FARMVILLE — In the spirit of giving and helping a neighbor in need, members of Salvation and Praise Full Gospel Church Ministries in Farmville hosted a liver transplant benefit service on July 21. More than 100 people attended the event.
The benefit was organized to assist Suzanne Sheppard, co-pastor at Victory & Dominion World Outreach Center in Snow Hill. Sheppard has been struggling with health issues since she was diagnosed with liver disease in 2011. Her health has slowly deteriorated during the past 13 years.
She was diagnosed with liver cancer in early 2023 and her surgical team recommended a liver transplant to save her life. The team conferenced with Sheppard and her family about the benefits of a living-donor transplant. The team had successfully completed such a transplant in early 2023.
A living-donor liver transplant occurs when an individual donates a portion of their healthy liver to someone with advanced liver disease, reducing the wait time for receiving the lifesaving medical treatment.
“My family and I were excited about the opportunity of a living-donor liver transplant. Without hesitation, my two children immediately volunteered to be evaluated to be my living donor,” Sheppard said. “They both underwent the living-donor evaluation and both are a match.
“Keshonna, my daughter, with her generous spirit and being the oldest, insisted that she be my living donor for the liver transplant,” Sheppard said.
The mother and daughter are in the final stages of prepping for the transplant surgery, and donations collected through the service will help with the considerable expenses incurred since Sheppard’s diagnosis.
The guest speaker for the benefit was Apostle Charles Lewis of Antioch FWB Church in Bell Arthur. Several different church families also were in attendance.
Ed Thomas Edwards, pastor at Salvation and Praise Full Gospel Church Ministries, he said that the church was happy to host this event.
“This service is basically to assist my brother and his wife,” said Edwards. “His wife needs a liver transplant, so we wanted host this fundraiser to try to help them pull together the money that they need to make this happen.”
Edwards said that it is important for churches to support their congregations and communities because this is what the church is for — bringing people in the community together to help one another.
“We are supposed to be concerned about one another, we are supposed to be our brother’s keeper, we’re supposed to be there for one another,” Edwards said. “My friend, my brother Pastor Shepherd and his wife, have been there for me on many occasions, and so likewise we wanted to be there for them on this occasion.”
Zebedee Sheppard and his wife are co-pastors at Victory & Dominion, and he said they were looking forward to the benefit although she couldn’t attend.
“This benefit is to assist my wife, Suzanne Shepherd, who is preparing now for a liver transplant,” Sheppard said. “We’re here today because this great pastor has decided to be a blessing to help us financially.”
Sheppard said that without Suzanne, he wouldn’t be who he is today. He said when he first started the ministry in 1992, she was by his side, encouraging him and having his back.
“She has been there ever since, every moment, and in every sense of the word to make sure that we achieved the level of success that we have achieved,” said Sheppard.
He said it was overwhelming to see so many people come to the benefit service to support them.
“To just think of someone who would have that kind of generosity and the kind of love that they would open their hearts and their doors to rally around and give their support to us in our time of need is beautiful,” Sheppard said.
He added that becoming an organ donor and donating blood is very important because it can save a life.
“No one ever knows when they’re going to need an organ or blood donation,” said Sheppard. “So, giving blood and becoming an organ donor is very important because you never know if you may need a donation or someone in our family might need that as well.”
Sheppard said he was grateful to have great friends and that events like this are part of what he believes Jesus would have believers do.
Scripture talks about how there is no greater love than that of a man who would lay down his life for his friends — or someone else — of do something of this magnitude to bless someone in a time of need, he said.
“You can’t be more Christ-like than that,” said Sheppard.
Lewis said he drew inspiration from Psalm 100,” Make a Joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”
That’s exactly what the praise and worship ensemble from Victory and Dominion did when they sang during the benefit — making a joyful noise singing three selections: “Let it Rise,” “Trust in God” and “Give Him Praise.”
Edwards said that he prays people will be more concerned about one another when they see someone in crisis, and that people will be there for one another.
“In this time and season, times are not that good in terms of the status of this country, so the church needs to step up and start helping their people to manage life,” Edwards said.
At the end of the benefit service, attendants passed around the collection plate for donations. Those who want to help can donate online at https://tinyurl.com/psfmwytn.
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