Community unites to help

By Rod Rose/The Lebanon Reporter

Lebanon May 10, 2008 12:44 am

— Psalm 118, verse 17, is more than a source of comfort and strength for David Disbro of Lebanon.
It’s a belief.
Since January 2007, Disbro has been treated for cancer of the liver, stomach and small intestines. He has undergone surgeries and chemotherapy treatments at the Chicago Cancer Treatment Center.
He has lived longer than at least one doctor expected.
Perhaps the doctors are influenced by Psalm 118, Verse 17. Disbro writes the verse somewhere on his body every time he goes into surgery.
“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.”
The words may be inked on an arm, or a leg, or his stomach, said his mother, Darlene Disbro.
“Whenever he went into surgery he would take a marker or a pen and write that on his body,” Mrs. Disbro said. “If he didn’t make it through the surgery, he knew he was going home to the Lord.”
In 1993, Disbro married his wife, Tonya. They have four children.
Disbro’s father, Jerry Disbro, was pastor of Lebanon Rock Church from 1981 through 1997. After what a family member described as “several years of running from God,” Disbro “fell in love with the Lord.”
He taught Sunday school at his church, Trinity Chapel, Thorntown. He participated in a ministry program at the Boone County Jail and was on the leadership team of Celebrate Recovery, a program of the Lebanon Church of the Nazarene. He began preparations to enter the ministry.
He also made plans to work on his home, which needs many repairs, with a cracked foundation the most urgent. Disbro was about to begin, when he was diagnosed with cancer.
He hasn’t been able to work since.
Enter the people of Lebanon.
“We’re going to see the family has another home,” said his mother. A committee began thinking of fundraising ideas. They won’t stop until there is enough money to buy the family a new home.
The fundraising efforts began about a month ago, she said. Last weekend, dozens of people stood at Camp and Lebanon streets with buckets and posters, collecting money for the home-buying fund. There have been bake sales, and wrist bands inscribed with David’s name and Psalm 118:17 are available at fundraisers. The bands are $5, although any donation is appreciated.
Friends have nominated the Disbros for “Extreme Home Makeover.” David and Tonya were reluctant to participate, his mother said.
“They just didn’t think they were worthy of it; finally they decided to ... let us nominate them.”
“Even if ‘Extreme Makeovers’ doesn’t come through for us, we’re going to see that the family has another home,” Mrs. Disbro said. “Once Tonya is by herself with the children — it will be difficult.”
Every nickel of contributions goes into the fund, Mrs. Disbro said. “We either get things donated to us, or we are acquiring sponsors to pay for any of the expenses,” she said.
Disbro has achieved one goal, however.
Because of his work with the jail ministry and other activities, last Sunday the Pentecostal Christian Alliance presented David Disbro with minister credentials, in a ceremony at Trinity Chapel.