Partners In The Mission: Praise The Lord 05/06/2008 a message from Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director As I begin moving back into a limited work schedule after an extended illness, it is a privilege for me to praise the Lord for your prayers, cards, calls and concern. Please convey my thanks to fellow church members and Sunday school classes because so many have prayed for my healing and recovery. The four weeks of my hospital stay at Baptist East Hospital provided me with some challenging days. But God has been gracious in giving me a new lease on life and a new perspective for living my life. Presently, my doctors are phasing out the medications used to treat the bacterial infection in my colon and the blood clots that developed in my calves. They have given me permission to return to activities as appropriate and, last week, I returned to the office part time. While my illness was very difficult, the hospital time provided me many opportunities to experience God. He was my constant companion and I spent much time talking with Him. As I focused on His marvelous creation of the universe, world and human body, I came to understand that it is a privilege for me to praise the Lord. It is a privilege to praise Him for forgiveness through the atoning death of Jesus who suffered an agonizing death on the cross for my sins. I praise God that I am forgiven and that Jesus is alive at the right hand of the Father interceding for you and me. It is a privilege to praise Him for the Holy Spirit who lives within us and guides us to the truth. It is a privilege to praise Him for family and Kentucky Baptists. It is also a privilege for me to praise God for your gracious support of missions through the Cooperative Program and the Eliza Broadus Offering for state missions, which recently exceeded the $1 million goal. Please continue to pray and encourage one another for increased support of CP through your local church. It is also a privilege to praise God for the KBC staff. We exist primarily to serve the churches and consider it a privilege under God to do so. I thank God for their faithfulness during my hospitalization and since. Assistant Executive Director Steve Thompson has provided excellent direction and communication with staff and me. Please continue to pray for my recovery and for my daughter, Anonda, who is being tested for a liver/thyroid disorder. Also, please continue to pray for Virginia Bauscher, the wife of Evangelism Growth Team Leader Ross Bauscher, as she deals with cancer, and for Missions Growth Team Leader Randy Jones as he provides support for his wife, Lawanna, and his parents. Let’s all pray for one another. We are family and family members care for one another! Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535.