Theologian and Christian author, Tim Keller, 70, has this to say to the thousands around the world who are praying for him: “I still have cancer. But we are rejoicing that God has worked through your prayers and chemotherapy to accomplish so much.”

Keller shared the “excellent news” yesterday (Feb 15) that, after 14 rounds of chemotherapy, there has been a “significant decrease in size and number of tumors”. This was discovered through three CT scans in August and November last year, as well as a scan last week (Feb 8).

Last week’s scan also showed that “in an area that had previously had numerous nodules there are now none visible”.

The preacher and former senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, New York, took to social media to give an update on his condition “to honor God and the many who have so faithfully prayed for me during my treatment for pancreatic cancer that began last May, 2020”. 

The chemotherapy, he said, had “relatively mild side effects, although the neuropathy in my hands and feet increased over time”. He said he hoped the condition will start to improve “now that I have been downshifted to a less aggressive (and physically damaging) chemotherapy”.

Running the race with joy

Keller’s pancreatic cancer was discovered last May in what he called “providential intervention” as he had not had any prior symptoms.

Following the diagnosis, the married father of three sons said his family “had times of shock and fear over the past few weeks of tests, biopsies and surgery”, but that “God has been remarkably present” through it all.

Keller took to social media yesterday (Feb 15) “to honor God and the many who have so faithfully prayed for me during my treatment for pancreatic cancer that began last May, 2020”.

“I have terrific human doctors, but most importantly I have the Great Physician himself caring for me.”

He had asked people to pray that he would run the race set before him with joy, “because Jesus ran an infinitely harder race, with joy, for me”. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

In yesterday’s update, Keller said: “What the future holds I do not know, but we will continue to trust His plan and allow Him to shepherd us along His chosen path.”

This is Keller’s second brush with cancer. In 2002, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and underwent surgery and treatment, which he wrote about in his book Walking with God through Pain and Suffering.

In an interview in 2008, Keller told First Things that the ordeal helped weed out his latent doubts about God.

The “wonderful experience” inspired his best-selling book The Reason for God.

Keller has continued to serve as the chairman and co-founder of Redeemer City to City, which has helped to start more than 500 churches in New York and other global cities, including Singapore. 

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