#206 ST. RUSSELL                          (Original air date:   10/30/97)
 

Written by:	Deborah Starr Seibel
Directed by:	Burt Brinckerhoff
Produced by:	Martha Williamson, Jon Andersen, E.F. Wallengren & R.J. Visciglia, Jr.

Guest Cast:

Kay Borgstrom	Anne Lockhart
Sten Borgstrom	Jay Patterson
Jenny Lillienthal	Rosalind Allen
Derek Lillienthal	Fred Sanders
Bridget Lillienthal	Kelsi Copier
Dan Hoagland	Scott Paulin

 

When a young girl, Bridget Lillienthal, turns up missing at a local lake in Minnesota, Russell scans the surface of the lake and makes a heroic rescue. The Lillienthal family express their gratitude, in awe of Russell's seemingly miraculous rescue. When Nathaniel mentions something about his Uncle's regular talks with angels, Kay Borgstrom is all ears. Kay has pancreatic cancer and asks Russell to pray for her. Russell initially turns her away, fearing that she's imbued him with special powers he doesn't have. Claire convinces Russell to help this woman, even if it means sitting with her to pray. Kay asks him to lay hands on her and suddenly plants a kiss on him, hoping to seal his blessing. The following day, Kay and her husband, Sten, tell Russell of the sudden improvement in Kay's health. The Greene family suddenly feels what it's like to live in a fishbowl as the town focuses its attention on them. When Kay's condition suddenly takes a turn for the worse, the town begins to turn on the Greene family. To make matters worse, a news reporter from the Minneapolis Sentinel, looking to uncover self-serving motives, adds fuel to the fire. The hysteria culminates in a fist fight between Russell and Sten in the hospital while Kay's fate hangs in the balance -- both are carted off to jail to cool their heels. The next morning, Russell and Sten are released from jail. The town's adulation has turned to wrath. The Greenes prepare to leave town, but not before Russell makes a visit to the hospital to check on Kay's condition. Russell sits with her a final time and prays for Kay and Sten. Kay regains consciousness, speaking with a newfound inner peace -- due in no small part to the Greene's influence.