I was born and raised in the Philippines. I grew up in a very religious Catholic family. I thought going to church and doing good can get me to Heaven, but I was wrong. I was blind in that belief for almost 14 years of my life. Not only that but I grew up with a broken family. My dad left us when I was a child. He was a soldier at that time and received a death threat. He feared that if he went home they will kill his family. That’s why my dad decided to leave us, for our safety. But because of that, bitterness grew in my heart. I was miserable and had no direction in life.

One day, my older brother came to our house and invited me to visit their place in another town. When I got there, people were gathered doing a Bible study. I wanted to go home because I did not want to be involved. But that night, it was May 13, 2006, God used my brother as an instrument to share the Word of God to me. He asked me this simple question, “If you die today, are you 100% sure of going to heaven?” I answered him that I wasn’t sure, but that question really broke my heart. I thought to myself that I’m a strong person, I can do anything without God but that night was really different. Before I was not afraid to die but when he asked me, I didn’t have any confidence in myself. He told me that it is not my good works or religion that can save me. In Romans 3:10, it is written that there is none righteous, no, not one. He said that all of us are sinners as it is written in the Bible in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” He showed me in the Bible that we were all going to hell because we’re all sinners in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death....” He explained to me that there are two kinds of death– one is physical death and the second is spiritual death which is total separation from God in hell.

I was scared and afraid that night because I didn’t want to go to hell. If I die that night I knew in myself that I was going to hell. He continued to explain to me from the Bible that there is a gift from God and it’s free. In Romans 6:23, it says “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” My brother told me that God loves me so much as it is written in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” He explained that there is only one way to go to Heaven. It is not through good works or religion, but only Jesus Christ, He is the only way. The Holy Spirit convicted my heart, I was crying that night because I was scared. I realized that I needed the Lord Jesus Christ in my heart. At the age of 14, I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart as my personal Savior of my life. I felt like I was a new reborn person, I felt joy and peace in my heart that I never had before, knowing that I’m in a safest place because I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. God filled the emptiness in my life because of the spirit of God that dwelleth in me. I will treasure and never forget that day May 13. 2006 when I got saved.

As a young person, I knew that God was calling me to the ministry. But I tried to run away from His calling. I wanted to stay in my comfort zone and even promised myself that I will never be a pastor or a missionary. I was invited to a camp and I just went through the motions, but in the last night of the camp, God spoke to me in the message “Will you be the one to answered to His call.” That message really spoke to my heart. At the invitation, I stepped out of my comfort zone by faith, I surrendered my life to the Lord, and asked the Lord to use me. It was the happiest moment in my life when I decide to follow God’s will. Everything changed: my plans, my goals, and my desires. I began to have a burden for a lost souls.

When I surrendered my life for full time service, I had the desire to learn more about the Lord Jesus and His Word. In 2008, I enrolled at a small Bible Institute in Villasis, Pangasinan. After a year, I enrolled in the Fundamental Baptist College For Asians in Tarlac City. While studying, I became a church worker and the Lord gave me the privilege to become a youth pastor of our church, Open Door Baptist Church. In 2014, the Lord opened a door for me to further my training at Marietta Bible College at Marietta, Ohio under the leadership of Dr. Myron Guiler. I thank the Lord for this great privilege. This college has a big heart for missions around the world. They prepare foreign students like me to full-time service of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I really thank the Lord for the privilege to be used and be involved in evangelism. I saw many people struggling and working so hard, I realized that they need not only physical food but most of all spiritual food. I had the privilege to lead the young people and members of the church in soulwinning. God gave me a burden to share the Word of God to my people. We were able to distribute Gospel tracts and knock on doors, and also teach children and feed them at the same time.

I also had the opportunity of discipling and leading our young men and women to serve the Lord. Some of them are now pastor, Christian workers in church, Sunday school teachers and professionals. I really thank God for using me to affect the lives of these young people through His Word and His Grace.

During the summer, we were able hold vacation Bible schools for children to teach them the Word of the Lord. What a joy to minister to these children. These children face problems and struggle at a young age, some of them have broken families and some even work already to support and help their families survive. What a great joy to see some of these children that we have led to the Lord grow in faith and now are the ones teaching children in our church. Amen! Praise the Lord!