We often sing a birthday song like this;
Happy Birthday to you!
Only one will not do.
Born again in Salvation,
I hope you have two!
The month of June is the month I celebrate my 2 birthdays. On June 3rd, I turned 49 years old according to my "Certificate of Live Birth". Meaning, I was born alive to my mother on that day! Thank you Lord and thank you Mama! Last June 23, I celebrated my 30th spiritual birthday. That's the day I was born again into the family of God. I am so glad that God saved this mountain boy from out of the ruins of self and sin 30 years ago. Wow! I can't believe it but it has been quite a journey to have lived this long both in the flesh an in the Lord!
Come to think of it! The Lord has gathered so many people form different backgrounds, working in different places, in different parts of the world, in very diverse ministries to accomplish something He has foreseen long before the foundation of the world, the salvation of one wild mountain boy who would one day, and only by God's grace alone, would become this preacher.
Consider these seemingly unrelated circumstances and events. Rev. Bob Phillips went to the Philippines as a missionary with the BBFI. Missionary Phillips helped Preacher Manny Vergara go to a new cluster of houses in one of the depressed areas of the city of Baguio to start a church. Years before, Missionary Bob Hughes has started a flourishing church in Cebu city. Missionary Hughes has a daughter named Cindy who helped organize a concert tour around the Philippine Islands for a singing group called the Light Singers from Liberty University (then called Liberty College). These singers held their concert one rainy Wednesday evening at Pines City Baptist Church, Baguio City, then being led by Missionary Damon Woods. Among the people Preacher Manny Vergara brought to attend that Gospel concert that evening was Mike Valdez. That evening, heaven smiled and Glory condescended to reach to this poor lost soul. There was a songleader named Jeff Safra during the invitation, and an unknown brother who led Mike through Rev. 3:20 and the Sinner's Prayer. So many people, so many seemingly unrelated events and circumstances all set in motion by the One Sovereign Hand that created the universe to save on lost soul. Sure! There were other souls saved that night. But still, if there was just one soul in need of God's grace for salvation, God will still arrange the circumstances to get to that one soul.
There's no such thing as a "one-man army" and no such thing as "labor in vain" in the Lord's work. Even when you are laboring alone in an isolated somewhere, you bear with you some of the strength of everyone who had some investment or influence in you life. When nothing seems to be getting accomplished, don't fret as you might only see the fruit of the seed you have sown 30 years after! Or, just wait for eternity's revelation!
My utmost thanks to the Lord for so great salvation and utmost thanks as well to everyone, whoever you are, wherever you are, who have been used one way or another to bring this salvation to fruition in my life!
