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Responding to
crises in people's lives through telephone counseling,
using prayer and the Word of God - this is the heart of
The 700 Club Counseling Center. And true to its mission,
the Center has responded to over 400,000 calls since 1995,
all from people who needed encouragement, prayer, sound
advice, answers to questions, or simply someone to talk
to.
Manned by
dedicated and trained telephone counselors, the Center
operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Working in support
of CBN Asia's television ministry, particularly its
flagship program The 700 Club Asia, counselors are ready
to take calls anytime from viewers touched by the show.
Over the
years, God's power to heal the sick, transform lives
and restore broken relationships has been made real
in the lives of so many people who have called the Center
asking for prayers and seeking God's will in their lives.
One such
story is that of breast and lung cancer survivor Mary
Ann dela Cruz. Last August 11, a counselor received
a call from Mary Ann who regularly called the Center
to ask for prayers for healing. But this time, she called
to share that God has finally healed her.
In 1996,
Mary Ann was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer.
Soon, she began calling the Counseling Center to ask
for prayers. Even though a Christian, Mary Ann was angry
and questioned God and stopped going to church. A separated
single mother, Mary Ann thought her illness was a curse
for all her sins in the past. But in spite of how angry
she felt towards God, Mary Ann continued to call the
Center for prayer and encouragement.
Over the
years, the cancer transferred from her left breast to
the right, and she eventually had to undergo mastectomy.
Wanting to survive, Mary Ann underwent all possible
treatments for cancer - chemotherapy, radiation, lumpectomy,
immuno therapy, and various surgeries, along with different
kinds of medications.
In July 2003, doctors found lumps in her lungs the size
of 25-centavo coins. Within 30 days, the growth multiplied
from 3 to 15 lumps, and doctors diagnosed her case as
stage 4 lung cancer. This time, instead of feeling more
angry, Mary Ann saw it as a wake-up call from God. She
knew God was calling her and her children back to Him.
Mary Ann and her two kids recommitted their lives to
Christ and began attending church once again. It was
then that her relationship with her kids and family
began to flourish.
Still, Mary
Ann's battle with cancer continued, and she developed
complications - type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart
enlargement and arthritis. By this time, her family
hardly had any money left to sustain her treatment and
medication.
Then, last
August 9, during a routine chest x-ray, doctors were
surprised to find her lungs clear of any growth. Perplexed,
doctors suggested that Mary Ann undergo the test again,
and for the second time it showed that the lumps in
her lungs had disappeared. Somewhat still unconvinced,
Mary Ann was asked to have her chest x-rayed for the
third time, and by God's miracle it was indeed clear.
She underwent a couple of other tests, and doctors diagnosed
her totally healed of cancer.
Mary Ann
gives all the glory to God for her miraculous healing.
She is also deeply thankful to counselors of The 700
Club Counseling Center for tirelessly praying for her
through her nine years of battle with cancer. And in
time, God answered their prayers. Today, Mary Ann is
a committed member of their church choir, while her
kids are with the dance and music ministry.
Mary Ann
is only one of thousands whose lives have been touched
by the power of God through The 700 Club Counseling
Center. Regardless of belief or station in life, the
700 Club counselors are always ready to pray for and
encourage people in need.
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