Gideon, Kent Island, MD PDF Print E-mail

On August 20th 2006, Power of Hope Ministries began to receive emails in regards to the Pearson family. The following are excerpts from the emails we received. These emails show an awesome testimony of God's grace, love, and tender mercy toward one family. One family that truly had the power of Hope:

(recieved) Sunday, August 20, 2006


Please continue to pray for Jeff and Kim Pearson and their family. Jeff is planter-pastor of The Bridge on Kent Island. The Pearson's newborn son Gideon, who was born on Friday, is being transported from Anne Arundel Medical Center to Children's Hospital in Washington, DC. Gideon has a blood clot in his brain. The experts at Children's Hospital will seek to find the reason for the clot and activate treatment. The Pearsons are trusting the Lord and seek God's glory in their circumstances. When I visited with them this morning, Jeff mentioned Kim was scheduled to stay at AAMC for another day or two and had a desire to accompany the baby to DC. Let's pray for the health of the baby, strength of the family, and that Kim can be with the baby as he is transported to Children's.

Monday, August 21, 2006 6:52 AM


Dear Family & Friends,

Gideon went thru the night without any further seizure activity (he is on anti-seizure medication... and he is being lifted in countless prayers!).

Today the specialist teams at Children's Hospital are expected to pursue 3 main avenues of investigation:

A). The Children's Brain Surgery Team will look at Gideon's CatScan.

B). The Neurological Team will begin to check out Gideon's brain wave activity to see if they can determine what's going on and why it is happening;

C). The "Blood Team" may check into Gideon's blood to see if there is any clotting problems that could cause clots at an elevated level

Please continue to pray for Kim. She is very sore and at high risk for complications with her incision/recovery from the C-Section surgery. She insisted on going with Gideon, even though it puts her at risk and guarantees she will have to embrace intense pain. I will try to keep you updated as best I can along the way. Thank you for your commitment to pray without ceasing! We love you and thank the Lord for family & friends that carry us to the cross in times of need.

Worshiping through it all,

Jeffrey

Tuesday August 22, 2006 1:30

Dear Family & Friends,

I want to begin with a truth... our God is able! All day long I kept reminding myself that our God is able. Through prayer, praise... and worry... I kept returning to "the peace that passes all understanding," reminding myself over and over again that our God is able! We have so much to be thankful for as Christians, not the least of which is the privilege we have to lay our troubles at the feet of Jesus. To that end, I heard Kim telling someone that she can't imagine what people do in times like these if they don't have the opportunity to rest in their relationship with the Lord. Please remember to pray for those who don't have what we have... a blessed assurance and an awesome God.

Later in the day today, it became clear why the Lord kept putting the "our God is able!" truth on my heart... This afternoon we learned that Gideon had a Stroke. The cause of his seizures is a Stroke. At this point, while they cannot identify the root cause of the Stroke, they are confident that the seizures were symptomatic outcrops of a Stroke. As much as the word "Stroke" scared us, I could hear those reassuring words "Our God is able!" as the doctor's explanations followed. In short, here is what we were told: Gideon had a Stroke. The affects of Stroke are different in infants as opposed to adults... The bottom line is that infant brains are still forming; consequently, whereas adult brains tend to shut down the "bodily/sensory functions" of the impacted portions of the brain... infant brains tend to "re-wire around the affected area and find other ways to compensate." In the end, while we have to accept the risk of long-term consequences, right now, we've also been told that the reality of a Stroke DOES NOT mean that there will be long-term affects. Point blank, GIDEON MAY NOT HAVE ANY LASTING CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STROKE! Did I tell you what the Lord laid on my heart today???? Our God is able! With that said, it is important to note that we have seen God's hand in this process, regardless of the outcome. Kim and I KNOW that God has a plan and Gideon is a key part of it! Moreover, notwithstanding any of this, Gideon has been "fearfully and wonderfully made" by the One and only, all-powerful, loving God. We rest in this truth. We rest in the merciful hands of a sovereign God. In closing, we revel in that fact that our family has been blessed with another miracle, and his name is Gideon Armor... named intentionally to honor our Lord. The two parts of his name-sake (Gideon & "the full armor of God"), together, speak to the overcoming of the Enemy, overwhelming odds and a myriad of adversaries... all by faith in the living God! Lastly, I ask you to join our family in praying for Gideon with praise and worship to our Lord, Jesus Christ. There is no better ammunition or strategy in this fight. We have to accept the fact that our son is in a battle and the enemy is throwing everything he has at Gideon... But, WE HAVE ALREADY WON THE WAR. OUR GOD IS ABLE!!!

