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Testimonials
Paul Moses
It's been hard to think I can still go on. However, Bro.
Joe's life challenges me to go on and do the same as he did. He loved those who
others thought insignificant. He called up those that were forgotten about and
would pray for them and cheered their hearts with a Bro. Joe 'saying' or story.
He loved all without any bias. He was a minister, friend, and brother to many
including myself. He loved to pray. He loved to get together and
talk about basketball. Sony from Philadelphia and I three-way called Bro. Joe
at night one time. We talked on for hours into the wee hours of the
morning till one of our phones started buzzing.
We called it a night when we realized the buzzing noise was
Sony snoring on his end. He was somebody who would listen to you even when he
was tired. I hope and pray we all can make an impact on others lives as Bro. Joe
did. People don't care how much we know until they know how much we care.
Bro. Joe cared. We must do the same and reach out to those who are hurting
praying for them and encouraging them. Bro. Joe will be greatly missed. His
wonderful example lives on.
Chris George
A.
You know, I woke up this morning, thinking
I had a bad dream. A really bad dream. Turned out it wasn't a dream.
I want to take
this time to remember Bro. Joe Rosado, who passed away yesterday, July 26th,
2005. We all knew him as Bro. Joe. I first met Bro. Joe at a
revival meeting back in 1996-97. A couple of the youth from my church went
up to New York for the meetings, and he took us around NY and ministered to us
in the process. Never fake, Bro. Joe defined keeping it real. Anyone
that knew him could vouch for that.
If you don't know much about me by now, you at least know
this:
I'm not one to write about idle sentimentality.
This man made a difference in my life, and the lives of so many others. By
simply being real, and listening to God, he was able to influence so many lives.
It really is incredible.
Hearing
about what happened put me in a state of complete shock. What is making this that much harder, is the fact that I just saw him a
few weeks ago & spent time with him. This isn't suppose to happen this way,
right? Well the bottom line is this not one of us is promised tomorrow.
Here are just a
few of the things I will remember about Bro. Joe:
He would always greet you with a smile. He always seemed to radiate a
positive attitude. He'd always have a funny story ready in hand to put you
in a better mood. Even after his passing, I can still picture him smiling.
I know that he wouldn't of wanted us to make a big deal out of this, that's just
the way he was.
Another thing I really admired about Bro. Joe was his sense of humor. Coupled
with that New Jerzzzeey accent, and we had the makings of some "great" sermons.
For example, how many times have you heard any of the following:
1. Ehh, Listenn, Listenn!
2. Broddas, Broddas, Cheese o' Peppowoni!
For those of us who knew him,
admired him, loved him, we are still in a state of complete shock. Please
keep us in your prayers. I will leave you with the final words Bro Joe
spoke to me, just a few short weeks ago. He said:
"Chris, do
what's right, and:
RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL PREVAIL,
RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL PREVAIL."
We will never forget.
Aba Udofa
Bro. Joe helped me out alot when we
were preparing to get water baptized he used to always encourage me in the tarry
meetings. Me and Bro. Joe used to talk trash to each other about who was better
in football. He will be greatly missed.
Benj Arthungal
Bro Joe sounds like he was a
one-of-a-kind brother. My thoughts and prayers are with those of you who seem to
have been deeply touched by his ministry. The world needs more of such people.
Asish George
I had the privilege of going to the El
Salvador convention and spending some time with him and just came back to the US
on Monday night. Can't believe that just a day and a half more and he's gone. I
got to know him well during this US convention and then in El Salvador and got
to see how much of a gentle giant he was.
All how knew him will agree that he worked hard and poured out his life wherever
he was. On Sunday night (before I left El Salvador) while we were eating, Bro
Joe was telling us of the times he was beaten and shot at and so on in PNG. He
suffered for Christ and didn't mind doing so either. During El Salvador
convention, he was taking care of the elders and as a result often was up late
into the night and slept only 2 or 3 hours each night. I know that his death was
somewhat sudden and "tragic" but what a blessing also to pour out your life for
the elders and for God just before your ministry is finished.
He will be greatly missed in the work there in El Salvador - its a big loss.
Please pray for the work there.
God Bless.
Binu Varughese
Bro Joe was a one-of-a-kind. When I
heard about his passing, the news seemed unreal. I had just spoken to him only a
few weeks ago at convention.
Every time I see Bro Joe, we meet with a smile and then a big laugh. He just
brightened up my day every time I saw him. He had such an enthusiasm in
everything in he did, whether it was playing basketball or fixing a leak in the
bathroom building a church in El Salvador. I really admired him and the work he
did for the Lord. I remember his testimony he gave one time at Amityville. He
grew up in a rough environment, (kind of explains his tough NJ accent), but how
God bought him out of there and has used him since, it was a real inspiration. I
can only remember bits and pieces so me trying to re-tell the testimony would do
it injustice.
