I just wanted to thank you for bringing Casting Crowns to Huntsville tonight. I honestly didn’t feel like going to the show, but my mother loves the band and I went anyway for her. By the end of the night I knew I was meant to be there. Over the past few months I’ve been slowly drifting away from church because of some situations in my life right now.
In November of 2011, I was diagnosed with Good Pasture syndrome which is a rare auto-immune disease that attacks the lungs and kidneys. In 2012, I was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure and started dialysis. I was lost and didn’t know what I would do with my life at the age of 24.
I met and married who I thought was my soul mate. She knew about my illness and declared she loved me so much that she still wanted to be with me for the rest of her life. Two days before the Casting Crowns concert we signed our divorce papers. She couldn’t handle being with someone as sick as I am and with the limitations on life I have.
I knew I was meant to be there tonight because I could relate so well with not only many of the songs but also his testimony. I teared up hearing him talk about his recent battle with kidney cancer and then very soon after performing the song about marriage. I felt God more than ever tonight and it helped me come to terms with so much that’s been compromising my walk with Jesus lately. I feel like I can finally return to my home church and deal with being there with my soon to be ex-wife’s entire family.
– John Novalis
