Former Pastor’s Plea for Kidney Donor Touches Hearts as He Fights to Stay Alive for His Daughter

A former Topeka pastor is asking for prayer as he searches for a life-saving kidney donor after years of battling cancer left him in renal failure.

According to a report by WIBW, Steven Mills’ doctors believe his kidney failure is linked to multiple rounds of chemotherapy following two separate cancer diagnoses. Mills was first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013 and, after six years of treatment, overcame the disease. He was later diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent surgery, along with a bone marrow transplant.

Because of his medical history, Mills said he must receive a kidney from a living donor who is a complete biological match.

“They have to run further testing to see if their markers are close to yours, because if they’re not, then the organ will fail, and you’ll be right back there again,” Mills said.

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Mills said he undergoes dialysis at least three times each day and as many as five times daily when he is not feeling well. The treatments also carry a staggering financial burden.

“Out of pocket easily, right now, 70 thousand dollars,” Mills said. “You shouldn’t have to pay to live; you should not have to pay to live.”

Despite the challenges, Mills said his greatest motivation is the daughter God entrusted to his care.

“I am her dad, I was entrusted by God with that responsibility, and I intend to fulfill that,” Mills said.

His determination serves as a reminder that our hope is never rooted in circumstances but in the Lord, who calls us to bring every need before Him in prayer. Scripture tells us, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him” (James 5:14).

WIBW also reported that more than 100,000 Americans are currently waiting for a kidney transplant, including nearly 400 in Kansas, showing the ongoing need for organ donors and continued prayer for those awaiting life-saving treatment.

As Christians, we can lift up Mills, his family, his medical team and the person God may be preparing to become a matching donor. Whether the Lord works through miraculous healing, modern medicine or the generosity of another person, we know He remains faithful.

Mills also hopes his journey encourages others facing difficult seasons to reach out for support.

“It’s okay to ask, it’s okay,” Mills said.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].