Living Rock Church pastor Billy Skaggs survived two kidney transplants in his lifetime only to be diagnosed with cancer last summer.
Skaggs retired from the pulpit in June after 12 years with the local congregation in order to focus on healing.
“That was not very easy,” he said about the congregation that had become like family. “I married their kids and buried their grandparents. … It’s hard to walk away from that.”
Meanwhile, his church family has organized a benefit event for this weekend in order to support Skaggs and his wife, Cindy, with medical bills for cancer treatment.
A “clean comedy show” featuring headliner comedian Brandon Young, San Diego, will be Sunday night, July 24, at Living Rock Church on East Main Street.
Doors open at 5:30 when silent auction bidding begins. The comedy act starts at 6:30, and pie and ice cream will be served at 8 p.m. when silent auction winners are announced.
Posters and social media have been advertising the event.
“We want to celebrate the amazing impact he and Cindy have made in this community,” are the words on posters.
Sioux Falls comedian and radio personality Big John Small will host the event, which is sponsored by Main Street Financial Services, Luverne.
Freewill offerings will be accepted at the door.
Cindy said she’s touched by the local support. “We love the people of Luverne,” she said. “Over the 12 years they’ve been so good to us.”
The couple moved to Luverne from Georgia in 2010.
“We didn’t know what we were in for with the weather and moving from the metro to plant a church in a small farming community,” Billy said.
“We wouldn’t change it for anything.”
Their house on Pine Drive is listed for sale and Billy will start dialysis soon, because cancer treatment has interfered with his kidney function.
“We don’t know what our next step is,” he said.
But he said he trusts God’s plan and is grateful for support from his former congregation and from the community.
“It’s overwhelming that they would do this for us in this way,” Skaggs said.
Sunday’s benefit is organized through Stand Up to Help, a comedy show that helps local non-profits raise money. More information is at StandUpToHelp.com