Special Request to our Sacred Art Community
Joe Richter, our dear friend and colleague, is recovering from serious cancer surgery. Please use the form section below to send him your healing thoughts and prayers during this challenging time.
Fall is now upon us and it is harvest time.
Leaves are changing and begining to come off the trees.
Time to hunker in.
Below is an updated message from Joe and Kristi regarding his cancer journey.
Joe Richter
Update - Joe’s Cancer Journey - October 8, 2026
Beautiful oak tree on a lawn with the setting autumn sun shining warmly through its leaves
Dear Friends,
Fall is here and I have been enjoying the crisp mornings and watching the leaves change into their beautiful colors. Fall is such a great teacher, time to preserve and protect what is within the trunk, and letting go of leaves that sap your energy. These last few months I have been healing up and regaining strength since my surgery, and I appreciate all your encouragement, messages, texts, cards and letters.
I wanted to take a moment to share an update with you all. Recent tests have shown that the cancer has moved to my liver, with two small nodules in my lung and a lesion on one of my ribs. A liver biopsy confirmed that it is the same clear cell renal carcinoma that was in my right kidney when it was removed in June. Somehow, a few of those rascal cells slipped away, and the doctors were surprised to see them show up so aggressively just three months after surgery, especially since the June scans showed nothing.
I’ve begun the most aggressive chemo and immunotherapy available, with hope that it will shrink these spots and keep things under control. This treatment worked for me before, and I’m praying it will take hold again. Today I’m meeting with a radiologist to see whether the lesion on my 5th rib can be treated directly. They are also running next‑generation sequencing on the biopsy tissue to look for mutations or abnormalities, and testing my DNA to help determine which medicines might work together to stop this new growth. I’m grateful every day for the researchers and doctors from multiple agencies who pour their hearts into this work.
Because of where these lesions are located, surgery isn’t an option, and there is no cure at this time. The best hope is remission — or, the ultimate, if God wills it, another miracle. Kristi and I have been wrestling with this news and preparing our hearts for different possibilities, and it has been heavy.
But I am choosing to live with cancer while working toward eliminating it, rather than living in fear of dying from it. We continue on our knees in prayer, trusting that God is leading us up this mountain. And if you’re able, we ask you to join us — lifting up prayers for guidance, strength, and healing for our family and the medical team caring for me. There is so much to be thankful for and I feel so blessed to have you as part of my healing community.
God bless you all,
Joe
Please submit your healing thoughts and prayers for Joe using the form below. Please note: all comments will be subject to approval due to security and spam protection and will be published as soon as possible.
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Dear Joe, Kristi, Richard and Staff, This update on the cancer reappearing was hard to take in. However, with the power of prayer, human and Divine support along with our medical profession I have great hope that you, Dear Joe, will be able to keep this in remission. I have others who have done so for many years. Your photo sits on my desk and I often think of you and send healing energy your way. Our CeileDe will meet virtually in November and send a group prayer across the miles. Blessed Be! Warm hugs to each of you.
Dear Joe, It is with delight to see your message land in my inbox. Know that mother divine always surrounds and holds you in loving embrace with blessings, peace, ease always within and around you. Your words are filled with calm, trust and offer encouragement to all. I too keep you in my prayers and send good wishes to your family.
Dear Joe and family, I will hold you and your family in prayer with one of my favorites The Light of God surrounds us; The Love of God enfolds us; The Power of God protects us; The Presence of God watches over us; Wherever we are, God is ! J.D. Freeman Peace and Blessings be with you Joe. Whenever I am in a hard place, this is the prayer I say over and over until I feel the truth of it deep inside myself. Katherine
Hello everyone, I have noticed a lot of responses to my last letter that I sent out, and I love the positive thoughts and prayers from everyone. There have been so many responses that I get kind of overwhelmed trying to respond back. So I wanted to take this time to tell you all thank you, and it is with much love that I bring all your thoughts and prayers into my heart. It truly is the best medicine. Thank you and peace, Joe.
