I was still a child when I first saw him and I’ve known him more during my early teens. He was in his prime years – very good looking and vivacious, very amiable despite his masculinity, full of enthusiasm and enery. What made him even more unforgettable to me were his brief but concise Sunday church sermons which kept me alive and interested, unlike the others ( a few of them ) who made me feel a bit sleepy. His great attempts to speak the Filipino language even made him an effective speaker . . . adding a bit of humor to his serious church topics.
For a few years, I have lost track of him. I’ve heard some stories about him ( well, who has none? ) and missed him in our church special events which he usually attends. Fortunately, sometime in 2003 ( I hope my memory serves me right) I felt so blessed to have met him once again at the Las Pinas Church where he was invited as a guest speaker. After the worship service,I ran to him and we hugged each other tight. He said “I missed you. How’s the Lealtad Church?”
Yes . . . the Church of Christ at Lealtad. He said it was one of his babies. And we, at Lealtad, used to call him “ NINONG ” or the godfather. For so long, we’ve been raising church building funds – doing concerts and regularly singing Christmas carols to neighbourhood and churches until Bro. Hoffman pledged to support the church financially and a bigger church had been constructed. He was indeed used by God for HIS goodness and mercy for Lealtad Church. For what and where we are now, Bro. Hoffman was undoubtedly instrumental.
Last January, 2011, we were so proud and honoured to have him as our special guest speaker during the Church’s 50th founding anniversary. Bro. Hoffman drove all the way from Candon, Ilocos Sur to be with us on this very momentous occasion. He delivered his challenging message for the church in the morning and stayed until we finished our special anniversary program in the evening of that day. It was such an awesome day of celebration with him and once again, we heard Bro. Ronnie’s crispy laughter especially when he saw his pictures in the video clips during his younger days.
Yes . . . the Church of Christ at Lealtad. He said it was one of his babies. And we, at Lealtad, used to call him “ NINONG ” or the godfather. For so long, we’ve been raising church building funds – doing concerts and regularly singing Christmas carols to neighbourhood and churches until Bro. Hoffman pledged to support the church financially and a bigger church had been constructed. He was indeed used by God for HIS goodness and mercy for Lealtad Church. For what and where we are now, Bro. Hoffman was undoubtedly instrumental.
Last January, 2011, we were so proud and honoured to have him as our special guest speaker during the Church’s 50th founding anniversary. Bro. Hoffman drove all the way from Candon, Ilocos Sur to be with us on this very momentous occasion. He delivered his challenging message for the church in the morning and stayed until we finished our special anniversary program in the evening of that day. It was such an awesome day of celebration with him and once again, we heard Bro. Ronnie’s crispy laughter especially when he saw his pictures in the video clips during his younger days.
Yesterday, a delegation from the Lealtad Church drove all the way from Manila to Candon Ilocos Sur and return ( more or less sixteen hours ) just to be with Bro. Ronnie for approximately two hours. While he peacefully sleeps in front of us, we joyfully tried to reminisce those happy moments with him. Ms. Banjie Hoffman proudly told us of his great plans and visions for the Church at Candon. Before he met that fatal accident, he was on his way to Manila from Baguio City to talk to a certain doctor for a possible mobile medical mission in Candon. At his age at 74, he truly worked hard to serve God and to serve people and he has found so much joy in it.
Tomorrow, June 16, 2013, as the world celebrates Father's Day, the remains of Bro. Ronnie will be finally laid to rest after the church Sunday’s worship service. He will be with his ever-loving Father. Truly, our last two hours with him had been very enriching. His life has given us so many realizations. The glory does not lie from what or where you have come from but to what you have developed into. What matters more is not what people will say about you but how you have lived your life in the eyes of God. There is so much joy in serving God and serving people.
‘Til we meet again, Bro. RONALD ALBERT HOFFMAN ! We may be grieving over your loss here on earth but we are sure that the angels in heaven are now rejoicing as they welcome you home to lean on God’s everlasting arms! (7 photos)
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