Art Alexander

Doctor Religa, did the impossible.

This kind old man is holding a picture of himself. His name is Tadeusz Zytkiewicz, and he is showing off the photo that was selected as the best photo of the year by National Geographic in 1987. The magazine decided to show his main surgeon, Dr. Zbigniew Religa, monitoring his recovery.  

He had just survived an experimental procedure, and it made history. It was the very first successful heart transplant that was performed in Poland, and Tadeusz was that patient. 

The operation took 23 hours, and the docs were exhausted. One colleague fell asleep after the surgery, pictured on the right. But it was a job well done, and he deserved the break. Tadeusz actually outlived Dr. Religa, which is outstanding for a procedure that was considered impossible at the time.  

Like Mr. Tadeusz Zytkiewicz, I have also had a heart transplant, not physically, not on a hospital bed but in a church service by the Great Physician God himself many years ago.  I needed God to do for me as it says in Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  That day I realized my sin and separation from God because of my sin and as many of you have done who are reading this blog, I gave my heart to God.  

 That fateful night I repented and found new life in Christ where this verse came to life for me 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature of the old things pass away behold new things have come.  

Some of you have children or grandchildren that need to experience this New Heart surgery that affects not just this life here on earth but for all eternity. As August ends our summer missionaries have had a full summer of 5 Day Clubs reaching out to hundreds of children with the Good News. Recently the Summer missionaries were sharing exciting stories of children attending our 5 Day clubs all over the province and they saw many children receive a new heart. Join us in praying for our CEF Missionaries all over the world as they continue to share the good news of the Gospel.