STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet's wife, Kyle, has issued the following update:

"First off, thank you so much for the priceless gift of prayer you have continually bestowed upon me. I have felt their strength and been greatly comforted by them. I am slowly coming to an understanding of the incredible good that can come out of this. I'd really like to share with all of you, a devotional that has become a source of hope and understanding for me. My hope is that it will bring comfort and inspiration to those of you going through difficult times: "Store up comfort. This was the prophet Isaiah's mission. The world is full of hurting and comfortless hearts. But before you will be competent for this lofty ministry, you must be trained. And your training is extremely costly, for to make it complete, you too must endure the same afflictions that that are wringing countless hearts of tears and blood. Consequently, your own life becomes the hospital ward where you are taught the divine art of comfort. You will be wounded so that in the binding up of your wounds by the Great Physician, you may learn how to render first aid to the wounded everywhere. Do you wonder why you are having to experience some great sorrow? In the next ten years you will find many others afflicted in the same way. You will tell them how you suffered and were comforted. As the story unfolds, God will apply the anesthetic He once used on you, to them. Then in the eager look followed by the gleam of hope that chases the shadow of despair from the soul, YOU WILL KNOW WHY you were afflicted. And you will bless God for the discipline that filled your life with such a treasure of experience and helpfulness. God comforts us not to make us comfortable but to make us COMFORTERS."
- John Henry Jowett

My friends, don't question the fiery trial you are going through. Praise God for the work He is doing in your life. He is preparing you for a life with greater purpose and meaning! How awesome is that???? Trust Him, I KNOW it is hard when you are "experiencing some great sorrow" but through it He will bless you beyond belief. He will comfort you and remind you of His presence along the way. I can sincerely say, I know of what I speak. For those of you that have read the statistics for someone with my diagnosis, you know the darkness doesn't get much darker.

But there is that ray of hope in the darkness. Sometimes you have to really look and listen. God doesn't always wake you in the middle of the night and scream at you :) He was silent for awhile, but then he began to speak to me through the words of friends, your cards and emails...someday I'll tell you the cool stuff He did with those :) and even a rainbow on a clear day! Through these little signs, and by faith, I believe I will be healed! It is no coincidence Michael has preached "Isaiah 53:5" his entire adult life, and cancer became our affliction.

God has done miraculous things already. I'm not sure if you all know or not, but we found out, several weeks after my surgery that my CA-125 level (a substance found in the blood of women with ovarian cancer) was 1699 on February12th. Anything over 34 is cause for concern. Yeah, that was NOT good news! The next day I prayed and wept for a good part of the day. I begged God for some little ray of hope to hold onto. I got a big bursting ray of hope!! They had done a new blood test to see where my numbers were at that point. Before a drop of chemo touched my body, it had dropped to 135! And.....two weeks after my first chemo treatment it had dropped to 38!!!! God is SO good! I still have to go through all 6 treatments. My next one is Wednesday (Apr 4th.) I'm not looking forward to the process, but I am very much looking forward to see what God is doing. He is in this, as He is in every detail of our lives. Our trials make us stronger. They purify us when we trust in Him. I would never have asked for this, yet I am so grateful for the pruning, the sculpting and the refining that is taking place in my life. In fact, my hair is slowly falling out as I write this. Goodbye to vanity! Marybeth Ferrie (the MOST awesome chick on the planet-my sister in suffering-and a great inspiration to me) is on call with her razor in hand! What DO you do with your "old" hair? I'm thinking about sprinkling it around the yard so the birds can use it in their nests. Geeze, I'd like it to serve some good purpose! It's not long enough for "Locks of Love!" I'm sure there will be more than a few tears on my part, but I'll get over it. It is just hair. Our value as children of the Living God is based on what is inside us and the love we show one another, not what's on our heads....or NOT on our heads :) Even better, He cares far more for what's IN our heads than what's on them.

Thank you again for your prayers, cards, posts and love. Please continue to pray. I've still got a long road ahead. And despite my bold words I can be a wimp! Especially pray for Michael, Lena and Mike. Their lives have been turned upside down by this yet they've shown me nothing but love and support. Pray too for my mom and my brother. He has prostate cancer and she is handling the burden of her only two children both having cancer, and trying to do it without Christ.

Oh yes, Nancy, I'm taking the Liquid Vites and Mins... thank you!!! And Byrdie, the AHCC is the hot ticket. I'm taking that too!

Bless you ALL,

Kyle."

He placed me in a little cage,

away from gardens fair;

But I must sing the sweetest songs

because he placed me there.

Not beat my wings against the cage

if it's my Maker's will;

but raise my voice to Heaven's gate

and sing the louder still!

Another message at Michael's website reads:

"A few dates have been confirmed for solo acoustic performances by Michael Sweet! Check out the Tour - Dates section for all official dates. More will be added as they are confirmed!

As discussed in Michael's latest "Message To The Fans", he has decided to take on a select number of churches within driving range (200-300 miles). He'll be doing this for the cost of expenses and an offering, as well as being able to sell merchandise. Doing this will allow him to still be home as well as help make ends meet during the time off as well as minister to people through the gift that God has given him.

If interested, please contact: webmaster@michaelsweet.com ."