Hugh's News & Commentary

It's hard to believe that when you read this report about Jim Ganey, a long-time and trusted friend, it will be Friday, June 10. In every hospital room there is normally a clock and a calendar to help keep the patient orientated to time, date, place, and situation. When one is sick or in pain, it is difficult to keep a focus on the time or date.

I just got off the phone with Gladys, his dear wife. She is right there with her husband, and is staying in a motel nearby the hospital each evening. She needs our prayers as well as our prayers for Jim.

This surgery was more extensive than previous ones. The surgeon had to cut through muscle, and nerves to correct the descending aorta of his body. He has had a lot of nausea today. However, he is responding to commands to move his feet, lift up his knees, move his arms and hands.

So, the bottom line is this: Jim is making satisfactory progress. However, we want him to get better each day. We know the healing power of Jesus is miraculous in every respect. I sense that God still has a mission for Jim and his love for people. He is a soul-winner, and meets people easily. He is an amazing man, and has dedicated his life to Christian higher education and to youth.

Jim has been a basketball coach, athletic director, and teacher. In addition, he served Emmanuel College as a fund-raiser in the Development department of the college. He has made many effective appeals for all of us to give to our college, Emmanuel College, in Franklin Springs. I have noted that with all of Jim's accomplishments in life he has remained humble.

I was just over there this week. I had a dental appointment with the best dentist in the known world, Dr. Don Brady. I made this observation in the form of a question to Don: "Did you ever dream that Emmanuel College would ever circle your dental office?"

The two new dormitories and the student center in between the two facilities are awesome. I hope you will take the time this summer to go by the college to see these buildings that can be seen from U. S. Highway 29. These dormitories are five stories high. It is my hunch that they are the tallest buildings in Franklin County.

By the way, I saw Dr. C. Y. Melton sitting in the waiting room. He had an appointment with Dr. Brady, too. He looked great and asked about Melvine, Greg, and Stephanie. I asked him if he were still teaching the adult Sunday school class in the Franklin Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church, and he said, "Yes." He is a great teacher and he still has humility and a great sense of humor. When he doesn't know the answer to a question, he will readily say, "I don't know." That is a quality of greatness. We thank God for his many years as a professor and president of Emmanuel College.