Dear Readers, June 4, 2011 Please join us in praying God’s richest blessings upon Sts. Peter and Paul for helping us with The “Bike for Bryan” Ride and on Autumn Phillips, managing editor of the Herald-Zeitung, and her paper for running the story that follows below. We also want to share with you the “rest of the story” about embryonic stem cell research that did not run. It follows after our letter and the article. Please join us in praying that hundreds of thousands of people who support Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) will ask JDRF to stop funding ALL embryonic stem cell research and increase funding for adult stem cell research. Most people who participate in JDRF’s Walk probably do not fully understand the difference between embryonic and adult stem cell research or why embryonic stem cell research is immoral. We know God will reveal the cure for diabetes and other diseases in His perfect timing and we believe embryonic stem cell research breaks His heart. We need more people like Bryan’s parents, Danny and Angela Evans, to stand up and say: Yes, we want the cure for diabetes, but not at any cost! Please keep Bryan’s family and friends in your prayers as the first anniversary of his death is June 26. We hope people who feel led and are able to financially support The “Bike for Bryan” Ride will honor Bryan and his family by donating to help send kids who deal with juvenile diabetes to KANAKUK; but most importantly, we need everyone to pray! May God bless you as only He can for praying and passing on the “Bike for Bryan” Prayer Sheet on this web page to every person and church you can. To God be the glory! The Schardon Family Come to Me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. Seek the LORD while He may be found, call Him while He is near…For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Is. 55: 3a, 6; 56:7b (underlining added) Here is the May 28, 2011 Herald-Zeitung Newspaper Article: ‘BIKE FOR BRYAN’ Ride to Raise Scholarships For Kids with Juvenile Diabetes
Last summer Bryan Evans’ life on earth was cut short at the tender age of 18.
Like thousands of young people across the country each year, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes during his grade school years. Bryan, the only child of Danny and Angela Evans, loved his family, loved God, loved life and loved soccer.
On June 26, 2010, less than a month after his graduation from Clear Brook High School in Houston, he did not wake up from a diabetic coma. He had spent the previous day having a great time fellowshipping with his friends from Clear Lake Presbyterian Church youth group at Schlitterbahn Water Park in New Braunfels, Texas.
Chris Schardon never got to meet Bryan, but his friend and fellow Trinity University soccer teammate, Josh Adams, knew Bryan. The Evans and Adams families are friends and neighbors and Angela Evans followed Arcie Adams as president of Clear Brook High School Soccer Booster Club. Their friendship continues and Bryan’s parents have come to watch Josh play soccer at Trinity in San Antonio.
Schardon, co-captain of the Trinity Tigers 2010 conference champions under Coach Paul McGinlay, knows first hand what it is like to live with juvenile diabetes. He was diagnosed two days before his 8thgrade graduation. That’s why Schardon and his friend, Santiago De La Garza, are committed to riding 500 plus miles in the Texas heat in early July to raise money for scholarships in Bryan’s name.
De La Garza and Schardon want to raise a minimum of $10,000 to honor Bryan and his family. All monies raised will go to help young people who live with the challenges of juvenile diabetes experience the joy of summer camp and realize the importance of staying healthy -- both physically and spiritually.
To do this they are partnering with KANAKUK MINISTRIES in Branson, MO where Schardon attended KANAKUK KAMP before andafter he was diagnosed.
Danny and Angela Evans and the bikers hope many people will join them in thanking God for KANAKUK’s leadership and asking God to bless them for what they do for young people. They also hope many others will pass on and share The “Bike for Bryan” Ride prayer sheet and flyer. (Go to www.sppnb.orgunder NEWS.)
“Chris and I want to emphasize there is no donation that is too small to be much appreciated, De La Garza. “We hope there will be many donations – small and not so small -- from people who know first hand what it means to live with diabetes 24-7 year after year and donations from others, too.”
To donate, visit their website (www.kanakuk.com) or send your check made out Kanakuk Ministries to 1353 Lakeshore, Dr.; Branson, MO 65616.
Write “Bryan Evans Scholarship Fund” on the check memo line.
