El Cajon Youth Pastor on Life Support After Bee Sting

UPDATE 4-19-11:  Just receiving word that Michael Hendricks has passed away.  Terribly sad story.  This note was posted by his wife:

(From Katelyn) As of 11am this morning Michael Christopher Hendricks is present with our Lord. He was and is my best friend and now God gets to enjoy his presence. I am going to take this time to spend with my family and I will talk and see you all soon. Thank you all for all you have done for me and my family. We love you!

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Here's the original story:

I just spotted this story via a Facebook friend and it caught my eye because the church involved was a client of mine when I was in the church insurance business:

Twenty-six-year-old Michael Hendricks, youth pastor at East Valley Christian Fellowship in El Cajon, suffered a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting earlier this week and is now fighting for his life in intensive care.

According to family members, Hendricks remains at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in critical condition in a coma, as his loved ones continue to pray for him.

Ironically, the popular youth pastor, who has a seven-week-old daughter, had loved beekeeping as a hobby and apparently did not know he was severely allergic.

"He's a very holy man, he's a very funny man," said Senior Pastor Jack Fornass. "He's a very human man."

"It is ironic because it's what he loves to do: he likes taking care of bees," added Joshua Jamway, a member of the fellowship's youth group.

Hendricks - a husband and father of a seven-week-old baby girl...apparently did not know he was allergic.

"He loves bees and he was retrieving some in Alpine, and in the process he was stung," said Fornass, "and as a result of one bee sting, he is on life support."

Before a special prayer service for Hendricks Wednesday night, the church's senior pastor asked Hendrick's wife Kaitlin what to pray for.

"And she said, 'That he'll wake up, "Fornass told his congregation, "and then she asked us to pray specifically for movement... so we're looking for movement."

This is a terribly tragic situation for this family and this church. My prayers go out to them.  Regardless of how this turns out it will have a dramatic impact on this church and especially the youth group.