Cancer, Progress, and Ministry Opportunities

An update from Bishop Charlie on his health, faith and hopes for the days ahead.

Dear friends,

Bishop Dan has kindly asked that I put down on paper a bit of a report on how I’m doing after a little over a year now of my battle with cancer. I’m very grateful for this opportunity, just as Judy and I are extremely grateful for all your prayers and love.

I am aware that some of you know quite a bit about what has been happening for me, and others have had very little information. But I believe everybody who has known anything in regards to my health has been praying, and I am humbled and so grateful for that.

When this Journey Began

It all began April 1, 2023 when Judy and I were on our way–we thought–to Vancouver to be involved in a evangelistic mission for Holy Week (April 2 that year was Palm Sunday) at the invitation of the rector, Archdeacon Sean Love, and the Reverend Guy Bellerby.

When we arrived at the airport in Toronto to fly west early that morning, I reached out with my left arm to pick up my carry-on luggage. In that motion I heard a terrible noise and felt an incredibly sharp pain, so horrible that I fell to the ground. This began my journey with cancer.

We didn’t fly that day. We returned to our home in Milton, Ontario and went immediately to the emergency ward. We were met there by Archdeacon Paul Charbonneau, who prayed with us, me still in great pain.

That day we received very good care from a doctor who confirmed that my left humerus (upper left arm) was broken. However, she also expressed real concern, given the dramatic and sudden break, that there was something more going on.

That began several weeks of a whole series of appointments, biopsies, consultations, etc., etc. with all sorts of specialists, including a consultation at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. Eventually it was confirmed that I had stage four prostate cancer which had spread to many bones in my body and also my lymph glands.

May I say that we have been very impressed and extremely grateful for all the doctors and specialists whom we have met, and felt they were used by the Lord to give me excellent care. We have prayed throughout, along with many of you, for the complete eradication of all cancer cells in my body, and that the Lord would use the various treatments which were being offered as part of the way in which He himself alone would bring healing.

Chemotherapy and Prayers

From July 6 to October 19 I received six chemotherapy treatments. And, by the mercies of the Lord, as difficult as it was, I was able to keep on the schedule which had been set out and received the full dosage of the chemo as my team had hoped.

My experience of chemotherapy was very much what you might think it would be, though it’s certainly the case that there are many different types of cancers, treatments, kinds of chemo, and side effects. Among other effects I did indeed lose my hair, as my team had predicted. (I now have some hair back, though, amusingly, it’s darker than before.)

Throughout all this time many family and friends were following my care and progress in a very intense and prayerful way. Because of my much weakened immune system during my treatment, we saw very few people in person. But we did converse by text and emails and phone calls and we were keenly aware of the prayers of so many.

Precious Time with the Lord and His Word

Also, and this should come as no surprise, but it was incredible to me how much the Word of God spoke deeply into my heart and life during this time. By the Holy Spirit He sustained me and spoke to me, and in fact, I can say now more than a year since all of this began, I count myself as blessed to have been able to go through these precious times with the Lord and His word.

I will always remember June 10, 2023 when a number of churches who were aware of all I was experiencing held special services of prayer for healing on that Saturday morning. Closest to us the Rev. Canon Ray David Glenn and the people of St. George’s Burlington hosted a lovely prayer gathering, which was so important to us. We knew by that point that it was stage four cancer, and the loving prayer, amazing turnout and number of those who viewed that service online, all were such a blessing. I was so grateful to be able to give testimony to the goodness of the Lord in that service in the midst of the suffering and illness which was before me.

Of course, we didn’t know what the outcome in terms of my future would be. We were well aware this was very serious and that my time here on earth, my earthly pilgrimage, could well be coming to a close. But in our hearts, much as the apostle Paul described the “deliverance” which he felt the Lord was going to give him from prison (Philippians 1), we felt the Lord may still have more for me to do here. We felt the Lord was healing in response to the prayers and requests of the many, and that therefore there was ahead for me some years of health and potential ministry which, we prayed, would be fruitful for the gospel.

