Pastor and Educator Still Fighting

Pastor and JobPoint Instructor Thom Lutz has repeatedly faced impossible odds since being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, yet he continues to fight. His strength and resilience have been an inspiration to his family and friends and we will never underestimate his ability to persevere. But, as of late, his cancer-related pain has become increasingly difficult to manage. This is why we are starting a GoFundMe. Funds raised would go to care that is not covered based on Thom’s status as a hospice patient.

*Thom's wife, Maria "Cora" Lutz, will be accepting and managing donations on Thom's behalf

Resources we would love for Thom to have access to:

-Medical Equipment (a power lift sleep recliner, he cannot sleep lying down)

-Additional Medications

-Vitamin Infusions

-Additional over-the-counter medical supplies

A little bit of background

As mentioned, our dear brother and minister Thom Lutz was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2020 and these last three years have been anything but dull! Since that day he has endured Whipple surgery as well as countless rounds of chemo, and while at one point he received a miraculous cancer-free diagnosis, a follow-up revealed that cancer had metastasized in his lungs—and as the list of complications grows, Thom still fights. His health isn’t the only thing that Thom fights for: he has also been working tirelessly to leave Woodcrest Church in Ashland, Missouri better than he found it. It’s there he preaches every Sunday without fail unless God himself insists he rests. We are so thankful to have him as our pastor. Elder Thom has a unique preaching style, his scriptural insights are delivered like you’re sitting across the table from him and you’re two old friends cutting it up. It’s part theology, part comic relief, but it’s ultimately a simple message that always leaves you feeling lighter and closer to God after service.

Since he was diagnosed, it has been Thom’s honor and privilege to become the ordained minister of Woodcrest Primitive Baptist Church on June 17th, 2022; to preside over his nephew’s wedding; to baptize five new members of Woodcrest, and to preside over many funerals of our church brothers, often across state lines. As much as he does inside of the church, Thom is just as busy in the community at large. In January, Thom was awarded the Sherman Brown Jr. Award for his work at JobPoint, where he teaches and mentors disadvantaged youth in Columbia—‘disadvantaged’ being a euphemism for coming from extremely rough circumstances. In his first 6 months at JobPoint Thom helped more students get their HiSET (GED) than had been the case in the previous two years. Thom won’t speak directly of his impact, but as his family, we know firsthand his ability to speak to young people and influence their lives. Those from broken homes and hostile environments really could not be around a better man than Thom: he has a way of disarming them and helping them to channel their anger into something lighthearted and meaningful; just to provide small moments of relief; of seeing the world that has been so hostile to them with some actual optimism.

We are asking for donations to help Thom ease his burden and to help him continue to cross items off his ever-growing to-do list. Above donations, though, we ask for your prayers for Thom, his wife Cora, and their four sons, Tyler, Trevor, Timothy & Trenton.

You keep fighting and so will Thom.

God bless.

Read more about Thom's work at JobPoint here

In the case that there are residual funds, they would go to Thom’s wife, Maria "Cora" Lutz, for expenses related to his disability.

UPDATES / NOTES:

*Thom has been gifted a power lift sleep recliner by a very generous family friend.

*While living overseas for many years, Thom got used to seeing his abbreviated name spelled with the ‘h’ and it just kind of stuck. He and Cora spell it this way, but some friends and family use both, Tom and Thom. We wanted to clarify if that was a point of confusion.

*Our fundraising campaign has been live for one week and we have almost reached 25% percent of our goal. Our entire family is grateful to each of you. Please help us continue to share Thom’s story anywhere you see fit!