Dear Friends,

On the 7th April Ish was admitted into hospital and diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. He was hospitalised for several weeks while undergoing intensive chemotherapy treatment.

Ish had been feeling tired and unwell since January and we just assumed he had been overdoing things as usual. The week before he went into hospital he began to have headaches and came out in bruises all over his body, including in his mouth. That was when we began to get alarmed. He was admitted into hospital on Mon 7 April for tests and we were shocked to discover that he had cancer as there had been very little advance warning.

We were advised by Ish’s consultant, who is a Christian, that thankfully this is a type of cancer that can be treated and the treatment has a good success rate. This was we believe an answer to prayer.

Since then our children and I have kept a journal by maintaining Ish’s web site and posting updates daily while he was in hospital. As a family we have been able to gain strength and encouragement from all your messages which have been printed off and filed for Ish to keep as a positive incentive to get well. Words cannot describe how grateful we are to you for your prayers through what has been the most difficult time of our lives. God has touched us so very deeply through you.

Our love and thanks,

Irene, Joss, Dan, Suzy and Adam.

Dear Friends of Ishmael and Irene,

By now many of you have heard the good news that Ishmael is in remission but our continuing prayers are still vital.

I’m writing again to address the specific practical needs in the light of Ish’s medical condition and his future ministry.

Ish derives his income from his itinerant ministry. He is a non-stipendiary (unpaid) Deacon at Chichester Cathedral and receives no income or sickness pay from his voluntary work there. All of Ish's official engagements until 2009 have been cancelled as he continues his chemotherapy treatment and convalescence. This presents the need for continued financial support until April 2010 when Ish should be fully recovered.

I’ve suggested to Irene and Ish that this financial challenge is a burden that we as friends can lift off of them. It’s more than enough for them to fight this battle, without being weighed down by the additional challenge of finances. Rather than sending cheques through to Irene directly, there are three ways that you can support them at this time:-

1. A fund has been set up, that is being overseen by Nigel Singleton, Sue Mills and myself. We therefore want to invite any one who would like to make a donation to make cheques payable to I. Smale and send them to:

Mrs Sue Mills
New Barn House
2 Braemar Way
Bognor Regis,
West Sussex
PO21 5DP

2. If you wish to pay money directly to their Stewardship Services Account, you can do so. The account number is 70775207.

3.If you would like to make a donation from a Charitable Trust that can only give to other charities, Spring Harvest have generously offered to receive donations. In this case, cheques should be made payable to SHCT and sent to:

Spring Harvest Charitable Trust
14 Horsted Square
Uckfield
East Sussex
TN22 1QG

The Chair of Trustees of SHCT, the Rev Stephen Gaukroger wishes to add his support saying “We want to support Ish and Irene at this time, both in our prayers and in a practical way. They have been such a blessing to the body of Christ over the past 38 years of their ministry, it is a privilege to be able support them in their time of need.”

Ish and Irene are especially concerned that this appeal is an invitation and not a pressure to their friends, and so by organising the fund this way they will immediately receive the help they need without knowing the details of who gave what amounts; they will not be burdened with the need to write thank you notes, and also this will help those who just prefer to give anonymously anyway. A list of donations will be made for accountability purposes and each gift will be acknowledged.

Ish and Irene have not only enriched the lives of countless thousands with their tireless faithfulness in travel, but they have been carriers of great joy to so many of us who are privileged to call them friends. Now we have an opportunity either as individuals or as Churches who have benefited from Ish’s ministry, to bring some practical joy to them with our gifts, large or small.

Thanks for your prayerful consideration of this request.

Jeff Lucas