Radiation and Testimonies

By November 2023 I had completed my chemotherapy, but I was still very much feeling its effect and extreme weakness. I was very grateful for the opportunity to give a word of testimony by video to the ANiC Diocesan Synod which was happening in Vancouver. This was the same Synod in which Bishop Mike Stewart was elected as Suffragan Bishop.

In December I was also grateful to be able to write a brief word of testimony and reflection on Philippians 1 where Paul says: “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”, which continues to be a central theme in my heart during these days.

In February 2024 I received five radiation treatments. In one way radiation was not as difficult as chemotherapy, but in other ways they were challenging as well.

Healing and Recovery

So, now here in the summer of 2024 I am a number of months past all of that. I am happy to report the doctors are very pleased with the outcome of the treatments and have given me a very encouraging report. Recently I had an appointment with the urologist and again with my medical oncologist both who confirmed that my PSA number continues to be zero or negligible, just as it has been ever since I completed my chemotherapy. This is huge, and is exactly what we were praying we would hear.

My strength is increasing day by day. For a number of months I had not enjoyed eating at all, but now I love eating–maybe too much! But I’m happy to say my taste has now recovered and I’m enjoying it a lot, thanks be to God. Judy and I are very grateful to be able to be attending church services weekly and to be part of a fellowship. This is such a wonderful gift.

Fragility and Growing in Grace

It is true, during these days, in a real and surprising way, I have faced what I would describe as a spiritual and emotional fragility. At times I have felt very low and wondered about all sorts of things which I haven’t worried about for years. But in fact, I have found again, just as I did during those months before, that the Word of God and the prayers of God’s people have more than sustained me. I am so grateful, and I believe that I am experiencing what Peter said in his second letter to conclude his wonderful epistle:

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
2 Peter 3:18

This is what I pray and believe is happening in my life as I go through these difficult things. I believe that I am growing in the grace, and getting to know the Lord Jesus more and more, which is such a joy and truly what life is about!

Ministry in the Days Ahead

As to ministry opportunities, I am still not doing many things, but beginning tentatively to take little steps forward. I’ve had the opportunity to preach a few times now. In May I had the honour of preaching at the ordination to the priesthood or presbyterate of the Reverend Matthew Usherwood, Curate at New Song Church in Port Perry, Ontario.

I am concentrating now on assisting in any way I can the continued growth and development of Packer College, our diocesan theological college based at Good Samaritan Church in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

I’m praying a lot about the exciting developments in evangelism in our diocese and hope to be able to bring encouragement to that area as the Lord gives opportunity.

Accordingly, in mid September, Lord willing, we are now planning to visit St John’s, Newfoundland for a long weekend to celebrate the second anniversary of the Dedication of Packer College, to welcome our first residential students to the College, to offer a workshop on Evangelism ( on Holy Cross Day, September 14th) and to preach at Good Samaritan on the Sunday, September 15/24.

In June I was able to travel with Bishop Dan and Cathryn to the ACNA College of Bishops and the Provincial Assembly in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. It was a wonderful time seeing a number of friends which I haven’t seen for basically two years or more. And it was an honour to prayerfully discern together and to elect Steve Wood as our new Primate. I also had opportunity to thank Archbishop Foley Beach and his dear wife Allison for all they have done for our province and for me personally over the years.

Magnify the Lord with Me

Let me conclude with two passages, which have meant very much to me and through these months they are my testimony:

1 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

Psalms 34:1-6

And

 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.
9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.
11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
2 Corinthians 1:8-11

My dear, dear fellow members of this beloved diocese of the Anglican Network in Canada, under our wonderful Bishop Dan Gifford, I thank God for you. I love you and I’m so grateful for your love and prayers for me and my family.

God bless you all.

Yours in Christ Jesus, 

+Charlie

The Right Reverend Charlie Masters