Monday, July 6, 2026

Back Home in Oklahoma

Kelly and I wanted to share a quick update with you. First, though, I want to sincerely apologize for my recent silence. We truly value keeping you in the loop about our lives, especially because there is absolutely nothing we need more right now than your prayers!

We are officially back in Oklahoma! With some much-appreciated help, we loaded up a U-Haul on Friday, June 26, and said goodbye to Texas. While we are incredibly thankful to be back home, moving, as I'm sure you all know, always comes with a few hiccups. We are taking them in stride, however, and are enjoying setting up our life back in OKC.

On the health front, no news is good news. My condition is about the same as it was in my last update, and the great news is that, as of last month, the sickness hasn't spread. I am still participating in the medical trial and traveling for treatment every three weeks. I was so thankful that Kelly was able to join me on my last trip to the University of Miami Trial Drug Treatment! We are continuing to pray that my treatments can be moved to Dallas soon.

My next round of scans is coming up at the end of July. Every three months, I receive MRIs of my abdomen and pelvis and a CT of my chest. We would be so grateful if you could pray specifically for these upcoming scans: that God would continue to heal me and keep the sickness from spreading.

For now, we will be unpacking and getting settled as we prepare for a busy fall and winter in ministry. We love you all and are so deeply grateful for your continued desire to support and pray for us.

Warmly in Christ,
Billy and Kelly Patterson

Friday, April 24, 2026

My Uveal Melanoma Journey

I am incredibly blessed that you desire to know more about our journey. Thank you. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. I will post updates here whenever there is a change, so please check back. Since I don't use social media, this really is our only way to communicate. Above all, your prayers are the greatest way you can support us.

1. Tell us a little bit about your UM journey—how and when you were diagnosed, and what treatments you've pursued.

My diagnosis came on Valentine's Day—February 14, 2025—following a routine eye exam. I had noticed some subtle changes in my vision, almost like a shadow, but I initially dismissed it as simple eye strain. Hearing the words "Ocular Melanoma" was a massive shock, primarily because I had no idea what it was. After receiving the diagnosis from Dr. Fuller in Dallas, we immediately began discussing our limited treatment options.

My treatment path has involved a few different stages. I first underwent plaque radiation, which was a challenging but necessary step. Following that, my medical team recommended systemic treatment. Our oncologist told us about a new trial drug at the University of Miami Hospital that had shown limited but promising results in Europe. I happened to fit perfectly within the parameters to receive it.

Participating in this trial means flying from Dallas to the University of Miami Research Clinic every three weeks for treatments and monitoring. The journey has been difficult, filled with uncertainty and a few side effects, but believing in Jesus and maintaining hope remains paramount for us.

2. How has traveling for treatment impacted your life?

The greatest impact has been on my soul. I know many people might turn away from God or get angry in a situation like this, and I can understand that to an extent. However, that has not been our response. While I have certainly had moments of grieving possible outcomes with my family, Jesus has become more intimately present in all facets of my daily life. I am focusing on being as present with God as He is with me. We have truly seen that God will never leave nor forsake us; He is always there.

Naturally, this journey has also impacted our daily schedules and lifestyle. Sadly, I consume very little sugar now. Every three weeks, I spend a couple of days traveling to see doctors in Miami, and every three months, I undergo MRIs and CT scans in Dallas.

Amidst all of this and alongside the new friendships we've built in the medical field, Kelly and I are prioritizing our marriage first, and our family second.

3. Is there anything else you want us to know?

The financial and logistical reality of traveling for treatment has been one of the heaviest burdens of this disease. Because Uveal Melanoma is so rare, specialists and cutting-edge treatments are often unavailable.

At first, I was able to weave some of my consulting work with Christian leaders into my travel to help offset the costs, and a generous friend even covered one of my trips. Eventually, however, the travel bills from McKinney, Texas, to Miami began to pile up. Since Kelly and I lead our own non-profit, we simply didn't have the extra personal funds to cover this ongoing travel. God graciously provided a foundation (EyeOnGraceFoundation.org) midway through our journey to help with our costs, and we are incredibly thankful. Even so, we are still working to catch up on previous medical and travel expenses.

We believe deeply in our non-profit, Abiding Partners, and are devoting our remaining years to investing in ministry leaders this way. My salary is part of the ministry's $200,000 operating budget. If you are able and feel led to help us financially, Abiding Partners is currently $50,000 short of what we need to continue operating our ministry across the United States, supporting hundreds of pastors, elders, and Christian business leaders.

Again, thank you for pursuing more information on our lives. If you'd like ministry updates, please sign up for our newsletter through the website.

My experience, much like those of others who have faced similar situations or stood by loved ones on this path, is a story of waiting. I received a cancer diagnosis in March and went in for radiation surgery on the tumor in my eye. The good news is that, as of my last eye appointment, the tumor has been shrinking.

However, this type of cancer is statistically aggressive and tends to spread. God led us to a chemotherapy trial that has some promise to reduce this spread, so since August, I have been traveling to Miami University Hospital every three weeks to participate in this potentially helpful treatment. Every three months I go for new scans to see if it has spread. It turns out waiting is a vital part of our lives as Christ followers. While I wait, I journey from different rooms full of doctors who are not hopeful. However, hope is alive in me.

In Jeremiah 29, we learn that during the Israelites seventy years in Babylon, God's intention was for the Israelites to actively engage with life rather than passively wait. For followers of Jesus, waiting is meaningful, not a passive state, but one filled with hope and faith that what we anticipate is already taking shape in our hearts.

Waiting is also not sitting around until the "thing" you're waiting on happens. Hope is alive in me because of my desire to continue to "go and make disciples of all nations." It is where we started as Christians 40 years ago and where we want to continue until we see Jesus. We have actively and continually looked to see where God can use us throughout our lives, and it has led us on a wonderful journey of abiding in Jesus.

We believe God has uniquely prepared us and trained us to spiritually parent Christian leaders. Many of you have been with us as partners in this journey in full-time ministry as pastors, missionaries and college ministry. It is now when we are most surrendered that we are taking the biggest step of faith in our lives: starting a non-profit called Abiding Partners. This decision feels like God's leading through years of prayer.

Abiding Partners is a meaningful spiritual investment, certainly considering all the Christian leaders failing and falling in ministry. Abiding Partners helps mentor leaders in business, medicine, education, and the arts through local churches. Our board, made up of business leaders, pastors, and laypeople, oversees the budget, salary, and ministry expenses. I greatly respect and trust their decisions for our future.

We would like to ask you once again for your partnership. Would you please join us in the ministry to pastors, their marriages, families and the churches they lead?

I've tried writing this letter many times, often feeling unable to express everything I want. I also struggled with whether to talk about my illness this year, though Kelly ultimately made that call for me. My hope is that this short update on what Jesus is doing in our lives will encourage you to get in touch with either me or Kelly, whether that's face-to-face, by email, text, voicemail, or letter. We'd love to catch up with you and give you a better picture personally on where God is leading us.

We love you and are thankful for your friendship.

Warmly in Christ,
Billy and Kelly Patterson