Fighting with the Sword of Scripture
An Assemblies of God pastor in Indiana and his wife have both experienced miraculous healings, and they credit God's sustaining grace through their seemingly overwhelming trials.
Brent Oliver, 67, planted Delphi First Assembly of God in Delphi in 1990 and has pastored the congregation since with his wife, Tammy.
Tammy, 60, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, which required her to undergo five surgeries and 80-plus radiation treatments—only to be told 10 years later that she had advanced to Stage 4 cancer with no hope for a cure or reversal.
However, for the past eight years, her doctors have not been able to find the cancer at all in Tammy's body. She is on no treatment or medication.
But in April 2015, while she was still undergoing cancer treatment for her Stage 4 diagnosis, her husband had emergency open heart surgery. Then four months after his procedure, their house burned down. However, both have miraculously made a total-health recovery, and they testify to God’s sustaining strength through it all.
The Olivers, who have six children, including four they adopted in 2006, also had family challenges during this time period. The couple's three adopted teen daughters were going through a rebellious phase that required two of them to be placed in separate Adult & Teen Challenge programs, three months apart.
"By the grace of God, none of this has seemed bleak or hopeless," Oliver, who has been married for 43 years to Tammy, explains. "Our home life and the stress level was over the top. It was emotional for sure. Overwhelming, at times. We've learned we must trust God in the process—not just look for relief at the end of the tunnel."
"We experienced Him in the valley, not just when the trial is over whenever that is," he adds. "His Word and spending time in His presence - the secret place - provides strength that is real. Faith can reign over fear. His strength is greater than our trials."
Tammy recalls her first cancer diagnosis in 2005, when her doctor did a lumpectomy, which was followed by six weeks of radiation--30 treatments in all.
During that same time, a friend gave Tammy a scripture and told her to declare Isaiah 43:1-3 over her body and to believe it. The verses say: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God."
"Every day as I lay on that radiation bed, I declared this scripture over my body," Tammy recalls. "My skin never burned. God truly did miracles on this journey, and this would just be the beginning."
After five years of medication in 2010, Tammy’s surgeon told her: "I don’t think you’ll ever have to deal with this again."
However, a follow up meeting with Dr. Kathy D. Miller—a breast cancer research physician at the Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis—in 2015, revealed Tammy’s cancer was at Stage 4, as it had metastasized to her breastbone.
Dr. Miller told her: “I’m so sorry, Tammy. In November, you were in Stage 3. Now you’re in Stage 4. I can’t cure it or reverse it. I have several therapies I can use. I will work to give you as good a life for as long as possible."
As the couple left Miller's office, Oliver recalls telling his wife: "She said she could not cure nor reverse it. Therefore, when God does it, no one will be able to take credit for it."
Tammy adds: "The cancer had spread to not only my lung but was now in my breastbone. No cure. No hope. I left the doctor’s office that day with a death sentence. After tears were shed with the reality of those words, it was like my mind, soul and spirit came alive to the reality of God’s Word, what He had done on the cross and His promises of healing. My whole being said, 'No! The devil is a liar, and I will not die of cancer.’”
The Sunday after Tammy was told of her terminal diagnosis, she spoke to the congregation to share the news. During the praise and worship time, Tammy pulled out a sword, which symbolized her fighting spirit and dependence on God's Word—the sword of the Spirit.
"I'm ready to fight," Tammy told her church as she quoted Isaiah 54:17. "No weapon formed against me will prosper; and every tongue that accuses me. Why? Because this is my inheritance as a child of the living God. I will bring my praise. I will draw my sword and I will fight. I don't need an army of sympathizers, but an army of warriors to stand with me."
Oliver notes that Delphi First Assembly, which has an average attendance of 275 on Sundays, has been "very supporting."
Jeff Dague and his wife, Lisa, both 65, say: “Pastors Brent and Tammy have led the battle against the fiery darts. We have witnessed them raise their swords in all circumstances to stand as a testimony. Through their trials, we have seen them fight and proclaim, 'Jesus is Lord.'"
Editor's Note: Sunday, Dec. 14, is Bible Sunday in the Assemblies of God.