“Maniwala sa Kanyang pagmamahal at kapangyarihan.”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Acts 16:31

Isa ito sa mga pinapangarap natin para sa ating pamilya noong una nating nakilala si Jesus.

Isa ito sa mga pinapangarap nating makitang mangyari habang tayo ay nabubuhay.

Isa din ito sa mga pangarap na ikinagagalak nating natupad sa buhay ni JM, isang estudyante mula sa Technological University of the Philippines – Manila.

JM is a second year student studying Information Technology. He began his walk with God three years ago, but it was a rocky start.  For three years, he struggled with getting his parents approval to continue to go to church. He was the first person in his family who came to know the Lord through a friend. 

The struggle didn’t end there. It came to a point where his scholarship was challenged because of the persecution. The person financing his education threatened to stop supporting him if he continued to pursue a different belief. This was a real dilemma for JM, since he dreamed of helping his family financially as soon as he graduated and found a job.

But he stood his ground and miraculously, in the midst of persecution, his relationship with God was strengthened, as well as with the church community in his campus. What Paul said in Philippians 3:8 became so real to him, “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.”

JM became fruitful in serving the campus and discipling other students, but during the pandemic, he was separated from church family and was the only Christian in his home. One thing was clear: God was calling him to see his family as his primary mission field. 

Over online campus gatherings, JM found himself being challenged to be salt and light to his family in the midst of a rare opportunity of spending time with his family longer than he imagined. 

JM began praying and asking God for the salvation of his family, believing that God is more powerful than any other persecution he can experience. 

. . . but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you . . . 

1 Peter 3:15 

One day, he stepped out in faith to share the good news of salvation to his family. And miraculously, they all received Christ as their personal Lord and Savior! They even started to have daily devotions together as a family. What’s more, JM is going through ONE 2 ONE with his dad, which is greatly helping their relationship to grow!

They had been waiting for JM to preach the gospel all along! Their hearts were ready and open for it. What was left was for JM to step out in faith and obey God!

JM exhorts each one of us with this: “Don’t lose hope. God has a perfect plan and timing for everything. Always trust Him, because nothing is impossible for Him.”

May ipinangako ang Diyos para kay JM.

May pangako din Siya para sa ’yo at sa pamilya mo.

Kaso baka naghihintay lang din sila. 

Ang tanong, handa ka na ba?