Illinois

Although John Lameyer was not an Adventist, his wife Lori had been a faithful member of the Freeport (Illinois) Church for about 22 years. Lori had joined the church after taking a series of Bible studies and had prayed all those years that John would also become a member. However, she passed away in October 2001 without her prayers for John being answered.

Sometime after her memorial service, the Adventist pastor, Mark Jagitsch, approached John and asked if he would like to learn about the biblical truths his wife believed and had taught the children of the church as she prepared them for baptism. Thankfully, he answered "Yes," so the two of them began studying Friday mornings. They decided to use the Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible lessons.

On Friday morning, April 12, 2002, as they were studying the lesson on Daniel 2, in mid-sentence John began acting strange. As Mark observed him, he thought to himself, "He is having a mild seizure like several people I know who have epilepsy. Nobody ever told me it was one of his health problems. Apparently, he doesn’t want people to know about it, so I will not embarrass him." But as Mark sat waiting for John to come out of the seizure, it didn’t happen and he became alarmed. He felt he couldn't wait any longer, so he jumped up and went to where John was sitting. He began shaking him and calling his name out loud. There was no response.

At that point, Mark dialed 911. When the paramedics arrived they immediately sought to revive John. They used their electric shock and breathing machine in an attempt to do this. But there was no response! They estimated there had been about six minutes between the 911 call and their arrival, and his brain had been without oxygen all that time. They put him in their ambulance and rushed him to the hospital with their siren screaming through the city.

John's outlook for recovery seemed very bleak. John's own doctor was in the emergency room and she said she did not expect John to survive. If he did, he would only be a vegetable. He was placed on a ventilator and put in ICU for the next couple of days.

To the delight and amazement of Mark and the emergency room staff, John awoke from his coma! At first, his memory was spotty, but his physical condition checked out normal. After several days, his total memory was perfect for everything but the time he was not conscious during his medical emergency. The difference between John before his emergency and John after it is that since that experience, John Lameyer surrendered his life totally to Jesus Christ and was baptized March 20, 2004.

As a new member of the church, he realizes God saved his life for a reason, and he wants to answer the spiritual call to service this implies. Today he asks, "What would have happened if I were all alone that day not having a Bible study with the pastor?" John says, "I would be buried next to my wife in the cemetery." Then he adds, "It will be a glorious resurrection day when Lori and I meet to be taken by our angels to heaven. She will be thrilled that her prayers for me were answered, even after her death. I look forward to the blessed hope and the resurrection of all of God's redeemed people."

Mark Jagitsch, Freeport Church pastor, as told to Bruce Babienco, Herald volunteer correspondent