I grew up in a Christian family. My dad is a pastor and because of that I grew up in the ministry. I also had a lot of privileges to hear God’s Word. I always heard it at Sunday school, when it is preached in the church and in our own devotion in our home. I was raised in that kind of life. In fact, we lived in the parsonage of the church and all these things were normal to me.

But one morning, my dad talked to me differently and he was emotional. It was the first time he shared to me about salvation. I usually heard him share to other people on how to go to heaven, but that was the very first time he talked about salvation to me personally. That was the first time I heard my father say that he loves us so much and he doesn’t want us to suffer in Hell. I will never forget when he said, ”I am able to share the Gospel to other people. God used me for the ministry, but on my own family, I am not sure if you are all saved.” He said he assumed that all of us his children were saved already, because we always heard him share the Gospel. But he didn’t want to take that for granted anymore. He wanted to find out if we were really saved and I know what motivates him was his love for his family.

I’ve seen how my dad loves us. He provided for our needs, emotionally we felt his love. He was always there to protect us. I‘ve felt the love of my father but that day it was not just love

for his children that he showed. He proved that he really loves our souls. My dad cares for my soul. I was only 12 years old back then. For me, I thought that I was saved. But deep inside me, I had a fear. I was afraid that if my parents die first and leave us, how will my life be? I was afraid to be alone. My dad didn’t know about it but I was really afraid to be left behind. The question that came into my mind was that if I’m really saved, why am I afraid? And nobody knew about it. When my dad asked me, “Are you saved? Are you really sure? I said yes, but deep inside I am so afraid.

But then he said, “Ruth even though you are a pastor’s daughter it doesn’t mean that you are going to Heaven. Attending church and doing good works are not enough to save you. But only the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross and shed His blood, is your only hope to Heaven”. He opened the Bible in Romans 3:23, that says we are all sinners and come short of the glory of God. He showed me other verses that proves that I am a sinner bound to hell, but God loves us so much that He made a remedy by giving His Son to die on the cross for me. I realized that if my dad loves me then Jesus who died on the cross for me and gave Himself for me loves me beyond what I can imagine. My dad told me if I will only open my heart, accept that I am a sinner, confess and believe that Christ rose from the dead and accept Him as my personal Lord and Savior, Heaven will be my home when I die. That very hour I bowed my head and opened my heart and my dad led me to the Lord. That day, I was sure of my salvation. The fear of being left alone was no more in my heart. My life is in the hands of the Lord. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

After I got saved, my involvement in the different ministries in our church church became meaningful. Being a pastor’s kid, I saw the ups and down in the ministry. But in spite that, I saw the joy and contentment in my parents’ life. As I grew up, I felt the joy in serving God and I knew that He has a calling for me but I kept on running away from it. But God is good, He never gave up on me. God used the life of my parents to encourage me to use my life also in serving the Lord in full-time ministry and be used to reach lost souls for Him. After I graduated from college, I decided to surrender my life to the Lord as a full-time church worker and serve at Christian Baptist Church in Santiago City, Isabela.

I was trained under the leadership of my dad, Pastor Loreto Caranguian. Being a full-time worker in our church, I was trained to be a Sunday school teacher. God is so gracious that He gave me a opportunity to continue my training and have my formal studies in Marietta Bible College in Marietta, Ohio and be equipped under the leadership of Dr. Myron Guiler. Lord willing, I will finish my studies by the year 2018.

I praise the Lord for saving me at a young age and have had the privilege to be used early on in the Lord’s work. I started as an assistant teacher in children’s Sunday school. Later on, I became one of the teachers. I was able to teach the Word of God not only in our church but also in some of our mission works, especially during summer in Vacation Bible School.

I was able to train some young people of our church in teaching children and encourage them to be involved in the ministries of the church. I also became the pianist and music director in our church, leading the choir and guiding some men in our church to be a song leaders. It is my joy and I am very thankful to God that He used me for His glory.