(end of the printed Herald-Zietung May 28, 2011) Please read the following important “rest of the story” that did not appear in the article AND the “Bike for Bryan” Prayer Sheet that follows
(Chris) Schardon, like millions of others who live with juvenile diabetes, prays to one day hear researchers have discovered a vaccine to make the disease rare -- like polio in the U.S. is today. He does not want anyone –especially young children – to be dependent on insulin for life. He knows how critical it is everyone with diabetes to exercise and eat healthy foods to help prevent the possibility of the devastating complications that can come from diabetes.
Schardon and his family have been looking for the names of individual researchers who are dedicated to finding the cure for juvenile diabetes through adult stem cell research, but not embryonic stem cell research. They wish more people understood the difference between the two and they personally oppose embryonic stem cell research for moral reasons.
Adult stem cells are harvested from adult tissue, umbilical cord blood, bone marrow and other tissue - without harming the human being from which they come. Adult stem cell research has proven effective and promising and adult stem cells are currently being converted into therapies that have already cured thousands of people from scores of diseases and injuries.
On the other hand, embryonic stem cell research harvests stem cells from living human embryos - literally causing the embryo’s death. Although millions of dollars have been spent on embryonic stem cell research, it has not shown promising results to date. (For more information on adult and embryonic stem cell research go to http://www.osv.com/tabid/7621/itemid/7468/In-Focus-Understanding-the-Catholic-view-of-stem.aspx)
The Evans, the Whites, and the Schardons believe that the cure for juvenile diabetes might well come from life-honoring adult stem cell research. They hope the first “Bike for Bryan” Ride will raise awareness about the frustrations the Schardon family has experienced in trying to find the names of individual researchers doing diabetes research who oppose embryonic stem cell research.
Chris Schardon explained, “We are asking people to join us in praying for the “Bike for Bryan” Ride. (Go to www.sppnb.orgunder NEWS for Prayer Sheet) Ideally, we would like to ask everyone to pray for a few outstanding researchers - by name - who are trying to find a cure for diabetes through adult stem cell research and other life-honoring research.”
De La Garza and Schardon graduated from The Woodlands High School in 2006. De La Garza was valedictorian and graduated from Rice University in Houston. He just completed his first year at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He plans to be a pediatric oncologist. Schardon graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio in December last year and is scheduled to start his PhD program in biochemistry at the University of Texas in Austin this fall.
When Schardon was in high school he worked with Mr. James Avery, founder of James Avery Craftsman, to design a “Healing Cross” to remind people to pray for the cure for diabetes, cancer and other diseases. Joe White received the “Healing Cross” years ago as a thank you for his encouragement to Schardon when he was first diagnosed and unable to attend camp in 2002. Although the silver healing crosses are no longer available for purchase through James Avery, one of a few remaining limited edition crosses will be awarded to the single highest “Bike for Bryan” donor.
Angela Evans said, “Danny and I know the counselors will be helping nearly 9,000 campers -- including kids who get to attend thanks to Bryan’s scholarship fund. It makes us extremely happy these kids will have the opportunity to better understand their true identity in Christ and that God loves them more than they can comprehend. We know these kids will be making memories that last a lifetime while attending KANAKUK, one of the nation’s best loved and well-run Christian sports camps. This honors Bryan’s life and for this we are very grateful.”
Schardon added, “We want to thank everyone for praying for the Evans family, kids and people of all ages who live with diabetes, for the cure for diabetes and for Santi and me. We are not professional bikers and we are grateful for the prayers for our safety and for us to successfully reach our goal for Bryan, his parents, his friends and the kids who will get to go to KANAKUK on Bryan Evans scholarships.”
KANAKUK MINISTRIES, the Evans and the Schardons know God is more than able to provide ‘prayer warriors’ to intercede and pray from the “Bike for Bryan” Ride prayer sheet and flyer. (Go to www.sppnb.orgunder NEWS.) They believe many who have loved ones who live with or have been affected by Type 11 diabetes and Type 1 juvenile diabetes across the USA will donate – donations of any size -- to The “Bike for Bryan” Ride before the end of June. To make your tax deductible donation on line go to https://www.Kanakuk.com, click on “Donate” at the bottom of the page, and click “give now” to make a Bike for Bryan gift or send a check (this part was in the Herald-Zeitung)
,ade out to Kanakuk Ministries to 1353 Lakeshore Dr.; Branson, MO 65616. Write “Bryan Evans Scholarship Fund” on the check memo line.
