Help Alexis Sofield Battle Stage 4 Lung Cancer

"If the pain He's leaving leads to scars that bear His Name, then I pray that you remember that your journey is not in vain."

Diagnosis:

Alexis Ortiz Sofield, an exemplary Christ-follower, a devout husband, a dependable father, and our sincere friend, has been given an opportunity to proclaim the Gospel of Christ and Jesus’ saving grace in a new way: On January 3rd, 2024, Alexis was diagnosed with Stage Four Adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer in the carcinoma family. The Sofield family has prayerfully pondered the weight of this daunting diagnosis and has determined to faithfully proclaim the Name of Jesus in the midst of this trial. They wholeheartedly cling to the divine promise of Romans 8:28, that ALL THINGS do, indeed, work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

Who is Alexis Sofield:

Proud Husband of sixteen years to Madeline Franco-Sofield, and father of two sons: Jeremiah and Elijah, ages fifteen and thirteen, respectively. For the majority of his married life, Alexis rose to the call and joined Marion County Fire-Rescue where he served as a Firefighter/Lieutenant for nineteen years. Shortly after his retirement, Alexis continued to experience a God-given calling to serve alongside the men and women in MCFR, and he prayerfully stepped into a Chaplain position, devoting himself to the faithful preaching and teaching of God’s word to his fellow colleagues. Because of the aforementioned ministry opportunity, Alexis has sought counsel with his pastor and elders and has dedicated his life to God’s will, praying that the Lord would continue to burn within his heart the passion for a pastoral ministry. In this attempt, he is currently studying at Reformation Bible College and serving his church body as the church-office administrator and service coordinator. He is also supporting his wife as her real estate licensed-assistant. Alexis has proven himself to be a hard-working spiritual leader for his family, giving his all to the benefit of others.

The Good News:

Though our hearts and minds are saddened at the diagnosis, we mourn not as those who are without hope, for as Christ's followers, we have the assurance that God, who is sovereign, does all things well. He has created each of us with a purpose that ends in the praising and worshiping of Him. With great love, He invites us to abide in Him, and He walks with us through life's joys and sorrows. With our minds stayed on God, we have perfect peace in the midst of every sorrow and affliction. This peace is incomprehensible to those who are without a true, Biblical understanding of God; but, it is a firm foundation for those who know Him and have believed in Him. The Bible proclaims the good news of the redemption story- that God, who made heaven and earth and all therein, took on flesh and came to earth to rescue sinners from the wrath of God that we deserve for our many infractions and rebellious deeds against Him. In His coming, Jesus, being fully God and fully man, lived a perfect life and, yet, subjected Himself to be crucified on a cross taking on Himself the guilt of our sin and paying the price for it. Three days after He was buried, He rose from the grave, victorious over death and hell, and He ascended to Heaven. Soon He will come again, this time as King, and every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will confess that He is Lord to the glory of God, the Father. All who acknowledge their sinful state before God and call upon the name of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives will be rescued from eternal death in hell and restored to eternal life in the presence of God! Therein is our unwavering hope and peace, for this world is not our eternal home. This failing flesh is not the end for us, yet we know that each day is a gift and that we ought to be diligent about living lives worthy of our calling and in a manner that glorifies God.

Call for Prayer and Help:

There are no rogue molecules; God is in control of all things. It is for this reason that we will pray to Him asking for His guidance, mercy, healing, and strength for Alexis, Maddy, their sons, their families, and the oncology team, as Alexis undergoes treatment in his battle against cancer. We will pray for God's steadfast love to comfort and carry our brother and his family while His perfect will is accomplished in their lives.

In regard to cancer, it is often quoted, "No one fights alone." Please join with the church, both local and abroad, as we plead with Jesus Christ, the Great Physician, to have mercy and grace upon Alexis’s diagnosis. I do ask that you consider the Sofield family in your prayers, as no one is ever prepared for a cancer diagnosis. Though sorrows like sea-billows roll, the Author and Perfecter of Alexis’s story will do what is best for him. As we wait on the Lord, let us have unwavering faith and find great comfort in His power, just as the woman in Matthew Chapter 9, who having so much faith in Jesus, knew that if she could just touch Jesus’s robe that she would be healed from her sickness. Our Lord is so Holy, that even the mere clothes that were on Him were affected by His power. God is powerful, He is the Healer, and He is the God of possibility. Through the difficult days ahead in this battle, may we glorify God through it all.

Biblical Hope:

Romans 8:26-35:

“Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.”

Philippians 1:6:

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.”

Please consider the Sofield family--whether in prayer and/or donations--as this time presents itself as a valley through which they have yet to walk. Even so, may the Lord Jesus be glorified.

“Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling Face.” - William Cowper