Oklahoma Make-A-Wish Grants First-Ever Orthodox Prayer Chapel
A young stroke survivor’s wish for a backyard prayer chapel united an Oklahoma community in faith and compassion.
SKIATOOK, OK — A 20-year-old Oklahoma man who survived a devastating brain rupture and stroke celebrated his birthday with an extraordinary gift: a private Orthodox prayer chapel built in his family’s backyard through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, reportedly the first request of its kind ever granted in the state.
As reported by News On 6 in Tulsa, four years ago, Mason Teague called 911 himself after suffering the rupture that left him deaf, visually impaired, and unable to walk. Despite the challenges, Mason graduated high school on Thursday, turned 20 on Friday, and on Saturday watched as volunteers unveiled the chapel he had long dreamed of having.
Most Make-A-Wish recipients ask for vacations or entertainment experiences, but Mason’s mother, Mandi Teague, recalled a different request. “He said he’s asked for a prayer chapel. And at that moment, I knew that Mason was teaching me something.” She explained that attending church had become increasingly difficult because “this is a vulnerable life and it’s got its ups and downs. That’s why we can’t make it to church very often.”
Mason's priest blesses the chapel. Photo: newson6.com
Mason's parents spoke of the extraordinary compassion their family had witnessed throughout the project:
You see God through people. The amount of love shown to us through the community — we saw God’s love in our backyard every day... Mason said it best — God’s favorite thing to do is to take something bad and make something good out of it.
Volunteer coordinator John Blackwell said, “For my knowledge, this has never been done through Make-A-Wish ever.” Built in less than five weeks entirely through community donations and labor, the chapel was blessed by Mason’s priest during the dedication ceremony.
"It's honestly the happiest we've seen him since he hit emergence," Mandi said. Mason's father, Justin, agreed, saying, "By far the happiest we've seen him. He couldn't smile any bigger." Justin also shared Mason's hope that, if he recovers, he would like to live there as a monk.
Previously, the UOJ reported that the OCA and ROCOR teamed up for a chapel at Fort Ross.
