• Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • About
  • Home

Pathway

Missouri Baptist Convention's Official News Journal

  • Missouri
    • MBC
    • Churches
    • Institutions & Agencies
    • Policy
    • Disaster Relief
  • National
    • SBC Annual Meeting
    • NAMB
    • SBC
    • Churches
    • Policy
    • Society & Culture
  • Global
    • Missions
    • Multicultural
  • Columnists
    • Wes Fowler
    • Ben Hawkins
    • Pat Lamb
    • Rhonda Rhea
    • Rob Phillips
  • Ethics
    • Life
    • Liberty
    • Family
  • Faith
    • Apologetics
    • Religions
    • Evangelism
    • Missions
    • Bible Study & Devotion
  • E-Edition

More results...

Faith is the victory: Mountain Grove believer waits for liver donation

October 19, 2005 By The Pathway

June 17, 2003

MOUNTAIN GROVE – Hepatitis C has destroyed Rex Letterman’s liver to the point where he must get a new one soon or he will die. He does not despair, though.

“I have strong faith and I’m blessed by knowing God,” said Letterman, 47, a member of Southside Baptist Church. “If I do die it’s not a terrible thing, but if I do live, I would like to be able to at least get out and do something. I’m pretty much homebound, couch-bound. I don’t have very much energy and I sleep a whole lot.”

Letterman is first on the liver transplant list at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Complicating matters is his A negative blood type, which is “fairly rare,” he said. His Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score indicates the seriousness of his condition.

On a numerical scale ranging from MELD 6 (less ill) to MELD 40 (gravely ill), Letterman is a MELD 22. A MELD score of 30 can mean death, Letterman said.

Hepatitis C virus affects about 4 million Americans. It can result in cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure.

“You don’t actually die so much of the liver as you would from an infection or liver cancer or something to that effect,” Letterman said.

Letterman shares a special bond with his pastor, Roger Flint, who preached his first sermon at the church Feb. 3. On Feb. 6, a lonely Letterman called the church to request a visit. Deacon Bill Austin passed on the information to the new pastor and a deacon in-training, Ross Fish, who went out that night in a snowstorm to the home where Letterman lives.

“He had no reason logically to call Southside, but for some reason he called Southside Baptist Church,” said Flint, who was once fired by a liberal Mid-Missouri congregation after he dared to preach against abortion. “To this day he (Letterman) doesn’t know why he called Southside (rather than a larger church).”

For many years Letterman was out of church. He became a Christian through the influence of a Springfield pastor, but then drifted away from church. Eventually he grew tired of the life he was living.

On Feb. 10, Letterman presented himself to Southside for baptism and membership. It is memorable for Flint in that he baptized four people that day. The church runs about 130 to 150 in worship.

“It was just a really joyous occasion for me,” Letterman said. “I just really felt that I had done the right thing. That’s been a turning point in my life. I’ve been attending church regularly since then and it’s been a blessing to me.”

Since then Letterman has joined Flint for visitation about six times and has helped him with work around the church, including making some wooden letters that hung in the church on Father’s Day.

“He really has a fervent love for the Lord,” Flint said. “God really has given him a new lease on life.”

He lives with his mother, Patricia Litty, as he awaits a donor. Either of them can be reached at (417) 926-5656.

“It’s a 15-hour operation, quite involved,” Letterman said. “It’s possible to receive half of a liver, and the first half will grow back in the donor and then the second half will grow to full size in the recipient.”

He is thankful for friends from church who pray for him and call to see how well he is doing. Their kindnesses remind him of heaven. Because his sins have been forgiven, he can look to the future with hope.

“I guess you could say I’ve led a pretty rough life,” Letterman said. “Being saved by Jesus Christ has been a tremendous improvement. True joy comes from knowing God.”

Comments

Featured Videos

Lick Creek Fellowship - A Story of Cooperation

A declining rural church faced closure after years of dwindling attendance and aging members. But after the doors closed, a small group stepped in to build something fresh from its legacy. Watch this video to hear this story of cooperation and new life.

Find More Videos

Trending

  • MBC names Rob Pochek to lead prayer and evangelism ministries

  • HLGU asks U.S. Department of Education for protection from unconstitutional mandate 

  • HLGU President: ‘Why I’m asking the Department of Education to protect religious liberty at Christian universities’

  • Rescued: Friends, family of freed missionary ‘filled with praise to God’

  • Documentary tells stories of Joplin tornado, leaves out God’s faithfulness

  • Raytown church finds new chance for life

Ethics

HLGU asks U.S. Department of Education for protection from unconstitutional mandate 

Hannibal-LaGrange University

Hannibal-LaGrange University (HLGU), affiliated with the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) since 1857, has formally requested a religious accommodation from the U.S. Department of Education from a Biden-era regulation, 34 CFR §668.14. Without timely action by the Department, the university intends to file a lawsuit seeking relief to safeguard its religious freedoms.

Legislative actions aim to protect unborn lives

Timothy Faber

More Ethics Stories

Missouri

HLGU’s Freedom on the Inside program to celebrate first class of graduates

Hannibal-LaGrange University

Hannibal-LaGrange University’s (HLGU) President and trustees, along with the Director of the Freedom on the Inside program, are pleased to announce the program’s first ever graduation ceremony. This unique program allows incarcerated individuals to earn a fully accredited Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies. The graduation ceremony will be held on May 15 in the Jefferson City Correctional Center.

Copyright © 2025 · The Pathway