Faith

Tennessee Minister Turns Stage 4 Cancer Battle Into Daily Testimony of Faith

Published

4 days ago

June 11, 2026

faithandfreedo

Faith Facts

Chris McCurley, minister at Walnut Street Church of Christ in Dickson, Tennessee, completed eight weeks of radiation treatment for stage four metastatic prostate cancer while continuing his ministry duties
Despite his diagnosis, McCurley maintains that “cancer can be a ministry,” using his journey to minister to fellow patients at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and document his faith journey on social media
The husband and father of three continues preaching and serving his congregation while undergoing ongoing hormone therapy and medication, declaring “God wins” as his guiding principle

The sound of victory echoed throughout the halls of Nashville’s Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center on May 7 as Chris McCurley pulled the rope and rang the gold bell, ending eight weeks of radiation treatment.

For many cancer patients, ringing the bell signals the end of their journey. But it marked another milestone in an ongoing battle for McCurley, minister for the Walnut Street Church of Christ in Dickson, 40 miles west of Nashville.

The preacher has spent the past two years navigating prostate cancer, a journey that led to a diagnosis of stage four metastatic disease. In its most advanced stage, the cancer spread outside of its original location earlier this year.

While radiation successfully targeted tumors, his treatment continues through hormone therapy and medication.

Yet throughout daily chemotherapy treatments and hour-long commutes to Nashville, McCurley has embraced a phrase that has shaped his outlook: “Cancer can be a ministry.”

“I don’t believe God gave me cancer, but I certainly believe he’s used it,” the husband and father of three said.

‘Why am I scared?’

McCurley’s cancer journey began in February 2024, when rising prostate-specific antigen levels signaled to doctors that a malignant growth could be developing. An MRI and biopsy confirmed a small cancerous tumor, measuring about 1 millimeter in diameter, or about the tip of a needle.

Doctors offered the 49-year-old preacher several treatment options, including radiation and proton therapy. He ultimately chose radical prostate surgery to remove the tumor.

“To me, I had cancer and I wanted it out,” McCurley said. “And it wasn’t hard to convince me.”

Although the surgery appeared successful, post-operation pathology revealed that the growth extended beyond the prostate capsule. Still, for nearly a year and a half, McCurley’s prostate-specific antigen levels remained undetectable.

In early 2026, as he prepared for the birth of his second grandchild, doctors found that the cancer had returned and progressed to stage four metastatic prostate cancer.

“I was scared. And I feel bad about that,” McCurley said. “I’m a man of faith. I’m a preacher. Why am I scared?”

As the cancer spread to the bones, including the spine, femur and iliac bone, McCurley said he found peace in his relationship with God, leaning on a saying: “It’s you and me, no matter what, and it’s going to be OK.”

From that point forward, the diagnosis — and the faith that came along with it — became a daily reality, defined by chemotherapy treatments, long drives to Nashville and what he describes as unseen opportunities to share his faith.

‘This is life now — you’re a cancer patient’

After the stage four diagnosis, McCurley said the challenge shifted from treatment decisions to daily endurance. Working out at a higher intensity and taking naps on the couch in his church office became part of a new daily rhythm.

“This is life now,” he said. “You’re a cancer patient.”

For eight weeks, McCurley’s routine began early in the morning, with coffee and Bible reading before departing his Dickson home for the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. There, he underwent a series of 10- to 15-minute radiation treatments.

Waiting for him at many of those appointments was Trace Pierce, a radiation therapist at Vanderbilt and a fellow member of the Walnut Street church. Pierce first reached out after watching McCurley announce his diagnosis on Facebook, offering support and connections with medical resources at the hospital.

As treatment progressed, the two developed a strong bond.

“The hardest part sometimes is just waking up every day and driving in for 39 treatments,” Pierce said. “That takes a toll in itself.”

As the weeks passed, McCurley began to feel the side effects of radiation on his body. But even on days when the preacher wasn’t feeling his best, Pierce said, few people in the waiting room and during his treatments would have known.

“He’d still come in, talk to everybody, ask how they were doing and offer to pray with them,” Pierce said. “That’s just who he is as a person.”

