John and Heather Baker have been faithfully part of Church on the Rock for over 16 years. John has served our church family with incredible consistency and humility, playing both electric and acoustic guitar on the worship team. Through his gift of music, he has helped create countless moments where people encountered the presence of God. In addition to serving on the worship team, John is also our church’s IT Specialist, the one we all run to when technology fails us. If John has ever rescued you from a computer disaster, you know it feels nothing short of miraculous.

Behind the scenes, however, John and Heather have been walking through a very difficult and exhausting season.

Since March of 2023, Heather has been undergoing regular daily dialysis treatments due to kidney failure. Dialysis is not just a procedure; it is physically draining, time-consuming, and life-altering. Heather has endured countless treatments, surgeries, and setbacks with remarkable strength and quiet perseverance. She is truly one of the toughest women you will ever meet. Throughout this entire journey, John has been Heather’s constant and faithful caregiver. Night after night, he prepares her dialysis treatments, ensuring she has what she needs to keep fighting. His love, devotion, and quiet strength have carried them through some of their hardest days. Since October, John’s role as caregiver has intensified. Heather is unable to be alone at this point and need constant care.

Heather has spent her career serving others as a social worker, advocating for some of the most vulnerable among us. She worked with the Office of Children’s Services supporting children and families through the adoption process, and most recently served with Chugachmiut providing Adult Protective Services to individuals in remote Alaskan villages. Her work was not just a job, it was a calling to protect, advocate for, and care for those who needed it most.

Because of her declining health and the physical demands of daily dialysis, Heather was forced to step away from the work she loved to focus on her survival and treatment. In addition, Heather’s health insurance premiums alone now cost approximately $1,600 per month, on top of mounting medical bills, treatment costs, and new daily living expenses as part of her ongoing health issues. This GoFundMe has become a critical lifeline, helping to provide stability during an incredibly difficult and uncertain season, as well as being one of the best ways to come together to financially support friends and family in need.

After battling an infection, immediately followed by multiple surgeries, Heather had to be temporarily taken off the kidney transplant list. However, there is hope on the horizon. Heather has an upcoming evaluation at the Mayo Clinic this April, which is a critical step toward being placed back on the kidney transplant list. This evaluation represents hope for healing, hope for restoration, and hope for a future free from dialysis. Because of the complications of Heather’s health, she also needs a new pancreas, which should reverse her type 1 diabetes.

For years, John and Heather have poured into others—serving faithfully, loving generously, and strengthening not just our church community, but our state communities. Now, they are the ones in need of support.

We are asking our church family, friends, and community to come alongside them during this incredibly difficult season. Donations will help cover ongoing medical expenses, lost income, travel costs to the Mayo Clinic, rising insurance premiums, and daily living expenses as Heather continues treatment and prepares for transplants.

If John has ever led you in worship, if Heather has ever encouraged you, or if you simply feel moved to help, we invite you to be part of their story of hope.

Every prayer, every share, and every gift, no matter the amount, makes a difference.

Let’s surround John and Heather with the same love and faithfulness they have shown to so many of us.