By Steve Rees, Special to the ASSIST News Service
Matthew 6:33 reads, “But seek
first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be
added to you.” These - the words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of
Matthew - have guided Mary from her youth in Northbrook, Illinois, the
one-time, speed-skating capitol of the world. There, she trained with
three Olympic champions in speed skating - dreaming herself of bringing
home a gold – and excelled in gymnastics and track-and-field.
But her home changed to Fergus
Falls, Minnesota, and over time so did her athletic ambitions, along
with her spiritual life and physical health. Yet, Matthew 6:33 remained a
constant. Married in 1980, Pastors Steve and
Mary
Bangs today lead a thriving children's ministry, have four children and
seven grandchildren. Six years after her marriage, Mary was diagnosed
with a life-threatening disease.
Husband Steve, a fellow
competitor and friend, joined by a ministry-school student, and a
medical doctor didn't doubt the tenacity, resolve, courage, spirit and
faith of Bang's training for the Half Ironman Triathlon (1.2 miles in
water, 56 miles on bike, and 13 miles on foot), or that she would finish
her race; what troubled them was Addison’s Disease, an autoimmune
condition that left Bangs in a coma near death and tied to a bed in
1986.
Slightly over a month before
the longest distance competition of her life (and second-place behind
the former Olympic athlete), Bangs suffered an Addison’s crisis during
an Olympic-Distance Triathlon praying, “God, I don't know if it's
stubbornness, but I'm going to cross the finish line if I have to crawl
over it.”
Cross it she did, her body
shutting down and falling into the arms of Pastor Steve, who arrived in
time with a jar of pickle juice. It, along with steroids and
medications, neutralize hormonal deficiencies normally regulated by the
body's adrenal glands. The condition impacts kidneys and livers and can
lead to diabetes.
Even before Mary lined up her
support team, there was an intercessory prayer pastor at her church in
Colorado, whose direct questions inspired her and brought Matthew 6:33
into sharp focus: “What did you like doing when you were a child, a
teenager, an adult?”
“My two favorite things have
always been studying and teaching the Bible, and athletic competition.
After I answered those two questions, I knew God would be with me to the
finish line,” she remembers thinking in advance of the September 2015
Half Ironman.
One of her students, Ben
Miller, agreed to help Pastor Mary in training, particularly the cycling
leg of the three-part event. He and Dr. Phil Hooper, who diagnosed the
pastor's adrenal/thyroid condition almost 30 years ago, turned out be
big supporters whose encouragement made the difference during the
training and race itself. Bangs says she benefited not only from
Hooper's medical and dietary advice and personal support, but from
Miller's encouragement, which proved to be prophetic words that spurred
her onto victory.
“It was a spiritual thing that I
don't know how to explain,” says Bangs, adding that the Holy Spirit
spoke to her about strategies, including the words “don't overheat,”
during the run and race segments. “I did feel my Heavenly Father's
tangible presence on me, and I do believe that I was the apple of His
eye.”
Friend Chris Vick, who's
competed side-by-side Pastor Mary in numerous endurance events and
insisted she go for her “personal Olympic gold medal” by competing in
and finishing a Half Ironman, says she's amazed by her pastor's tenacity
coupled with her wisdom.
“It was impressive to watch her
push through difficulties in training, including an Addison’s crisis,”
says Vick, who completed her own Half Ironman in a different age group.
“When a lot of people would have given up, she did everything including
contacting her doctor for wisdom,” she says.
Recalling his wife's triumph
and his fear of her physical body's failure a month earlier, Pastor
Steve talks emotionally talking about the dual realities they faced that
day. “The tears come from emotional relief that the race was over. Her
previous race experience, and nearly having to take her to the hospital
had cast a pall of angst over me.
Looking at her finish time,
6:33, Pastors Mary and Steve say they were reminded of God's
faithfulness to them in their ministry and personal lives. By seeking
first God's kingdom and His righteousness “all these things” - the
Heavenly Father's pleasure, a personal gold medal, and an
inconsequential disease when it counted - were added to them on race
day.
Photo captions: 1) Mary coming
to the end of the race. 2) Mary takes off on her bike. 3) Mary on the
dias. 4) Mary displays her awards. 5) Mary with her husband. 6) Steve
Rees.
** You may republish this or any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar