Martha Basinger, long time member of Faith and dear saint of God, died Tuesday morning. Funeral service will be Thursday morning at 10:30 at the church with burial to follow at the Veteran's Cemetery in North Little Rock. The family thanks you for your prayers.

Joel Smith entered our lives and captured our hearts when his family moved to Cabot for his dad to join our pastoral staff. The glory of God radiated from his smile and echoed in his shouts and songs. Joel's brave battle with cancer inspired us all.

As the recurrent brain tumor grew, it became evident that new and further treatment would be required. Last week, the Smiths received word that Joel was accepted into a treatment program at St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Though feeling at home with the family of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel at Children's Hospital in Little Rock, the treatment program at St. Jude's sounded promising.

After checking into St. Jude's on Sunday (August 14), the medical staff there began examining Joel on Monday. Despite a recent shunt procedure in Joel's brain, his overall health had continued to decline. Doctors determined that the reason was swelling caused by the tumor now putting pressure on Joel's brain stem. Simply put, this meant Joel was not able to be treated.

The decision was made to move Joel back to Children's Hospital by ambulance to be closer to his family and to be with the medical staff that has cared for him and grown to love him. Monday evening, Children's compassionate medical staff began providing comfort care as Joel's immediate and extended family was called to the hospital.

On Tuesday (August 15), Joel's battle with cancer ended. Joel passed away mid-morning in the company of family and friends, but found himself immediately in the company of Jesus and His angels.

As of Tuesday afternoon, funeral arrangements were yet to be made. Moore's Cabot Funeral Home (http://www.moorescabotfuneralhome.com/) will be handling arrangements. Visitation and Service times will be posted when available.

On behalf of the Smith family and all of the pastors' families at Faith, thank you for your prayers and support for Joel, Bobby, Amy and Grant. Please continue to remember them in your prayers.

Brent D. Summerhill
Senior Pastor

Wednesday evening (July 20) is Melon Mayhem for Missions. Join us at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall for a time of devotion, mission reports and prayer. Then we will feast on watermelons from Cave City. We look forward to seeing you tonight.