Pray that God's grace, mercy, and peace find you all this evening. Our family thanks you from the bottom of our collective heart! Stay on offense! Keep up the good fight! And please keep praying for Gideon Armor Pearson.

In Him,Jeffrey

Wednesday, August 23, 2006


Dearest Friends & Family, Our God is able! Gideon was blessed on Tuesday with a wonderful report from the Neurologist's EEG (brain wave test). In short, Gideon's brain waves tested "NORMAL" - Amen! While he suffered a Stroke, yesterday's test showed NO DEVASTATING AFFECT on Gideon's brainwave activity. Praise the Lord... Our God is able!!! Today we hope to have a MRI completed that will give the doctors a closer look into Gideon's brain. At this point, everything indicates that the Stroke did not leave any overwhelming damage in its wake. However, we still do not know where the Stroke came from or what caused it. The doctors are hoping the MRI will help them identify the root cause of the Stroke, as well as some of it's corresponding risks. With the MRI, "next steps" and long term assessments can begin. Once again I am so humbly reminded of our God's love and mercy!

Our family could not have received better news today! When we heard that Gideon's brain is acting normally, we were given our most desired gift. And it's important that we realize the good news is exactly that... a gift! The Lord doesn't owe us any medical results, He doesn't owe us any outcome at all (here on earth), yet He has answered our prayers and delivered Gideon from the challenging results that are so often associated with Stroke. That is not to say that Gideon will not have ANY remnants of the Stroke, but what we do know is that clinically, Gideon is expected to grow, mature, walk, talk, and play like a child who never had a Stroke. We may have to live with the risk of seizures, but at this point, it is a "risk" and not a certainty - Amen!

We need to leave for the hospital but I want to share one more thing with you from yesterday... Gideon is sleeping 99% of the time due to the medicines he's taking. But at about 2pm I began to read Scripture to Gideon... specifically, I read Judges chapter 6 (the biblical account of Gideon). In the process, I kept praying/saying verse 12 over him ("God is with you, mighty warrior"). Shortly after I finished he woke up suddenly (he had instant alertness) and joined us. His eyes tracked us and he responded directly to Kim's voice and eyes - it was beautiful! I kept reminding him that God is with him and that he is a mighty warrior. We talked about going on offense!!! And I believe his alertness was God's way of confirming our prayers! He (God) is with Gideon... Together we are in a spiritual battle... And Gideon is a tiny, mighty warrior... Best of all, we KNOW, in the midst of the battle... the WAR IS WON!!! Our God is able!
In Him,
Jeffrey

Thursday, August 24, 2006 8:15 AM


Gideon's MRI

Good Morning Prayer Warriors, Yesterday was quiet day for Gideon. He slept most of the time as a continued side-affect of the anti-seizure medicine he is taking. Consequently, a quiet day is a good day - Amen! The best part of yesterday came a little after 6pm when Gideon went for his MRI. The technician on duty at the time of the MRI said Gideon was moving around too much for the test to be effective... at first. But then, (thank you all for your prayers last night) as if in direct response to a command, Gideon settled down and allowed the test to run without incidence. Again we say: "Amen!"

The results of the MRI may take some time to decipher. We were told not to expect anything until late in the day today, if not tomorrow. Needless to say, we are anxious to hear the results. Even so, we will be blessed to be by Gideon's bedside in the meantime. Better yet, we are blessed to be in the hands of an all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful God throughout the entire process... and everyone said: Amen!

