On January 10th, 2016, while getting ready for Sunday morning service, our beloved brother in Christ Raul Lujan accidentally slipped while climbing down the stairs in his home and fell face-first into a chair. Sustaining a terrible case of whiplash that caused damage to his spinal cord, Raul was rendered a quadriplegic- paralyzed from the neck down. He is currently diagnosed with level C3 quadriplegia. Although he has had surgery to release built-up pressure on his spinal cord in an effort to restore some mobility, his only method of movement is through the help of nursing care. He now relies on an electronically-powered wheelchair controlled by a chin-operated moving pad. As it stands, Raul Lujan has been in Santa Clara Valley Medical for 3 months, over the course of which he has made progress from absolutely no bodily movement or sensation to gradually regaining bodily response. By the grace of God, the Lord has spared his life and has sharpened his spiritual walk to lean on and trust in the Lord for each new morning given to him.
In regards to Raul’s recovery, he is now in the transition stage of his journey to where the most optimal environment for his continued recuperation would be in the comfort of his own home. However, in order for his family to even bring him home from the hospital, to get him to and fro doctor’s appointments, physical therapy sessions, and to perform their ministerial obligations as pastors, they will need a vehicle that will be able to bear the collective weight of the brother and his wheelchair of over 800 pounds, and serve as a dependable source of transportation. Despite the daunting challenge posed by this unfortunate incident, he and his wife, Annette Lujan, as pastors of the Church of God of Prophecy Marina Tabernacle have made it resoundingly clear that they would like to continue the work they have been called to do for the last 9 years of leading that community to Christ in a loving and caring manner. In all honesty though, this entails a total weekly commute of over 300 miles in order to partake in Friday and Sunday services in Marina from their native town of Santa Clara; a taxing commitment to even the most determined of couples. After careful research and consultation with mobility specialist firms, the decided vehicle that will satisfy their needs is a 2016 Ford Transit Full Size van, which will provide Raul with adequate space and security for his wheelchair and himself. We hope that through your lovingkindness and donations we can make this goal become reality.