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Discovering Who the Person God Made You to Be… Despite the Lack of Clarity
In this episode, Steve Reiter chatted with John Ramstead as he retold the story of “the accident” which almost took his life, and then continued with the miraculous recovery that took place.
It happened when John was at a ranch in Montana, where they went horseback riding. The horse John picked turned out to be a powerful workhorse that was not meant for slow trail rides. While the horse was wandering about, John gave him wrong signals that got it mad. As it was running towards a fence, John squeezed his legs as hard as he can, which to the horse meant that it should run even faster towards the fence. Then the lights went out and John did not even remember hitting the fence. The horse had hurled him into a steel beam that broke practically every single bone in his skull.
While he was still on the ground immediately after the accident, witnesses saw John sinking into deep relaxation. Everybody thought he was dying. Everybody… except Steve Reiter, who actually felt the presence of God while he was witnessing what John was going through.
What was really happening then was John being in God’s presence for what seemed to him like 10 minutes. But in real time, John was “gone” for 5 seconds, then he woke up and said, “God’s here. It’s gonna be ok, you don’t have to worry.”
I’m not worthy of somebody loving me like this. – John Ramstead, when he was in God’s presence
John spent six weeks in the ICU, and had two major “skull repair” procedures. It was so bad that doctors said the best case scenario was he would be a quadriplegic like Christopher Reeve.
It was literally a miracle, as one doctor said that there is no medical explanation that could explain how John survived, and how he is functioning the way he is functioning after his recovery.
This fascinating story is intentionally incomplete because you need to hear John tell it with all the details and emotions intact.
Action begets clarity. – John Ramstead
Here is John’s call to action: Sit down and find just one thing in your life that if it got a little better would change your joy or your fulfillment. What’s that one thing that you can just start working on?
What is that small next step forward? – John Ramstead’s motto
What You’ll Learn
- The full story of the accident that changed John’s life forever
- The 5 seconds of God’s presence that seemed like 10 minutes to John
- The details of John’s miraculous recovery
- How deep in debt John was because of his 2 years worth of medical bills, and how he got out of it
- How John kept going throughout the 25 surgeries and intense daily pain for over 20 months
- How he found his calling after his miraculous survival and recovery
Resources
- Out of the Storm – a diagnosis that changed Steve and Elizabeth Reiter’s lives
Bio
John Ramstead has been married for 25 years to his best friend and together they have three incredible boys. It has been seven years since a near fatal accident changed the trajectory of his life. Without the incredible support of God, his family and amazing friends he wouldn’t be the person he is today.
As he recovered he sought direction on why God saved him and what He now wants John to do. He led him to a new calling: take the life He’s given him and pour it into other leaders to equip and inspire them to work in His Kingdom.
His twenty-five years as a Navy fighter pilot, entrepreneur, Fortune 500 management team member and board chair has led him to serve others towards extraordinary lives,
