I first encountered Celebrating Life Ministries in 2001, when Ron Roth and Paul Funfsinn gave
a weekend retreat in New Jersey. At that time, Ron was the author, healer and charismatic leader
that people came to see, with Paul assisting behind the scenes. Ron Roth was a mystic, a man
who experienced God as a real and loving presence. His mission was to make this loving God
accessible to people. For Ron, his ability to perform physical healing was a grace to demonstrate
the power and goodness of God.
On the first evening of the retreat, I received a physical healing. With the lightest touch, for the
briefest moment, Ron placed one finger on my heart. Electricity ran through my body, and a long
standing pain in my body was gone! I was filled with joy at this miraculous release from pain.
This, I soon came to learn, was common place at Celebrating Life Ministries.
2001 also marked the occurrence of Ron Roth’s first stroke. For many of us, this was the early
warning that our teacher would not be with us forever. In 2006, Ron experienced a second stroke
which left him more debilitated. For the next three years, Paul was Ron’s major caretaker.
During this time, I was shown in prayer this vision: a brilliant column of pure white light. It was
narrow, deep, and tightly focused. The message was “This is the light that Ron and Paul are
bringing into earth.” I had the sense that the narrow focus was needed to anchor the light to this
world, and to prepare the ground for Celebrating Life Ministries to expand its role to bring in
healing.
In 2009, Ron passed from the physical plane, and the leadership of Celebrating Life Ministries
passed to Padre Paul. Our Padre faced a task for which no human would ask. While mourning
the loss of his very dear friend, Padre was asked to take on the role of Spiritual Shephard to a
flock that was also lost and hurting. And Padre rose to the occasion! Padre rose because he
remained true to himself and to God. He never tried to be anything other than the broken human
being he was, knowing the Ultimate Healer was at work. Padre let his hurt show, and that
allowed us all to experience our hurt, and to trust the Love of God to do the healing.
Healing did occur in our community, and continues to occur. Across time and changes, the
essence of Celebrating Life Ministries remains grounded in the guiding principle, “There is only
one religion, the religion of Love.”
I recently received a vision that expresses the essence of Celebrating Life today. Brilliant lights
of white, many shades of blue, pink, rose, and yellow exploded across the sky. The message this
time was “This is a supernova.” According to NASA, a supernova is the biggest explosion that
humans have ever seen. And I believe this represents the explosive power of God’s Love that is
at the heart of Celebrating Life Ministries, that is manifesting in each of us, as we live Ron
Roth’s teaching: “Love God, Love others, Love yourself.” It is that simple, and that powerful!
By Rev. Susan W.
