I was born and raised in the Philippines in a Christian home. My father, Louie, is a pastor while my mother, Hazel, is a piano teacher as well as a church worker. I have only one younger sister, Precious Ade, who is studying engineering.

Like a lot of preachers’ kids, I experienced what most of them faced. Just because I grew up in a Christian home and I did a lot of “Christian activities” like singing in the church, reading Bible stories, playing musical instruments, attending Sunday services and prayer meetings, did visitations and Gospel sharing, I thought I was doing well. There were lots of times my parents would tell Bible stories and did many verses with me. I even remembered the times they would share the word of God to lead me to salvation. So, in my heart, I literally thought that I was already saved. But deep in my heart, I knew something was wrong, that something was missing.

But one afternoon, while my parents were not home, I had the television all to myself. I saw a DVD that looked different from the others and decided to watch that. I can vividly recall like it was just yesterday, watching the first scene showing Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, being struck by a soldier leading to His crucifixion on the cross. I started crying, my heart felt overwhelmed with anger, pity and sorrow for the physical pain that Jesus had to go through for all of us. But most of all, I realized that the only truth worth knowing is that Jesus loved me so much that He died for my sins. At the end of the film, there was a narration about heaven and hell, that accepting Christ meant being with Him in heaven for eternity. If you do not accept Him, hell would then be your final destination. I was literally scared to death. As a young girl, this was not the first time I heard about how Jesus suffered and died for us but it was the actual visualization of His physical pain that the Holy Spirit convicted me.

As soon as my parents arrived, I quickly ran to my dad and ask him how to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. My dad quoted Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” and very clearly explained to me that no one is perfect, that we are all sinners bound to hell but Jesus came and took our sins away, that He suffered, was mocked and died on the cross of Calvary because He loved us so much, that someday we will be with Him. All I need to do is to humbly ask for forgiveness and accept Him as my personal Savior. Then my dad led me in that prayer. So on September 03, 2003, I became a child of God saved only by His grace.

Since that day, I understand why I need Christ in my life. Now I live everyday with joy knowing that God will never leave me nor forsake me. I praise and thank God everyday for what He has done and will do in my life. I now humbly stand before you all as an example of how great our Lord is, that I will be His servant and will do what He needs me to do and go where He needs me to go. The verse that really touches my heart is in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” To God be all the glory.

When I was ready to graduate from high school, my dad asked me to give Bible college a try even just for a week instead of going to a secular college. I followed his advice and went to Fundamental Bible College for Asians in Tarlac City, Philippines in 2011. That week, God touched my heart and allowed me to appreciate what true ministry means. I continued and was molded and trained with the realization of how important it is to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. In spite of my Christian upbringing, being called to God’s ministry was a big challenge for me. But I thank and praise God daily for touching my heart to follow Him all the rest of my life.

My parents have a huge impact in my spiritual life. They taught and showed me different ways of making myself useful in God’s ministry. After being in Bible college in the Philippines for 3 years, in 2014 I had the privilege of studying at Marietta Bible College at Marietta, Ohio under the leadership of Dr. Myron Guiler. I am currently a scholar on my 4th year in Christian education.

I thank the Lord for allowing me to be involved in the ministry at a very young age. When I was 12 years old, I started helping out in children’s ministry by sharing God’s words, by telling Bible stories and by teaching them how to pray and sing Bible songs.

Together with other volunteers and Christian workers, we teach the Bible and about Jesus Christ in different villages and towns. What great blessings they are because every time we share the Gospel with children, the parents also get to listen in and some have accepted Christ as their personal Savior.

I thank God for allowing me to learn how to play the piano and violin. During summer vacations, my mom and I would go to different towns to teach violin and piano. It blesses my heart so much to see my music students use their talents in God’s ministries too.

Even while in Bible college, the Lord allowed me to volunteer and work in multiple local churches. I was able to help in their ministries and the Lord taught me many things in His work.