“Why did you bring me back?”

Even though God says that we are to be ready in season and out of season, I’m often surprised by how God acts, writes Marty Davison. The things he has lined up for us are often beyond comprehension!

I hadn’t imagined that my first overseas trip as Missions Director would look like this…

A message had come through on my phone, “…call me when you wake up.” The time stamp on my phone was 04:51 hours. The previous day I’d been on the phone to one of our Elim Global partners, a pastor in Asia whose son, Justin, was very sick in hospital.

Justin had been diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma. Chemotherapy hadn’t proven successful, and the doctors had told his mum and dad to expect the worst, that he’d slip into a coma and not wake up.

Justin had slipped into a coma and his dad had gathered the frail body of his son into his arms and cried out to God for the life of his only son. The whole of the Elim Global family, from the Americas to India, had united in accompanying the family’s journey in prayer, with words of encouragement and support.

Justin, a fit young teenager had been having difficulties with his breathing which didn’t improve with routine treatments, and further examinations were undertaken. We were shocked when the biopsy came back as cancer, but Justin was young, we prayed and sent words of encouragement, and his dad kept us posted with updates on WhatsApp, along with photos, and short videos.

Praying harder

As things got worse the intensity of our prayers increased. The Elim Global family were praying, the Missions team at Malvern HQ was praying, the Elim UK movement via Prayer for the Nations was praying, and other groups of intercessors and prayer warriors got engaged too.

When I read the message, “…call me when you wake up”, I knew immediately that Justin had gone.

There is something terribly unnatural about a parent having to bury their child. The depth of pain is unimaginable, palpable, excruciatingly intense. I remember when a missionary visiting us in the Amazon received the news that his toddler back home had fallen, unbeknownst to anyone, into a neighbour’s swimming pool and drowned. All we could do was cradle our dear brother in our arms as he sobbed uncontrollably.

Justin’s gone to be with the Lord. Paul Hudson had been on the phone with the family in the early hours of our morning. Just hours before, I had been on the phone celebrating a small but what felt was a significant victory ‒ could it be the turning point; the miracle we’d been crying out for? – Justin had woken from his coma to announce he was hungry!

“Call me when you wake up.” I returned the call to Paul Hudson – we chatted – the family was going to need help – help to get their son’s body home (he had been treated at a specialised hospital, a flight away). Phone calls were made around the globe, the best route for finance to arrive was going to be via Elim New Zealand. Paul sent out a video to the Elim Global family worldwide asking for financial help to repatriate Justin’s body and help the family with the expenses of the funeral.

The responses made me cry. Money began to come in. I was overwhelmed to see those who have so little give so generously out of their lack when they were in so much need themselves!

As a global movement, we’d moved into such unity through this family’s trials and tribulations ‒united in grief. Within 24 hours, my flights had been booked, eight flights in seven days, there and back, to be with the family at this time of the loss of their only son. I hadn’t imagined my first trip to be like this.

Escorted home

More than 1,000 people attended Justin’s funeral. He was received at the local airport and escorted home with a cavalcade of motorbikes and cars. Justin’s dad had started a church in an area where 20 years ago there were no churches and no believers. He had laid down his life for the community and they’d turned out in force to mourn together, to support one another, to offer their assistance and show their love to the family. My time with the family was more than special. We cried together, we laughed together, I listened to stories about Justin and we cried some more, the pain tangible but God’s presence even more so.

Justin had been having horrendous nightmares. He’d wake up and describe the battle and the darkness – and we’d prayed into this. Now as I was with Justin’s father, he told me something that impacted me powerfully. When Justin had woken from his coma, he hadn’t only said, “I’m hungry.” He’d also asked, “Dad, dad, why did you bring me back? I was happy, I was in such warmth and light and with such lovely people and peace.”

God is good all the time, and all the time God is good! His ways are higher than ours, beyond our comprehension. Wow, what comfort in the midst of the pain to know that Justin was no longer suffering but was with his heavenly Father.

I cannot express the magnitude of the privilege it is to serve God. Please continue to lift up Justin’s family in prayer – you don’t need to know names or locations – just that they’re part of our family too.

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.