Last Friday night I was at the American Girl store sneak preview with my daughter and another mom (and hundreds of other Houston moms, I am sure) when I heard beautiful harp music playing. I pulled out my camera to snap a shot of the woman playing and recognized her from my early Bible in 90 Days days, long before Zondervan, and also from several more recent Bible in 90 Days events.
I walked over, reintroduced myself and was so excited to see her, feeling all warm and Bible in 90 Days fuzzy.
We chatted for a bit. And then she said, “You know about Ted Cooper, don’t you?”
Time stood still.
She explained that he was very ill. We talked about it a little, but she was playing the harp and I was there to have fun with my daughter and I didn’t want to start crying. I thanked her for telling me and wandered back into the magic of McKenna, Kit and the American Girl dolls.
Saturday I called Ted, but got his voice mail and an announcement that his mailbox was filled.
“Please God, heal him. Be with his wife and kids. Comfort all of them. And tell me what to do,” I prayed.
I sent him an email and then forwarded it the very nice lady who works with him at Bible in 90 Days. And then I waited. And checked my email. And waited. And prayed some more.
My husband and I talked about what I should do to help Bible in 90 Days. We have been swamped with a new business venture but we both decided I should make myself available for whatever the Bible in 90 Days ministry might need. And we waited.
Yesterday morning I couldn’t wait any longer. I called the office and eventually was able to talk with Ted.
He let me know that he was indeed sick. He has an inoperable cancerous tumor. There is no way it can be treated. There is no scientific way he can be healed.
He laughed and said that only a miracle can heal him.
Physically he mostly feels fine, except he is a bit more fatigued. He explained that he must have had the tumor for about 10 years, and that it could take him anywhere from the next two or three years to 40 years. But the doctors guess it will be more like two or three years.
Ted is an amazing man. He has saved countless lives by developing and sharing the Bible in 90 Days ministry worldwide. He has been a champion for Bible-reading since he decided to finally read it himself and did, in just 90 days. That first effort enabled him to become a true Christian after many years of attending church, as he finally reached out to our Father then.
I was fortunate enough to take the Bible in 90 Days class with Ted as my leader. And when I moved out to the ‘burbs I took it to my new church, with photocopied study notes and borrowed Bibles in the right format until enough came in for our readers.
In the ministry’s early days, Ted would drive the lecture DVD to my house way out in the suburbs so I could share it with the first Bible in 90 Days group I facilitated. Years later, when I told him he needed to beef up his online presence he just smiled at me. And took my call a few hours later when I asked if I could maybe blog thorough the Bible in 90 Days on my tiny website. I hoped 20 would read with me. More than 200 did. And since then thousands have finished with MomsToolbox alone. Many, many, MANY more have finished using Ted’s resources in a more traditional setting.
Please join me in praying for Ted’s healing. God can and will do it if it is His will. Let’s ask to make it that.
If you’d like to send Ted a note to let him know you are praying for him or to say thanks for his dedication to helping people read the Bible, this is the address for the Bible in 90 Days ministry:
Ted Cooper
c/o Bible in 90 Days Ministry
7111 Harwin Drive
Suite 130
Houston, TX 77036
Please spread the word. There are Bible in 90 Day grads everywhere, thanks to him.
Thanks for sharing and thanks for praying.
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