Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor's Page
Dear Friends in Christ,
Back in the February 2026 newsletter I shared with you the not-so-good news about my rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis. It has been quite a journey since then and I’d like to update you about my condition. There were various points along the way where I truly thought I’d have to resign due to my inability to function. But God is gracious and He has brought about a dramatic amount of healing. I’d go so far as to say that it’s been nearly a 180-degree turn around. Please allow me to share a little bit of what has transpired so that you can praise God along with Gayleen and me.
One of the tests used to identify inflammatory arthritis is called C-reactive protein (CRP.) The normal level should be 5 or lower. In January, my number was 50! That’s ten times higher than it should be. After that, my doctor at Mayo started me on a medicine and scheduled me to come back in 2 months to check my progress. By March, my CRP had only dropped slightly to 42. The way my body felt was proof that things had not improved. Thankfully, my doctor was confident that we’d find a solution. She changed my medicine and I began to slowly feel less pain. I’m happy to report that my follow up appointment in mid-May showed that my CRP count was 3! I thanked my doctor repeatedly for being so diligent in looking for the right path to bring about my healing. Having said that, though, I should add that I’m not 100%. I generally tell people that I’m 85-90% better than I was at my low point in January. There are still residual aches and pains and limitations. But at least now I’m optimistic about my future in the ministry and also in just functioning in general.
Well, that’s a brief summary of where things are at with my health. I share this because I feel you should know if there’s anything limiting your Pastor in his duties. Plus, we are called on by God to pray for one another. You can’t pray if you don’t know. And I sincerely do appreciate all your prayers. They certainly have been answered by God. I would humbly ask for your continued prayers since this condition will never really go away. It can only be controlled. Even so, I encourage you to join with me in thanking God for His gracious healing. May God bless all of you even as you face the day-to-day challenges in your own life.
In Christ, Pastor Don Meyer
