I am thankful to God for sparing my former pastor and mentor, Stephen Beck. I'll let his wife, Susan, explain in a copy/paste of their prayer letter from yesterday:

It's time for our monthly update, but this is an update of a different sort. Stephen woke up at 1 am today with chest pains and we went into the hospital, expecting to have an EKG and be sent home. Instead, he is now recovering from a quadruple bypass.

Please praise the Lord with us that we got to the hospital before significant damage occurred, that we have a good university hospital near our home, and that he has come through the surgery and is stable.

Please pray for God's hand to remain over him as he wakes up, for an uncomplicated recovery, and that God will use this situation for His glory in ways we can't see yet.

With confidence that God is always in control,

Susan

Through the wonders of the internet, I saw today that Stephen is recovering and will soon be able to see his bride again. Please be in prayer for this godly couple.

Before his current role as seminary professor at the only evangelical Seminary in Germany, Stephen planted and pastored Grace Toronto Church (and simultaneously, others in the Greater Toronto area) for 10 years. Prior to that he pastored in Pensylvania for 10 years. His daughter, Sarah, told me recently that her dad is playing on all of his strengths in this current role. He gets to train pastors, mentor them, and help facilitate church plants throughout Europe. I can testify to those things being his awesome strengths. I love the fact that Stephen teaches at the school his own father helped to found about four decades ago!

At age 55 I'd ask you to pray that God gives him many more years of faithful service.