Thank you ALL for your ongoing prayers. Kim and I count your love and support amongst our greatest blessings! Please join us again today in lifting up our tiny, mighty warrior. His little brain is in a battle the likes of which most of us will never know... But at the same time, like David when coming up against the giant Goliath, Gideon has the right and privilege of being bold in the battle! While his little mind cannot comprehend what I'm saying when I talk to him, I believe his spirit is 100% plugged in and aware of the battle. With that said, I continue to remind Gideon of Judges 6:12 "...the Lord is with you Mighty Warrior."

In closing today, I'd like to remind you all of young (supposedly way too small and fragile to take on a giant...) David and his attitude/approach to Goliath, when he was just seconds away from the battle... 41 Then the Philistine came on and approached David, with the shield-bearer in front of him. 42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance. 43 The Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine also said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field." 45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. 46 "This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and He will give you into our hands." 48 Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground. 1 Sam 17:41-49 (NASB)

Pray that we and Gideon will have the spiritual boldness of David in this battle!

We love you and thank God for you from the trenches!

In Him, Jeffrey

(recieved) Friday, August 25, 2006 1:32 AM


Dear Prayer Warriors,

I will never forget this day for as long as I live! Today we realized why Gideon suffered his stroke... "so that the works of God might be displayed in him."

Healing the Man Born Blind 1 As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:1-3 (NASB)

This day, August 24, 2006, the world saw the works of our God displayed in little Gideon! Today Gideon was blessed with a miracle... Better stated, today, Gideon became a miracle! For some of you, what I am about to share may not make sense, for others, it will come as no surprise. The difference between the two perspectives is rooted in how you see the world (your "world view" or meta-narrative), and who you think Jesus is. For the record, our family holds to a biblically centered world view that recognizes Jesus Christ as the risen Lord and Savior. Consequently, the events of today and all that is shared regarding Gideon's condition is being offered with the express intent of bringing glory to God.

Our God is able!!! Today the Lord showed the world that He is in fact, more than able! In short, Gideon is healed!!!

We received the results of Gideon's MRI, and after talking with the Brain Surgeons, Interior Brain-functioning Doctors, Blood Doctors, and Baby Doctors this is what we were told... Gideon's Stroke has been confirmed - it happened within the last 10 days (maybe in the womb, maybe in his first 36 hours after delivery).

That is important to note because it qualifies the miracle that I'm about to describe. After affirming the Stroke, the teams of doctors went on to say that no explanation can be found for the Stroke - NO explanation could be found after extensive testing and investigation by some of the world's finest physicians. Gideon's affirmed, mysteriously caused Stroke makes perfect sense from a Christian perspective... the affliction was the manifestation of spiritual warfare. It was the result of the enemy's attempt to hurt our family and de-rail our ministry. But our God of wonders is bigger than the enemy! Today the Lord showed the world that He is in fact, more than able! In short, God had a different plan! Remember Romans 8:28... "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." I am convinced this verse applies to Gideon and his last 10 days. I am convinced this verse applies to Gideon and his last 10 days.

I am convinced this verse applies to Gideon and his last 10 days.

We KNOW Gideon has been created with a purpose, with a key role to play in kingdom work.

With that said, it makes sense that the Devil would try to take him out... and it makes even more sense why the Lord would not let it happen!

Here is how Gideon's story unfolds.

The doctors all agreed that Gideon's Stroke and subsequent seizures represent an isolated incident that cannot be explained, nor are they expected to ever be repeated. The overall size of the Stroke is relatively small. The area of Gideon's brain that was impacted by the Stroke is not dedicated to any particular function. What that means in practicality is that whatever the impacted section was going to do (if anything), can and will be done by another part of the brain.

The way it was explained to us... Gideon's brain has been "blue-printed" for functionality, but the "construction process" that builds the content of the blueprint has not really begun yet... To take the analogy one step further, it's as if the materials are in the warehouse but the wiring has not begun to connect all the outlets just yet. Consequently, as Gideon's brain continues to develop, when it goes to the affected section of his brain to "wire it," his brain will simply run new lines to other viable sections of his brain and get the job done another way. In the end, there will be no noticeable difference in Gideon - period. No difference on the outside... No difference on the inside! The bottom line is this: Gideon had a Stroke but through God's grace and mercy, it did not alter him. Neither the Enemy, nor the Stroke could penetrate God's protected child.

