Tag Archive | praise and worship

Near-shipwreck: The Testimony of Beloved Captain Ferdinand Estillore

Sep26
Beloved Captain Ferdinand Estillore testifying in the pulpit during Friday Overnight Worship Service at Amoranto Stadium, Quezon City, Sept. 2013.

Beloved Captain Ferdinand Estillore testifying in the pulpit during Friday Overnight Worship Service at Amoranto Stadium, Quezon City, Sept. 2013.

It’s a blessing to listen to beloved Captain Ferdinand Estillore testify in the pulpit (he rarely testifies for he is mostly at sea). His spiritual fervor after all these years of serving the Lord (not to mention his success in his profession and material blessings in abundance) has not waned.

He testifies that before he surrendered his life to the Lord in December of 1990, his personal life was in chaos. He and his beloved wife didn’t have peace in their marriage. It was beset with frequent fights triggered mostly by Capt. Estillore’s many vices. As a captain of an international shipping line, he was not immune to the worldly practices sailors are exposed to.

One night while he was at home on vacation, he happened upon the TV program of JESUS MIRACLE CRUSADE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY. He listened at the preaching and realized that he was the one targeted by the beloved Hon. Pastor Wilde E. Almeda’s words: his way of life as a seaman and the vices he was immersed in. The message of the Gospel hit home and Capt. Estillore began to cry. He and his wife decided to attend the worship service and receive the Lord Jesus Christ and His salvation. Their whole household was saved and peace began to reign in their hearts and home.

Five years later, Capt. Estillore’s faith would be tested. Their ship was navigating the turbulent waters of the Pacific Ocean from Solomon Islands headed for Korea. But the northeast monsoon brought violent winds, and waves wreaked havoc upon the ship, causing a long gash (hole) along its side. The pressure of water coming into the ship was so strong that water was filling up the bodega of the ship so fast it tilted the huge vessel slightly to its side.

Capt. Estillore mobilized his men immediately, instructing them to pump out the water using all the submersible pumps found in the ship. But they could not control the water. Capt. Estillore cried out to the Lord, “Dearest Lord, you will not abandon me now!” (Before he boarded that ship, he was prayed over and laid hands on by the beloved Hon. Pastor Wilde Almeda). So, he trusted God that they will not perish and the ship will not sink.

They did everything they could to reduce the damage and Capt. Estillore sent messages to the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency and to the US Coast Guard in Guam informing them about their predicament, but he had not yet requested for rescue. He said it was the hardest decision he had to make. He went to his cabin and there, he sank to his knees and prayed and cried out to God, “My dearest Lord! You will not abandon me! Please give me wisdom on how to save this ship and my men!”

His men worked overnight pumping out water from the ship, but in the morning, the second engineer went to Capt. Estillore’s cabin and asked what time they were abandoning the ship. Instead of answering him, he ordered the second engineer to go help in pumping out water.

While Capt. Estillore was busy making various reports, the chief engineer and the electrician came to him and reported that the previous night while they worked to pump out water, they saw a big bird hovering above the starboard of the damaged bodega. They said that for 30 minutes the bird hovered above it and they marvelled at the sight.

Capt. Estillore hurried to his cabin and wept. He held his Bible and began to sing and worship. He sang just one song for an hour, Tell My People I love Them. He sang with all his heart and soul, worshiping God with all his being. Then he opened his Bible and he was brought to Psalm 91.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. (Ps. 91:11)

The ship’s owner radioed him and advised that they proceed to Guam, but the waves were so turbulent along that way that Capt. Estillore knew that if they went that way, they will sink after just an hour. So he cried to God again, asking for guidance. He moved the ship in such a way that it faced Surigao Strait. And so, they followed that way, navigating away from the rough seas, the strong waves and winds were behind them. The ship slowly straightened up from its tilting position and Capt. Estillore breathed a huge sigh of relief and thanksgiving.

When they finally docked in Cebu, Philippines safe and sound, some media men met them and interviewed Capt. Estillore. He boldly declared that he was a Christian serving the Lord in JESUS MIRACLE CRUSADE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY. While the ship was being repaired, Capt. Estillore flew to Manila to testify of God’s mighty deliverance.

Capt. Estillore and his family remained faithful to the Lord and continued to serve Him to this day. They have been continually reaping God’s promises and abundant blessings. His children are now successful professionals in their chosen fields.

Hallelujah! To God be ALL the glory!

~ Sis. Rina R. Peru

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Hannah’s Miracle

Jun26
Hannah during Pink Toes Piano Recital pictorial, Summer 2013.

Hannah during Pink Toes Piano Recital pictorial, Summer 2013.

She has been singing in JMCIM Children's Choir since she was 7 or 8 years old - glory to God!

