Welcome to the first Phil's Friends Newsletter!
Phil's Corner
Hello! My name is Phil Zielke, and I'm the Founder of Phil's Friends. I was diagonosed with Stage 4B Hodgkin's Lymphoma in April of 2004. After aggresive chemotherapy, tests showed no signs of cancer by September of that year. In April of 2005, the cancer returned. I endured more aggresive treatment including 6 days of lethal chemotherapy, radiation and a succssful stem cell transplant. By November of that same year, the tests showed that I was cancer free. It was on my hospital bed during my sickest moments where the ideas for Phil's Friends were born. I wanted to use this sickness and what I had learned from it to help others in similar situations. God transformed my life during my fight with cancer, including my priorities, attitudes, and my outlook on life. To this day I will say that cancer was the best thing that has ever happened to me. God was my source of strength, and I want other cancer patients to know the strength and peace that can only come through faith in Christ.
Phil's Friends reaches out to cancer patients with the compassion of Christ and shares the gospel message of salvation through Christ alone. If God puts it on your heart to help out with this great cause, please contact us today.
Walk-a-Thon UpdatePhil’s Friends would like to sincerely thank all who attended our 3 Annual Walk-A-Thon on May 4. Additionally, we would like to thank all of our volunteers! We appreciate EACH of you whose support and efforts made the day very successful! Thank you!
God blessed the day in innumerable ways, and we give Him all the glory for His provision and sovereignty! He provided beautiful weather which allowed people to enjoy the many activities – listening to 11 bands, playing games, enjoying a moon jump and dunk tank (featuring Phil in the hot seat), a hot rod show, a silent auction, visiting various booths, making cards for cancer patients, writing prayer requests on the prayer wall, enjoying concessions, listening to testimonials from cancer patients, enjoying the Moody radio emcees, and walking many laps to raise money! Some special laps included a prayer lap, a cancer survivor lap, and a family lap. After hearing nine very talented local bands throughout the afternoon, the evening concluded with concerts by popular bands 33 Miles and Mark Schultz. The Mark Schultz concert was a highlight of the day, with people gathered on the football field to hear this band praise God, enjoying the ideal weather and the sunset. It was a great ending to an inspiring day.
We were able to raise to raise over $48,000 this year. This money is being used to continue our mission, which is to initially reach out to cancer patients with the gospel message and then offer continuing support.
Again, we would like to thank the 1,000 people who participated in our fundraiser this year. We are extremely appreciative of your support which allows us to continue our mission! God bless you!
Would you like to view our brochure? Click
here.
Would you like to send a care package to a cancer patient?If you know of someone who has cancer, feel free to request a care package to be sent to them. Our care packages contain numerous comforting items as well as spiritual material inlcuding the Gospel message. We have care packages for women, men, teenagers and children. We can mail them directly to their home, we can mail them to you if you would like to deliver them personally, or we can deliver them to the patient if they are in the Chicago area. There is no cost to have these assembled and delivered. If you would like to request one, please click
here.
One care package recipient said:
"Thank you so very much for thinking of me with the blue bag full of comforting goodies and books. I cried when I received them. I was surprised there was anyone out there who would do such a good deed for a total stranger. I went throught breast cancer 13 years ago. I fought against it then and now I'm going to do it again, with God's help."
Prayer
We believe in the amazing power of prayer, and we have volunteers who pray regularly.
If you would like to add a cancer patient's name to our prayer list (with their permission) please click
here.
Do you have specific prayer requests for a cancer patient? Feel free to email them to
info@philsfriends.org at
any time. These requests are updated continually, and our volunteers are ready to pray for your specific requests!
Adopt-a-Cancer-Patient
Would you like to walk alongside a cancer patient? If you would like to be in communication with someone who is dealing with cancer to offer support and encouragement, please click here. For any questions, contcat us at info@philsfriends.org .
Upcoming Events:
Phil's Friends 5K Walk/Run
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Spring Creek Reservoir, Bloomindale, IL
Click here for details.
US Bank Chicago Marathon
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Phil's Friends has been accepted as an official chariy for the marathon.
Inaugural Phil's Friends Dinner
Friday, November 21st, 2008
Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL
For information on this event click here!
Letter From Bruce (after receiving a care package for his father)
My father had not been feeling well for some time. After seeing doctors in Brazil and Florida, it was determined that he had cancer, and that there wasn’t much time left for him on earth. My sister-in-law and I went to Florida to see my father for the last time. I brought a Phil’s Friends package with to give to my dad. I went through the items with my father and he had a lot of questions. We explained what each item was and what it meant. That Saturday my dad decided to go to church on Sunday morning. Near the end of the church service, the pastor asked people to come forward if they wanted to make a public profession of accepting Christ. My father raised his hand and went forward. In the church there was a big baptismal pool where people were being baptized, but instead, my father decided that he wanted to be baptized in the Gulf of Mexico. So, he went out into the Gulf of Mexico and was baptized. The care package was the final piece for my dad. Sometimes it takes that one more piece to put the final brick in the wall to become a Christian. The Holy Spirit is constantly tugging at us, and the devil is constantly trying to make sure that the final brick doesn’t get into place. Phil’s Friends was the last piece that helped my father realize that he needed to be saved. The fact that someone (Phil’s Friends) would reach out who doesn’t even actually know you means a lot.
Bruce
School Opportunities/Youth group opportunities/Vacation Bible School opportunities If you would like to highlight Phil's Friends for a chapel service, service project, mission of the month, ministry offering, or would like to be involved in any way, please feel free to contact us at
info@philsfriends.org . For chapel services or care pacakge drive information, please click
here. We would look forward to partnering with you!
Want to sport some Phil's Friends Merchandise? Click here to view and purchase our merchandise.
Donation
Click here to make a donation for a cancer patient. Every $50 we receive allows us to assemble and deliver a care package.
Chapters
If you would like information about starting a Phil's Friends chapter in your church, school, university, or organization, please click
here. Chapters can be established and operated according to your schedule and availablity.
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13
Phil's Friends is an official 501(c)3 public charity. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
Phil's Friends
405 S. Rush Street
Roselle, IL 60172
630-577-7695
www.philsfriends.org
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