Allow Me To Share A Short Story And An Urgent Prayer Request With You

Allow Me To Share A Short Story And An Urgent Prayer Request With You ~ About a family which has played a special role in my life over the past 25 years.  Looking back to 1999 Dory and I were relatively new members of the Filipino-American Church in Corona, California, where I met this very special family.  And it all started through a Bible Study Group.

I have long believed that two of the most powerful tools God has given us are:  Prayer and Interactive (Discussion) Bible Studies. 

1. A Biblical Prayer Life consists of corporate, family, and personal prayer (Eph 6:10-20).  Satan has no chance against such a strong prayer shield.

2. A Family Home Bible Study is a powerful tool for reaching and sharing with family, friends, and acquaintances.  Many will come to a home study group, who might be reluctant to "go to church" for a Sunday Worship Service.

There are different types of home Bible studies, from the relaxed discussion group to the more formal sermon styled meeting.  From personal experience I can testify that the discussion group was how I became a believer and, I believe I can say, how the Quintans family became a believing family used mightily by God.

But which is most effective in reaching those people whom God has put in your path and on your heart?  As a child of 12 I was exposed to an extreme Pentecostal revival preacher who forced and shamed me to my knees so his group could pray over me - and that drove me away from God until I was 50 years old.

But praise God, He used a prayer warrior wife, Dory, and a Godly pastoral couple, Pastor Sam & Ida Lacanienta, in a Filipino-American Baptist church - who took me by the hand and showed be the Path to the cross.  Through the Fil-Am Church of Irvine (FACI) and their Family Home Bible Study, after attending those Bible study discussion groups for six months and getting to know Jesus better, I became a believer.

Dory and I moved to Riverside County about 1998/99 and became members of the Fil-Am Church of Corona where, while finishing his graduate studies at the Talbot Seminary of Biola University, Ed Dacio was our pastor.  

What I liked about our new Corona church was that under the guidance of Associate Pastor Pat Ballesteros, members could attend our Wednesday Evening Prayer Meeting, devoted only to prayer, both corporate and personal.

Then we had our Friday Evening Family Bible Study, devoted only to reading and discussing Scripture expositionally, led by Pastor Ed Dacio.  Without sacrificing the effectiveness of either, our church offered members both ministries - to accomplish God's plan for our fellowship.

Why this rather long intro?  Because that is how, about 25 years ago, I met and have been embraced by a very special Christian family - the Quintans Family.

Circa 1999-2000, Rachel Quintans, with her two young sons, Nash (about 11) and Michael (about 9), began faithfully attending our weekly Friday Night Family Bible Studies.  For about one year, they were active members of our Bible study group - but seldom, if ever, did they attend our Sunday Worship Services.  The reason:  on Sundays they went to the Roman Catholic church with dad Jun.

Then one Friday evening, Pastor Ed changed our format for the evening.  After the Bible study, he had an altar call, inviting anyone in the group that evening who had not yet committed themselves to Jesus Christ, asking Him to be their Lord and Savior - to stand if they wanted to make that commitment that night. 

Why this evening and not at all of our Bible studies?  I would strongly suggest that God had put that time and place on Pastor Ed's heart, especially for that evening.  And the beauty of that moment was that, about six people stood to make a commitment to follow Christ.  Three of them were the Quintans family - Rachel, Nash, and Michael.  Point of interest:  Nash has now finished seminary and is an Associate Pastor at a church in Redlands, California.

This was an unusual change in our Bible study format.  In all the years I had been attending Bible studies - in our Fil-Am churches in Corona, Irvine, and San Clemente/San Juan Capistrano - we had never had a formal altar call invitation.  This was typically done at our Sunday Worship services - but in hindsight - there is no time nor place, when inviting a friend or family member to receive Jesus Christ, that is not appropriate.

The next Sunday their dad, Jun Quintans, came to church and received Christ as his Lord and Savior.  Later Jun told me how his two young boys, Nash and Michael, came home that Friday night and began to witness to their dad, and God worked another miracle that night - Jun followed his boys and wife into an eternal life with Christ.

Then Jun became the "paying it forward" evangelist.  First he brought his brother, Manny, and his family to our Fil-Am Church of Corona - where they became active members of our fellowship.  Then Jun and Manny brought their mother, Connie.  And in time, the whole Quintans clan became Christian believers.

My story of the Quintans family, then the Quintans clan, rather parallels the Biblical story which began in John, chapter 1, with John the Baptist pointing his disciples to the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.  And the story continued with Andrew bringing his brother, Simon to the Messiah. 

Like Andrew, a faithful mother in my story, Rachel, who with her two sons, Nash and Michael, was always present at our Bible studies - and they brought their father, Jun, to the Messiah.  And just as the Christian church began with Andrew bringing his brother Simon to the Messiah - eventually the Christian Quintans Clan began with two young boys bringing their father to meet Christ.

In John, chapter 1, we read about the cousin of Jesus, John the Baptist, sharing with his disciples, in John 1:33-34, "I did not know Him, but He (God the Father) who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'  And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."

John 1:35-39, "Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, 'Behold the Lamb of God!'  The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.  Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, 'What do you seek?'  They said to Him, 'Rabbi' (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), 'where are You staying?'  He said to them, 'Come and see.'  They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour)."

John 1:40-42, "One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.  He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah' (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.  Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, 'You are Simon the son of Jonah.  You shall be called Cephas' (which is translated, A Stone)."

NOW BACK TO MY MAIN REASON FOR SHARING THIS STORY ~  I am asking YOU to cover my dear Friend and Christian brother, JUN QUINTANS, and the whole Quintans Clan with faithful prayer of protection and healing - as Jun goes into surgery on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

We received the following prayer request from Rachel: 

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Thanks Lana!  Jun is going to have Triple Bypass Surgery on May 21.  He also was diagnosed with cancer of the prostate.  More test needs to be done so they can figure out the right treatment plan for him.   Please pray for healing, if possible (that God will) remove the cancer, because this is an aggressive one.  We are praying it is not a high stage cancer. Thank you.

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TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND ANYONE READING THIS POST ~ Please cover Jun and the Quintans Family with prayers of healing and protection - and please share this prayer need with all of your believing and praying FRANs (Friends, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors) and ask them to do the same.  I know that this beautiful Christian family with be forever grateful for each and every prayer. 

And do me one more favor - as you pray for Jun, please Like this request and let them know that you will cover Jun and the family with prayer.  I know that Jun and all the Quintans Family will thank you, and I thank you. 

God bless and thank you,

Bill 

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