C.C. TX?

If you know much about the USA, you know that each state has a two-letter initial that we use when sending mail, and some of the more widely-known ones are CA (California), NY (New York), and TX (Texas).

  But C.C. TX?

Since 2010, my family and I have belonged to a healthcare-sharing ministry, Samaritan Ministries.

 
Our membership has been a HUGE blessing to our family, making healthcare both accessible and affordable. Recently I was asked to speak at church, and the topic was “What does the Bible say about some key 2016 election issues?” One topic I addressed was health and healthcare, and I planned to tell the congregation what a wonderful alternative these faith-based sharing ministries are, to traditional health insurance.

Last May, one of our children had a sudden and severe medical emergency. Thankfully, that child got immediate and excellent care, and has recovered fully. However, the bill for roughly 24 hours in the hospital (Emergency Room and ICU), plus a short ambulance ride, ran up a bill of almost US$7,000! You can see how, in the US, one medical emergency can spell financial ruin for a family, if unprepared for it.

Since we belonged to this medical cost-sharing ministry, we were receiving 100% coverage for these expenses from May, in the forms of letters and checks sent to us by other members across the US, during the month of October. It is always a pleasure to go to the mailbox to find a check and note from another member I do not know, and see where it came from: it could be California, Florida, North Dakota, Alaska…almost anywhere! Ironically, on the day I was to speak at church, I went to the mailbox with Daisy and saw a letter with the sender’s name, and C.C. TX as the address.

I knew TX, but C.C.? I thought about it.

  Then it hit me.

  Corpus Christi.

So, that night at church, I was able to tell about yet another gift that had come in just that day, to pay part of the enormous medical bill. But there was an extra blessing. Look at the name Corpus Christi. Does it look like English to you? Actually, it is a Latin name, and it translates to English as “Body of Christ.” The thought struck me: how appropriate! I am to speak to a church congregation tonight, that the Bible calls the body of Christ, and I will share about how Samaritan Ministries works among the body of Christ, and today I get a check for $456 from a member in Corpus Christi! (Yes, God has a wonderful sense of humor.)

On top of the generous support that will pay 100% of our expenses from that emergency last May, we also get many kind, loving cards and notes with offers to pray for us. It’s remarkable to receive such demonstrations of love and support, across the US, from people we do not even know.

One recent note particularly stood out in my mind. Part of it went:

“MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU. CHILDREN ARE A SPECIAL GIFT FROM GOD. I LOST MY SON TWO YEARS AGO. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH HIM BUT NOW MISS EVERY SECOND I DID SOMETHING ELSE. THANK GOD FOR [YOUR CHILDREN] EVERY DAY!!

That was a reminder I needed to hear, to thank God for my children–and all my many blessings–every day.

Among my blessings, I thank God for Samaritan Ministries. It has helped us solve the healthcare issue.

Bonus information:There is much confusion in our culture today about the role that the Judeo-Christian worldview played in the founding of the US, but geographic place names actually give us deep insight into this issue. The place name “Corpus Christi” is named after Jesus Christ, and many other cities are named after Christian saints: St. Louis (Missouri), St. Paul (Minnesota), St.Augustine (Florida). (The English abbreviation for “Saint” is “St.” The same goes for the word “Street.”) But take a look at Spanish too. The Spanish word for “saint” is “San,” so you have San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose (all in California), and San Antonio (Texas). There are many more, too many to mention now. Place names on maps give testimony to the Judeo-Christian worldview of the people who assigned those names, and also the origins of the country that became the United States.)

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(Note: as a member of Samaritan Ministries, when I encourage a friend to enroll, the group gives my family a discount on an upcoming share to pay. So, if you enroll, Deborah and I would be GRATEFUL for you to list us as your references. Likewise, when you enroll and encourage friends to join, you too can enjoy such a discount. Lastly, the more families that join these groups, they more stable they will all be, helping us all. Want to know more? Contact me at Scott@DreyerCoaching.com to find out more!)