Bro Joe has impacted so many of our lives and he didn't do it with eloquent
messages or deep revelations. He did it by being humble, being real, being one
of the guys but at the same time showing the love of Christ and for all these
we'll forever remember him. Thank you bro Joe.
Fred Moses
Bro. Joe used to call me sometimes just to rap. He even knew
friends of mine that don't go to the church. He would ask about them by name.
Every time I play ball with my friends they would ask, "How's Bro. Joe". It
sucks because I feel like I should've kept in touch more often, but it was hard
to keep track of him. He will be missed.
Daniel Lopez
Bro Joe was the realest person you could have
met. He didn't know how to pretend or live a "double" life. He
was what you saw. I remember having him as Christian School
pastor...words that come to mind due to hearing it soooo many
times over the last weekend, GENTLE GIANT. Bro Joe had a rough
exterior, a hard look to him, but he was the biggest "push-over"
if you could use that. Just a big kid but one that really loved
God. I can definitely see God taking him this way. He lived his
life in such a way where God and serving God was his number one
priority, but he was simple enough to be able to enjoy even the
simplest of pleasures God gave us in this life. Great guy and
while on this earth serving his master, but his life will not be
forgotten by those who came in contact with him.
Jonathan Flores
I know just about everything that can be said about Br. Joe
has already been said or written, but I just want to add my two cents. I had the
opportunity to work personally with Br. Joe for
a
little over a year while he was here in Chicago helping with the
construction of a church building for the church he and I both were affiliated
with. What a year that was, I really didn't know him to well prior to that, all
I knew was that when I was growing up I heard whispers of this
"cool" Hispanic minister who really got along with the young people.
But
during the summer of '02 and into '03, I got to know the
real Joe Rosado. He was a down to earth kind of guy who did not
care much for looking holy, but more about being holy and living
his life in that manner. One thing I will always remember is
that Bro. Joe did not suffer stupid people to well (those who
knew him should know what I mean) if he thought you were being
ridiculous or had strange opinions on things he let you know
exactly that. He did not care to much for the politics of
ministry, but for the actual ministering. I remember asking him
one day why he gave up his whole life and family to serve God.
"Because this is what the Lord called me to do, you know what I
mean."
Joe knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what his calling in life
was, and he was happy to live out the rest of his life
doing just that.
Bro. Joe had a very strong personality, and
anyone who knows me knows that I do as well so you can imagine
that with the two of working together everyday for over a year
there were some clashes, but I never lost my admiration for the
man. I gained a friend that summer in Bro. Joe Rosado,
A FRIEND FOR LIFE!
Kunjumone George
Dear Friends,
I really wanted to write a testimonial earlier but as I sit down and try to say
a few words, a groan inside of me and a few tear drops fall as I think of this
man of God. Even though I did not get the privilege to work with him as
Jonathan was able to nor knew him as all of you young men and women did
personally, I felt good about him every time I saw him approaching.
Mostly, when he saw me, the smile captivated and inspired me to chat. Just a
few words here and there was all I had communicated with him but it made a very
lasting impression. I am hoping that all of us can continue to pray for
ministers who show forth genuine love and are real shepherds that God had called
them to be. Loosing Pastor Don recently, who I found to be very genuine and
truly an apostle of love, and then loosing Bro. Joe is hard. Believe me, I know
I am supposed to be rejoicing but I am very much a human also!.
Let us hope that we can be honest and sincere as Bro. Joe. I am going to
continue to pray for men and women as ministers who would serve God only and not
the whims and fancies of mere mortals who considers themselves so important and
do not realize how mistaken they are. Let us continue to pray that God would
keep all our shepherds in the palm of His hand.
In joining with you all in my heartfelt grief at a simple brother who left
everything but left a legacy that he loved the truth and the Word and served the
Mater.
Love and regards,
All of you take good care of yourselves,
Bro. Kunjumone
Anonymous
Brother Joe was one of the coolest ministers
I know. His messages were always fun and would never put you to
sleep. He really loved God and loved the church as well,
including a special love for the youth. I first met Bro. Joe at
Chicago Revivals in 2002, and I didn't even learn he was in the
ministry until weeks later. That's how humble and down to earth
Bro. Joe was. I last talked with him at Convention, and was
shocked to learn he had passed away. Thank God Bro Joe
passed away peacefully and without much pain & suffering. He
would want his testimony and faithful ministry to encourage the
youth to live for God.
Please send us your testimonials
about Bro. Joe's life via
this online request form.
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