Bunke Family Ministries

On August 4, 2003, something happened to our family that changed our lives forever.  We were hit head-on by a drunk driver; this resulted in the deaths of two of our children~~ 6 year old, Sara and 5 year old Philip.  Our son PJ was seriously injured in this incident and has since recovered after many surgeries.  I suffered minor injuries, but these were insignificant compared to the heartache by my wife Rebecca and me.

The words I never wanted to say and Rebecca never wanted to hear: “We’ve been in an accident, and it’s BAD.”  This statement started a whirlwind of painful experiences for us as we stood vigil over the broken bodies of our children.  Sara was pronounced dead at the scene, taking her last breath in the arms of a nurse. PJ and Philip were transported to the hospital, and both were in a coma.

Although PJ woke up and began his recovery, Philip succumbed to his serious head injuries two days later.  While his body was warm and his little heart was still beating, we held him and sang “Jesus Loves Me”, which was the song we sang to him as we welcomed him into the world.

As you can imagine these children were precious to us.  We see each of our children as a gift from God.  And both of these children were special in their own way.  Sara did cartwheels to make her brothers laugh.  She had begun to develop quite a talent on the piano.  She was a little mother to her younger brothers, which included Philip and her brother Joseph, who has Downs Syndrome.  She was our little “Princess.”

Philip was a bright boy, learning to read by age three.  The little boy we called “Digger” liked Thomas the Tank Engine, being with his family and friends from Sunday School, and being outdoors with God’s creation, especially Bugs!  He and his sister Sara were inseparable.

Our lives will never be the same without these precious children.  But through all this, we know that God has a plan and purpose for each of our lives.  He allowed this tragedy to happen and though we don’t know exactly why, we know that by telling their story we have the opportunity to see that they didn’t die in vain.  We know we will see these children again!  During those most difficult times when we would cry ourselves to sleep, our faith in God was our only comfort.

As sad as this story is, it has a happy ending.  We have a promise that we know where these children are and will see them again!  When they died a heavenly Home awaited them; through a simple act of childlike faith, they were assured of that destination.

Sara and Philip, as well as their family and friends, want to see you in Heaven.  Contrary to what you may have been told, there is a simple plan that will guarantee anyone a home in that wonderful place, where pain, tears and suffering will be no more.

Do you have assurance like Philip and Sara, that Heaven will be your dwelling place when you leave this life?

You need this assurance because…

You are a sinner.  Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Those sins separate you from God.  Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death.”  Death does not merely affect the body, but the place where your soul will spend eternity.  You will be cast into Hell and the Lake of Fire if you do not get right with God.  Revelation 21:15 declares that “…whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.”

God however loves you and sent His son, Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for your sins.  John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  Whosoever means you, whoever you are.

By receiving Christ, you can become a child of God.  John 1:12 states, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power (the right or authority) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

Receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior is deceptively simple.  In fact, it’s as easy as ABC!  First, Accept the fact that you are a sinner.  Romans 3:23 states, “… all have sinned.  Next, Believe that Jesus Christ, as the eternal Son of God, took the punishment for your sins—past, present and future! He ”…bore our sins in His own body” on the cross of Calvary. (1 Peter 2:24) Last, Confess your sins to God and ask Him to be the Lord of your life.  Romans 10:9 puts it this way, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Friend, won’t you do that right now?

Why were your children taken away from you in such a violent way? NOT TAKEN…received into His sight!

You lost two children in a car wreck? NOT LOST…we know where they are!

Your kids have been gone since 2003? NOT GONE…they are in a beautiful place.