I was born and raised in the Philippines. My parents are missionaries. As a Preacher’s kid, who grew up in a Christian home, I have been blessed having a godly parents and grandparents, who have shown me to behave wisely, and to obey the principle of God’s Word. At an early age, I have been taught during Sunday School that Jesus Christ came on earth to die for my sins and if I accept Him in my life and ask for forgiveness of my sins I will go to heaven. Whenever my Dad would give an invitation I often go to altar and accept the Lord, but I was just doing that to please other people. I looked at myself as a righteous young boy, who was worthy to go to heaven. I never understood that salvation is a free gift from God, not because of my righteousness but because God loved me so much that He gave His only Son Jesus, to die for my sins and I should receive that gift by faith.

But one Sunday morning, when I was 12 years old, while I was seated at the back row in our church, I began to listen intently at my Dad who was preaching about the “Rapture”, it was the first time that I heard that word. Then he read the verse in I Thessalonians 4:16 “then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air”. He said in a twinkling of an eye, we will be caught up in heaven! Those who did not accept the Lord will be left behind. I became scared. All this time I was pretending to be saved just to please people, but I knew I was not really putting my faith in Jesus. The Holy Spirit convicted me to accept Him truly in my heart with full assurance of faith that Jesus had already redeemed me from eternal hell. So during the invitation time I ran out and went to our bedroom where we live. I knelt down and prayed and ask Jesus to forgive me from all my sins and I admitted that I’m a sinner that needed a Savior. That day, I trusted and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal Savior with all my heart. I’m glad because we serve a risen Savior, and He will come back for those people who truly accepted Him as their personal Savior.

At an early age, I knew in my heart that God has been calling and preparing me for His work. I’ve seen how my family served the Lord. I remember my grandfather who was a shoe maker but also a preacher. He went out and visited people and held Bible Studies after hours of making slippers. He taught us not to neglect the work of God.

But as I grew up, I did not want to be involved in the ministry. I wanted to stay in my comfort zone and even promised myself that I will never be a pastor or missionary. After my high school graduation, I went to a secular college to run away from God’s calling. In the middle of the year of my studies, I felt that there was something missing in my life. I was not happy, I didn’t have peace. I know I was not in His will. One afternoon, I was on the second floor of the school building when I looked out the window and saw a lot of students in basketball court. I asked myself “Why I am here?”, then I thought, “Do these students already know the Lord Jesus Christ?” I knew then that I should not run away anymore from God’s calling. When I went home, I told my mom everything. To my surprise she said that God has answered her prayer because since I was a child she prayed for me to become a preacher.

During a camp meeting, the Lord used an American pastor named Dr. Myron Guiler for me to confirm God’s calling. He preached on Matthew 9:37 “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” At the invitation, I stepped out of my comfort zone by faith, surrendered my life to the Lord, and asked the Lord to use me. It was the happiest moment when I followed His will, everything changed: my plans, my goals, and my desires. I began to have a burden for lost souls. I cried for wandering children, poor families, hopeless, distressed and abandoned. And the Lord gives me joy in serving Him.

When I surrendered my life for full time service, I had the desire to learn more about the Lord Jesus and His Word. In 2007, I enrolled in Timothy Bible Institute in Quezon City, Philippines. After three years, I enrolled in Fundamental Baptist College for Asians in Tarlac City and finished my Bachelor’s Degree in Theology. While studying, I assisted in a mission work in a town in Rizal province under Pastor Raymond Platon. In 2014, The Lord opened a door for me to further my training at Marietta Bible College in Marietta, Ohio under the leadership of the man that God used to confirm my calling, Dr. Myron Guiler. This College has a big heart for missions, as they prepare foreign students like me for full-time service of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank the Lord for the privilege to be used and be involved in Soul Winning and Evangelism. There are many people in our place struggling and working so hard for a day’s meal. I realized that they need not only physical food but most of all spiritual food. God gave me a burden to share the Gospel to these people. Through distributing Gospel tracts, knocking on doors and teaching children and feeding them at the same time, we are able to reach people for the Lord.

In 2010, I served as a Youth Pastor and was given the opportunity to disciple and train young people to become servants of the Lord. There are those that have surrendered their lives to full time service and are now pastors, preachers and youth leaders who are also discipling other young people.

I had the opportunity of leading young people and Christian workers every week to teach children in 9 different areas with 300 children. What an opportunity to share God’s Word to children. Their parents also get to listen to Bible stories. We get to invite them in the church and are given the opportunity to hold Bible studies as they open their homes to us.

During summer time, we hold Vacation Bible School with an average of 1,200 children in attendance. What a joy to minister to these children! These children face different problems, have broken families and some even work already to help their families survive. We care and plant the seed of the Word of God in their soft hearts. What a blessing to see some of these children that we led to the Lord have grown in faith and now are the ones teaching kids in Children centers. Praise the Lord!

It is a blessing for me to have been involved in prison ministry and preach the Word of God to inmates. The inmates were very receptive to the Gospel and are willing to serve the Lord. We also teach Values education and sharing the Gospel in different public schools. Elementary and high school students were taught Christian Values from the Word of God because we believe God is the one who can change their hearts and character. What a privilege to be part of these ministries. To God be the glory!

I thank the Lord for the wonderful opportunity to be used by the Lord in the United States. Despite of different cultures and language, the Lord still enabled us to share His good news of Salvation. Through the ministries of Marietta Bible College, along with other students, I was given the opportunity to knock on doors, distribute Gospel tracts, do street preaching and hold services in nursing homes to encourage and comfort elders.