(Some have desired to give but had trouble with GoFundMe. Please contact me if you've tried to give and cannot.)
In August of 2005, thanks to the help of a faithful translator, a 19-year-old American stood up to preach what would be his second sermon ever. The listeners were a precious group of people eager to hear the gospel on a basketball court in the mountain village of Bacungan, on the Philippine island of Palawan. That 19-year-old was me…and the pastor translating was the man you see in the photos — Pastor Art Manalo Jr.
God worked in amazing ways during that evangelistic series of 2005 (just one of 18 simultaneous ones around Puerto Princesa)! By God’s grace, at the end a combined 450+ people were baptised into Christ, and many more were preparing to follow. In our meetings I saw God use Pastor Art to lead many to give their lives to Jesus and join His church. Over the years we have loosely stayed in touch, but I’ve received glimpses into how the Lord has been using Him in changing peoples’ lives.
On December 22 of last year, with no warning a drunk driver launched into their path as Pastor Art and his wife were riding home on their motorcycle. Até Nora received burns on her legs and an injured right ankle…but Art received the most damage. Most looking on the scene thought he was dead, but friends soon arrived who took him to the hospital where he would begin to recuperate.
The family praises God that all has healed, except for his left eye. The surgeons say that there’s a chance his sight could be restored with an operation, but it has been on standstill since his other hospital bills thus far have surpassed the maximum insurance coverage that the Palawan Adventist Mission can assist with. This leaves his only chance at restored sight being a surgery costing 556,352 pesos (as seen in below surgical plan). This comes out to about $11,500 USD.
God saved my own life in a car wreck in June of 2018, and He saved my eye…but by a millimetre! My left eye was literally about a millimetre away from being lost. I praise God that my insurance plan with my employing conference covered nearly all my medical bills...but as my kuya (older brother), Pastor Art lives in a place without the same blessing, I felt a special burden to pull this GoFundMe together in hopes that he can soon have the surgery that may restore his sight. I know if I were in his shoes, I would hope for the same!
With every passing day the likelihood of his sight being restored is lessened. Pastor Art Manalo is not only a man of God who has dedicated his life to leading others to Jesus, but he also happens to be the son of a pastor, and his own son Heartwell is now in his 2nd year of ministerial studies! This is a family who have fully given their lives to leading others to turn their eyes upon Jesus. Will you please pray for the family? And will you consider giving in some way to provide the (hopefully soon) surgery that may restore this dear pastor’s eyesight?
(If you are donating, for the "Tip" that GoFundMe requests, please feel free to select "Other" and type in $0.00. They already receive a small percentage.)
1 John 3:16–17
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?”
In August of 2005, thanks to the help of a faithful translator, a 19-year-old American stood up to preach what would be his second sermon ever. The listeners were a precious group of people eager to hear the gospel on a basketball court in the mountain village of Bacungan, on the Philippine island of Palawan. That 19-year-old was me…and the pastor translating was the man you see in the photos — Pastor Art Manalo Jr.
God worked in amazing ways during that evangelistic series of 2005 (just one of 18 simultaneous ones around Puerto Princesa)! By God’s grace, at the end a combined 450+ people were baptised into Christ, and many more were preparing to follow. In our meetings I saw God use Pastor Art to lead many to give their lives to Jesus and join His church. Over the years we have loosely stayed in touch, but I’ve received glimpses into how the Lord has been using Him in changing peoples’ lives.
On December 22 of last year, with no warning a drunk driver launched into their path as Pastor Art and his wife were riding home on their motorcycle. Até Nora received burns on her legs and an injured right ankle…but Art received the most damage. Most looking on the scene thought he was dead, but friends soon arrived who took him to the hospital where he would begin to recuperate.
The family praises God that all has healed, except for his left eye. The surgeons say that there’s a chance his sight could be restored with an operation, but it has been on standstill since his other hospital bills thus far have surpassed the maximum insurance coverage that the Palawan Adventist Mission can assist with. This leaves his only chance at restored sight being a surgery costing 556,352 pesos (as seen in below surgical plan). This comes out to about $11,500 USD.
God saved my own life in a car wreck in June of 2018, and He saved my eye…but by a millimetre! My left eye was literally about a millimetre away from being lost. I praise God that my insurance plan with my employing conference covered nearly all my medical bills...but as my kuya (older brother), Pastor Art lives in a place without the same blessing, I felt a special burden to pull this GoFundMe together in hopes that he can soon have the surgery that may restore his sight. I know if I were in his shoes, I would hope for the same!
With every passing day the likelihood of his sight being restored is lessened. Pastor Art Manalo is not only a man of God who has dedicated his life to leading others to Jesus, but he also happens to be the son of a pastor, and his own son Heartwell is now in his 2nd year of ministerial studies! This is a family who have fully given their lives to leading others to turn their eyes upon Jesus. Will you please pray for the family? And will you consider giving in some way to provide the (hopefully soon) surgery that may restore this dear pastor’s eyesight?
(If you are donating, for the "Tip" that GoFundMe requests, please feel free to select "Other" and type in $0.00. They already receive a small percentage.)
1 John 3:16–17
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?”
Organizer
Justin Torossian
Organizer
Angwin, CA