John Ambra, who serves as GuideStone director of development for the Mission:Dignity ministry, suffered a stroke Saturday evening at his home near Dallas. A surgery Sunday morning was successful and the doctor is cautiously optimistic, GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins said.

Referring to Ambra as “Mr. Mission:Dignity,” Hawkins asked for Southern Baptists to pray for Ambra.

“John has been the heart of Mission:Dignity for almost a quarter of a century,” Hawkins said. “His genuine love for our recipients, our donors and his fellow workers is unmatched. He is selfless in service and has an incredible work ethic. We are asking for prayers for John’s healing, for his wife Teresa, their children and grandchildren.

“Our great God’s name is still Jehovah-Rapha, the Great Physician and Healer.”

Ambra joined GuideStone from the Baptist Convention of New England in September 1996. He served as business manager there.

Mission:Dignity is a GuideStone outreach that provides financial assistance to retired Southern Baptist pastors and their widows near the poverty line.

(EDITOR’S NOTE – Roy Hayhurst is director of denominational and public relations for GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.)