For the Record: A Personal Story of Faith, Healing and Hope

By Timothy Brewington II

FOR THE RECORD takes the reader through the emotional journey of faith and fear as the author is confronted with his own mortality at a very young age. There is a tight thread of faith, hope and family that connects each chapter. The author reveals the emotional rollercoster of organ transplantation and how he had to adjust to his new normal post bone marrow transplantation. The reader will also discover the authors understanding of divine intervention and how his experience shaped his view of himself, the world and God. The author skillfully uses the biblical context as the backdrop to aid the reader in seeing themelves in every story. The reader will be challenged to look at the difficulties of life from a new perspective. A perspective that will allow the reader to embrace every experience as a lesson and therefore opportunity for growth. The end of the book equips the reader with the necessary tools to face the challenges of life with confidence and clarity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512791747

Timothy Brewington II

Pastor Timothy Brewington II was diagnosed with a severe form of aplastic anemia in 1986 when he was 13 years old. His only hope for survival was a bone marrow transplant, a relatively experimental procedure at the time. He endured the many challenges of this life threatening procedure and has made a full recovery. He has committed himself to sharing his story of faith, healing and hope to people facing their own life threating challenges. Pastor Brewington has served as an ambassador for the Ronald McDonald House Charities-Upper Midwest, where his family stayed while he was being treated at the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital. In 2016, Pastor Brewington earned a Masters of Divinity in Apologetics from Luther Rice College and Seminary and blends his personal experience within the biblical context to develop his unique theological perspective. Pastor Brewington is a spiritual mentor to individuals seeking to embrace their true purpose and identity in Christ and has more than 20 years of pastoral experience.

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Copyright © 2017 Timothy Brewington II.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-9175-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-9176-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-9174-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017909768

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/26/2017

Heal me, Oh Lord and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For you are the one I praise.

Jeremiah 17:14

DEDICATION

To My Parents

Timothy and Rosa Brewington, for your love, support, and care.

Thank you for your many sacrifices to insure my success.

You both are my heroes, my rock, and my inspiration.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To my wife, Dana, I appreciate you for your unconditional love and support. You are a true help meet and committed life partner. We have been on quite a journey with many unexpected twists and turns. With you by my side, I know that I can conquer the world. You are the personification of a virtuous woman, and your children shall rise up and call you blessed. Thank you for being my best friend. Over 21 years ago, we took the vow to love each other, and I have been blessed having such a wonderful woman as you.

To my daughter, Janiyah Hope, you are an intelligent caretaker with a heart of gold. Your leadership gift will take you places you don’t even know exists. Thank you for being a wonderful daughter and protector of your sister and brother.

To my daughter, Jakiyah Faith, you are the hardest working kid I know. Your determination and excitement inspires me. Your compassion and sensitivity to the people around you is healing. Thank you for making it easy to be your dad.

To my mini me, Zachary, you have brought so much joy and laughter to our family. Thank you for keeping us young and amazed by all the beauty of this world. I know that God has a plan for you and you are going to do well.

To my sister, Tarziah, you are one of the most talented, intelligent and caring person I know. I could never express how much I appreciate the gift of life you gave. Your bone marrow is working daily to keep me alive. Thank You.

To my baby sister, Tiffany, you have been an awesome little sister. Thank you for letting me drag you around the neighborhood when we were young. Now that we are adults, I enjoy our friendship. Thank You.

To my precious godmother, Norschenia, you have been a constant in my life that I appreciate so much. Knowing that you have my back has pushed me further than I ever imagined I could go. I’m grateful.

To Bishop Charles E. Johnson, I express my gratitude for your fervent prayers pleading my case before God. Your faith in the spoken word of healing preserved me on that fateful night and still protects me today. Thank You.

To my big brother and mentor, Bishop H. Evan Smith, you met me at a time when I was in great spiritual turmoil. I was having such difficulty embracing my new identity of post bone marrow transplantation. Thank you for seeing me, hearing me and guiding me. I am the pastor I am today because of the investment you made in me 30 years ago.

To my mother-in-love, Hazel Lucas, thank you for editing this book and letting me marry your firstborn. You are an amazing woman, thoughtful grandmother and loyal friend. May God bless you and all that your heart desires. Thank You.

To Bishop Richard D. Howell Jr. and Shiloh Temple International Ministries for your prayers and support provided to my family while in Minneapolis. Your weekly visits and genuine care provided a special grace in our time of need.

Contents

Preamble

Part One

From Death To Life

Chapter 1   Internal Oddness

Chapter 2   Who Are You Gonna Call?

Chapter 3   Silent Night

Chapter 4   13 Years Old And Dying

Chapter 5   Tarziah Shawaan

Chapter 6   Unexpected Separation

Chapter 7   The Cookout

Chapter 8   Wednesday, October 15, 1986: 2:00 Pm

Chapter 9   U-Turn

Part Two

From Life To Assignment

Chapter 10   What Now?

Chapter 11   I Am Only A Child

Chapter 12   Rebuild And Fight

Epilogue

PREAMBLE

THE DOMINANT CULTURE AND SOCIETY of the world has become increasingly doubtful of the presence and involvement of God in the human experience. Humanism, which focuses its energy and attention on humankind and not looking for help or salvation from any deity, has caused many to seek only human solutions to conditions in the world. This philosophy completely excludes God from any involvement in human affairs. What is more disturbing is that humanism also leaves mankind entirely on his own to find solutions and understanding for the world around them.

One of the major objections to humanism is that there are times when there is no human solution or explanation that sufficiently explains outcomes that could not have been predicted based on what we have discovered in the world. Humanism insists that there must be a human explanation for what we don’t understand. The devoted humanist must ignore any evidence that suggests divine activity. To acknowledge divine activity is to accept accountability. This is the real driving force behind humanism. If there is no God that is involved in human affairs, then there is no God that people are accountable or subject to obey.

It has taken me almost thirty years to get to this point where I am ready to write about the most dramatic experience of my life thus far. This intense experience lasted for nine months, and in many ways, I am still experiencing it today. It has formed the framework of my life and has made me the person that I am today. No matter how far away I try to get from it, I am always brought back to it and forced to remember. I am sharing my story to put on the record of human literature that there is a God who is present and active in human affairs. What cannot be explained with the limitation of the human mind, can easily be understood through divine revelation.

This book is the record of a specific example where based upon all human effort and understanding; I should be dead. I am alive today because of divine intervention. God was actively involved in my medical care, surprising the medical staff on a number of occasions. When human intervention failed, divine intervention stepped in and turned an impossible situation around.

If you are reading this book and you are not sure of divine intervention, I pray that you will reconsider as you read my story. I ask you to allow yourself to consider for a moment of possibility that some things can only be explained through the presence of the divine. My prayer is that as you read through my story, you will discover God’s intervention in your own life so that you too can go on record.

PART ONE

FROM DEATH TO LIFE

And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me— the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

Acts 20:22-24

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INTERNAL ODDNESS

I WAS BORN ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1972, to Rosa and Timothy Brewington at Prince George’s Community Hospital in the state of Maryland. I consider it a blessing to be born to these parents because I don’t know of many who would have survived what my parents endured raising me and dealing with my many crises. Through it all, their faith remained steadfast and their marriage grew stronger. To me, they appeared to be a power couple and an unstoppable duo as they conquered everything that came their way with little collateral damage. They have been and continue to be amazing parents and a shining example of a Godly marriage.

The Bible says that Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. (Psalm 127:3). It is evident to me that my parents understood this principle. I pray that my life has brought them the reward mentioned in Psalm 127. Now that I have three gifts of my own, I cannot imagine going through even a portion of what my