CARPINTERIA, CA (ANS) -- On Monday, July 12, 2010, Britt Merrick, lead pastor of Reality Church in Carpinteria, CA, heard the words that would mark the very worst moment of his life: “It’s back.” A second tumor, the size of a grapefruit, had grown in the tummy of his little girl, Daisy Love, just weeks after she’d been declared cancer-free at the end of an eight-month battle. The news, for Britt and his wife Kate, has been nothing short of devastating.

Daisy Love shares a loving moment with her father, Britt Merrick

The Merrick’s battle with cancer began in September of 2009, when then five-year old Daisy Love was diagnosed with a Stage 3 Wilm’s Tumor – a cancerous mass that had been growing from her kidney since birth. Discovered after a tumble on the playground, Daisy’s tumor began hemorrhaging cancerous cells into her body. She underwent surgery, and thereby commenced the family’s arduous journey into chemo and radiation.

“When your child suffers it’s more horrific than anything you could ever imagine,” says Britt. “It means something to humanity that God gave His own Son to suffer.”

Just months earlier, Britt had led the Reality congregation through a study of Hebrew’s “Hall of Faith,” focusing on the heroes of faith recounted in chapter 11. This series of messages, and the extraordinary faith of the ancient individuals therein, would become the building blocks of Britt’s first book, “Big God: What Happens When We Trust Him” (Regal, 2010).
 

Cover of Big God

“This book describes the faith God wants us to have,” wrote Francis Chan, “and Britt’s life exemplifies it.”

Before “Big God” went to print, the Merrick’s received the first devastating report of the cancerous tumor - the size of a Nerf football - that grew inside of their little girl. Six days later, Britt stood with breaking heart before his congregation to testify to the goodness of God. Whatever happened to his daughter, Britt was able to say that he trusted Christ implicitly, and that nothing was going to change between him and Jesus. In their darkest hour, Britt and Kate could cling to the truths of God’s character because they knew the truths of God’s Word. The result was a faith that flourished through fire.

The beginning chapter of “Big God”, titled, “When My Heart is Overwhelmed,” relays the content of that message. It’s the story of a pastor in anguish over the suffering of his child, enabled by the power of God’s Word to entrust His daughter to the Lord, and love Him above all else. This personal story of Britt’s journey becomes the introduction and frame for the rest of the book.

But even more, the chapter powerfully testifies to Britt’s own place as a modern-day hero of faith. His is an enduring trust modeled after the biblical precepts and ancient individuals he’d studied so specifically in the writing of “Big God.” His faith through suffering is a testament to the work that God’s Word accomplishes when engraved upon the tablet of the heart. As an author, Britt consistently implores his readers to live in full assurance of the faithfulness of God, as it’s consistently exhibited throughout the Bible. As a pastor, husband, and father, Britt’s life demonstrates the results of a faith rooted in that very belief, unshaken in the darkest hour.

In recalling the trials of this past year, Britt says: “I've discovered Christ in a deeper way through suffering than I ever did through blessing.” And the global community of individuals who’ve come alongside the Merrick’s through this battle would testify the same. “We have heard that many people have come to Christ because of Daisy’s story,” rejoices Britt. “We have heard of many prodigals coming home, and the vibrancy of their Christian life returning.” Story after story affirms God’s goodness, as He’s used the journey of a vivacious little girl – all too well acquainted with suffering – to work transformational change in the lives of those who hear of and pray for her.
 

Daisy Merrick

In May 2010 Daisy was declared to be disease-free, and per her request to swing from vines and swim with turtles, the Merrick’s departed for a month-long stay in Hawaii. “It was the best time of our lives,” Britt recalls. Throughout the trip, Daisy Love began experiencing stomach pain that worsened the weekend of their arrival home. A CT scan in the emergency room revealed a second tumor, grown in a matter of weeks, that is currently connected to her stomach, major organs, and aorta.

“For some reason, this time is so much harder than the first time,” says Britt. “We never expected to ever hear those words again. Kate and I wept uncontrollably for a long time. When we could finally speak out loud, I said: We trust You, Lord. We still trust You.”

