Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Friends plan benefit for cancer victim

The bottom portion of the left leg femur bone will have to be replaced because of a cancerous tumor in a 24-year-old local youth pastor.

Marc Crawley, who is employed at Sexton Grocery in Prescott as a meat cutter, is a Gurdon native and 1998 GHS graduate.

Crawley is a youth pastor at the First Baptist Church of Gurdon on Second Street. He has no health insurance.

His friend, Brian Clark, who is a local gospel singer, is organizing a benefit performance and barbecue meal for Crawley, starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, in the Gurdon High School cafetorium.

Crawley is in the process of opening a barbecue business in Gurdon, with a license pending.

On April 20, a tumor was discovered but the diagnosis took more than a month. At that time, Crawley said the nature of his problem was pinpointed by Dr. Richard Nicolas, of the University of Arkansas Medical School and Children's Hospital in Little Rock.

Crawley said, "The type of bone cancer I have is called Oestio Sarcoma. It is usually found in adolescents. That is why I must take the chemo though Children's or St. Jude's.

"They said it may take 10-12 weeks of chemotherapy and then they will do the major surgery. It could mean up to a year of treatment all together."

Crawley said he was not so concerned with the type of treatment he must endure, but rather thanks God it can be treated at all and he has a good chance of still being alive.

According to Crawley, the bills from his cancer tests are nearly $10,000 so far, "and it is hard telling how much the total will be."

"I am hoping, without insurance, that Medicaid may pay some of my bills, but that may take quite awhile to find out," he said.

"I have a good church family and friends here in Gurdon, and I sure am grateful for that."

Crawley, who has been in the youth ministry since January of 1999, is now doing some fill-in preaching at First Baptist Church, as his preacher, Paul Sheets, is in the process of resigning.

Crawley said he surrendered to preach in January of 2002, and was ordained as a minister in August of 2004.

Crawley began his youth pastor career at New Caney Baptist Church, before transferring where he is now.

His parents are Jimmy and Terri Crawley, of Highway 67, Gurdon, where Marc still lives.

All of the proceeds from the gospel singing benefit will go to Crawley's cancer fund.

Clark said, "I have known Marc since he was a small child. We grew up in South Fork Baptist Church.

"He will start his chemotherapy within the next few weeks. I know Marc will want to be at the barbecue and singing, but it depends on if his health will let him."

Clark plans to set up his own sound system for anyone to use who plans to perform at the benefit.

The list, to date, includes: Brandi Karlovec, Leonard Gills, Leandra Dillard, Winnie Clark, the Pentecostal Choir with Rhonda Bates, Brian Clark, Mark Hall, Christina Daniels, Fred Hatley, Dean Jones, Terry Hughes, Karen Sorrells, the New Caney Singers with Jack Ursery, Zach Pyron, the Bell Quartet, Don Clark, Lisa Russell and speaker Paul Sheets, pastor for First Baptist Church.

Clark said other performers who would like to participate in the benefit may call him at: (870) 353-6128, (870) 353-4805 or (870) 353-7125.

"We will have a PowerPoint slide show presentation of Marc's life during the concert," Clark said.

"We will have a donation for the barbecue meal and a love offering for Marc."

Clark said the illness came upon Marc very unexpectedly. The singer is asking the City of Gurdon "to get behind Marc on this and turnout in huge numbers."

"We want everybody who can to participate so we can take in as much money as possible to help Marc," he said.

"All area churches are encouraged to get behind this promotion and support it since Marc Crawley is a youth minister here in our town."

As to how long the concert will last, Clark said the performers will get started and keep going until they get through.

Clark, who works for Anthony Higgs Lumber Co. of Gurdon, has been touring local churches with his musical ministry.

"I was with a group and then ventured out on my own," he said. "I watched Marc grow up and enter the ministry. I have a great deal of respect for someone willing to obey Christ and give their life totally to serve the Lord."

Clark said Crowley's dedication to the ministry is enough to motivate him to organize this benefit.

"We need to encourage him to keep his spirits up and keep focusing on his work for Jesus Christ," Clark said. "If you know Marc, give him some words of hope. But more than that, get behind this effort and help him all you can. Marc is known by all of Gurdon. Let's show him we are there for him."