Those interactions became an unexpected blessing in a new season of life. McCurley said he does not miss the radiation, but he does miss the fellowship shared in waiting rooms and hospital hallways.

“There is a sense where I’m going to miss these because you develop these friendships,” he said. “You sit in the lobby and meet these people who are there every day that had a brain tumor removed, and you get to sit there and counsel with them and do ministry, and they do ministry with you.”

The same openness that led McCurley in forming relationships at Vanderbilt reinforced a belief that had guided him throughout his walk: Even cancer can be a ministry.

“Cancer has been such a big blessing to me in so many ways,” he said. “There are things I would never have experienced if not for this diagnosis.”

‘This is a God story’

For the Walnut Street minister, that ministry did not end when he left Vanderbilt’s waiting room. Even with stage four metastatic cancer and ongoing hormone therapy through medication, McCurley continues preaching the glory of God.

The cancer and an uncertain future remain, but so does his trust in faith, family and his belief that “God wins.”

Between treatments and sermon preparations, McCurley avoided turning his cancer journey into the focus of his mission. Instead, he documented every step through a series of Facebook posts, providing updates and showing appreciation for prayers.

What started as simple updates became a lifeline for many members of his congregation looking for ways to support their preaching minister.

“The videos keep us informed so we know how to pray for him,” said Joanne Brown, who has attended Walnut Street since 1976. “He’s definitely seeing that love and support full-fledged because of what he’s going through.”

The updates also reflect a philosophy that, church leaders say, has defined McCurley’s ministry since he joined the congregation in 2022, long before his diagnosis.

“Ministry is not a thing you do on Sundays. It’s your life,” Walnut Street shepherd Brian Reagan said of McCurley, who’s authored multiple books and hosted over 200 episodes of the “Dear Church” podcast. “Chris has extended that into speaking in very real, transparent terms about what’s going on in his life.”

Even as the possibility of recurrence remains, McCurley said he does not view his story as one defined by illness but by faith. The bell at Vanderbilt marked the end of his radiation treatment but not of his ministry.

“This is not a Chris McCurley cancer story. This is a God story,” he said. “It’s a story about how God has navigated Chris McCurley through cancer, and how Chris McCurley is going to win because God wins.”

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Faith

The Celebration That Can’t Deliver What It Promises

Published

4 hours ago

June 15, 2026

faithandfreedo

Faith Facts

Christianity offers the only worldview that truly explains the existence and purpose of pleasure
A culture fixated on immediate gratification consistently fails to provide lasting fulfillment
Biblical wisdom reveals that true joy comes through honoring God’s design for human flourishing

The Christian worldview is not hostile to pleasure. In fact, Christianity is the only worldview that can truly explain why pleasure exists at all.

While our culture celebrates various forms of self-gratification, particularly during designated months of recognition, it consistently fails to deliver on its central promise: genuine happiness and fulfillment. This represents one of the great ironies of our time — a society obsessed with pleasure finds itself increasingly empty.

Scripture teaches that God created pleasure for our good, but within a framework of purpose and design. When we pursue pleasure as an end in itself, disconnected from the Creator who fashioned it, we find only temporary satisfaction that quickly fades.

The Christian understanding recognizes that human beings are made for something greater than momentary gratification. We are created in God’s image with eternal souls, designed for relationship with our Maker and with one another in ways that honor His design.

True pleasure — the kind that satisfies deeply and endures — comes not from rebellion against God’s standards but from aligning our lives with His purposes. This is the path to genuine joy that our culture, in its pursuit of autonomy, has abandoned.

When we reject God’s design for human sexuality, marriage, and family, we don’t liberate ourselves into greater pleasure. Instead, we cut ourselves off from the very source of lasting joy.

The answer to our culture’s emptiness isn’t more celebration of self-directed desire, but a return to the wisdom of our Creator. Only in Him do we find the abundant life He promises — a life where pleasure finds its proper place within His good design.

