Timothy’s story is a unique and heart-wrenching tale of love, loss and faith. For him, the term “suffering bride” has a very personal significance. But this is also a story of God’s love: through his pain, Timothy was brought by God to a ministry that specialises in Christian suffering. Watch the video below to walk with him on his journey.
We have the privilege of sharing Sarah’s final message to the world with you. Discovered among her possessions after she died, the message encourages readers to trust in God and tells of her deep faith in Christ. It was her hope that others would read it and be inspired by it.
How Timothy met Sarah
Timothy is a Christian man from Malaysia. He was serving at a Christian children’s ministry in New York when he met Sarah, a Christian woman from Northern Ireland. Sarah was also serving at the ministry, and Timothy quickly fell for her. They both felt that God was leading them to journey together.
When asking her to marry him, Timothy told Sarah that he would lay down his life for her like Jesus laid down His life for His Church. The pair became engaged, and each travelled to their home country to prepare for the wedding.
Timothy and Sarah look at each other, with a tree featuring their initials carved in a heart.
Unexpected news
While Timothy was in Malaysia, he got a call saying that Sarah had been admitted to the hospital because of a seizure. He rushed to the UK to see her, and was told by doctors that there was a growth on her brain. It did not seem malignant, so the doctors were happy to wait to operate and remove the growth until after the wedding.
Timothy married Sarah in November 2012. She then immediately went on a waiting list for her operation, which took place in February 2013.
Doctors removed as much of the growth as possible, and sent it for biopsy. The results, tragically, indicated that the growth was malignant: Sarah had brain cancer.
Timothy interacts with a tablet showing Sarah's brain scan
Too little time
As Sarah underwent treatment for her cancer, her health deteriorated. Her doctor told Timothy and Sarah that although he was trying to buy her as much time as he could, she likely only had up to five years to live. Despite this, Timothy and Sarah continued to pray to God and plead with Him to heal her, refusing to believe that she had such little time left.
Caring for his suffering bride
As Sarah’s seizures became more frequent, Timothy became her full-time carer. He took a job at a bank which meant that he could continue to support her financially, while being able to work from home and care for her. Sarah would tell Timothy that he was wasted on the bank; she wanted him to serve in God’s kingdom. But this job allowed Timothy to fulfil his vows to Sarah: that he would stay with her, and lay down his life for her.
During this difficult time, they had two pieces of joyous news: Sarah was pregnant, and some of their friends had paid for a trip to Europe for the couple, as they did not get a proper honeymoon. However, when Timothy and Sarah returned from their trip, Sarah became weaker and she sadly had a miscarriage.
Two hearts beating for Jesus
Sarah’s health continued to decline, and a nurse suggested that they take Sarah to a hospice. But Timothy remembered his earlier promise to Sarah, that he would not put her in a hospice, and if it was the Lord’s plan that she would not be healed, then he would let her die at home.
He also remembered that they had promised each other that no matter what, they would never walk away from the Lord. Talking about this, they asked each other how their hearts were. Timothy was relieved to hear that Sarah’s heart was good, but asked the same question he could not honestly give the same answer. He told Sarah that his heart still beat for her, and she responded, “but what about Jesus?” After deep consideration, he told her that his heart still beat for Jesus as well.
Two days later, Sarah became unconscious.
Timothy and Sarah are seated on stone steps, with a textured stone wall behind them, capturing a serene moment of companionship.
Saying goodbye for now
After seven days of Sarah being unconscious, doctors said there was nothing more they could do. Timothy’s prayers changed from asking God to heal Sarah to asking Him to take her home, so she would not suffer any more.
When Sarah was close to dying, Timothy went in and sat with her. He held her hand, and told her that if she needed to go, he released her; but that he loved her and would never forget her. When he told her that she had his blessing to go home to the Lord, she squeezed his hand. It was the first time she showed any physical response for the whole time she was unconscious, and Timothy understood that she was showing that she heard him, and was saying goodbye.
Minutes later, Sarah breathed her last, and went to the Lord.
Two suffering brides
As Sarah passed away, God impressed on Timothy’s heart that as much as Timothy’s heart was breaking for his bride, Jesus’ heart was also breaking for his own bride. Timothy immediately understood the meaning of the phrase “suffering bride”.
He remembered how Sarah had always wanted him to serve in the kingdom of the Lord. So he left his job at the bank and went to serve in a ministry in Argentina for a year.
Timothy reads the Compassion in Action section of the Barnabas Aid magazine.
Finding his new Christian mission
After returning to the UK from his ministry work, Timothy came across a job advert for a Christian aid agency: Barnabas Aid. He applied not knowing much about the organisation, other than that it had something to do with the persecuted Church.
In his interview, the directors told him that Barnabas exists to support the suffering bride of Jesus Christ.
At that moment, Timothy recognised the significance of what God was impressing upon Timothy’s heart when He told him that Jesus’ heart was also breaking for His bride.
Timothy took the job, and now serves the suffering Church around the world through Barnabas Aid. He considers it a privilege and an honour to work for Barnabas and support the bride of Christ.
Make a donation to the General Fund
If you would like to make a difference in the lives of more Christians who suffer due to natural disasters or for their faith, please consider giving to our General Fund. Your money can make a difference in the lives of other Christians.
Donate now
Pray with us
Here are some prayer points related to this story, which you may wish to take before our Heavenly Father:
- We give thanks for Timothy’s continued faith and courage through his struggles, that God led him to the mission of Barnabas Aid.
- We pray for all Christians who are in pain from illness. May God watch over them, give them strength and keep their faith in Him strong.
- We pray for the Christians who have lost a loved one to cancer. May they be comforted that their loved one is now pain-free and experiencing the joy of union with Christ in Heaven.
- We pray for the work of Barnabas Aid, that it will continue to help the suffering Bride of Christ and provide hope to believers who need it. We give thanks that we have been able to shine the light of Christ in the darkness of this fallen world, providing aid to the impoverished and a calling to our staff and volunteers.
