Tag Archive | blindness

“I was blind, now I see!”: The Amazing Testimony of Bro. Michael Garcia

Feb10
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Bro. Michael Garcia testifying in the pulpit at the Main Church, Amoranto Sports Complex, Quezon City, Philippines

When you see him testify in the pulpit, you will see a diminutive man, thin and small, so much so that the hand-me-down shirt he wears almost gobbles him up, even though he folds the sleeves to reveal his hands. He maybe that in stature, but his testimony is larger than life.

Before Bro. Michael came to know the Lord Jesus Christ, he worked in construction for many years. He was the one who mixed cement and sand to make concrete. According to his testimony, he used potent cement mixes to build sturdy buildings. As he did his job, it couldn’t be helped that cement splashed and went to his unprotected eyes. For years it was like that, until one day, he found himself groping in darkness. He had become blind.

His terrible misfortune happened at work. When he was told to mix concrete, he purposed to go and do it as what he had done before. But he realized that he could no longer see. He had lost his sight and had to grope around to feel his way. His fellow workers noticed the change in him and asked what was wrong. He told them he could no longer see.

The same day, his co-workers brought him home. He said goodbye to them bitterly, saying, “I cannot work anymore. This is the bitter end of my life. When you learn that I have died, just come to my funeral!”

And they left him to his doomed fate.

He was orphaned early in life. When his remaining family and other relations learned that he could not fend for himself anymore, and was in fact very dependent on other people’s help, they all forsook him.

He had absolutely no one to care for him. He was not only destitute for help and care, he was also destitute for food. He lived in a wooden cart. He would go weeks without tasting proper food. Most of the time, he lived only by water.

When he went out, kids made fun of him, stoning him until he sustained head wounds. In fact, he had collected wounds and scars in the head over the years.

One day, feeling so desperate with all the suffering and hardships he was going through, he cried out towards heaven, “God, please end my suffering and take away my life, so I wouldn’t feel this pain in my heart anymore!”

Was he in pain because of his blindness, or the wounds from frequent stoning, or even from constant hunger? Yes, very much so! But more than that, his heart was aching. The pain in his heart was unbearable!

Having experienced illness and suffering myself these past more than 13 years, I know what Bro. Michael is talking about. I know that pain in the heart: the isolation, the loneliness. But for him, it was much more. He was hurt deeply when not a single loved one cared. That hurt him the most. To know that no one loves and cares for you. To know that you are forsaken.

BUT GOD!

God who is rich in mercy and compassion has not abandoned him. He was never forgotten by Him.

One day, beloved workers from JESUS MIRACLE CRUSADE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY came to him and brought him to the worship service in Amoranto. At this time, he had been blind 7 years. He received the Lord Jesus Christ and was baptized in water in His name. From then on, he attended worship services religiously. He always arrived early and was never late.

One night after worship service, he didn’t have anyone to bring him home. But as he groped in the dark late in the night, he heard the voices of two men speaking to him. They instructed him to hold onto their hands, one on each side of him. And they started to walk.  At some point, he stumbled and lost his footing. While he groped for their hands, he touched feathered wings instead! He realized what was happening. And in that instant, a light flashed and pierced into his unseeing eyes and for a fleeting moment, he could see through the bright light, just long enough for him to see that he was walking with two angels! Hallelujah! 

Then one Sunday in November 2016, about 6 months after he received salvation, he was early in Amoranto as usual. Morning joggers still littered the oval. He found himself needing to drink (or something), so he left his place and groped for the stairs going to the bleachers. A few steps…grope…wall…a few steps…grope…stairs… And so on.

But as he approached the bleachers as the stadium opened to the vast morning sky, he could see a glimmer of light above. He realized he was looking at the sky! When he reached the top of the VIP area, he could see the joggers jogging around the oval, children playing. He could see the trees and all around him!

The Lord Jesus Christ has healed him of his blindness! After 7 years of being absolutely blind, he could now see!

Because of Bro.Mchael’s amazing testimony, many in his neighborhood are in awe of the wondrous works of God. They know him as the poor blind man that can now see and mingle with them. They come to him and listen to his testimony. Many are being saved because of his story. God’s story.

All glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving belong to the Lord God Almighty – our dearest Lord Jesus Christ! Amen and amen!

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From Muslim to Christian: The Miracles in the Life of Bro. Rene Pedregoza

Dec23

Bro. Rene was a Muslim. He grew up with his grandfather who was a sultan and his mother who was a teacher in Arabic. His parents separated when he was young, because his father refused to convert to Islam. In 1995, he worked for Christian fishpond owners as messenger to all the commanders of the rebellious groups in Mindanao. His task was to bring the collections from the fishpond operations. It was during this time that he acquired malaria.

