5 minute read
Being the Church
By Cyndi (Burrows) Lamb '74
After serving 27 years in local churches and in higher education, Scott Peterson ‘90 and his wife Katie decided that the time had come to move back to Oklahoma City. Scott accepted a position as Director of Major Gifts at Integris Hospital Foundation which allowed an immediate bonus: a return to the area where Katie grew up. They could not have known at the time how significant this decision would prove to be.
Scott had been at Integris for two years when a head-hunter and friend called with a proposal. Even though he was not looking to make a career change, he agreed to a meeting. Afterwards he told Katie, “I can’t think of a reason not to say yes to this opportunity.”
The opportunity was to become VP of Development for One World Health, a non-profit organization establishing clinics and hospitals in third-world countries. Three core values define it. First, the work had to be sustainable. Second, it had to be both accessible and affordable for the community. And finally, all projects were to be built and staffed by locals.
“It was easy for me to get excited about an organization that empowers, equips and brings dignity to the people they serve.” He now travels 40 weeks of the year meeting with potential donors or taking them to the countries where OWH is present.
We’re a Christian organization, and we do the one thing we’re best at: medicine.
While Scott is not serving in a church, he has never felt more like he was being the church. “We’re a Christian organization, and we do the one thing we’re best at: medicine. We lean into local churches to provide spiritual support—pastors and leaders who will be there when we leave.”
Three years after joining One World, Scott was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer. He was shocked. Having started CrossFit months before, he had never been in better condition or felt better since college. One year later after 12 rounds of chemo (the first round almost killing him due to a rare allergic reaction), 30 days of radiation and five surgeries, he is cancer free. His doctor’s warning that ”treatment will bring you to the edge of death, but then it will bring you back” turned out to be prophetic.
As Scott reflects back over his “cancer” year, he says moving to OKC was one of the best decisions he and Katie ever made. They were surrounded by friends and family who showed up in every possible way from meals to mowing, accompanying him to doctor’s appointments or bringing the card game to his house when he was too weak to leave. It was an additional gift that both his father-in-law and brother-in-law are physicians. Paul Rothwell ‘69 and David Rothwell ‘93 connected him to the doctors he needed, interpreted the medical-speak, advised, encouraged and urged action when necessary.
“God was very present in the midst of it all from my morning moments of quiet to providing unbelievable timing in renewing our medical insurance. My new employer could not have been more gracious in giving me the time I needed to recover and allowing me to work from home. And my wife was a rock star!”
Following an arduous year, Scott’s health journey recently took another turn. On returning home from a trip, Scott had a massive stroke while in Atlanta, GA. Due to the quick response of a Delta flight attendant and airport staff, Scott was quickly taken to Grady Memorial hospital in Atlanta, a level 1 neuro trauma center and known as one of the best in the country.
After brain surgery to remove a large clot, the doctors were unsure about the damage that was done to Scott’s brain. However, just one hour after the surgery, Scott called Katie and was speaking clearly. Both Scott and Katie believe this was nothing short of a miracle. As Katie shared, “I believe that God is with us in the hard times and helps us in our time of need. The miracle comes in the fact that Scott was right where he needed to be when the unthinkable happened. Had he had the stroke mid air, things probably would look much different today.” Today Scott is doing well recovering at home and continues to serve out his calling to Be the Church.
