Phil’s Friends Newsletter – December 2008
Merry Christmas to each of you! We pray you will have a blessed holiday season! As we reflect upon our year and our blessings, we are thankful to each of you who have partnered with Phil’s Friends. Thank you!
Phil’s Corner
Have you noticed the doors you have walked through lately? It is likely that you have walked through doors to stores this Christmas season. We walk through doors all the time; doors that vary in shape and size. Doors provide an entrance to a warm place in the midst of a cold and snowy December. Doors also provide an exit from unwanted circumstances. As the days get closer to Christmas, let's remember the true meaning and the best door that was ever opened for us; the entrance to salvation through Jesus Christ. At the same time let's remember the door that was closed for us because of Christ, the door of sin and eternal punishment.
How awesome it is to see how frequently God opens and closes doors in our daily lives.
As a part of Phil's Friends it is great to see how many doors God continues to open to reach cancer patients and their families with the message of hope only found in the Gospel.
Are there any doors God has opened in your life recently that you need to walk through? I pray that His Spirit will provide all the courage you need to enter and exit at the appropriate time.
Merry Christmas,
Phil
Inaugural Phil’s Friends Dinner
Thanks to all who attended our Inaugural Celebration of Hope Dinner! We are appreciative to each of you who attended to learn more about our ministry and to become involved in helping to provided Christ-like support and hope to cancer patients. We want to give special thanks to the many volunteers and sponsors who made the evening possible, and to two of our presenters and cancer survivors, John Zoida and Beeta Sabitthi. Your stories are extremely inspiring. Also, special thanks goes to Ray McElroy, former NFL player and current Bears Chaplain, for being our featured speaker of the evening and inspiring and motivating us in numerous ways. Thanks to all who volunteered to become involved through prayer, volunteering, and financial giving. God blessed the evening in many ways, and we give Him continual thanks for His provision and guidance.
Phil’s Friends Christmas Care Package Drive
During this holiday season, Phil’s Friends is having a Care Package Drive. If you would like to support cancer patients in this way, feel free to purchase any of the items listed below. These items will then be included in our care packages that we mail or deliver to cancer patients at this time and throughout the year.
Items can be collected at your church, school, business, organization, etc. We will pick them up from your location (in the Chicago area) when you send us an email at info@philsfriends.org to arrange a time and date for pick up. Items can also be dropped off or mailed to our main office at: Phil’s Friends, 405 S. Rush Street, Roselle, IL, 60172.
All items must be new. Needed items at this time include:
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Journals
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Fleece blankets (adult colors and patterns on blankets, Jewels PB fleece blankets)
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Bibles (pocket style New Testament)
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Decks of cards
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Thick, fuzzy socks for women
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Soduko books
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Crossword puzzle or word search books
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Tea (small box or jar)
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Coloring books (no violent pictures)
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Christian children’s books
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Trial sized Eucerin or Keri cream lotion
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Non flavored chap stick
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6 pack of purse size Kleenex
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Extra soft toothbrushes packaged singly
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Small crayon boxes
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Small colored pencil boxes
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Packages of blank note cards and envelopes
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Small single serving style coffee packs
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Panera Bread gift cards
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Prepackaged crafts for children and teens
Thank you for your consideration in partnering with us to support those who are affected by cancer. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@philsfriends.org. We pray that you and your family have a richly blessed holiday season!
Thank you!
A sincere thank you to John’s Christian Bookstore for the wonderful teddy bears were donated for our children’s care packages! So many children will be touched by these beautiful bears that you have thoughtfully donated! Thank you!
Thank you for the cards!
We want to sincerely thank all the students at St. John’s school in Country Club Hills, IL, and also Salem Christian School in Chicago, IL for the beautiful cards they have made for our care packages. We appreciate your thoughtful efforts!
Testimony
I was having headaches for a week and went in for an MRI.I was told a had spots on the brain. I checked into Alexian Bros and was checked out and was told I had renal kidney cancer that had metastisized to the brain. We decided to get a second opinion, so we came home after one week at Alexian Bros. As soon as we got home Phil's Friends delivered a care package to my home. I had been to two of Phil's walk-a-thons, but I never thought about receiving a care package. I had mixed emotions at first because we were still kind of in shock about the whole thing. But then as I worked through all the emotions that many of the books said I would, I thought what a wonderful thing. It was a spiritual duffle bag. It helped with my feelings of loneliness. Then I talked with Phil on the phone, and Phil and his wife came to my house and it was very encouraging. I feel much better now but at that time it was new and Phil really helped. The banquet was very emotional but in a good way. Phil' Friends has been a blessing and I plan on getting involved after my surgery and chemo. Dave.
2009 Chicago Marathon
Calling all runners….if you are interested in running the 2009 Chicago marathon on behalf of Phil’s Friends, please contact us at info@philsfriends.org. We are an official charity for the marathon and would love to have you join our team!
Save the date….2009 Walkfest!
Mark your calendars for our 2009 Walkfest which will be held on April 25, 2009. Note the new location which will be at St. Peter’s Church in Schaumburg. More information will be forthcoming.