She has been singing in JMCIM Children’s Choir since she was 7 or 8 years old – glory to God!

It was 2006, the year when I received partial healing from the Lord and I was able to travel to nearby provinces mostly to attend our Church’s crusades with my family. One Wednesday before noon, I received a text message from a sister in Christ who was then a full-time worker in one of the outreach stations of our Church in a faraway province. She requested me to call her. Right away, I was alarmed. I knew it was important. Urgent. She was one who saw dreams and visions living a life of regular prayer and fasting.

I called and she gently but clearly told me about her dream. She dreamed a bad dream that pointed to our then 5-year-old Hannah. She interpreted the dream that we might lose our Hannah, but said that there was something we could do to cast out the fulfilment of the bad dream. She counselled that my beloved husband Felix must offer prayer and fasting for at least 5 days. My knees instantly turned to jelly. But my husband and I prayed incessantly.

The following day, Thursday, my husband didn’t waste time to go to the Fasting House in Pampanga to offer prayer and fasting.

Friday, while he was still in the fasting house, Hannah, my then caregiver Maricris, Jho (Hannah’s nanny),  and I followed him there, our company driver driving us. We stayed in a nearby hotel because we were not on fast, but we went to the chapel of the fasting house to join in the praise and worship morning and evening and attend the Friday overnight service. We stayed in Pampanga until after Sunday service.

We left after that, leaving my husband behind because he wasn’t finished yet with his fasting.

Monday afternoon, Hannah developed a slight fever and colds. After dinner, her fever went up. Up into the night, her fever stayed. Around 10 at night, she started to hallucinate. She would panic and clutch at me in utter fear. She saw demons in the room, on the bed, everywhere. Her face was contorted with horror. In all my adult life, it was my first time to witness a little child gripped with so much fear. She would cry out, “They are here again! They are so many! Their teeth are very long and sharp. They are scary monsters! They are going to eat me! Help me, Mom! They say they will eat me! They are on the bed! They are all crawling!” And on it went.

She was red like a crab cooking  because of her burning fever and at times, perspiration drenched her hair. We (Maricris, Jho, and me) praised and prayed non-stop. Hannah would then collapse on the bed and have a fitful sleep, but after a while, she would wake up with the scary hallucinations again. I would straddle her and Bible in my hand, I would wave it while casting out the demons with all my might in the powerful name of Jesus.

A thought flashed in my mind. If we weren’t born-again Christians yet, serving the Lord in JESUS MIRACLE CRUSADE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY, and I was well enough to drive, I would have bundled her up in a blanket and brought her to the nearest hospital. But my thoughts and desires then were not toward the hospital but toward the only Savior and Healer, the Lord Jesus Christ. Many people, including Christians from other sects, would persecute me, us, for our decision to completely trust in God. It is our faith.

My husband wasn’t with us, he was in the Fasting House offering up prayer and fasting, and that was the best place he could be at that hour. I did not even inform him.

After on-and-off wrestling with the demons through praising, praying, and casting out, Jho said, “Ate, we can’t do this on our own. Let’s call for prayer warriors from the Pastoral House.” It was late, but the Pastoral House was open 24/7. I called and requested for workers to come. My voice was urgent.

After less than an hour, two workers arrived with a guitar. They immediately knelt beside the bed, prayed, then began praising and worshiping, entreating God for His mercy. We sang along with them. After over half an hour, they closed with another prayer, then they laid their hands on my daughter who was then sound asleep, very hot and cheeks flushed, casting out the demons of sickness.

I requested the workers to stay for the night for we were alone. They hesitated for a while but I was insistent. They slept in the guest room. I then lay beside Hannah and succumbed to much-needed sleep.

Hannah and I almost simultaneously woke up the next morning. I was awakened by the sound of praise and worship and guitar playing. It sounded like it was far away but it drifted to me and I slowly opened my eyes. Hannah opened her eyes, too. Her normal color had returned. She smiled at me. I touched her forehead, her fever was gone. I checked the time. I couldn’t believe it was near noon! My daughter and I slept so soundly and she was completely healed!

“Mom, I’m thirsty,” Hannah said. I told her to wait as I tell someone to bring her water. But she bounded out of bed, looked for her slippers, and told me, “I’ll go to the kitchen myself, Mom.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, concern in my voice.

“Yes, Mom, I’m fine,” she answered me reassuringly and then left the room. She walked out as if nothing happened the night before!

When my husband arrived from the Fasting House in Pampanga, he didn’t have a clue as to what happened for he found us smiling happily. And grateful.

ALL THE GLORY, HONOR, PRAISE, AND THANKSGIVING BELONG TO THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS – OUR DEAREST LORD JESUS CHRIST!

~ Sis. Rina Peru