John Jr. was born at the turn of the century, and his family always said he had the best chance of living through three centuries. His grandmother, a devout Christian, named him John Jr., hoping that he would always hold a reverence for God and walk in His ways. She started taking him to church when he was little, teaching him all about hymns, the Bible, and how to pray and share reflections. Even at a young age, John could already sing hymns very well, displaying remarkable intelligence and faith.
As John Jr. grew up, he excelled academically and thrived in his career. Eventually, he met a girl with whom he fell deeply in love. At first, the girl's parents were not too keen on their relationship, but through the family's persistent prayers and divine guidance, they finally gave their blessing for the marriage.
During this time, the girl's mother was battling terminal lung cancer. She was extremely frail, barely able to speak, and relied on a wheelchair to move around. Her doctors had given her a grim prognosis, but the family refused to give up hope. They continued to pray for her, and she diligently followed her treatment plan. Then, a miraculous turn of events occurred. The girl's mother experienced a remarkable recovery in her health. She not only managed to travel across two cities by car, but she could also walk unaided. This incredible turnaround allowed her to joyfully attend her daughter's wedding.
On the day of the wedding, drizzles kept coming and going. The wedding planning company and the hotel tried to take advantage of the brief sunny breaks to quickly decorate the venue. But just as the wedding was about to start, the drizzle returned and got even heavier. Unfortunately, many elderly guests and children could not make it to the wedding, and hardly anyone brought umbrellas. The wedding planners did not have a backup plan either. So, the bride and groom, along with their parents, decided to postpone the wedding until after the rain stopped. They wanted everyone to enjoy the wedding at the beautiful rooftop garden.
Finally, the rain eased up and the ceremony got underway. But just as all the guests arrived, the rain started pouring again, forcing everyone to seek shelter in the hotel lobby. After a long wait, it was getting dark and time was ticking - they could not delay the wedding any longer. The outdoor rooftop garden had been beautifully set up for the ceremony, complete with a cross, while the indoor stage looked bare in comparison. The organizers suggested waiting a bit longer, in the hopes that the rain would soon pass.
After a while, the rain subsided and finally stopped. Everyone rushed to get the wedding back on track. But as soon as everyone was seated, the rain returned. This repeated a few times, and as the evening wore on, everyone started to feel anxious and frustrated.
The crowd inside the hall was getting restless, so the pastor stepped outside. He stood at the doorway with his arms outstretched, silently praying to the Lord. The Christian family members joined in, and miraculously, when they finished their prayer, the rain stopped.
The long-awaited wedding ceremony finally began. As the pastor led the proceedings, the sky darkened once again, and a light drizzle started to fall. Christian family members promptly stood up from their seats and gathered to the side to pray for the wedding. They prayed for God's mercy on the bride and groom, as well as all the guests, asking Him to keep the rain at bay until the ceremony was over. They also prayed for a miraculous display of power, hoping that everyone present would witness the magnificence and grace of the Lord.
The wedding ceremony went off without a hitch. As soon as it ended, a sudden downpour surprised everyone, causing the guests to gasp in amazement. It seemed like even the heavens were blessing the newlyweds, ensuring a bright future ahead for them.
Many of the family, friends, and guests at the wedding were new to the Christian faith and had never experienced a Christian wedding before. The rain clearing up that day was a nice surprise, but what really touched their hearts were the heartfelt wedding vows and testimonies that were shared. As the ceremony went on, the pastor spoke about the gospel and how Jesus Christ sacrificed himself on the cross to save those who believed in Him. He also mentioned that those who have faith in God, follow Him, and serve Him will receive eternal life and salvation.
The parents of the newlyweds were grateful to God for bringing the couple together and blessing them through their pastor and his wife. They were thankful that the couple could feel His power, wonder, and love during such a special moment in their lives.
(Originally published by the ChristianTimes, the article has been edited under permission.)
- Edited by Karen Luo, translated by Joyce Leung
