Dan Atkins-Friend to Many
Dan Atkins started off as a youth minister from the DC area; he had a vision to start up an extremely contagious, helping hand church that is welcoming of all sectors of the community. Fueled with that vision in his heart, he moved to Greenville, SC. 12 years ago and started the “Discover Church”. The church’s beginnings started with him and his wife knocking on stranger's doors and asking them if they wanted to go church. He grew his vision from the original two to a congregation of over a thousand.
Dan's vision didn't stop locally he wanted to expand even further, so he started a safe haven in Nicaragua for sexually trafficked girls. To his dismay he found the issue was just as prominent for young boys and so he expanded the vision to include a home for girls and boys, designed to avoid their original destiny, change course and give them a place to be cared for, fed, and educated.
During the startup of Nicaragua safe houses for girls and boys, Dan went in person to oversee it and unfortunately contracted a severe and up to this point, incurable strain of parasites. Since that time, his body has been devastated with illness. He has had 34 subsequent surgeries, pancreatitis, with chronic vomiting on a daily basis. His gall bladder has been removed, but an infection created a hole in his abdomen that increased his already intolerable symptoms to an extreme level, with so many other body wrecking experiences, it is almost unfathomable to hear or bear.
He has met with numerous doctors and experts all over the U.S. from Duke, Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic and everything in between including alternative options in the hopes to ease his symptoms with one goal to spend time...any amount of time with his family. Unfortunately, none of these options have brought any relief. He has spent the past four years literally lying on the floor, next to a toilet, praying for a minute to participate in his former life, in his church, with his congregation and most importantly with his wife and four children.
With no relief to be found his ability to be a leader in his church has obviously lessened and his congregation has dwindled significantly. But his message has not, a video has been posted with one of his sermons, it is life changing and impactful...as they all are. His gift is so authentic, as he shares his views, experiences and personal failings; there is something in them we can all relate to on a daily basis. The only judgment within him is in his own actions, he takes accountability, please, click play and listen for a better understanding of this effort.
We want and need Dan to rise up and return to good health so he can get back to changing lives, families, communities and countries. He will never be monetarily rich, he believes all that is given to him must be given back. A truly astounding human that holds steadfast in the direction that has been given to him. It is our turn now to hold this person up as he has done for so many. His medical bills are staggering because he has been in the hospital every 6 weeks for the past several years and continues in this cycle of nasuea and unbearable pain. Our wish is for everyone to give just $5.00 and for the word to be spread as far and as fast to anyone that will lend an ear. It is a very small but extremely impactful life changing effort...we can do this with your help!
