I grew up in a Catholic household, so I was exposed to various figures and rituals that were part of our family traditions at home. I’m familiar about Jesus but apart from knowing his name, I lack knowledge about who he really is.
Growing as a teenager, I used to persecute my schoolmates and classmates about their faith and “churchy” routines, often resisting their invitations to attend their services.
At a very young age, I was introduced to addictions of many kinds. I went from smoking cigarettes, viewing pornography, and frequenting clubs to engaging in drug use and distribution across various parts of our city.
I was detained twice because of drug trafficking by the city police and had been jailed for a couple of weeks. I had a miserable life at that time and while holding the jail bars, I whispered to myself “If there truly is a God, let him save me from this.” And since then, I found myself searching for purpose and meaning, both in life and within myself.
In 2016, when my sisters invited me to church, I found not just friends but family–a family that helped me deepen my relationship with God.
From that point on, I devoted my time to spiritual growth, seeking a deeper understanding of His Word. It was there that I found myself from being nothing into something–from feeling insignificant to discovering a sense of purpose and value.
I started joining the worship team as a musician. Over the passing years, my church leaders diligently trained and equipped me, imparting the skills and knowledge necessary for preaching and teaching within the community.
Fast forward to January of 2022, I was diagnosed with Covid-19 virus. I received advice not to report to work and underwent self-quarantine for a continuous period of 21 days without receiving any salary.
At that time, I was also assigned to preach through our online church service and during my meditation, I felt God speaking to me about missions. I didn’t even have any idea what the essence of mission is nor how it feels to be on a mission. It was very new to me.
God spoke these verses to me from Isaiah 61:1-3.
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV
I wondered if this really came from God because I do not want to be driven by emotion. It took days, even weeks of meditating and continuously seeking God for a clear instruction about what He wants me to do with the Word I had received.
He is strongly directing me to go on a mission in Tarlac.
I shared it to my leaders, family and friends in the church. And with one heart and spirit, they affirmed what God had spoken to me.
After the confirmation I received from God and from the people around me, without hesitation I filed in a resignation letter to the company I am working and decided to give myself fully to the work of the Lord in Tarlac.
Grace City Lagro released and commissioned me last March 2022 and since then, I’ve been joyfully serving the people in Matatalaib, Tarlac City, Tarlac.
We’re now looking forward to plant churches in the 76 Barangays and 18 Municipalities here in Tarlac and to see the lives of many people transformed by the Word of God. Seeking for the lost with love and compassion like Jesus.
