TWR President Lauren Libby Hospitalized (Latest Updates)

An Encouraging Update from Acting President Cassius Smith

Last week I was in Slovakia at a national partners conference, so eight days passed since my last visit with TWR President Lauren Libby. Below is a brief update on his current condition. 

I’m exceedingly pleased to report that Lauren has been released from the hospital and transferred to a rehabilitation facility in Raleigh, North Carolina. His therapy has begun. June, his wife. tells me he is quite motivated. In addition, Lauren’s speech has improved significantly in the last week. His cognition also is good, and he even asked me many detailed questions about the conference I attended.

Please continue to pray for Lauren and June as he begins his rehab therapy and continues his recovery.

TWR Acting President Cassius Smith provided the global staff with a brief, encouraging update about the ministry’s hospitalized leader, Lauren Libby, on Thursday, Sept. 12.

The update email followed a Global Call to Prayer in the morning bringing together staff from around the world via videoconference to lift up the Libby family and the TWR ministry before the Lord during this critical moment.

“The Libbys listened with great joy to the Global Call to Prayer that we held this morning, and Lauren enjoyed hearing the staff members from around the world pray in their heart languages,” Smith said.

Smith added that he had visited at the hospital with Lauren and his wife, June, the day before, and shared a “sweet time of prayer” with them.

“He continues to improve and show increased abilities for swallowing, eating and verbalization,” Smith reported. “He gets a daily workout from his physical therapists and occupational therapists, as well as for speech therapy. He has been writing quite a bit in a spiral notebook. I see him every day and can attest to his continued improvement.”

Smith, appointed acting president by the board of directors to keep TWR’s ministry on course without diminishment during Lauren’s absence, thanked the staff for their “heartfelt concern and prayer support.” He offered the following verse as a providential reassurance during challenging times.   

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:27

From TWR Acting President Cassius Smith

We recently shared here on our website that TWR President Lauren Libby suffered a stroke at his home [see original post below]. At that time, he was in the intensive care unit of a premier hospital in North Carolina. We are now pleased to provide some good news: Lauren has been moved out of intensive care into a step-down unit, which provides an intermediate or transitional level of care. 

Please continue to pray for Lauren, his wife, June, and their family. May I also request that you steadfastly appeal to God on behalf TWR’s global leadership, staff and ministry? I have been moved and greatly encouraged by the strong, cooperative spirit I sense among the global staff during this challenging time. Well-prepared by leaders like Lauren, this staff is ensuring that the ministry keeps moving forward without missing a beat. 

Please know that June Libby has expressed gratitude in knowing that so many people around the world are appealing to God’s throne of grace on behalf of Lauren and her family. During these difficult days, June takes comfort in reflecting on her life verses, Psalm 73:25-26, which read as follows: 

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

Thank you for continuing to uphold the Libbys and TWR in prayer. 
 

We consider you a member of the extended TWR family, so I write today to share challenging news affecting our colleague and brother, TWR President Lauren Libby. Lauren recently suffered a stroke at his home, and, as I write, he is in the intensive care unit at a premier stroke center in North Carolina. He is alert and in stable condition. We are encouraged by his resilience and the exceptional care he is receiving, though his path to recovery is still unfolding.
 
Those of you who know Lauren personally realize that prayer is his first resort when faced with a problem or a crisis. May I ask you, then, to pray for him, for June, his wife, and for their family as they navigate these rough waters? Please pray, too, for the doctors and other caregivers attending to Lauren, that they will be providentially equipped to provide the finest treatment. God is in control of this special circumstance as he is of all things, and we trust him for peace and grace during this difficult time.

We thank the Lord, too, for preparing TWR leadership and staff to continue ministering undeterred despite an emergency such as this. TWR’s International Board of Directors has appointed Cassius Smith, a devoted champion of TWR, to serve as Acting President. A native of California and former software engineer and project manager in the aerospace industry, Cassius served with TWR from 2010 through 2021, much of that time as Deputy to President Libby. As Lauren’s trusted adviser and friend, Cassius is extensively informed about the ministry and deeply committed to its calling.

That calling – to reach the world for Christ by mass media so that lasting fruit is produced – is cited by Lauren almost every time he makes a presentation. He frequently reminds the staff, the board and our partners that TWR must remain sharply focused on what God has called us to do. We are determined, therefore, to maintain the ministry’s momentum as we continue speaking hope to the world.