From wealth to homelessness and to suicide, a voice of GOD gradually improved his life. Though he didn’t finish college, he got the job after testifying.
Losing Everything
Bro. Edward Tan grew up in a wealthy Filipino-Chinese family. Never in his wildest imagination did he think that there would come a day when all the affluence would disappear in the blink of an eye. But indeed, fate would have it that their family’s business went bankrupt and they lost everything, including their home.
There were nights that Bro. Edward went home and found his siblings gone one by one, then he would find them sleeping in the streets. Gradually, his family broke apart, and his siblings each went their own way. Bro. Edward was so depressed that he wanted to kill himself. He seriously planned to end his life, but when he was about to carry it out, he heard a voice speak,
“Don’t do it. I love you.”
Bro. Edward didn’t see anyone, and he couldn’t understand what it meant. But this did stop him from taking his own life.
The Discovery
Bro. Edward stayed in Luneta Park, forlorn. One day, he was walking around the vicinity of the park destitute, until he reached Mehan Garden. He saw the worship service of JESUS Miracle Crusade International Ministry being held openly there. He stopped in his tracks, for, according to his testimony, he had nowhere to go anyway. He listened and observed, and while he did so, he was amazed by what he saw: the beloved brethren were clothed in garments that projected holiness, singing and worshiping the LORD with all their hearts, minds, and souls.
When the beloved Hon. Pastor Wilde E. Almeda stood up for the altar call, inviting all those who are lost to come and receive the LORD JESUS CHRIST, Bro. Edward thought, “Is this what it means by the voice I heard?”
Bro. Edward felt the love he was longing for. That night, he received the LORD JESUS CHRIST as His Savior and was baptized in water in His name.
GOD’s Instrument
He left the place with peace and joy in his heart for the first time in years. About two days after receiving the LORD, he was walking around Manila again, not really knowing where to go. But the LORD had set the cycle of blessings on his life so that on this particular day, he met his old classmate. The classmate was shocked to learn about Bro. Edward’s family’s misfortune. He invited Bro. Edward to their home in Corinthian Gardens in Pasig City and was given clothing and a job in one of their family’s gas stations.
Bro. Edward was so glad, and his faith in GOD was all the more strengthened. He believed that GOD had finally started to bless him. When he received his very first salary, although he wanted so much to buy the food he was craving, he gave it all to the LORD as his first fruits offering. He wanted to honor Him with it.
Later on, Bro. Edward desired another job, and he prayed earnestly for it. He saw an ad in the newspaper and wanted so much to get that job. The only problem was that this big multinational company was looking for applicants who were graduates of Ateneo, La Salle, and UP. He didn’t even finish his second year of college, and not in one of those schools. But he had great faith in GOD, believing that He would be the One who would give him this job. So, by faith in JESUS’ name, he proceeded to apply.
Before and During the Job Interview
He testifies that when he walked into the room, the other applicants, who were graduates from the three reputable schools, looked at him from head to toe. They whispered to each other and couldn’t hide their amusement. They laughed at him. There were seven levels of interviews in all, through different managers and executive officers. Even the first interviewer was surprised to see him and asked if he knew the requirements. Bro. Edward told him the truth about himself, and he also professed his faith in JESUS CHRIST. He began sharing GOD’s miracles and mighty deeds in the Church. The interview turned out to be a sharing of GODs’ testimonies.
At the end of the first interview, the manager told Bro. Edward that he passed it, and he was going to the next level. And so it was, until Bro. Edward completed all seven levels of the interview, and he got the job he was desiring.
At this point, I remember King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, how GOD humbled him and showed him that He reigns over all the earth, frustrates the schemes of men, and derides their worldly wisdom. Meditate on the following:
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
He does according to His will in the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth.
No one can restrain His hand
Or say to Him, “What have You done?” (Dan. 4:34-35, emphasis added)
Bro. Edward continues to serve the Lord faithfully to this day.
