TESTIMONIES

New Students 2003

   
Allan Rillera

      Did GOD really call you to go fulltime? How do you know? Did GOD speak to you? These are some of the questions fulltimers often ponder.
      I did not know how to answer those questions because I never heard GOD’s voice calling me “Allan, Allan.” But I can say that the LORD has been working in my life in many different ways.
      Many people experience pain in life and I’m one of them. But GOD used them to draw near to me. I came to know Christ when I went to Baguio for my college education. There God molded me and gave me the opportunity to serve Him until I became a Sunday School teacher in my home church in Dagupan City. I love telling others about Jesus. He also led me to become involved with the youth.
      Going fulltime was not on my mind. One time, I attended a youth summer camp. As I was listening to the message of the pastor, I felt like it was GOD speaking to me. He said, “the harvest is plenty but the workers are few.” At that time I began having a passion for people. And then He said “whom shall I send?” I asked the LORD to send me to His people, people who are spiritually lost, and who do not know the LORD.
      Is that how simple it is? Well, not at all. I still experience a lot of obstacles in my journey: pains, emptiness, rebellion, brokenness, ups and down. Sometimes I’m ready to give up. But GOD is so gracious. HE keeps preserving my soul because HE loves me. Now I have decided to obey the LORD in this fulltime journey.
   
Jean Ting       "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11, 13)
      I am thankful that I was born into a Christian family, the seventh of nine siblings. My dad was a pastor, a man who loved God more than his life. Yet I find it difficult to reminisce about my dad because he went to be with the Lord when I was just four years old. God’s grace was with my mom as she raised nine children until they were all grown-up and working.
I am grateful that in spite of pressures and difficulties as a pastor’s kid, growing up without dad’s love in my early age, I still had the Perfect Father who loved me unconditionally. I know that He sent His beloved Son to sacrifice His life for me because of my sins. Now my life has meaning and purpose.
      Life seems to be okay for me as I recall being a Christian. All I know is that I belong to Christ because I accepted Him as my personal Lord and Savior. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) So I try my best to live a Christ-like life yet I know my testimony at home is not above reproach because of my stubbornness. I thank God for giving me a patient mom who always loves and cares for me just like our Lord taking care of me in spite of my short comings.
      God called me to serve Him at all cost on August 18, 2002. During my devotion He assured me that He would be there for me as long as I was willing to obey Him. Indeed God’s will is “good, pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
   
David Uy       Before I became a Christian, I struggled much with finding meaning in this existence. While everybody was busy working, coping with life’s pressures, contented in what they have achieved and gained, I was miserable and empty inside. Somehow, I knew the answer lies in the realm of Christianity (maybe because of my Catholic background and my studying in a Christian school). I knew that there must be a God who created the heavens and the earth, but to put my trust in Jesus seemed too big a risk. I thought that I could never go wrong by just believing in the Creator who created the heavens and the earth. But I was wrong. One day, I bought a Bible. I spent a few days reading Matthew and Mark and thought they were just a bunch of stories. The two books look the same and did not make much sense. I went “church hopping” for a while and still could not find the answer. One day, I met an old classmate who brought me to his church. There, I came to understand the gospel and know Jesus Christ personally. There I found my home church.
      There I searched hard to find meaning in life. I knew that only by finding God’s will in my life can I fill the void. I struggled with this issue for a time, not satisfied with the world’s idea of fulfillment. I made sure that I prayed really hard and that my human nature will not cheat me in my endeavor. I held on to this as if my life depended on it. The Lord was quiet until a point when I was about to give up. Then in His pleasure and time, He revealed His will to me. Then I knew I was called to be His servant. From that day on, I never looked back. I have been waiting for His right time to enter the seminary. Now I am here.
      I believe our life is worth living only when we are able to fulfill God’s purpose in our life and when we are able to glorify His name every step of the way. May we have the pleasure of saying as Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”