NORMAN, Okla. (ABP) — In rare public comments about religion, Oklahoma's Democratic governor told a Baptist gathering Aug. 7 that his Christian faith got him through personal loss two decades ago when an infant daughter died of a rare neuromuscular disease.
Gov. Brad Henry told an audience at the Aug. 6-7 Midwest Region New Baptist Covenant celebration in Norman, Okla., that he doesn't usually speak about his faith, not because it is unimportant, but he doesn't like politicians who wear religion on their sleeve as a way to win votes.
But Henry, a member and former deacon at First Baptist Church in Shawnee, Okla., said prayer and support from his church may well have saved his marriage after he lost a daughter to Werdnig Hoffman Disease, a spinal-muscular-atrophy condition that strikes in the uterus or early months of an infant's life.
Henry said he and his wife, Kim, both carry a recessive gene, setting up a one-in-four chance of having a child with the disease. Today they have three healthy daughters, but their oldest, Leah, was born 20 years ago Aug. 14 with a twin sister diagnosed with the disease at two months old.
"It was a terrible time in our lives as you can imagine," Henry said, describing watching his daughter Lindsay Nicole's condition deteriorate for five months before she died in his arms of cardiac arrest at seven months old.
"I am certain that were not for our relationship with God, had it not been for our church family and for Dr. Joe Brown [pastor of Shawnee First Baptist Church 1981-91], who counseled with us at least on a weekly basis if not sometimes more frequently when we needed it, I don't know that our relationship would have survived that," Henry said.
"I am so thankful that earlier in life I had come to know Jesus Christ and allowed him into my heart," Henry said.
"It's a struggle we all know, and I struggle every day," Henry said of his faith. "I'm a sinner, just like all of us. I need forgiveness, but I am so thankful to know Jesus Christ. He has helped sustain me and Kim and our family through the most unthinkable tragedies. And we're better because of that relationship."