[email_link]
Allister is a 20-something fresh graduate pursuing a career as a college instructor at a local private school here in San Fernando City. Growing up, he was forced to rely on his coping mechanisms when both his parents left him under the care of his doting grandma. He was just an infant then. A product of a broken family, Allister learned to be detached and seemingly unaffected by outside circumstances. He intermittently felt the emptiness brought about by his absentee parents during school affairs and every time he sees a happy family. He would cave in and give in to bouts of crying in the privacy of his bedroom and would go back to wearing his mask when he was done. He constantly craved for his parents’ presence whenever he needed someone to open up to.
Life went on as usual for Allister until one day, he got invited to attend one of the services at SFCC. And there, he readily received what he had been looking for all along—Jesus. Allister became a consistent attender and volunteered in various ministries—among them the Guest Relations Team, and as English translator for attending internationals. Wanting to have a deeper relationship with Jesus, he attended the 5-week Pre-encounter sessions at SFCC. It was the right preparation for him to have an encounter with God. His needy, clingy heart found the love he was looking for. It was, indeed, a breakthrough. “Hearing the Word of God is life-changing,” he professes. “I have been through a lot and I realized that I did not need to go through them alone. God has been reaching out to me all along.”
Totally surrendered to His Redeemer, he declares, “My life is no longer my story, but His story.”
Category: Discipleship
-
Totally Surrendered: A Testimony
Allister and his guide do S.O.A.P. (S-cripture, O-bservation, A-pplication, P-rayer) / devotionals. Receiving the Father’s love was a pivotal moment in Allister’s life. “Hearing the Word of God is life-changing,” he says. Surrendering all -
Reaping the Benefits: A Testimony
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6).
Christopher received Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior at the tender age of 14. Immediately, his life soared to new heights— being appointed as one of the church’s Primary Leaders at 15 and heading the SFCC Multimedia Team at 17. It was his simple faith and sincere obedience to Jesus that brought him success. Notwithstanding his lack of resources, Christopher would often walk to and from the center where he serves and gets his regular feeding of the Word. In meeting with his care group at Santiago Sur, he would also walk even in the San Fernando heat to meet with them. This sacrifice did not escape his care group’s notice. These are kids ages 4 to 12. To show appreciation, the kids pool their money to contribute to his fair going home.
Truly God provides as we obey Him.
Soaring high—Christopher (far left) shares a fun moment with his care group.
Show them the love of Jesus and they, too, will pay it forward.
Christopher teaches the kids, equipping them for life.