Lily of the Field:

History of Consider the Lilies foundation

Penny Ann Rice, Founder and Director of Consider the Lilies Foundation, was diagnosed with locally advanced breast cancer on April 20, 2005. The cancer was very aggressive and had negative genetic and hormone receptors which meant it would not respond to Tamoxifen or Herceptin to prevent reoccurance. However, the cancer in her breast did shrink 60% after 8 weekly treatments of Taxotere administered at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center of Columbia, Missouri. Surgery at the University Hospital in Columbia removed all of the tumor from the breast with a lumpectomy, but active cancer remained in the lymph nodes under her left arm. Traditional chemotherapy and radiation were the only remaining options offered to destroy the rest of the cancer with only a 15% success rate predicted after 10 years. Penny is the wife of Rev. Larry Rice with whom she founded the multi-faceted evangelistic ministry New Life Evangelistic Center in 1972. (See www.newlifeevangelisticcenter.org ).

A Vision is Born: Soon after her diagnosis, Penny was in prayer as to how to respond to the devastating news. As she prayed, it became clear to her that she was not to focus exclusively on her own struggles, but rather to reach out to other women who were also battling breast cancer. Her journey to health would include being an encouragement and support to women who find themselves trampled upon by the effects of Breast Cancer. Penny had studied about the wild lilies in Palestine in response to Jesus’ statement in Scripture "Consider the lilies, how they grow. . ." (Matthew 6:28) She found that these Martagon lilies, which are trampled underfoot repeatedly, are very resilient and spring back with beauty and dignity. This is indeed what the message of Consider the Lilies Foundation seeks to bring to the brave women who are trampled upon in increasing numbers by this illness. Penny’s vision is to have several Breast Cancer Survivors, like herself, become volunteer Lily Ladies who will open up a room in their homes to invite newly diagnosed women to come and be encouraged and supported and informed on how they can stand together in dignity, allowing the loving hand of God to cultivate a resilient beauty within them for all to see. The Foundation will provide resources to the Lily Ladies in the fields of research, education, nutrition, exercise, alternative therapy, healing Scriptures, stress-relieving music and one-on-one support counseling. Each Lily Room would be creatively decorated with lilies and lily design as a reminder to stand tall under our Loving Gardener’s care. A print copy of the oil painting "Consider the Lilies" would be available for the room. The Foundation, through donations and grants, will also make available vitamin supplements, prosthetic brassieres, Scripture and music on tape or CD, healthy recipes, exercise routines and other resources to help our Young Lilies (newly diagnosed women) stay strong for the journey back to health.