Phil’s Friends Chicagoland Chapter
Would you like to be a part of our Phil’s Friends Chicagoland chapter? We generally meet on the last Thursday of each month in Elmhurst; please see the calendar on our website for specific dates. We discuss and implement various ways of fulfilling our mission of offering hope and support to cancer patients. Attendees are cancer patients, cancer survivors, volunteers, caregivers, those who are indirectly affected by cancer, and those who want to help in making a difference. All are welcome! For more information, please contact us at info@philsfriends.org or call us at 630-577-7695.
Phil’s Friends Support Groups
Immediately following our Chicagoland chapter meetings (see above) in Elmhurst, IL, a support group meeting is held. Again, all are welcome to attend this support group. It is led by a cancer patient/ survivor and Phil’s Friends volunteer, and it’s a time to discuss how cancer has affected us directly or indirectly, how to deal with it, helps for care giving, and how we can turn to Scripture for comfort, peace, joy and guidance. Please email us at info@philsfriends.org for details and for any questions you may have. We would love to have you join our Chicagoland Chapter and Support Group!
For information about another current Christian support group in Libertyville, IL, please contact Farrel at ffort@sbcglobal.net or 847-362-8155. Also, if you are interested in the possibility of having a support group established closer to your home, please contact Farrel.
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.
To date, Phil’s Friends has sent out over 460 care packages.
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.
School/Church/Organization Representative
Would you like to be a Phil’s Friends representative at your school/church/organization? Basically, it entails simply sending us names of people to whom we can send care packages (at no cost.) These names can be people at your institution, or people there who know of others elsewhere who are dealing with cancer. We can mail packages anywhere in the US or overseas.
Phil’s Friends Merchandise
Want to sport some Phil's Friends Merchandise? Click here to view and purchase our merchandise.
Donating
Click here to make a donation for a cancer patient. Every $50 we receive allows us to assemble and deliver a care package.
Recent Newspaper Article about Phil’s Friends
Our attitude is the only thing we can control
November 13, 2008
I recently read a quote that I would like to share -- one that I will not soon forget. "Here I stand at the edge of a large cliff, not able to see what my next step will bring. I take the next step knowing that God will either guide my feet as they step, or He will teach me how to fly..."
These words are from the blog entry on the Web site of philsfriends.org. Phil's Friends Christian Cancer Foundation provides sincere hope and encouragement to patients in the midst of their struggle with cancer.
"It seems we know an increasing number of people affected by cancer, and Phil's Friends provides support and hope for them when they need it most," said Sara Dahms of Darien.
With our infinitely busy lives, there are many concerns that compete for our attention. But priorities are completely realigned when a diagnosis of cancer has been given. The words, "stage 4B hodgkin's lymphoma" were spoken by a doctor back in 2004 to a young man who has taken this devastating news and turned it into a powerful ministry that touches the lives of countless individuals.
"To this day I will say that cancer was the best thing that has ever happened to me," said Phil Zielke, founder of Phil's Friends.
After four months of aggressive chemotherapy at University of Chicago Hospital, tests showed no cancer. But only months later, the cancer reappeared and more aggressive treatments were administered. At the height of these treatments, Phil endured chemotherapy followed by a stem-cell transplant and radiation.
There were countless doctor visits, countless tests and countless trips into Chicago. Phil and his family and friends are determined to accept what God has in store.
Phil has said, "Lord, if this is my time to go to Heaven, I am ready. But, if this is not my time I will keep on fighting and devote my life to you and whatever you have planned for me."
In some of his weakest times he cried out and his prayers were answered. He believes that God wants him to use this sickness and what he has learned from it to help others in similar situations.
Phil's Friends distributes care packages to cancer patients and their families and then offers support by journeying with them per their request. These care packages are tailor-made for the recipient. A child's is delivered in a backpack, while another comes in a gym bag or a tote. Home and hospital visits are made and letters and cards are sent on a regular basis.
Annual fund-raising events are held -- a Walk-A-Thon, and concerts with the likes of Avalon, 33 Miles, and Mark Schultz.
This year, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, the inaugural Celebration of Hope dinner will take place at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. It is sure to be a moving and inspiring event.
The evening will include keynote speaker and former NFL player Ray McElroy, who has dedicated his post-career time and efforts toward the enrichment and development of youth. He brings his empowering message to elementary, middle and high schools across the country. He challenges kids about the consequences of their choices while sharing the hope he personally found in Jesus Christ.
Last March, McElroy accepted the opportunity to be team chaplain for the Chicago Bears where he conducts weekly chapel and Bible studies for Bears players, coaches and their spouses.
The community is invited to attend the Celebration of Hope dinner. Register by Monday, Nov. 17, at philsfriends.org.
"God transformed my attitudes, priorities, and my outlook on life through cancer," said Phil.
He wants all cancer patients and their families to have the peace of Jesus Christ as their Savior to comfort them the way he did. He views this as his purpose in life.
What is your purpose? Each of us needs to reflect and determine this for ourselves, certainly. But, do give this careful thought and consideration. If you were to leave this world tomorrow, for what will you be remembered? Perhaps, it is the impact that you make on others.
Now, that is powerful stuff.
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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