“This Is Real Healing Looks Like”

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23–24 NIV

February 2026 became one of the most unforgettable chapters of my mission journey as a Seventh-day Adventist. It reminded me that mission is not just about preaching—it’s about showing up, listening, and loving people the way Christ does.

On our very first day of house-to-house visitation, my partner and I prayed quietly, asking God to lead us to the right person. As we stood outside a home, a man approached us. His name was Kuya Turno Moralde. What caught my attention instantly was the large cyst on his neck—impossible to miss, heavy, and painful just to look at. But beyond that, there was something deeper in his eyes… a silent cry for help.

As we talked, he shared that he used to attend church but had drifted away. Life got hard, and somewhere along the way, his faith faded. The cyst had been with him for years, and with it came hopelessness—not just physically, but spiritually. When we invited him back to church and offered to pray, he admitted something that hit me hard: he didn’t believe God would help him anymore. For him, only people could solve his problem.

That moment changed how I saw the situation. This wasn’t just about a medical condition—it was about a heart that needed healing too.

Week after week, we kept visiting him. No pressure, just presence. We prayed together, shared God’s promises, and reminded him that while God uses people, He is still the ultimate Healer. Slowly, something shifted. He started coming back to church—with his family. His faith, once almost gone, began to grow again.

Then came a breakthrough we had been praying for—by God’s grace, we were able to find sponsors for his surgery. It felt like heaven moved. On the day of the operation, we prayed with everything we had. And God answered. The surgery was successful. The burden he had carried for years was finally gone.

Now, Kuya Turno and his family are back in church, faithfully walking with God. And honestly, seeing them worship together hits different—it’s the kind of joy you can’t fake.

This experience taught me something real: mission is not just about sharing truth; it’s about trusting God to transform lives. We plant, we water—but God does the miracle.

-Romnald G. Paner I 65th Batch 1000MM