Sammy Gilbreath, event evangelism strategist for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, was planning to speak at the turkey rodeo at Fairview Baptist Church, Selma, March 20. But that morning, Pastor Denny McClendon got a message from him saying he was at the hospital and possibly having a heart attack.
Gilbreath was later airlifted to Huntsville where doctors successfully placed two stents. He was released from the hospital March 23 and is “doing great,” he said.
It’s another chapter in Gilbreath’s ongoing heart story — more than 30 years ago, he was told he had a potentially fatal heart condition, and in 2004 he survived a heart attack, blood clot and aneurysm.
The day of the turkey rodeo, McClendon said he ran the whole gamut of emotions, from concern about his friend to amazement at what God did. Not only was Gilbreath OK — he also led the nurse attending him to Jesus.
“She said, ‘Are you nervous?’ and he said, ‘Not at all,’” McClendon said, noting that Gilbreath explained that if he died, he would be home with Jesus, and that was fine with him. “She said she wished she could feel that way too, and Sammy led her to the Lord as he was lying there in a hospital bed.”
McClendon told Gilbreath’s story to those at the turkey rodeo and shared the gospel. Several of the 23 hunters responded.
To hear more of Gilbreath’s story, check out season 1 of the Stories podcast, available now at tabonline.org/stories.
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