Christians are being encouraged to pray for renowned US theologian and pastor Don Carson as he navigates the challenges of advancing Parkinson’s disease.

In a Christmas letter to members of The Gospel Coalition earlier this month, Carson shared that his condition has forced him to step back from public speaking engagements this year.

“The physical limitations arising from my Parkinson’s Disease slow me down, but the cognitive limitations constitute a more serious impediment,” Carson wrote. “A few weeks ago, for several minutes I tried to convince my neurologist that we are living in 2008.”

Carson added: “I am still serving on the elders board of our church, but no longer in any public capacity. At the end of November, I attended what will probably turn out to be my last conference of the Evangelical Theological Society.”

The 77-year-old theologian, who co-founded The Gospel Coalition nearly 20 years ago with the late Timothy Keller, is also emeritus professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

In a statement, The Gospel Coalition’s leadership urged: “Please ask the Lord to show mercy to Don and his family, granting them the knowledge of him and the sweetness of his presence as they walk through this trial. Though he’s slowing down and facing significant health challenges, we take comfort in the truth Don is fond of reminding us: ‘I am not suffering from anything that a good general resurrection can’t fix.’”