by Rev. Dr. Mariano C. Apilado
Business can be built upon the foundation of prayer.
This is exemplified by visionary RJ Homes Appliance Plaza which celebrated its 28th anniversary on October 15.
The company started when Rodolfo and Janice Ong ventured from the business of hardware and motorcycles to become trailblazers in the trading and distribution of home appliances.
Starting on Legaspi Street in Davao City, they established branches in several places in Mindanao upon trust in the goodwill and honesty of people, often dealing in cash without requiring receipts.
When the Asian financial crisis happened in 1996 and 1997, the company took care of its personnel by paying them what they were legally entitled to even as the company was forced to close some of its branches.
Mr. Rudy and Mrs. Janice Ong had always nurtured their personal and family life, as well as the life of their business upon the foundation of prayer, holding prayer services on the 15th and 30th day of the month.
On the anniversary of the company, it is timely to remember the significance of prayer.
Especially during times of difficulty, when storms of life like typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, visit with destructive and tragic results, prayer can provide inner strength to go on striving to succeed.
The life and work of Jesus as model, prayer is a significant dimension of life.
Before beginning his ministry, Jesus prayed for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 3:21-22 says, “As He (meaning Jesus) was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you, I am well pleased.”
To Jesus Christ, no undertaking, no matter how small or great, can succeed without the blessing of God.
When faced with a major decision, like the choice of His disciples, Jesus prayed for guidance.
“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them.” (Luke 6:12-13).
Decisions have to be made with our best intelligence and wisdom, but Jesus submitted great decisions in his life to God in prayer.
Jesus offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the success of his disciples, who reported that through the power of Jesus’ name, even the demons submitted to them.
Jesus prayed, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” (Luke 10:21)
The disciples’ success was for Jesus both the product of His effectiveness as a teacher and also His disciples’ ability and competence; but most especially it was as an expression of God’s power in them.
Jesus prayed for His enemies when he was suffering the pain of the crucifixion.
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Like 23:34)
The lesson is: it is better to have friends who support us than enemies who would try to harm us.
As we go through life, we often face trials, pains and difficulties, but we can live with confidence and competence through the power of prayer.
We pray, therefore, as a breath of life, for as 16th century religious reformer Martin Luther said, “To be a person without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”
So, congratulations to Mr. Rodolfo and Mrs. Janice Ong, for in RJ Homes Appliance Plaza, we see a successful visionary company built upon the foundation of prayer.
