Metro Pastor Delivers Congressional Prayer In Midst Of Cancer Battle

A Del City pastor delivered the prayer for Congress in Washington, D.C. this week.

It was definitely a highlight in his professional calling and now he is sharing his personal journey battling stage 4 cancer.

Pastor Shane Hall of First Southern Baptist Church in Del City found out in October he only had nine months to live.

Hall is soaking up every moment of life, like serving as guest chaplain and delivering the Congressional prayer.

“It was a kind of a once in a lifetime experience,” Hall said.

Then there are the moments that test his faith - even as a pastor.

“You preach about these things and you know what God's word says about them, but you get to put feet to the words if you would, feet to the preaching when you actually walk through it,” Hall told News 9.

In October, the 44-year-old husband and father of two was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer. It had metastasized, or spread outside his stomach, and his life expectancy was nine months.

“All that you've placed your faith and trust in in Christ really becomes very real at that moment,” Hall explained.

Prayers poured in from his congregation at First Southern Baptist Church of Del City and from all around the nation. Then, a miracle happened. After several months of chemo, the cancer that had spread outside the stomach was gone, leaving only a small portion of cancer inside the stomach.

“It's like, ‘Okay, this battle is won, but you still have the war in hand,’” Hall said.

The next step is to remove his stomach to get rid of any remaining cancer.

“If I'm minus a stomach and able to walk my girls down the aisle when they get married, I can live with that,” Hall beamed.

Hall said he does not know why he is healing when others with cancer have not, but he is not wasting the moment.

“I don't want to waste my suffering, I don't want to waste His healing,” Hall said.  “Christ is the only hope and what we do with Christ now is what matters,” he added.

If all goes well, Hall will have his stomach removal surgery at the end of August.

He was chosen to deliver the congressional prayer because Congressman Steve Russell attends his church and nominated Hall for the yearly honor.