Prayer Sheet for
THE “BIKE FOR BRYAN” RIDE
PRAISE: Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy house of worship, praise him under the open skies; Praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his magnificent greatness; Let every living, breathing creature praise GOD! Hallelujah! Psalm 150: 1- 2, 6 The Message
CONFESSION: If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. 1 John 1:8- 9 NLT
Most loving God, forgive me ____________________________.
THANK YOU, GOD:
For Bryan Evans’ life and those who want to honor him
That YOU are more than able to bring good out of tragedy
That YOU numbered Bryan’s days before he was born
That YOU love Bryan and us more than we can comprehend
That all life is a gift from YOU – from conception to death
That The “Bike for Bryan” Ride will honor Bryan and his family by helping kids with Type 1 juvenile diabetes get to go to KANAKUK, a great Christian sports camp
For Your continued anointing, provision and protection over KANAKUK’s (and other camps’) leadership, staff, counselors, campers and supporters
Thank YOU for Sts. Peter and Paul and all the churches and people who are praying and passing on this prayer sheet
Thank YOU for sending JESUS and for the gift of eternal life
INTERCESSION:
HOLY SPIRIT comfort those who miss Bryan
Faithful GOD, continue to use Bryan Evans’ death to bring about great good
In Your perfect timing, we humbly ask YOU to display Your power and reveal a life-honoring cure for juvenile diabetes and for other diseases
We ask YOU to pour out your favor on life-honoring researchers including (name) and (name) who are trying to find the cure for juvenile diabetes (LORD, YOU know their names and please help us learn their names!)
We ask YOU to raise up many intercessors to stand together against embryonic stem cell research and abortion
By Your grace, may the lives of those attending KANAKUK and other camps be transformed by Your Son, JESUS’ tender love
Hear our prayer that all people – especially young people with
juvenile diabetes – will:
Love deeply and be loved by others filled with Your merciful love (Come Holy Spirit!)
learn how to stay healthy and strong –physically, spiritually, emotionally, relationally
be faithfully prayed for and nurtured
experience the confidence and joy that comes from praising, thanking and abiding in YOU
understand their true identity in YOU, Jesus
strive to be successful in Your eyes
live to do Your will and trust in Your unfailing love (love, honor and serve YOU!)
Pray: JESUS, I trust in YOU!
May Your holy angels surround, protect and accompany bikers Santi De La Garza and Chris Schardon before, during and after The “Bike for Bryan” Ride
We ask in confidence for many people, churches, missionaries, and ministries to join in praying The “Bike for Bryan’ Ride prayer sheet and asking others to pray
We trust in YOU to provide Bryan Evans Scholarships for many youngsters with juvenile diabetes
May all those involved in The “Bike for Bryan” Ride bring honor and glory to YOU! THY WILL BE DONE! We pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. May He grant you true riches and your heart’s desire.
Support The ‘BIKE FOR BRYAN’ Ride
Be a Hero to Kids with Juvenile Diabetes
And Help Send Them to KANAKUK Camp
Danny and Angela Evans and her parents, Wayne and Dorothy
Bryant, still miss Bryan more than words can express.
The first anniversary of Bryan’s death from a diabetic coma is
June 26, 2011. His family hopes you and others will pray for
kids who live with Type 1 juvenile diabetes-- pray they learn
how to stay healthy and strong, get to go to summer camp at KANAKUK, play sports and
live normal lives. (Go to www.sppnb.orgfor PRAYER Sheet and story) Please share this flyer by email, by posting it on face book; by printing it out, etc. Thank you!
Chris Schardon, who was diagnosed at 14, and his friend, SantiDe La Garza want to help young people with juvenile diabetes live better and longer, too. That’s why the two of them are committed to riding 500+ miles to raise money for scholarships in Bryan’s name.
You can be a hero to kids who deal with the challenges of juvenile diabetes and Bryan’s family by supporting The “BIKE FOR BRYAN” Ride. To make your tax deductible donation on line go to https://www.kanakuk.com, click on “Donate” at the bottom of the page, and Click "Give Now" to make a Bike for Bryan gift, or send your check made out KANAKUK MINISTRIES to1353 Lakeshore Dr., Branson, MO 65616. On the memo line please write: Bryan Evans Scholarship Fund.