I was born in a Christian family. I am a pastor’s kid. Growing up, I was surrounded by Bible teaching. My family and I never missed a Sunday service. I could never skip Sunday school, and on Sunday evenings we would always be back at church, sometimes even stay the whole afternoon. We had family devotions and memory verses every night. An ideal Christian childhood, yes, but that was just a routine for me– a way of growing up. Even though I was surrounded by Bible teaching, I couldn’t see the truth in God’s Word, let alone understand the Gospel message and be saved. It wasn’t real to me. The Bible was just another storybook, the Gospel was just another story, and Jesus was just the main character.

But one day, that all changed. It was after juniors’ Sunday school. Our teacher had me and some other boys stay for something she had to share. She then asked us one by one, “When you die, where will you go? Heaven or hell?” When she got to me, I quickly said “Heaven!” then she asked why I would go there. In my mind, I only said heaven because I thought it was the best answer. It was obvious that we didn’t understand what we were talking about, so she turned us to the Bible. In Romans 3:23, the Bible tells us that we are sinners and the penalty of our sin is for us to be thrown in hell. But then she continued to tell us that God has a gift, and its eternal life through Jesus Christ, written in Romans 6:23. In order for me to accept this gift, I must admit that I’m a sinner, believe that Jesus was crucified, buried, risen and receive Him as my Savior.

I didn’t know how many times I’ve heard all of this before as a pastor’s kid, but that time it finally became real to me. I remembered the story of the Prodigal Son. He was already in a good home, but he couldn’t see it. Just like me, I already had the privilege to be brought up where the Gospel was right in front of me. But even though I was surrounded with that, I still needed to make a decision. Do I leave and live for myself or do I stay and live for my Savior who died for me? That moment in March 4, 2007, I asked Jesus to come in my heart, and accepted Him as my Lord and personal Savior.

Growing up, there were certain expectations of me from other people being a pastor’s kid. Especially when I was in high school, I wanted to set myself apart as one of the good kids, but I was also trying to fit in with everybody. Because of that, I couldn’t pinpoint which career path to take when I graduated. I was distressed with what to do for my future because I felt I was already behind making a decision. But God’s timing is never too early nor too late. In the middle of pressure and confusion, in the summer of 2015, we had our Christian Summer Camp. On the last night of that four-day camp, God spoke to my heart and I felt the call to be in full time service. There and then, I surrendered my life to God and follow wherever He leads me.

I count it a privilege to grow up in the ministry. As I joined my father and other men of our church on soul winning and Bible studies, I learned from them. I was also taught how to lead in singing and preach to other young people.

In June 2015, I started my studies at Fundamental Baptist College for Asians at Tarlac City, Philippines to further my training for the ministry. I was there for a year and a half and in September 2016, God gave me the privilege to study at Marietta Bible College in Marietta, Ohio to be trained under the leadership of Dr. Myron Guiler.

Our hometown of Cabanatuan City is the fifth most populous city in the Central Luzon region with more than 300,000 people living there. This is a great responsibility and opportunity to win souls. As a church, we give importance to soul-winning. I thank the Lord for enabling me to lead in Gospel tracts distribution, home visitations, and Bible studies. We use sports ministries to preach the Gospel. We also give a lot of attention to reaching street children of our community through feeding ministries and Vacation Bible School during summer.

We see how God gives the increase as He uses us to plant His word in the hearts of the people. We’ve seen many accepted the Lord as their personal Savior and turn from their sinful ways. Glory to God!

In summer 2015, my father led a group to a mission trip to Masbate Island, about 500 miles south of our hometown. I was able to help in that trip that today has an established mission work. God taught me many things from that trip. Starting a mission work takes us out of our comfort zone and we must fully depend on God. We didn’t know a lot of people. We didn’t speak the common dialect, but God led us to those that He has already prepared– a proof that where God guides, He provides.

Mark 16:15 says that we must go into all the world and preach the gospel. This means everywhere I go, the ministry of reaching people for Christ continues. While studying at Marietta Bible College at Marietta, Ohio, I have the privilege to minister around the community. Together with my fellow students, we distribute Gospel tracts, knock on doors, hold Bible studies and services in many nursing homes around Marietta. As a college choir, we also visit churches around the country to encourage fellow Christians through the ministry of music.