Breathless and suffering chest pains, Mark McClurg knew something was seriously wrong.
On the advice of a nurse in his church, the 40-year-old pastor of Ards Elim Church, in County Down, was soon on his way to A&E, little knowing this was the start of a battle with Covid-19 that would see God use him in a powerful way.
Initial ly, no one suspected coronavirus.
“They said, ‘we’ve got some good news for you – you don’t have Covid-19, you just have pneumonia,’” says Mark.
But during his second night in hospital, he deteriorated.
“They gave me 70 per cent oxygen, but I still couldn’t breathe, so they increased it to 80 per cent, then 90 per cent. By 10 pm they had me on 100 per cent. I was saying, ‘ I… can’t… breathe…’ You feel like your lungs are full and you’re drowning. It feels like someone has dropped two bags of broken glass into them.”
Mark feared the worse. “I phoned my wife Claire and said, ‘I think this is it, I think I’m going to die.’”
Now critical, Mark was transferred to ICU and hooked up to a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine to help him breathe. A test confirmed he had Covid-19.
Lying alone in bed, Mark felt God speak to him.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
Man who has made waves for 42 years!
Peter Wooding caught up with Don Stephens to find out how he pioneered the work of Mercy Ships following a life-changing encounter with Mother Teresa, who asked him three questions...
I'm now responsible for the publication I used to hate...
Danielle Gault would get angry with her mum when she gave her copies of Word for Today – but she now heads the team that prints it
I feel a sense of privilege and of responsibility!
What’s it like taking over as an Elim Regional Leader in the midst of a pandemic and the Christmas season? James Glass is finding out
You have to move faster when leading in a crisis
A new job, a major event transitioned online and an events company to grow in a pandemic – it’s been a dramatic year for Phil Loose. Essential Christian’s CEO discusses the changing face of Spring Harvest
Life after lockdown...
Three Aspire team members look back at a year of ‘holy uncertainty’
Don't tell me it can't be done!
The African Children’s Choir has visited a number of Elim churches, but Covid travel restrictions have meant a quieter year for founder Ray Barnett. Peter Wooding talked to him
It's going to be different,but we need to adopt...
Life at Regents is all about social distancing and support bubbles but student numbers have increased despite lockdown
Elim at the forefront of response to pandemic
When Covid-19 struck, churches were plunged into an uncharted sea of new legislation. But a background in emergency planning for the NHS meant Elim’s Executive Director Olivia Amartey was ideally placed to guide them through it. She spoke to Chris Rolfe
4 missional lessons to learn from Christ
If we want to be effective in mission, it will cost us something, says Iain Hesketh. We must listen more than we speak, and serve more than we are served
12-day Christmas
How do you pray during a Covid Christmas? Creatively, daily, with a focus on God, our families, friends and our local communities, says Elim’s national prayer leader Sarah Whittleston
CALLS TO REOPEN CLASSROOMS GROW AS TEACHERS GET VACCINATED
State leaders around the U.S. are increasingly pushing for schools to reopen this winter — pressuring them, even — as teachers begin to gain access to the vaccine against the raging pandemic.
Liz “Snorkel” Thomas HIKING ICON
Thomas has thru-hiked more than 20 long trails, including the Pacific Crest, Continental Divide and Appalachian Trails (the Triple Crown). On top of that, she set a fastest known time on the AT for an unsupported woman and has completed dozens of urban thru-hikes as well. This issue, she joins Backpacker as a contributing editor. Here’s some of Thomas’s best advice and insight fed by more than 20,000 trail miles.
love conquers all
AMBER CLAIRE HUDDLESTON & GRIFFIN LOUIS BROWN MAY 9, 2020 • WEST POINT
BULLETS, BEANS, AND BINKIES
A Recon Marine’s Assessment of One Family’s COVID Bugout
A NOSE FOR COVID-19
Central Florida Company Trains Canines to Detect Virus
A DIAGNOSIS OF CHARLOTTE'S COVID ECONOMY
Business Alliance digests data that illustrates how virus has swamped commerce
DISCONNECTION
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have increasingly segregated along racial and class lines since a federal judge’s 1999 ruling ended a successful, 28-year desegregation program. The COVID lockdown of schools has hurt everybody in the system—and widened the gap between its haves and have-nots
Goodbye 2020 Hello 2021!
A writing “round robin” by Cat Talk staffers Teresa Keiger, Jean Aldrich, Lucy Drury, and Iris Zinck
REMOTE WORKING: VIRUS ENCOURAGES BUSINESSES TO THINK DIFFERENTLY
With the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak forcing governments to close schools, sporting events, communal spaces and more, businesses are taking the situation into their own hands, encouraging their staff to work from home.
Back To School: Return To The Classroom Safely
Five months on from the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and policymakers and public health officials have decided it’s time to return to the classroom. Around the world, schools and colleges are preparing for a new semester, and though environments may be different, one thing is clear: teachers and students will be depending on technology more than ever.