hello.
just came back from uncle ronnie's wake. he passed away yesterday during our prayer meeting... before he took his last breath, he went up and gave two powerful testimonies about his life.

first was about this man who called him (uncle ronnie) up asking if he could go over to pray for his father - he is in a comma and is dying. uncle ronnie talked to God before he went to visit him. "God, i know You want none to perish without knowing you..." and when he stepped into the hospital, the man's father woke up from his comma. uncle ronnie led him into a prayer to accept Christ and after that, the man's father went back to sleep. the next day, the man's father passed away.

then uncle ronnie shared about his family. and that he had seven brothers who got to know the Lord before they passed on and two of his seven sisters are believers of God. uncle ronnie gave thanks to God and said that his wish was to have his whole family know God. after which, he went back to his seat. a few moments later, there was a loud gasping and when i turned back, i saw uncle ronnie collapse. a few of the adults carried him out of the hall while the rest of us prayed for him.

on my way back, i received a message from joanne saying that uncle ronnie has passed away.

i will always remember uncle ronnie as the old man at the entrance of our sunday services, smiling and giving hugs to the people he sees. every time he sees me, he would yell the same thing, "wahhh shawn! it's so good to see you again shawn! oh praise God..." (on a side note, i just saw him last week at amk's underpass and he was calling out to me "wahhhh shawn!" at the same tone also. quite loud somemore hahah)

but i guess i never told him how much God has used him to impact my life and really thank him. when i was five and got to know Jesus through auntie joy, i prayed that i could go to 'God's house.' that time, my family were staunch buddhists but God used uncle ronnie. he was doing his hospital ministry; making visits and praying for many. he chanced upon my cousin who was very sick and many said that she will die. uncle ronnie encouraged my aunt saying that it is not her time yet and prayed with her. God performed a miracle and my cousin was completely healed. her health turned around overnight. with that display of God's power, my grandma and uncles came to know the Lord.. and started to attend church. and because of that, i got to go to 'God's house' and attend sunday school. there, i got to know more about Jesus and was the beginning of my walk with God.

as i was standing at the outskirts of the wake today, i watched the amount of people walking in to pay their respects. God has used one person to change so many lives. i realized that money, materials and luxuries will fade away... but God's ministry will never fade. what remains after death is your life-story.

thank you uncle ronnie. you have availed your life and trusted in God above all circumstances. i will always remember you and your big heart. and of course, i will miss your hugs on sundays. :)

for more information about God's healing power, feel free to visit GoodNewsSingapore, an event my church is organizing this coming april.