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Faith

Historic Dallas Church Rises from the Ashes with New Sanctuary

Published

6 hours ago

June 14, 2026

faithandfreedo

Faith Facts

First Baptist Dallas broke ground on a new sanctuary nearly two years after a devastating fire destroyed their historic building
The congregation is targeting Easter 2028 for the debut of the new sanctuary
The groundbreaking ceremony marks a milestone of faith and resilience for one of America’s most prominent evangelical churches

In a powerful display of faith and determination, First Baptist Dallas held a groundbreaking ceremony marking the official start of their rebuilding process. The historic church was devastated by fire nearly two years ago, but the congregation has remained steadfast in their commitment to restore their spiritual home.

The new sanctuary represents more than just bricks and mortar—it symbolizes the unwavering spirit of a Christian community that refused to be defeated by tragedy. Church leaders and members gathered to celebrate this significant milestone in their journey of restoration.

First Baptist Dallas has long stood as a beacon of evangelical Christianity in America, known for its bold proclamation of biblical truth and traditional values. The congregation’s resilience in the face of this devastating loss demonstrates the enduring power of faith and community.

The ambitious timeline targets Easter 2028 for the debut of the new sanctuary, a fitting resurrection timeline that mirrors the hope and renewal central to the Christian faith. This sacred deadline gives special meaning to the rebuilding effort, connecting the physical restoration of the church building to the spiritual renewal celebrated at Easter.

The groundbreaking ceremony brought together church members who have weathered this storm together, maintaining their worship and fellowship despite the loss of their historic sanctuary. Their perseverance serves as an inspiration to Christian communities across the nation facing their own challenges.

As construction begins, the project stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when a faith community remains united in purpose and committed to their mission. The new sanctuary will continue First Baptist Dallas’s legacy of proclaiming the Gospel and upholding Christian values in an increasingly secular culture.

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Faith

A Convention Reborn: Why This Pastor Sees Hope for Southern Baptists After 50 Years

Published

8 hours ago

June 14, 2026

faithandfreedo

Faith Facts

A veteran Southern Baptist pastor reports the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting showed renewed unity and optimism after years of division
Attendees displayed noticeably higher morale and excitement about the convention’s future direction
The gathering marked a potential turning point for America’s largest Protestant denomination amid cultural challenges

After five decades of attending Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meetings, one seasoned pastor says the 2024 gathering offered something increasingly rare in recent years: genuine hope.

The mood shift was unmistakable. People were happier than in recent years and, most importantly, were anticipating the SBC’s future with both encouragement and excitement.

For an observer who has witnessed half a century of convention politics, theological debates, and institutional struggles, the change in atmosphere represents more than just improved sentiment. It signals a potential turning point for the nation’s largest Protestant denomination at a time when faithful witness has never been more critical.

The Southern Baptist Convention has weathered significant storms in recent years, from internal divisions over race and politics to high-profile scandals that tested member loyalty. Yet the 2024 meeting suggested the denomination may be finding its footing again, returning to core mission priorities that first united its churches.

What made this particular gathering stand out was not any single decision or resolution, but rather the collective spirit of messengers who seemed ready to move forward together. The divisions that had characterized recent meetings appeared to give way to a renewed sense of common purpose centered on the Great Commission.

For those who care deeply about the future of evangelical Christianity in America, the health of the SBC matters enormously. With over 47,000 churches and 13 million members, the convention’s direction influences not just Southern communities but the broader conservative Protestant witness nationwide.

The improved morale at the convention reflects what many pastors are seeing at the local church level: believers hungry for unity around biblical truth rather than endless infighting. In an age of cultural confusion, Christians are rediscovering the power of standing together on essentials while extending grace on secondary matters.

This shift toward encouragement and forward-looking vision couldn’t come at a better time. American culture desperately needs the moral clarity and compassionate ministry that faithful Southern Baptist churches have historically provided to their communities.

As the convention moves forward from this encouraging meeting, the challenge will be maintaining this renewed sense of purpose and translating positive sentiment into effective ministry. The test of any annual meeting is not the feelings it generates but the fruit it produces in local churches doing the work of the gospel.

Still, after 50 years of conventions, this veteran observer knows that momentum matters. When God’s people gather with genuine excitement about serving Him together, remarkable things become possible. That’s reason enough for encouragement.

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