Pastor Bayless Conley Undergoes Successful Surgery After Suffering Critical Injury in Power Boat Crash With Two Friends
Southern California pastor and global evangelist Bayless Conley underwent successful surgery, according to doctors, after a dramatic boating accident on Catalina Island Monday evening left him and one of two others in critical condition. Injuries to the third person were reportedly minor.
Local emergency officials reported that three people were injured when their 22-foot power boat crashed at full speed into the Isthmus near Two Harbors on Catalina Island, which is located off the coast of California.
"Please join us as we pray and trust God for a full and speedy recovery for pastor Bayless and his friends, and to comfort them and their families during this time," Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos, the congregation Bayless leads, posted on its Facebook page Tuesday. "Jeremiah 30:17 says, 'For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, says the Lord.'"
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The church also stated that doctors said Conley "underwent surgery that went very well." Cottonwood plans a special service of thanksgiving and prayer during its Wednesday evening service which starts at 7 p.m. at its Katella campus.
In a post from late Tuesday night on Conley's Facebook ministry page, "Answers with Bayless Conley," it was stated that following surgery, the pastor was responsive. "According to his doctors the next 24-48 hours are important to his recovery," the post continued.
"We are so grateful for how the Lord protected pastor Bayless and we want to join together in prayer for his full recovery. We rejoice that pastor Bayless continues to improve and pastor Janet and the family are standing strong in faith," the post on the church's Facebook page continued.
Conley hosts the TV program, "Answers with Bayless Conley" that reaches into over 200 nations. He is known for his clear presentation of the Bible message and "the way he applies it to everyday life," according to the church's website.
"Bayless grew up in Southern California where, during his teenage years, he became involved in a lifestyle of drug and alcohol abuse," the "About" section of the website states. "After years of searching for truth, and a number of near-death experiences, he found answers and freedom in Jesus when a 12-year-old boy shared God's message of hope with him in a park one day."
Bayless and his wife, Janet, are the parents of three grown children, and grandparents to grandsons, Asher and Sawyer. "Together they lead Cottonwood Church in Orange County, California, and passionately pursue life, God, and family."