Bro. Rene Pedregoza

His uncle and other relatives who were Muslims were into witchcraft and they could also cure diseases caused by witchcraft using traditional medicine. All kinds of plants and fish that are used for burning were applied to him to cure his malaria, but these all failed.

His Christian wife asked permission to bring him to the doctor. But the doctor couldn’t offer any help. He doubted if Bro. Rene could survive the disease. Bro. Rene and his wife returned home without hope of healing. He began to lose appetite to eat. For 3 months, he couldn’t eat well. He stripped off his clothes in public without him being aware of what he was doing.

One day, his beloved mother was watching a Christian TV program which compelled her to say to him, “Son, your grandfather is an imam. He sits as judge to the whole Muslim community. One of your uncles is a sultan who cries morning, noon, and evening Allahu Akbar! But I want you to watch this so you will know what it teaches.”

At that time, Bro. Rene had not expected healing to come for he had been asking himself in desperation, “Is there a God who loves mankind?” But he heard the beloved pastor, Evangelist Wilde Almeda say, “Whatever is your situation right now, whether you’re a Christian or a Muslim, only believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the God who will heal you!” Bro. Rene hobbled towards the TV to touch the screen and cried out, “Dearest Lord! I wish that my uncles had told me there is a God who loves all people! But at this moment, I am believing that there is only one God in the whole earth! If you are the God of the Muslims and Christians, heal me, please!”

For 3 months, Bro. Rene had not been able to stand. But at that moment, he felt something very cold enter the top of his head and bathe his whole being and he was able to stand strong on his own two feet! He cried out, “There is a God who loves all people!” He received complete healing from his malaria.

Bro. Rene searched for Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry in Zamboanga but with a mixture of fear because Muslims are not supposed to believe in the name of Jesus. He found the outreach and he was baptized in water in Jesus’ name. For fear of their Muslim community, his wife ran away to Manila. Before long, Bro. Rene followed her for fear that his relatives would kill him for converting to Christianity.

For 6 years, they lived in Manila and attended worship services in Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry.

But in 2000, after the beloved Pastor Wilde Almeda and the 12 prayer warriors went to the camp of Abu Sayyaf in Talipao, Jolo, Sulu and came down safe and unharmed, he realized there was nothing to fear after all. His faith was strengthened all the more and he declared that there is a God who saves and delivers! That the God of Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry is the one true living God!

He traveled back home to Zamboanga and looked for his uncles whom he greatly feared. He found one of them, a sultan, who had been bedridden for 7 years. Bro. Rene told him, “Uncle, this is your opportunity to know that the God of the Christians and Muslims is one!” And he proceeded to testify that JMCIM brethren fast for 30 days or more and live, unlike their practice of fasting. They make night day and day night. They fast during the day time but eat during the night.

His uncle replied, “Son, I receive your Jesus. Baptize me now in His name!” After baptism, his uncle was able to stand up and walk. He shouted, “It is true that Jesus is the only Almighty God!” They organized a Bible Study inside the Muslim community. All fears were vanished because they had proven that God loves all people including the Muslims.

One day, some Muslim children bathed in the river. When they returned, one was missing. An hour had passed before they found the child dead. He had drowned in the river. One of Bro. Rene’s uncles who was a hadji looked for Bro. Rene’s mother and the JMCIM brethren. He told Bro. Rene’s mother, “Your preacher has been testifying that in Jesus Miracle Crusade, the dead are raised. Prove to me now whether this is true!”

Bro. Rene’s mother hurried to the room in fear and begged God in prayer. She said, “Lord Jesus, show to them that You are God who is almighty and all-powerful!” She then lifted the dead child and cried out, “Lord Jesus, prove to them all that You are the God of Christians and Muslims! Please, make this child live!” The child gulped the breath of life and he lived in Jesus’ name!

Later on, one of his uncles who was a commander of MILF and had 17 wives threatened him, “If you don’t stop what you’re doing and if you bring your other uncles to that Church, I will kill you!”

One of his uncles who was a sultan in one of the Muslim towns came to him. He was already blind. He said to Bro. Rene, “Son, I heard that you have become a member of Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry. I have also heard how good your God is.” And he told Bro. Rene of how God had miraculously delivered the beloved pastor and the 12 prayer warriors who only carried Bibles from the hands of the Abu Sayyaf. He believed that the beloved pastor Wilde Almeda is a true prophet of God. This uncle, too, received the Lord Jesus and was baptized in water in His name. When he came out of the water, he could see!

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

All glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving belong to our Lord God Almighty – our dearest Jesus!