Bolden's Medical Fund

About the Boldens

David & Pat Bolden have pastored Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church in Mexia, TX for over 30 years.  Most of the time they have been bi-vocational.  For several years they operated a Day Care and Preschool at the church, ministering to many children and their families.   Several years after closing the Daycare, they decided to open a food bank to serve the widows and elderly in their church.  This ministry quickly expanded to serve the community and now their tri-county area.  The Food Bank, operated by the Boldens and many volunteers, has provided food for hundreds of families as well as other services like Teen Challenge, a drug rehabilitation program, area Children's Homes and numerous missionaries home on itineration. The Boldens have a heart to help and serve others, and have done so for most of their lives.

David’s Health

 In September of 2016, while attending a ministry conference in Houston, Pastor Bolden suffered a massive stroke.  After being in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities for 3 months, he returned home in January of 2017.   Since that time, he has been cared for primarily by his wife, Pat.   She began filling in for David at the church and the congregation has stood by them, carried on with the food pantry ministry, and supported their pastors in every way they could.

Pat’s Battle

 In late November of 2017, they received the terrible news that Pat had developed breast cancer.  Shortly after Christmas they learned that the cancer had metastasized.  She is now working with an oncologist on treatments and they have stepped back from ministry at the church.  Several ministers have been filling in on Sundays, but the church continues to support their pastors with a small housing stipend.  Many friends and family helped them financially since the time of his stroke, which is greatly appreciated, but a bigger need is now before this caring couple.

What can you do to help?

First and foremost, the Boldens want everyone to pray for healing in both of their bodies.  They believe God still performs miraculous healings, and this is what they pray for daily.  While waiting on their healing, however, they have some needs.  It’s a little difficult to be vulnerable about finances.  They’ve been very hesitant in wanting to put this news to the public, so it has taken some time to convince them to allow us to set up a GoFundMe campaign for them.

Here are their current needs:

1.   Pat needs some respite care for David in order to be able to rest, focus on her diet regimen and treatments, and have the energy to fight cancer.  Insurance will not pay for this kind of care.  The family has found a facility that he could go to for short stays, but their out-of-pocket pay would be $110 per day.  They also hope to get David some physical therapy during his stays.
 

2.  Medical bills have piled up from both of their illnesses in amounts exceeding $7000.  In addition, there is still around $3000 in deductibles to be met this year.  We would like to help them pay these bills off completely.
 

3,  A wheelchair accessible van is needed.  The public transit system they have to use to bring him to appointments is not convenient and does not run on Sundays. There have been people who have graciously allowed them to borrow wheelchair vehicles to take him to church and doctor’s visits that were long distances on occasion.  However, they would like to have their own vehicle and the van they presently have will not accommodate his special needs.
 

Many people have asked about this, so I will go ahead and say:  they are not old enough to qualify for Medicare, he is not currently on disability, and they do not currently qualify for Medicaid.  They have insurance through the healthcare marketplace with deductibles of $3,350.00 per person.

We appreciate your prayers, for sharing this campaign with others, and for anything you are able to give to the Boldens.  We truly feel this is a way to give back to those who have given to so many!  God Bless!