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Wilfredo "JuJu" Rosado: I was born in the walk of the Lord but at the age of 15
I accepted him in my life. Throughout the years, I realize it has not been an easy walk. I had to devote myself more to God
and seek him with my mind, body and soul. I have great parents who help me with their wisdom and a supportive wife that the
Lord blessed me with. I have been blessed with musical talents, which I will only use to praise my living God, because only
He is worthy of my praise, and to minister to lost souls. Today at the age of 26, I am still serving the Lord, I am co-pastor
of my church, and also a part of many ministries. I will never regret the decision I made of serving the Lord. He has never
let me down. Remember that it does not matter how you praise, as long as you praise! "LET GO AND LET GOD"
Eddie Maldonado:
I was born in New York City, raised and educated in Philadelphia, PA. For the better part of my young life I was raised a Catholic.
My grandmother, who was a Baptist at heart, would always read the bible to me whenever I visited her. Most of the time, I didn’t have a clue or understood what she was reading. She would explain the stories to me and I found them marvelous. Yet, growing up in a Christian environment
did not make me a Christian since I really had no true relationship with Christ.
At the age of 14, I began to play semi-professional with a weekend secular band in a New Jersey night club that lasted several years. That is where I got my taste for the nightlife that took me through a journey of alcohol, drugs, womanizing,
and dealing contrabands. I remember when I was playing with a popular orchestra
in my mid twenties, I met a young woman named Miriam Davila who spent much of her time with me. she believed that I was going to move into her apartment. But
I on the other hand, was just using Miriam for my needs and since she had money, a car, a great job and great looks, she served
my purpose. Miriam would travel with me to all my performances. We would drive up occasionally to New York to such places like Studio 54 and rub shoulders
with the stars or the famous Red Parrot to dance the night away. A life of destruction
that looked so good yet had no fulfillment or satisfaction in my life. In Matthews
7:13 it speaks of the wide road that leads to destruction and many will pass through it like I have, but the narrow road will
lead to life and few shall pass through it, a road I needed to seek and experience.
How true God’s words are.
After several disagreements, Miriam and
I lost contact for several years. I started to get into trouble at home and with the law.
Being involved with my brother’s drug cartel our home became a fortress of men armed with guns and people coming
in and out at all hours seeking drugs. I found my self getting into trouble or
going to court and paying money to bail myself out of jail. My brother was finally
caught by the FBI and was sentenced to many years in jail for selling narcotics .
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Eddie Maldonado (con't)
I was tired of that crazy life. I’d
try to go back to the Catholic Church to get answers but to no avail. So I left angry and found myself going to Atlantic City to study gambling and graduated as a Black Jack dealer. But I could not see myself working
in the Casinos as it required a lot of my time and did not allow me to play music which was my first love. I left the Atlantic City scene and on my way home I accidentally bumped into Miriam Davila, of all people. We went for a cup of coffee and
talked about old times and what each of us was doing with our lives. To my amazement
I was surprised when she proclaimed to be a born again Christian and that she was attending a Church in Blackwood N.J. I chuckled, but Miriam recognized my emptiness and
invited me to attend the morning service on Sunday. She told me I would fall
in love with the music ministry the minute I would hear it.
That following Sunday Miram picked me up and off to Church we went. She
was right; I did fall in love with the music as it brought me to a higher spiritual level that I had never experienced before. The service blew my mind. I was stunned
by the worship team and the message. It was like God was talking to me directly. I was in tears, I broken down but yet I had a
sense of relief that at last there was hope for a new start in my life. When
the minister made the alter call I was reluctant at first, but Miriam took my hand and said, “Come on I’ll walk
with you”. I took that step and did give my life to Him. Who would ever
imagine that the woman whom I had lived a sinful life with would be the one to bring me to the foot of the cross.
It’s been over 21 years since that day and I am still serving the Lord.
I met my wife Damaris in church and we’ve been married for 16 years. We’ve blessed with a baby girl and
God has done remarkable things in our lives. In 1990, I was blessed with a Music
Ministry that lasted almost a decade. To God be the glory for those wonderful
years of music and the spreading of the Good News.
Christ
has changed my way of life for the better and the blessings are too many to mention.
But this I will say, what happened to me was no accident but a plan that God had for me. You see, that day when I was on my way home from Atlantic City, Miriam could have chosen not to speak with
me after the way I had treated her and yet, with all her love for Christ she believed that God could change my life. All I needed to do was to give God a chance to work in me. I’m so glad I did. As for Miriam, God used her so that
I can come to Him before taking her to heaven. I thank God for my salvation
and for Miriam Davila who introduced Christ into my life.
In 1980, Miriam Davila was diagnosed with Lupus. She lost her battle and
went to dwell with the Lord that same year.
| Iglesia Sion - 2004 |
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| Eddie |
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