Good morning to all! I am Mikko Jay Apolinar from the Ushering Ministry. I am a Grade 12 student from Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas. I would like to start my testimony by sharing how God has called me to leadership. It was year 2018 when God told me to lead a small group. However, I kept on declining from this calling because I believe that I was not ready yet to share God’s Word to others as well as that was the time when I was taking my CLDP 1 class. As I continue to pray, God’s message has become clearer. But still I told Him, “God, I am sorry but I cannot do this.”
Time flew so fast. In spite of several reasons, I finally answered God’s calling. For the same reason, I asked for the Lord’s guidance and provision. I know that He knows me-both my strengths and weaknesses. Fast forward, we had our first fellowship in the section where I belong. There were only few students who attended the devotion. But still our prayer is to help us grow not just in faith, but also in numbers. As time passed by, God responded amazingly because we greatly multiplied in number as the whole room was filled with youth who are ready to listen to His Word.
That overwhelming feelingI felt that time had immediately faded, when I reached home one Saturday. I found my mom just lying on ther bed, which is very unusual for her. I also noticed that she cried. When I asked her why, she said that she felt a lump on the right side of her breast. I told her to go to a doctor and let them check her up but she refused.
With this experience, I found it ironic to share with others on how God’s Word can change one’s life while I couldn’t share this with my own mother. After a few days, her condition got worse. I noticed different symptoms like fatigue and the redness of her eyes.
One night, I was alarmed when she called my name, asking for someone to comfort her. During this same night, I realized that I couldn’t bear to see my mother suffer like that. Again, I uttered this prayer fervently, “God, this is an emotional torture for me. Please heal my mother. I pray for her complete healing.”
Moving along, I continuously have prayed for my mother’s healing during ExCEL services. Finally, my long-time prayers got answered as my mom finally decided to visit a doctor for a check up. She was diagnosed having a kidney infection. Sadly, this type of disease caused death on one of our relatives. Despite of this sudden turn of events, we were waiting for the positive examination results of my mother’s upper body.
During this time, I knew only God can heal my mother. I believe that God explains when science can’t explain it anymore. God answers when there is no one can answer as well as He is the logic when things get illogical for human beings. From this experience, I also learned the power of prayer. Even if I consistently asked on why I didn’t receive any encouragement from other people, I still fought my negativite thoughts and emotions toward this. During this hard time, I asked for my leader’s prayer for my mother that by the power of prayer, God would heal her.
Immediately, the laboratory results came out. Based on the findings, she got an inflammatory heart disease. Instead of dwelling on what I knew, I chose to keep the faith and pray harder. I have never stopped serving the Lord. I could feel that God was moving in the midst of this difficult situation. Surprisingly, after another examination, the condition of her kidneys and liver got normalized.
Truly, the Lord has been good in my life. He healed my mom and blessed the group that I am leading. A time came when there was an event here and I invited my co-students to attend. Praise God because they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. If you would ask me about my mom, here she is right now. Earlier this morning, I took a selfie with her. She is very well right now. At present, she proceeds with the advancement of our business. Truly God is good. He never neglects those who serve and call upon His name. God never lets go of His precious children.
All glory belongs to God!
