have cancer” from their doctor?
They are scared. This is about death and their soul, but they may not admit their fears. A cancer diagnosis, particularly a terminal cancer diagnosis, will cause people to inventory their life and consider their own mortality more than they ever have before.
What have you seen God do in people’s lives as you have engaged with them?
Many people say the greatest single blessing of their life is cancer. Cancer humbles them. They need help; they become open to the Gospel. The world says we should hate cancer, but cancer does some good things. People move from being casual believers to students of the Scriptures. If they know Christ, they strive to grow in a relationship with Him.
Cancer is called a trial with a deadline. Many have been told by their doctors they are terminal and they might have only months to live. Cancer gives them time to ponder things. God tells them they are not terminal if they have a relationship with Him. If they come to know Christ through the circumstances of a cancer trial, they change everything they do in life. Those who are going through cancer want to get involved and minister to others.
What has serving through the Cancer Support Group at your church done in your lives?
It has helped our marriage. We are more gracious to each other with everyday situations. We’ve been touched by people who we are serving. Being involved in ministry has caused us to grow in our faith.
So many people spend their whole life looking for their calling in life, and I have found mine through what many would call the most unpleasant of circumstances. Ministering to people with cancer has become part of our daily routine, and we are extremely grateful and thankful for this unbelievable and humbling privilege. Our greatest joy comes from serving Him.
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Jim writes a blog about people dealing with cancer and the ministry opportunities it provides at cancersupportchronicles.com
