"He is vomiting blood and the doctors are not sure why," read the email I received from a friend of mine, about her brother, a 19-year-old American soldier named Adam. He was stationed in Afghanistan when he suddenly began to profusely vomit blood. He was immediately flown to Germany. It's not a war injury, yet the doctors aren't able to figure out what is wrong. Hence on April 9, he was about to undergo exploratory surgery to find out what was wrong.

The surgery which at first was deemed a success has gone horribly wrong. Immediately after the surgery Adam was given orders to go back to Afghanistan, because the doctors thought the surgery was a success. Adam, who was laid out on a stretcher, began vomiting blood again after the surgery. The cause is unknown but serious enough to have Adam flown immediately to a stateside hospital to reunite him with his parents and newlywed bride this Friday, April 13. I ask you to pray. Adam needs our prayers. He is an American soldier, but more importantly he is a child of God.

I cannot imagine the pain his parents and wife are feeling. The uncertainty behind the whole event is paralyzing. The unanswered questions by our military are daunting, and only our prayers will get them through this valley of soul-tormenting anguish. Please take this moment as you read this column to intercede on Adam's behalf. Just ask God to comfort his wife, to bring courage to Adam and to remind his parents that God is the father of us all.

God is always looking for those who are willing to take the time to plead for the safety of others. Jesus prays for us daily, and I know he is praying for Adam. Yet somehow in the mystery of this battle between good and evil, bad things happen. Think about Job, who suffered so much, or the unanswered prayers in your life; yet we must not lose hope and we must persevere as if tomorrow were not promised to us.

Your prayers can make a difference; your prayers can bring comfort to one of our soldiers who desperately needs your help. They give so much to protect our freedoms; let us in turn help to protect his life.

Adam, this is my prayer on your behalf:

I pray that our heavenly Father will pull you safely through this dark valley. I pray that you have the peace of mind that no matter what happens, there is a God who loves you so much. He is constantly watching over you and is comforting, as I pray, those whom you love dearly. Remember always in your prayers the promise spoken in Psalms 23: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me." God is with you Adam, now and till the end of time.

Please pray for Adam!

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Gio Marin is an author, currently working on a master of divinity degree at Andrews Seventh-Day Adventist Theological Seminary, with a dual emphasis on systematic theology and church growth & evangelism. Visit For His Glory, the blog, and send an email to {email GioMarinColumn@aol.com}GioMarinColumn@aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Gio Marin.