I was born and raised in the Philippines. I grew up in a family with parents who did not talk or even mention anything about God in spite of my father being a member of a Church of Christ and my mom a Catholic. My two older brothers had all sorts of vices and were almost never around. They too had no interest in God. My little sister and I were always alone in our house. Nobody taught us about God. So, I grew up into my teenage years doing what my peers did in the world. I did not consider drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and gambling as wrong at all because my father, mother and brothers were doing it regularly and they didn’t care about me or my sister.

But then, I began to notice something different with one of my brothers, Kevin. He changed. He stopped his vices and started having concern for me and my little sister. For the first time, it felt good to have an older brother.

One day in January 1999, he invited me and my sister to go with him to a Baptist church where I found out he was attending. We went with him because I was curious to find out what kind of people Baptists were. Nothing special happened to me that Sunday. But I was invited to attend their youth camp. Again, I was curious so I went. There were a lot of young people and I was enjoying myself with all the games and activities. They had preaching too but I was not really interested. But then there was this lady who took me aside on the second day and began to talk to me about death. It was such an uncomfortable topic for me. I never thought about dying. I’m still young to die, I thought. She told me that death is like a shadow that follows everyone wherever they go. She said that death is for everybody, no exemptions. Then she asked me, “If you will die tonight, where will soul go? She said that there are only two destinations: heaven or hell. She said that I should pray to Jesus so that I will not go to hell. She led me in prayer but I did not understand anything she said. Nothing happened to me. A month after that youth camp, I was approached by the pastor’s wife. She explained to me that I need Christ. I followed her lead in prayer and again, I did not understand anything but nobody knew about it because I did the prayers.

Then came an American pastor to their church and I was invited again. I never heard an American talk in a church before so I went. That night, that pastor showed pictures about hell and told the people that hell is a place for sinners. Then, he said that everyone is a sinner because ALL have disobeyed the Holy God. No one is perfect. He said that all sinners will go to hell and will suffer forever because that is the price for their sins. But he said that God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, the only one who can save all sinners by paying for their sins with His blood that was shed on Calvary. He said all that a sinner can do is trust, ask and accept Jesus as his Savior. Then, it all became clear to me why I needed Christ! He paid for my sins because I can never do it. That is why He is the only Savior. He is the only one who take me to heaven when death comes. That night, I finally confessed that I am a sinner on my way to hell. I humbled myself in prayer and I trusted Jesus with all my heart to save my soul.

The night I got saved, the American pastor said, “We only have one life. Why don’t you serve God while you are strong?” I will never forget that statement. I asked my older brother, Kevin, to give me a Bible story for children because I wanted to learn how to teach it. I realized how children need Christ too. I surrendered my life to the Lord that the life that He gave me will be used to serve and glorify His name!

In 2012, I enrolled at Fundamental Baptist College for Asians in Tarlac City, Philippines to learn more about the Bible and be trained in the ministry. While studying, I continued being involved in the ministry as a church worker. I was able to apply what I was learning. At school, I was surrounded with people who surrendered to full-time service, and I learned a lot from them. As I grew in my Christian faith, God put a great desire in my heart to reach unsaved children.

In 2013, God gave me the opportunity to study at Marietta Bible College in Marietta, Ohio under the leadership of Dr. Myron Guiler. The college emphasizes on prayer, depending only unto God. I thank God for giving me this opportunity to be taught by great men of God.

After I got saved, I quickly became involved in the ministry. I started teaching children in the streets and in the villages. We gathered children and taught them about God and His love. It is a blessing because as we teach them, their parents also get to hear the Gospel and we get to witness to them as well.

The children’s centers are continuing and I thank God because the children we have won to the Lord through this ministry are attending church and singing in the choir.

I had the privilege of discipling some of the young people in our church. I prayed that the Lord will use me for other young people to be encouraged and have the desire to teach children for Jesus. I praise God because some of them have surrendered their lives to the Lord and have entered Bible college.