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Mark Taino
Pensacola, Florida
Brother Mark Taino: It’s such a very surreal moment to meet someone of that importance, and to us he is the most important person in our time and there’s no other honor greater than I could ever imagine. When I first heard about Brother Eduardo’s visitation for the chapel dedication in South Jacksonville, Florida, I was really pretty excited because I know that was going to be another opportunity for us to meet him. Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to be able to make it, number one because of my condition…
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4 Years Ago, Mark Taino was diagnosed with Dysautonomia
Brother Mark: So basically, all of your involuntary bodily functions—all of your bodily functions that you don’t control: your heart rate, your blood pressure, your breathing, your vision, your memory…basically anything critical—it goes out of control, there’s no regulation. I got a missed called from Brother Gary Cañete, and he asked me to call him back. I called him back and he said, “Yea brother, you know we’re organizing a program for the visitation and there’s going to be a singing number and we want you to be a part of it.” I was like, “Wow, ok!” I didn’t expect that I’d be chosen to sing before Brother Eduardo. Just thinking about it, my heart was just pounding out of my chest.
[Video – Source: INCTV Executive News]
(Singing) Praise you Father, your Church continues high! Until this day Your guidance remains…
Brother Mark: I was already nervous, Brother Eduardo was sitting right there and I’m trying not to look at him [because] I was so scared that I was going to pass out at that moment. To meet him in person is one thing, you know it’s like, “Hello, nice to meet you” and that’s it! This—you’re performing—it’s like, “Oh my gosh, I hope he’s going to like it…” or “What if he doesn’t like it?” All these things going on in your mind, and my biggest focus was not passing out. Everything said and done, we changed—my family and I were leaving straight from the place of worship back home. All of a sudden, I get a phone call—a random phone call—from our previous CFO (Christian Family Organization) advisor, Brother Rob Polancos, and he was like, “I just want to let you know that [Brother Eduardo] was asking about you, asking about your condition, how things are, what your experiences are…and he wants you to know that he’s praying for you personally.” My heart was beating out of my chest. I mean something like that, to have a personal experience is something else…but to have a follow up experience is another thing. And then he goes, “Well, Brother Eduardo, he wants to schedule a visitation with you Sunday, is that OK with you?” I’m like, “Sure!”
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A group of ministers were sent by Brother Eduardo to visit Brother Mark to pray for him.
Brother Mark: And you know, Brother Rob was just reminding me, “[Brother Eduardo] is going to be following up with you. He’s going to be keeping up with and making sure you’re OK.” In an interview he asked me to let Brother Eduardo know all my concerns, and things like that. And after all that was said and done, they left. They went back to the airport. They were just there to visit me, no other reason – they were there for me. And [Brother Rob] was like, “Oh, this is ordered by the Executive Minister.” And I felt special. There really [aren’t] any words to describe it. So in the follow up, [Brother Rob] was like, “I just want to let you know that [Brother Eduardo] is really concerned about you, he’s still praying for you.” Listening to that, I was just in shock. For him, willing to help me with my issues…because I’ve been dealing with this condition for a little over four years now…[is] something I would always be thankful for. I recently had surgery, and Brother Eduardo again checking up on me, seeing how everything was doing. From me really not feeling that I was going to be able to make it to the chapel dedication, to “Oh my gosh! Brother Eduardo is keeping an eye on me personally and praying for me – it’s God’s plan; God’s will, and I have full faith in that.
Greetings! This is Brother Mark and Sister Vanessa, my fiancé. We would just like to greet you on your 7th Year Anniversary of being the Executive Minister of the Church. We can’t thank you enough for everything you have done. You have been such an inspiration for us: the amount of sacrifices you went through, the love that you have for the Church, and the brethren. And the fact that you love and care for us, personally, and that you pray for us, personally—is something that we will be forever grateful for.
