As predicted, the X-ray showed a mass in his lungs.

The next step was to perform a biopsy on the mass in his lungs to determine if it was malignant.

“We try to get a biopsy of the tumor that is most accessible with less risk,” said Horner, indicating that was the mass in Crockett’s lungs.

After enduring the painful biopsy where a large needle was stuck in Crockett’s right lung to extract a sample of the mass, Crockett said he began to pray the diagnosis would not be bad.

“I have a history of cancer in my family,” said Crockett. “I knew what they were going to say. I remembering praying the doctors would be wrong but said, ‘God, if its your will just have this be a mistake.’”

There was no mistake. The biopsy came back. Crockett had stage 4 lung cancer.

“I take care of myself and don’t smoke,” said Crockett. “I hadn’t had headaches or any medical problems before this. There was no warning. I just had cancer, the worst stage and most advanced.”

The doctors told Crockett, stage 4 lung cancer is virtually incurable. But Crockett was scared. His faith in tact, Crockett said, “If God was going to take me home, I was ready. I thought I didn’t have too long.”

Crockett was then told the first step would be to go inside his brain and remove the tumor, which was believed to be cancerous because medical history shows it would have stemmed from the cancerous tumor in his lung.

The surgery would be followed by aggressive radiation.

“I’ve seen what radiation can do to the brain,” said Crockett, adding he’s counseled many parishioners over his career who have suffered from brain tumors. “I told the doctors they could take the tumor out but we would talk about (chemotherapy) and radiation afterwards. I really didn’t want to go through it.”

On Aug. 11, Horner removed Crockett’s brain tumor and that’s when the pastor’s luck began to change.

“After the surgery, the doctors came into my room,” said Crockett. “They were all smiles — just beaming. The pathologist came back and said the tumor was benign. They said it was a meningioma.”

Although a meningioma is the most common benign tumor of the brain, Crockett’s tumor was rare.

Very rare.