Steve and Dawn Mathews are known by so many of us as one of the most selfless, loving, and Christ-centered couples we know. Steve serves faithfully as the pastor of United Baptist Church in Valdese, North Carolina, and also as the Chaplain for the North Carolina Wing of Civil Air Patrol. For years, both Steve and Dawn have quietly poured themselves out for others—serving, teaching, encouraging, and giving without hesitation or expectation of return.

Recently, their lives were turned upside down by a sudden and devastating medical crisis. What began as a painful, swollen hand quickly escalated into a life-threatening infection caused by flesh-eating bacteria. Steve was rushed to the hospital, airlifted for emergency care, and underwent multiple surgeries to save his life. He has endured septic shock, critical illness, and the loss of his arm above the elbow, and he will also be undergoing surgery to remove his foot. By God’s mercy, he is still with us, but the road forward will be long.

As Christmas approaches—a season meant for peace, hope, and the celebration of Christ’s birth—the Mathews family finds themselves facing uncertainty, recovery, and significant ongoing needs. In the months ahead, there will be medical bills, rehabilitation, equipment needs, and practical adjustments as Steve learns to navigate life after these life-altering surgeries.

This page is not about fixing everything—it is simply about blessing a faithful family.

Many have asked how they can help, and this is an opportunity for all of us to come alongside Steve and Dawn in a tangible way: to ease financial burdens, to provide support, and to surround them with love, especially during this holiday season.

If you feel led to give, please know that every gift—large or small—is a reminder to this family that they are not walking this road alone. Most of all, we ask for continued prayer: for healing, strength, peace, and the nearness of **Emmanuel—God with us—**especially this Christmas.

“Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

— Galatians 6:2

Thank you for loving the Mathews family well.