Published: November 14, 2008 02:09 pm      

Keeping faith in Georgetown with gospel concert Sunday

Ron Timberlake has dreamed of doing missionary work in the Holy Land. And he is not going to let bone cancer slow him down.

Timberlake, a Georgetown resident, is planning on traveling with Reel Ministries to Israel despite being slowed by cancer, according to his wife Janet Rae Timberlake.

“He said he doesn’t care what the doctors say. He’s going,” she said. “We want to do everything we can so he won’t be in pain. The doctors know what his quest is.”

A fundraiser to help Ron realize his dream will be at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Howard Park Christian Church, 450 W. Norwood Ave., in Clarksville. Scheduled to perform at the benefit concert are The Samaritans, Brad Forbis, Sherry Hatton and Janet Rae Timberlake. The concert is free but a love offering will be accepted. Food will also be served after the concert.

His wife, who has operated Janet Rae Timberlake Ministries since 1994, said she was called to gospel music after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1994.

In 1998, she first sang “My Home New Albany” at the Harvest Homecoming and still sings it each year. Mayor Doug England encouraged her to come up with a hometown song after hearing her perform, she said.

“People just love that song,” she said. “People line the streets and weep when they hear it. They say the song touches them. It’s something they can relate to.”

Janet Rae said her main ministry now is her husband, who is fighting bone cancer with what she calls “a great attitude.”

“God has opened tremendous doors for me. Every door that opens is an opportunity to exhibit the love of Jesus.”

She hopes to see a large crowd at the concert Sunday.

So does her friend Paige Stewart.

Stewart said the Timberlakes have been “such a blessing” to her and have always loved people.

“He (Ron) is such a dear man,” she said. “They have always put God first. I really want to see him in Israel.”