Minister survives breast cancer and escapes home destroyed by fire - Bernadette Cash

Jet, Feb 1, 1993 by Jean Williams

Not even the formidable combination punch of a home destroyed by fire and breast cancer was enough to beat down the faith of Minister Bernadette Cash of Chicago.

Cash, a former talk show co-host and a Los Angeles ABC Network media professional, who conducted a radio ministry that aired in Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana and Texas, endured these traumatic events like a true spiritual champion.

Her fortitude was tested like never before as she suffered some of life's most merciless blows within a short time span.

In September 1991, her home was burned down at the hands of an arsonist, nearly killing her husband, James, the minister told Jet. Police weren't able to arrest the suspected culprit for lack of evidence, she said.

"During the whole thing I was still on the radio praying for people," said the minister who acknowledged her calling to the pulpit in the early '80s after attending Carbondale's Southern Illinois University, where she majored in English.

"I never said on the radio anything about the fire. Nobody knew I had lost everything. Friends came and gave us clothes while the insurance company was working to settle the claim that allowed us to get a new home," she revealed.

In November 1991, doctors told Cash that she had breast cancer. Soon afterwards, she had to have a mastectomy to remove the cancerous breast. These days, though, she is confident about her health.

"I went on a 40-day fast after they got all the cancer out," she said. "They've done tests and there still is no sign of cancer."

The courageous Christian crusader said she doesn't balk at discussing her surgery with others, especially if it will help women who are grappling with similar health problems.

"I am not ashamed to talk about losing a breast. I want other women to know they can face this kind of thing as well," she said with conviction.

To top off the unfortunate threat to her health and the loss of her home, in June 1992 Cash faced adversity with her ministry. She had been seeking to buy her first church building. Her radio followers had grown closer to her and encouraged her to form a congregation and buy a building.

Everywhere she tried to secure a mortgage loan, though, she met rejection.

"The lending institutions said our ministry was too young and unstable," she recalled.

"No banks, no loan institution, no loan sharks, nobody would lend us money," she added.

Despite the difficulties, she with the help of her congregation was able to raise $25,000 in cash to go toward purchasing a church in Joliet, Ill.

"We took out loans against our cars and personal property," she said. "We have our jewelry.

"We went to the bank and said, |We have raised twenty-five thousand dollars. We just need you to lend us twenty thousand,'" she recalled. "They still said no."

Spurred by her faith and relentless in her mission, the religious leader and her followers pressed on. She fully relinquished her role as a radio minister and pressed full speed ahead to get a church.

Her determination, made stronger by that of her followers, paid off when the owners of the church they wanted to buy allowed them to move in with their $25,000 as a down payment.

One of her congregation members came up with an additional $20,000. Now the red brick church - of which she is pastor and founder - sits on three lots at 1659 Elgin Avenue in Joliet. It is occupied by Deliverance And Inner Healing Ministries Inc. and its congregation.

She uses her own healing experience and adversity to show that she has been in a "hand-to-hand battle" with bad luck, but used God's gifts of mercy and love to triumph over the tragedies.

"Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is raising up a spiritual army of believers who will obey His voice and commandments; not compromising with the devil; and won't be afraid to go forth in the power - destroying the works of the devil," minister Cash said.

The author of the book, My Testimony, she foresees the success of her ministry. It's built on the faith of Bernadette Cash.