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Tom's Testimony
I accepted the
Lord at the age of four during Vacation Bible School at the church
where my father was pastor in Southern California. The Lord gave me
a burden for missions when I was seven years old; I knew that He
wanted me to serve Him through missions. At the age of
fourteen the Lord led me to Mexico for a year where I attended a
Bible Institute, worked under a missionary and national pastors, and
learned much about another culture. |
I attended a
Bible college in Northern California for two years before the Lord
opened the door for me to go to Bob Jones University for training in
missionary aviation and aircraft maintenance. The Lord helped me
through those college days, and in 1998 I graduated. Although
aviation is a unique tool, my heart is in working with the "people"
- training them to reach and disciple their own.
In June of 1998 the Lord led me to
Regeneration Reservation as a volunteer summer staff worker. I was
to be part of a Summer Missionary Aviation team from Bob Jones
University that was coming out at the beginning of July to work on
the Cessna 182 that the Lord has provided for the ministry. (The
Lord led me to join the aviation mission team the previous spring
while I was finishing my senior year at BJU.) It was planned that I
would stay to help out with maintenance and with the ministry at
Regeneration Reservation after the team left in August. Pastor
Murphy had kindly invited me to live at Regeneration while I worked
in a nearby town so that I could pay off my school debt. Also, this
would provide me with the opportunity to help the ministry and work
with Pastor Murphy.
All the former plans quickly changed on
July 11th. While on a hike with a summer team, I fell about sixty
feet, puncturing my lungs, breaking my back, and shattering over
twenty bones in my arms and wrists. The Lord protected me in the
fall so that I did not damage my head. God in His providence had led
a paramedic to that summer team. Within a few minutes Joe had his
equipment bag and was working with others to stabilize me. Shortly
thereafter I was airlifted by helicopter to Tucson Medical Center.
There the doctors put me back together. One of my orthopedic
surgeons told my family that he had never worked on arms and wrists
that were so damaged because one did not usually live through such
bodily trauma. Truly God had guided and protected me for a purpose.
The following five and a half weeks in
the hospital revealed a part of God’s purpose and plan for me during
this trial. Three people came to know the Lord during my
hospitalization. One of these was a gentleman of eighty years. My
father had witnessed to him and his wife, and they both accepted
Christ. Two days later he died. I am grateful to the Lord for the
opportunity to serve Him in such a special way. God graciously
allowed me to witness and minister to many of the hospital staff.
Just one soul won for Christ is an eternity of blessings that no
suffering or pain can destroy. Although I do have some permanent
nerve damage in my back and limitations in my wrists and elbows, I
would not trade them for a perfect body if in some way my
effectiveness for Him would be compromised. The processes the Lord
uses to sanctify our lives, break our hearts, and lead us in a more
perfect way are ones that many times we cannot understand. How
precious His Word is in bringing comfort, peace, and absolute hope.
It is a blessing to be able to rest in His perfect plan for our
lives.
The Lord has
brought a wonderful friend into my life, my wife, Cindy. We met
while I was visiting her church in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It is
exciting to have a life partner that is ministering alongside of me.
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Cindy's Testimony
I was saved when I was 7 years old. I
attended a Bible Club where I heard how Jesus died for my sins and
that the only way to heaven was to accept Him as my personal Savior.
That night when I got home I went to my room, bowed my head and
asked Christ to forgive me of all my sins and come into my life.
When I was 8, I heard a missionary from
Africa, and at that point I told the Lord that I was willing and
wanted to serve Him on the mission field.
Life was not always easy after I was
saved. I grew up in a broken home and had much bitterness in my
heart. I wanted to become a better Christian, but was unwilling to
deal with the sin in my heart. During my senior year in high school,
my mother was killed in an automobile accident. My life seemed to be
shattered. I couldn’t understand why God allowed that to happen. I
did realize though that I either could accept it or become bitter
over it. Through that difficult time the Lord taught me to trust in
Him completely, even though I didn’t understand. I claimed II
Corinthians 12:9-10 during that trial:
And He said unto me, my grace is
sufficient for Thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that
the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in
distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
The Lord truly gave me a “peace that
passeth all understanding” during that time.
After high school, I went to a one year
discipleship program at a Christian camp. The Lord used that greatly
to begin to break me of my pride and stubbornness. I learned many
principles to live my life by.
The Lord then directed me to Bob Jones
University where I studied elementary education. Through those four
years I was seeking where God would have me. The desire to serve the
Lord on the mission field was stronger than ever. However, the Lord
continually closed doors as I pursued His will.
After college, the Lord directed me to
West Chester, to teach in a Christian School. Throughout those five
years I asked the Lord to show me where and when He wanted me to go
on the mission field. The Lord led me to Regeneration Reservation by
allowing me to meet Tom in May of 2003. We were married on August
21, 2004.
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Tom and
Cindy Lucatorta
Serving with the American Indian |
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Regeneration Reservation
P.O. BOX 219 Fort Thomas, AZ 85536 |
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If you would like to receive
Tom and Cindy's prayer card,
please fill out the information boxes below to receive one by
regular mail. |
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