I was born in the Philippines. I grew up without a father. My mother raised me and my siblings as best she could. We were very poor. Because of our situation, I became a bitter and an unhappy person at a very young age. I even questioned God why He created me, and I pitied myself. I was so consumed with bitterness that I hated my existence. My mom was also unable to send us to school. So when I was in second grade I moved to another province to work for my education. There, I was placed in an environment where people cursed, drank and did vices daily. At a young age, I tried to do what they were doing with an intention to hurt myself in rebellion against God.

     It was about this time that a Filipino missionary started a Baptist church in my hometown. My mom, sister and brother got saved through his ministry. They became actively involved in the ministry of that church. When I went back to my hometown after my 6th grade, I noticed the atmosphere in our home had changed. They were happy. I then found out that they were regularly attending a Baptist church. At first, I hated it and tried to prevent them from attending that Baptist church. But they were persistent and faithful. I noticed how happy and content they were while I was unhappy and bitter. That made a lasting impression on me. I began to think that they might have something I didn’t.

     One late afternoon, a Christian lady from that Baptist church came to our house to visit my family. I did not want to talk to her because I thought she might convince me to join their religion. But I tried to be polite and sat down and listened to her. I noticed how happy she was and she really enjoyed what she was doing for God. I thought being a Christian was boring and unfulfilling. But at that moment, I thought she might have what my mom, brother and sister have that I do not have. So I tried to listen what she had to say that might satisfy my curiosity.

     She then opened the Bible and started sharing the Gospel. She read Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” She explained that everybody had sinned against God including me. I never heard that I was a sinner in the Catholic Church before. At that point, I was convicted that I was a sinner and there is nothing good in me that will avail me salvation. It was sin that made me angry and unhappy. She continued on reading Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. She explained that the penalty of my sins was separation from God eternally in Hell fire. But she said that there is hope. She read Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” I realized that God loved a sinner, a rebellious and bitter person like me. She then asked me if I want to trust Jesus as my Savior. I replied yes. She then led me to a sinner’s prayer. I admitted that I was a sinner, repented of my sins and accepted Jesus as my personal Savior. I was assured by the Word of God that I will have a home in heaven. I finally found the reason why my family was happy. Jesus is their joy, and He became mine too. He turned my bitterness into joy and He gave me peace in my heart.

     During the summer of 1998, I attended a youth camp together with the youth of our church. An American preacher preached on “A Vessel Sanctified and Meet for the Master’s use”. I was with hundreds of young people, but I felt that the message was directed to me. I hesitated to respond because I had other dreams and becoming a full-time servant is not on of them. I was struggling whether I will respond to the call and be a willing vessel or will I pursue my own dream. At the end of the sermon, I found myself walking down the aisle and kneeling down at the altar, I said “Lord I don’t have anything to offer you but I’m giving my life to you, use me for thy glory”.

  After I finished high school, I immediately enrolled in Fundamental Baptist College for Asians in Tuguegarao, Philippines under the leadership of Dr Richard Bitun. I finished my Graduate of Theology course in three years. The following year I earned my Bachelor’s degree from Lagawe Baptist Bible College in Lagawe Ifugao Philippines. In 2014, God gave me the opportunity to further my training at Marietta Bible College in Marietta, Ohio under the leadership of Dr. Myron Guiler.

     After I graduated from Bible College in 2003, my home church, Faith Baptist Church, in Solano, Nueva Viscaya, Philippines, called me to be the Youth Pastor. As the Youth pastor, I had the privilege of leading our young people in soul winning and other ministries. We held programs and activities like fellowships for the young people of the church and regularly went on soul winning. The following year, our Senior Pastor Art Carpio moved to another province to plant another church. My home church called me to be their pastor. I was very young and did not have much experience in the ministry, but by the grace of God, the ministry continued to grow. The work of the ministry continued to move forward with the help of the faithful members.

     We walked the streets and passed out Gospel tracts, knocked on doors and conducted home Bible studies. We also established children centers in many of the villages of our town where we teach children about the Bible. We saw how those kids grew and became servants of God also. During my stay there, God also enabled us to plant three village churches.

     It was a privilege to see young people surrender their lives in full time service. Most of them have entered Bible College to be trained. Some of them are now serving as pastors in our village churches and some of them have become missionaries to other provinces in the Philippines.

     Through the ministries of Marietta Bible College, along with other students I am given the opportunity to minister in Marietta, Ohio and its surrounding communities. I thank God for the privilege to conduct Bible studies, preach in the Nursing homes, distribute Gospel tracts, and knock on doors to share the Gospel. Even though I am away from my mission field, I believe God is giving me the opportunity to serve Him here as well. It is a blessing to be able to take part in as many ministries as the Lord allows me to be in. He will use us for His glory.

     It is documented that there are four million Filipinos in the United States. It is my heart’s desire to see my fellow countrymen here to be reached by the Gospel as well. I thank the Lord for the opportunities to travel and meet Filipinos wherever we go. Together with other Filipino students at Marietta Bible College, we are also organized into soul winning teams with the goal of reaching Filipinos and every lost soul we are able to witness to. I thank God for the numerous occasions that we conducted home Bible studies and we will continue to do so.