I recently read this testimony sent into us about the influence Fr. Rick Thomas had on a man that Father probably never even knew about. Here’s the story:
I came to hear of your mission there from a dear friend who departed this spring, …a salty old commercial fisherman….Bob was known in many circles as a modern day Peter and…his ministry was known for mighty signs and wonders and large outpourings of joy with the youth. [The Lord called him to minister in] the country of Paraguay where the Holy Spirit [did many signs and wonders].
The story goes on that before Bob died, he was asking the Lord why he always felt a call to serve the poor, the widows and the children, especially those who spoke Spanish. Bob told this to the man writing to us:
He took a deep breath and told me that he suspected much of what he received for the call to the poor came from Father Rick. He told me who this man was and what had happened in Juarez. As for Bob, it seems one day very early in Bob’s coming to Christ, he had a serious back problem. I am not sure what it was except that he was bedridden and possibly needed surgery. Bob said that one of his sisters knew Father Rick [and when Father was in the area speaking at a conference], she asked him to come to Bob’s house to pray for him. Bob said he rested in the Spirit when Father Rick laid his hand on him, and when Bob came to, he rose up off the bed instantly, completely out of pain. He never again had problems with his back.
“I was never the same after that,” he said, “but became a broken vessel, always seeking to serve the poor and the children.” Bob told me “I think the old Father snuck one in and stuck me good with the call to the poor kid.”
From then on, Bob would always go to any city and try to find the barrio or ghetto first and then look to where the Holy Spirit was hovering. He was like a dog on point when he got a sniff of the Holy Spirit’s trail in these areas. I know, for I was very blessed to assist Bob in his last days. Bob always shunned the spotlight except when the Holy Spirit came in mighty power and only then did Bob desire to come to the front and pass on the anointing that was on his life to anyone that wanted it, especially the youth.”
I often wonder how many people Father Thomas influenced during his lifetime. I know it was a lot, and the ripple effects are wide. It’s great when a previously unknown story comes our way to confirm that.
Father Rick Thomas, pray for us.
Nancy Rosales says
Father Richard Thomas help me a lot spiritually.
Siempre está en mis oraciones nunca lo olvidaré. Un sacerdote entregado a Dios y a Nuestra Virgen de Guadalupe. En las navidades se les servía la comida a la gente después de la misa y la gente se amontonaba querían comer y les dije si yo ya comí ustedes también van a comer y se multiplicaba la comida que hasta los perros comieron de lo que se caía en el suelo y toda la gente comimos.
Phillip Penna says
Thank you for this lovely testimony.