Pastor of Huntsville church plant awaits kidney donor

When Will Faulkenberry planted Mosaic City Church in Huntsville, he did not know he would soon be in kidney failure.

Despite his physical challenges, Will has never wavered in his calling to serve as pastor. He and his wife, Melissa (Missy), have begun sharing their story to encourage others to follow God’s call on their lives in the face of adversity. 

“God can use our pain and suffering to bring glory to Himself and to point others toward a relationship with Him,” he said.  “When we come to the end of ourselves, that is the perfect canvas to display God’s power.”

“God can make a way where there looks to be no way,” added Missy. “He’s been faithful in the past, and we can be certain that He will be faithful in the future.”

Will received his first kidney transplant as a child. His most vivid memory of the experience was waking up from surgery at the University of Alabama Hospital and seeing his father, who had just given him a kidney, recovering from surgery as well. For many years, Will experienced good overall health and has served in full-time ministry for more than two decades. He and Missy have two teenage daughters. 

An atypical path

Around 10 years ago Will and Missy began feeling called to plant a church — a church that would reach out to the broken, the hurting and those in the community who feel alone. Their path to planting a church was not traditional. It wasn’t about finding the best place to start a congregation or even making sure bills would be paid. They were even open to planting a church internationally. But God had other plans. 

“As I was driving down Bob Wallace Avenue in Huntsville, the city where I was born and raised, I just felt like God grabbed my heart and showed me: The nations are here,” Will said. “God renewed my heart for Huntsville, not because it’s my home, but because this is where He wanted me to serve and minister.”

The Lord gave the Faulkenberrys a specific vision to plant a multicultural, multigenerational church. They felt great conviction to get outside the four walls of the church and reach out to the local community. And that is what they’ve been doing at Mosaic City for a little more than 3 years. “The idea of a mosaic is broken pieces coming from different sources to make a beautiful masterpiece,” Will said. The church offers children’s programs like Upward soccer in surrounding neighborhoods. They also have a backpack ministry, outreach to local college students and a growing Hispanic ministry. 

In the summer, the church hosts Mosaic on the Road for the children in the community. They play games, serve hot dogs and share Bible stories in local neighborhoods. The kids from Mosaic City enjoy getting to help with these events.

“We are praying that God would continue to use us in all these areas and more,” Will said. 

In the face of kidney failure

Soon after planting Mosaic City Church, Will began having some health struggles. He was in full kidney failure by December 2022. Since then he has been through three surgeries, six hospital stays and a blood transfusion. He also deals with anemia and neuropathy of his feet, which makes standing and walking for long periods of time difficult. Every night, he does peritoneal dialysis at home where his blood is filtered through the night for 9 hours. 

“God has brought us through so much and sustained us in ways I never thought possible throughout the last year,” said Missy. “When we are weak, that is the perfect time for Him to show His strength through us.”

Will said that while it has been challenging, he hasn’t considered stepping out of his role. “The Lord has given me enough help to continue on and I’m grateful for that.”

Because Will is not supposed to do any heavy lifting, others now willingly take out the trash, move boxes and chairs and even mow the grass. 

“As a church planter and just a go-getter, I was always used to jumping in and doing those things,” he said. “But others are stepping up to contribute to the ministry in ways I can’t now.”

Jeff Whitehead, associate pastor of Mosaic City, said that Will keeps going until his body won’t allow it. When there are things Will should not physically do, people in the congregation have stepped out of their comfort zones to serve in ways they otherwise might not have, whether by taking down decorations from trunk-or-treat or clearing fallen tree branches. 

“I think it’s amazing the way God has made things happen,” Whitehead said. “To Him be the glory.”

‘Your diagnosis doesn’t determine your calling’

The Faulkenberrys are thankful to be able to continue in ministry during this challenging season. They know they are not alone in ministering through personal difficulties. 

“I recently listened to a podcast of a church planter from another state who learned of his terminal cancer diagnosis a week before their launch date,” said Missy. “He is continuing and thriving with his ministry despite his challenges, and that was a real encouragement to me. He said, ‘Your diagnosis doesn’t determine your calling.’”

Will is on two kidney transplant lists with an expected wait time of 8 years for a new kidney, unless a donor comes forward sooner.  

The Faulkenberrys welcome prayers for these things:

1. That God would continue to use Mosaic City Church as a light in the Huntsville community. 
2. That God would continue to sustain Will as he goes through dialysis.
3. That God would provide a new kidney as soon as possible.