In America, only 80 children a year get what Daisy has – a recurring Wilm’s tumor. Since the devastating news on July 12th, one third of the tumor has been surgically removed, while the rest is considered inoperable. Daisy’s proposed rate of cure is only 30-50%, but her personal faith in a big God is unshaken.

“People are only one times important,” Daisy explains. “And God is like a thousand million billion googolplex important.”

Six days after the news of the cancer’s return, Britt stood before his congregation once more proclaiming God’s continued goodness through his family’s suffering.

“Last year was the best year of our lives and the worst year of our lives,” he said. “This coming year will be worse, but it will also be better.” Britt preached the beauty accomplished by God through suffering – a truth that scripture had always given him theoretically, but that his experience could now confirm practically. The next day Britt received an e-mail from a young woman also battling cancer; she had been poised to commit suicide, until she heard Sunday’s message of hope.
 

Daisy with her father

This past weekend took the Merrick’s to Los Angeles, where they’ve begun the long and intensified road of highly aggressive chemo treatments. Francis Chan stepped in for his friend at the pulpit in Carpinteria, while prayer groups – mobilized over blogs and twitter – gathered outside of Daisy’s hospital in intercession. “The reality,” penned Britt in the first chapter of “Big God” (p.26), “is that it takes more faith to endure God not healing your daughter than it does to see Him heal her.”

The weekend was a long and scary one, as a neurological response to the three sets of chemo rendered Daisy unresponsive. Britt and Kate were brought once again to their knees. Daisy finally awoke this morning, sick with the side effects of the treatment, but in her usual beautiful spirits. The family is rejoicing today to have made it through the first round of this aggressive chemotherapy. The next several months will hold daily shots, periodic blood drawing, and intensified rounds of chemo every 18 days. Thereafter Daisy will undergo more surgery and a bone marrow transplant, or some form of alternative treatment.

Amidst unbearable suffering, the Merrick family continues to trust in God’s redemptive purposes as they live out the fullness of their faith. Daisy’s big brother Isaiah, age nine, wrote a Psalm for his parents about God’s steadfast love, saying, “You are my shield that will stay with me forever; You are my flashlight with batteries that go on forever.” The Merrick’s continue to abide beneath the refuge of that shield, holding fast to the light of Jesus through the darkness of this battle.

Specific Prayer Requests:
* For Daisy physically; that her little body would be spared the terrible reactions to aggressive rounds of chemo. That her body would stay strong and her immunities stay high.
* For Daisy’s doctors; that they would have wisdom and divine counsel as they make decisions and administer her treatment.
* For effectiveness of the chemo; that it would quickly and successfully eliminate the cancerous cells growing in Daisy’s body, shrinking the tumor, and resulting in complete physical healing if it is God’s will.
* For the family: Britt, Kate, their parents, and Daisy’s brother Isaiah (9). That God would bring them renewed peace, joy through suffering, endurance for this trial, and discernment as they explore more options for Daisy’s treatment.
* For the ministry of Reality. That the church would know Christ more fully and love him more intimately as it walks with the Merrick family through this season.
* For Daisy’s ministry; that she would continue to abide in joy and steadfast faith, and that many would fall more in love with Jesus as a result of her story.

For Updates, Please Follow:
Blogs: www.prayfordaisy.com and www.brittmerrick.com
Twitter: @prayfordaisy, @brittmerrick

For Messages, Please Visit:
Web: www.realitycarp.com

Podcasts: iTunes > Britt Merrick

For Interview Requests:
Email: purepublicity@aol.com

About Reality:
Reality is a biblically grounded, missionally minded, relationally oriented church of about 3000 adults that is rooted in prayer, worship, and the authority of God’s inerrant Word. Reality was founded in Carpinteria in 2003, and has since followed God’s calling to church birthing in Los Angeles, Stockton, Ventura, San Francisco and London.
For more information, visit www.jesusisreality.com.

Allison Trowbridge serves as Communications Director of the Not For Sale Campaign, an international non-profit working to end modern-day slavery (www.notforsalecampaign.org). In 2010 she created the study guide for Britt Merrick's first book, “Big God: What Happens When We Trust Him” (www.biggodthebook.com). Allison is a graduate of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA, and has attended Reality Carpinteria since the church's one-year anniversary in 2004.