I can't explain all the details of this miracle. I can't tell you why God chose to protect Gideon when other Christians and their children continue to suffer. I can't tell you how God worked out all the timing and logistics. I can't tell you a lot of things... but I can answer the "who?", "how?", and "why?" questions that most people ask, either openly or under their breath (for fear of sounding like someone looking to replace their doubts about gods with a faith in the One living God). Take a look at how "the man born blind" (like our son born with a Stroke) answered the "who?" and "how?" questions that were posed to him by doubting, "religious" leaders...

"So they were saying to him, "How then were your eyes opened?" 11 He answered, "The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes...and I received sight." -- John 9:10-11a,c (NASB)

In our case, the same God/Man who is called Jesus healed our son! As for the "how?" - He answered prayer! For all of you who lifted Gideon up in prayer, let this miracle be a testimony that bolsters your commitment to pray. God answers prayer! We have an active God, One who is engaged in the lives of His children. No detail escapes Him. We are so blessed to be protected and loved by the Creator God who chooses to love His creatures. I believe our family has witnessed first hand, through the miraculous sparing of Gideon, this all-powerful, all-loving God's abounding mercy. As participating prayer warriors, each of you who prayed for Gideon should share in our gratitude and reverence. God answered your prayers! You asked the Creator to intervene on behalf of a tiny, "mighty warrior" - and He did!

Why? "so that the works of God might be displayed in him." John 9:3b (NASB)

In closing, I want to say "thank-you!" once again. On behalf of our entire family, we cannot thank you enough for your love and prayers. As you can see, we KNOW your prayers made a difference!

At the same time, some of you will undoubtedly remain skeptical and write-off our faith-based convictions as "hokey," wishful thinking. You will try to explain away Gideon's miracle with unfounded, unsubstantiated, unscientific, assumptions from science... In the end, as Gideon's dad, I feel a lot like the man who was blind from birth and miraculously healed by Jesus. The man that was subsequently questioned by the intellectual, religious crowd who ultimately doubted Jesus and the miracle he performed: "So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give glory to God; we know that this man (Jesus) is a sinner." He then answered, "Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." -- John 9:24-25 (NASB)

This one thing I do KNOW, though Gideon had a Stroke, now he is healed!!!

Praise the Lord! Our God is able!

As we close the book on the first chapter of Gideon's young life, remember this... Together, we never stopped going on offense! We never bunkered down and went on defense.

Our collective calling is to take the good news of Jesus Christ into all the world - one person at a time! We are to stand firm and fight the good fight! Together, we can change the world for Christ!

We are to stand firm and fight the good fight! Together, we can change the world for Christ!

Case in point, as Gideon was being rushed to Children's hospital in Washington D.C., THE BRIDGE (church) went forward, baptizing 7 in Sunday's service.

While Gideon was being poked and prodded with all kinds of tests, THE BRIDGE continued to prepare for this weekend's "Care & Share" Outreach, wherein we will bless over 100 families with the school system's required student supplies... Best of all, these things (and others) all took place while the Pastor was busy in the trenches of spiritual warfare with his family...

In other words, while our family was fighting for Gideon, our BRIDGE family continued to fight for the souls of our community, as well as Gideon.

That, my friends, is the "Real-Deal." That's a ministry focused on worshipping God and cancelling reservations in hell.

I'm reminded of the words of Jim Elliot, a Missionary martyred in Ecuador... "That soul which advances on its knees never retreats!"

Thanks for sounding the battle cry and advancing on your knees. Well done BRIDGE family!

To God be the glory! We give Him praise and thank Him for His mercies.

Our God is able!

In Him,

Jeffrey

UPDATE: As of today, the Pearson family is doing great.

If you have any comments or questions in regard to Gideon's testimony, please do not hesitate to Contact us.