Dear Joe, Thank you for the update on your health and the positive messages from your heart regarding all. I have been battling Multiple Myeloma since January, and so much of what you shared is very helpful to me. I’ll keep praying for us both and, unfortunately, the others I know who are suffering with a cancer diagnosis. Of course, this is also a faith journey and I’m very thankful for that dimension. Holding you and your family – Susan
Dear Joe, Thank you for sharing your journey. May the spirit of God’s grace, mercy and love, lift up your spirit and provide healing energies to your body, mind and soul. That you may never feel alone in this journey, but instead know that God is sustaining you and your loved ones. You are surrounded and wrapped in many arms of love.
May the surrounding love and light care for you, dear Joe, in all the ways needed at this time. Keeping you close in thought and prayer.
You and your family continue in heart and in prayer Joe, every blessing upon you – with love and gratitude for you, Therese
With you every step of the way. In our prayers daily. May God’s grace settle on you.
Prayer offered now, including gratitude for the amazing work God has already done in, through and for you, and in, through and for others in your circles, and I join the petition to God for more of the same as you continue to live with cancer while hoping to eliminate it. This is an uncommon cancer, and what and how you communicate is also uncommon, in a special way~
Dearest Joe and Family, Rascals, for sure!! Yes, I will hope for remission also or another miracle. I’m with you Joe and Kristi. I will lift up prayers for guidance, strength, and healing for you, your family, and the medical team caring for you. It is amazing what has been developed and is being used for your treatment: chemo, immunotherapy, next-generation sequencing (I’ll have to look that up), and testing DNA to help determine which medicines might work together to stop the new growth!! May all the technologies of modern medicine be at your disposal for your healing and remission. May you and your family receive every support from every corner for optimum strength and healing. May each day be yours in the healing balm of God’s Divine Grace. May God’s Breath Bless you in/around/through your body, mind, spirit Always. With love, best wishes, and prayers. Christine Marie
Dear Joe and family… We think of you all the time and your three stones from Iona still sit in the kitchen windowsill, a constant reminder of your beautiful soul and to pray. Your choice to “live with cancer while working towards eliminating it, rather than living in fear of dying from it” is a powerful statement. Truly, God is in the middle of your lives and your words touch others. Thank you for this. May healing and blessing surround you all, and may peace be yours. We love you! Michelle
Joe- Praying you feel enveloped in love and peace beyond understanding as you navigate next steps. Thank you for inviting us into prayer with you. Jeremiah 17:4 “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed, save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.”
I am praying for you and your family. You are such an inspiration and shining light for us all. I pray God is blessing you in ways seen and unseen, and you feel the support and love of God and our community.
Dear Joe & family, My heart and prayers are with you and your loved ones on your ongoing healing journey Joe. My husband Fred is also seriously ill, and I understand the concept of “the mountain” that we are climbing. While taking time to enjoy the vista and precious moments we are given, knowing God’s has the plan for us, while also living in the tragic gap. The medical teams are definitely wonderful, amazing, caring folks! May you feel compassionate caring surround you at all times, human and angels. God hold you gently in the palm of the hand. Blessings, Marjorie
So sorry to hear this news, but sending you loads of courage and prayers for healing. May the love that surrounds you bring you great comfort in the days ahead. Love to you and your whole family!
Joe, light and love from my Run meditations are with you as you climb yet another mountain!
Joe, you have made such an impact on so many lives, certainly mine. My guess is that you have no idea of your positive impact. So many care and appreciate you, and thank you for including us in your journey. Many prayers and blessings to you and your loved ones, Tami Nolan
Joe, continue the good fight, knowing God has a plan for all of us.
Hey, Lord. Here we are at the wall again. And this time, it’s praying for our friend Joe. I’m asking for a big one here. Heal this guy. I mean, really physically heal this guy. You know if you do, you will really look cool. We all want you to look cool. But more than anything else, we want Joe to be healed and to be at peace. Thanks so much for listening. Dan