For the purpose of relating to the The Life Givers Network®, Members are either patients and or family members who are being sponsored by some entity (private, corporate, church, or foundation) or persons who are donors, acting to regularly support the work of this ministry at a level of at least $25 per month (which covers two people). These persons will have access to some resources and support that will not be available to the general public.

However, there is far more to “membership” than monetary support. I would submit to all who are interested to read carefully what follows which I believe will challenge as well as encourage folks who are making a commitment to be involved.

Members are those who belong, they are a part of the whole, ones who officially belong. To be a member there must be two or more that belong to a group and who interact, who accept expectations and obligations as part of the group. They are those who share a common identity. They are more than a simple collection of individuals. They are individuals who are connected by social relationship.

I doubt if many have ever looked up the word “member” or thought much about it. In working to define what a “member” of The Life Givers Network® really was, I decided I would put myself through this exercise. Let me share some thoughts about what brings us together.

Our journey begins by understanding what it means to hear the diagnosis of a life-threatening, life-altering illness; this needs no further explanation

We understand what it means for life to be suddenly and forever altered

We understand what “there are no guarantees” means

We understand clearly what fear, anxiety, depression, and despair are about

We know what it is like to “want some hope”

We know what it means to have to grieve losses before they ever happen

BUT BEYOND ALL OF THAT AND MORE…

We also understand there is a hope which does not disappoint

We understand there can be incredible new life in the face of death

We understand that the “valley of trouble is not the end, but rather it can most certainly become the doorway to hope and an incredible place of fruitfulness.”

We understand that trouble can be the door to a new found permission to do things we never dreamed possible

We understand that there is more to life than the body and things

We understand that God, not man, is in control of ALL things and that knowing this is quite liberating

We understand that our time on this earth is in God’s hands

We understand that we are not accidents waiting to happen, but rather we are each unique creations, created in His image, intended to do incredible things while on this earth

We understand that we have incredible worth

We understand we are loveable for who we are, not what we do

We understand that we have the ability to “speak life” to that which appears to be dead or dying

We understand that we can be agents of change in this life; helping to transform journeys and radically alter what most perceive would be the possible outcomes

We also understand that in living for something larger than ourselves we find LIFE and find it more abundantly

And that if all this is true, we have a responsibility to share with those who feel hopeless, but NOT OUT OF OBLIGATION

We find ourselves “constrained by the goodness of a loving and merciful God” to share all we learn with as many as we can for as long as we can, and do all we can to help facilitate this process