After undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous kidney on Wednesday, Casting Crowns lead singer Mark Hall is doing "very well" and is in "great spirits," according to a Facebook update.
"Mark is out of surgery. Everything went really well. Doctor says textbook operation. Just like we prayed for. I told the doctor that he might possibly be the most prayed for Dr. on the planet today. He will be in recovery for a while. Thank you so much for your prayers," read the Facebook post, written by Mark's wife, Melanie.
The update noted that Mark is handling the situation very well--even joking with his family, friends, and the hospital staff.
"The day started off with the band and close family and friends praying with us at the hospital. There was a feeling of Christian fellowship and a peace. Laughs and hugs."
She added, "He has been in great spirits today. He worked late last night and was pretty tired and ready to go to sleep. He asked the anesthesiologist if could just sleep till it was time to go home. smile emoticon (She said no.)"
Melanie said she has been blown away by the kindness of the hospital staff, who prayed for Mark throughout the entire ordeal.
"We came here prepared to love on them but they have been loving on us," she wrote.
After sharing the sobering news of his health condition last Thursday, Hall asked his fans to pray for healing and for peace for his family. At the time, he signed the note with the words "Praising Him in This Storm," a reference to one of Casting Crowns' songs, "Praise You in This Storm," which includes the lyrics, "Every tear I've cried/ You hold in your hands/ You never left my side/ And though my heart is torn/ I will praise you in this storm."
Using the hashtag #prayingforMark, thousands of believers and other artists, including worship leader Chris Tomlin, Michael W. Smith and the rock group Kutless, have since encouraged the Christian community to unite in prayer for Hall.
In an earlier post on Tuesday, Melanie said she was "humbled" by the tremendous outpouring of support her family has received.
"I'm completely humbled by the number of people that have expressed their love for us and are interceding in prayer. There are no words to express the gratitude in this wife's heart. Thank you for praying for us. We have had friends and strangers from all over the world tell us they are praying - an orphan school in Kenya, neighbors we just met, long lost high school friends, Christian music artists from their concerts, schools, offices, pastors in South Africa, chaplains in the Army, churches, radio DJs, fans, missionaries in Brazil, and countless others I couldn't begin to name. Thank you. Your prayers are felt," said Melanie in the post.
She also shared four specific prayer requests:
1. Please pray that God will watch over everything related to the surgery and that it goes well. Pray that we have favor with the hospital staff and doctors.
2. Please pray for complete healing and a quick recovery for Mark.
3. Please pray that God will give us opportunities and discernment to share Christ's love. And pray that we will have strength and courage to represent Him well on this journey.
4. Please also pray that God will give YOU an opportunity to share His love through this. Many of you have said that friends, family members and co-workers are asking you questions about God because of what is happening to Mark. Please, please use these opportunities to point people to Jesus. It may even be one of the reasons God has allowed this.
