“This has been a very challenging period personally, as my wife and I just lost our son. He was just 13, and it happened very suddenly. I was unsure I could continue my calling to serve after that, especially with my wife having surgery just a month afterward. This was a time of great suffering for my family. My wife and I shed so many tears.
Everyone thought our ministry would be done, and so did we. Just getting through the day was difficult, let alone keeping the ministry going. But as the days passed, the Lord’s call grew louder. My son was a young man dedicated to God and a devoted member of the congregation before his passing. In remembering him, I realized then that the church was more than just a place of worship, but a community built in God’s image that my son valued being a part of.
Today, the Lord has carried us through, and I continue to fulfill my calling for His glory. It hasn’t been a perfect return to ministry, however. My wife and I carry the grief in our hearts daily. Also, in my absence, some members of our congregation have stopped attending, leaving only a few of the faithful remaining.
Nonetheless, we look to rebuild the ministry and support our missions in neighboring cities. We are building a new church, which we hope will be finished by the beginning of next year. I know that before the new temple opens, we can recover those who were lost along the way, along with bringing new people to the foot of the cross.”
