Jhong's Story
We all have a story… This is Jhong’s story. A guitar was placed in his hands at the age of seven by his father. And it was his father who taught him to play. Today, we still see a guitar in the hands of Jhong Corona–and like the musical notes– his life has experienced highs and lows.
This is Jhong’s story…
Born and raised in the Philippines, he was introduced to the gospel by his uncle. Jhong became a Christian when he was 10 or 11, and his family followed soon after. It was his Uncle (Uncle Angel was his name–is that a great name or what!) who brought Jhong to worship team practices, and he wasted no time in getting him in a Christian band at a very young age.
The band evangelized in small towns throughout the Philippines where Jhong played guitar, bass, and lead worship. I stopped and asked him if he was a good singer and he didn’t hesitate answering “Yes!” No haughtiness attached to the answer–just a sheer confidence in the gift God has given him.
The church considered him their “adopted child” due to all the time he spent at church.
His musical inspirations, at the time, were the Christian bands Petra, Stryper, and guitarist Phil Keaggy.
He earned his Masters in Mechanical Engineering and met his future wife while in college. Jofelle was/is a nurse and found an opportunity in the Middle East to continue her career. Jhong followed shortly thereafter and became an Engineering instructor at a state college in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. They were married within a year and started their family while both working in the UAE (United Arab Emirates). Two beautiful daughters were added to their union.
Then Covid hit. Jofelle had just taken a position in Waterloo, Iowa (of all places) with the hope that her husband and two young daughters would join her in the states. However, travel came to a worldwide stop, making it impossible for Jhong and the girls to be together.
The separation was nearly unbearable.
Communication lessened. A breakdown of the once-so-strong relationship occurred.
The music didn’t stop. But it certainly was on pause.
Jhong continued in his faith, but stopped attending church. I asked him why he would not want to be around his support team–his church family–at such a time. He replied with, “I didn’t wanna talk about it. I didn’t wanna answer their questions.” And then added, “I wanted to fix it myself.”
The conversation turned quiet as I could see Jhong reminiscing about the lowest time in his life. So I asked, “How is it you didn’t give up?”
His raw answer was this: “I still knew God was there. And I knew that God can heal everything. I stopped playing the ‘blame game.’ I looked at the bigger picture and did not want a broken family.”
So in 2021–having been basically separated and distant from his beloved wife for two years–he and his girls made the trek to Iowa to be united.
And as God was healing Jhong’s hurts, He was making His presence known in Jofelle’s heart as well. Friends at work invited her to a local church and she, in turn, asked Jhong to join her one Sunday.
Jhong made a suggestion–he had been watching Hope City online while in Dubai–how about they check that place out?
So they did. And on the stage that morning was a servant. Using his gifts. With a guitar in his hand. And Jhong was fixated on him. And he thought, “If God can use someone at this stage of his life, could He still not use me?”
That guitar player was Jim Luloff and on more than one occasion since that first Sunday morning, Jhong has sincerely expressed to Jim, “thank you for serving.” One man’s faithfulness impacted and strengthened another man’s faith journey.
Within four or five months of attending Hope City, Jhong decided to try out for worship team. And today, that team of musicians and vocalists are his family. His brothers and sisters.
The musical comeback is stronger than ever. The high notes have returned.
When asked what his favorite song/hymn was, Jhong quickly responded with “In Christ Alone.”
In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
He’s still standing…on solid ground…
And that bigger picture he’s trusting God for?
It’s being played out right before our eyes…