Episode 19 with Mark McClurg

In this important episode, we are in conversation with Mark McClurg, Pastor of Ards Elim Church in Newtownards, County Down in Northern Ireland.

Mark described how he contracted coronavirus amongst some of the first wave of those infected with the illness in March 2020. He started feeling unwell, and when he started to experience chest pain, one of the nurses in his church told him to take himself to A&E, even though he did not have the other usual symptoms.

He was triaged swiftly, because his oxygen levels were low and his temperature had started to peak by this time, and he was then taken into the COVID ward after a positive test for the virus. He was given 70% oxygen, then 80% - then 100%.

He describes the feeling of not being able to breath as though someone had dropped two bags of broken glass into his lungs, battling with every painful breath, like running uphill.

Mark shares that he had a really hard conversation with his wife Claire, in which he told her he thought he was going to die.

The hospital then transferred him into ICU, which required them locking the whole hospital down to let him through, with porters guarding doors.

Mark prayed that first night alone in ICU for help and healing. The Lord said to him in reply that he was “more than a conqueror”, which encouraged him to face his battle.

The doctors told him they would have to put him on a full ventilator if he didn’t improve – and at that time the stats coming out of Italy for people going onto a ventilator were not at all good.

During this time Mark was listening to worship music, and one song messaged him by his niece, Sanctus Real’s “Unstoppable God”, was really strengthening him, as he worshipped from his heart as he couldn't use his voice.

He asked God to help him and heal him again – and he felt someone squeeze his hand. He looked about in surprise, as he’d not had any human touch in days, other than doctors getting lines into his arteries. He asked the nurse at the bottom of his bed whether she had squeezed his hand – and she said no. Then it happened again.

He was reminded of the phrase Jesus said to the little girl: ‘talitha koum’, and Mark gives full credit to Jesus for coming to him, and bringing him strength, healing, encouragement and more faith.

Mark also praises the NHS throughout our conversation.

From this point on, Mark knew that he was going to be OK. The following day his infection levels dropped dramatically, and the day after that, his need for oxygen started to drop.

Mark got returned to his ward, and as he was deciding how to pray, he was reminded of Joseph being raised up in a time of famine: he saw himself in the story, but being raised up in a time of fear instead.

Mark then posted a video on Twitter on his phone from his hospital bed, asking people to take coronavirus really seriously and to trust in Jesus.

It went viral, was seen by 1.8million people and made it onto the 6 o’clock news on the BBC, attracting worldwide attention.

Mark still struggles with the after-effects of coronavirus, with fatigue, breathlessness and also chest and back pain. He has also suffered from muscle deterioration. His doctors estimate it will take him a year to recover fully.

Mark says that his church have been amazing – praying for him continually, connecting together on WhatsApp for him, giving him time and space to make a recovery and supporting him and the family.

Mark asks for prayer from listeners that his lungs are not permanently scarred (pulmonary fibrosis), for his wife Claire to be restored emotionally and for kids to stay free from coronavirus in all our schools.

Mark closes in prayer for all of us, with a focus on those with the illness and also those caring for anyone with it.