Contribution
Our God is the God of Miracles
Many are called but few are chosen. These are the lines I often hear from Ministers of the gospel. At first, I find it difficult to understand so many things that was happening to me. But when I eventually became a Pastor, I realized the importance of having a personal relationship with God.
When I was three years old, a certain fellow from our local church had a vision. In that vision, she saw that I was carrying with me three stars. That vision puzzled me because it was very difficult then for a very young boy like me to understand that vision.
But when I became a teenager, that vision eventually opened my eyes to draw closer to God.
During my teenage days, I was a happy kid. My parents gave me the things I wanted. My mom was a nurse and my dad became an outstanding politician. Since both of them are busy with their respective careers, I eventually enjoyed every penny they gave me. Days and years had passed, I enrolled in college and I finished three degrees. I became successful in my chosen career but nothing satisfies me.
I met a beautiful young lady named Ruth Joy. She is the niece of a Pastor in our town. I courted her and we got married the year 1975. In 1976, we had our first baby and we named him Franklin. The baby was a joy to our family. But when our second child, Joy was born in 1978, I became weak. I don't know what was happening to myself. I was not a Christian during those times only my wife Ruth Joy was deeply involved in the Ministry being the worship leader of Glad Tidings Church.
The sickness that weakened me was very difficult to diagnose. Even well-known doctors could not find the cure to my sickness. My family even consulted a quack doctor (in the Philippines we call it "albularyos" or faith healers) but nothing happened. I became thinner and weaker. I couldn't even carry a glass of water. My life was a total disaster.
One day, my kids, Franklin and Joy, would sit beside the bed and pray for me. I cried because I couldn't do anything, I was hopeless. All of my friends are gone.
While I was staying in bed, suffering from sickness even the doctors find it hard to diagnose, I began to touch God. I learned how to pray. Most of the time I requested my wife, Ruth Joy, to read the bible to me. From then on, I realized that God was calling me for a very important task. I don't know what it is but I know it was a greater task.
Ministers of the Gospel would often visit me and pray for me. But one thing I know God was preparing me for a battle to be won.
The Final Test happen one day. I was able to experience death. Physical Death. I could feel that my spirit was coming out of my body. But deep inside me, I wanted to live. I wanted to serve the Lord. I cried, "Lord, if you let me live, I will SERVE YOU." After saying those words, I can feel my spirit had returned back to my body and I saw all the people around me crying. All of them thought that I was already gone. Praise God. I know that God is a God of Miracles.
After the incident, I began to realize the vision of the woman about the three stars. The first star was service. That is service to God. The second star was, I was chosen by God. I was chosen to be a Minister of God, a servant of God. And the third star was the Gift of Life. I was given a second chance to live here in this world and to be able to proclaim His word and to encourage all people to NEVER GIVE UP ON GOD.
Lastly, to all the readers I hope that this testimony of mine will open your heart and soul to God. God is the answer to all our prayers.
(Rev. Ramon P. Lagos, Jr. is the Pastor of Glad Tidings Church, Assemblies of God, Dueñas, Iloilo, Philippines, one of the oldest church of the Assemblies of God in the whole Philippines; together with his wife Ruth Joy Suede Lagos, and their children, Franklin, Joy, Charie and Faith, they live in Dueñas, Iloilo, Philippines. All of their children are involved in the Ministry. In fact, Rev. Ramon P. Lagos, Jr., and family was awarded as Model Family or Huwarang Pamilya in the whole Philippines by former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada last 1998. He is also the first Pastor of the Assemblies of God, Philippines, who was given the said award)