Renowned author and pastor, Tim Keller, asks for prayer as he begins chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer

American retired pastor and author, Tim Keller, took to Twitter to announce that he has started chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer.

In his own words,

“Less than three weeks ago I didn’t know I had cancer. Today I’m headed to the National Cancer Institute at the [National Institutes of Health] for additional testing before beginning chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer next week in New York City.”

I feel great and have no symptoms. It is what doctors call an "incidental pickup", otherwise known as providential intervention. I have terrific human doctors, but most importantly I have the Great Physician himself caring for me."

"Though we have had times of shock and fear, God has been remarkably present throughout the tests, biopsies, and surgery for the past few weeks."

For those willing to pray for him, he urges them to pray accordingly,

• For God to use medical means or direct intervention to make the cancer regress to the point of vanishing.
• For Kathy and me, that we use this opportunity to be weaned from the joys of this world and to desire God's presence above all.
• For my family to be comforted and encouraged.
• For the side effects of treatment to allow me to continue writing and speaking.

Tim ends the tweet with a scripture verse from Hebrews 12: 1-2; "Running the race set before me with joy, because Jesus ran an infinitely harder race, with joy, for me."

Tim Keller (born September 23, 1950) is an American retired pastor, theologian, and Christian apologist. He is the Chairman and co-Founder of Redeemer City to City, which trains pastors for ministry in global cities. He is also the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, New York, and the author of The New York Times bestselling books The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith (2008), Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (2014), and The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (2008). The prequel for the latter is Making Sense of GOD: An Invitation to the Skeptical (2016). He is also the author of "The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God." with contributions from his wife, Kathy Keller.

He is blessed with his wife Kathy and three sons, David, Michael and Jonathan.