First time ko to write a testimony about Campus Crusade for
Christ. Pero, sa totoo lang, this campus ministry helps me a lot, particularly
in my walk as a Christian.
I received Christ when I was 13 (April, 2007) in a youth
camp in Pangasinan. But, before that, I was a person who lived for achievements
and recognition. My principle was simply the more achievements you have, the
worthier you could be in this world. Hence, for me, you must work for your own
salvation- just be a good and excellent person to go to heaven.
But, when I received Christ, I learned that all those
thoughts were just a chunk of foolishness. Since then, I started to be active in the church where God put me.
Then, here I was… college years.. I was very overwhelmed
with the greatness of UP. I felt like I had to change a lot in myself
particularly, spending all my time studying. I had to maintain my status in UP
because I did not want to be kicked out or fail just any of my subject. So, I
lived in fear of losing UP. However, after all those grueling days I spent for
my studies, I failed to get my expected grades. I was very disappointed that I
even asked God why my hard works were not paid as much as I wanted.
I was pondering on what God wanted to tell me ‘til I met a
classmate who introduced me to CCC. Our Pastor’s wife also recommended CCC
since she also became a Christian through it
(in TIP-Cubao). But, my thought then was “it’s an org, and all orgs are
wastes of time”; so, I resisted God’s way for me to join the ministry. Then, one day, as I was waiting for my next
class, I heard a group people singing praising songs to God. During that time, I was also reading certain
passages in the New Testament about sharing the Gospel. Suddenly, I just
realized that my stay in UP was a Christian duty as well. I prayed to God of
the right thing to do and for the first time, texted the contact person my
classmate suggested- Ate Shelby who became my first discipler in CCC. She asked
me to meet her during my free time; but, despite my ‘yes’, I still had the
hesitation to meet her because, back then, to go home was all I wanted to do
after my classes.
When my last subject was dismissed, I felt an excitement to
go home. I was in a rush to get out of the room, when my group mates asked me
to bring our big project. Carrying that, I was hurrying down the stairs of AS,
when I accidentally stumbled and fell down a few steps. I had cramps in my foot
and I could not walk properly. Thereby, I had no choice but to wait a few
minutes until I could move my foot well-- that meant, I could meet Ate Shelby. So,
finally, I met her and she shared to me the 4SL. It was a great experience,
indeed. I saw the urgency. I understood the Great Commission… I realized that I
should respond seriously to the call.
Since then, God had been teaching me a lot of things that
further moved me to share. I started a movement in our church, sharing the 4SL
and the follow-ups to six core leaders who would later shared those to almost 30 young people. In UP, I witnessed to
six people for a month, and discipled three of them who really finished the six
follow-ups. I spent my break time for discipleship, without worrying about
spending it for reviewing instead. Truly, my second sem was very fulfilling in
a way that I knew that God was working in my life. As I shared, I was getting to
know more about Him and I became hungrier of His Words.
Nonetheless, my commitment was tested. I experienced an
emotional problem when some people I was journeying with in my ministry in the
church hurt me. That was during summer. I was in search of how I should start
again. I felt that a part of me seemed to be devastated. I asked God to help me
recover, and prepare me to go back to witnessing and discipleship.
When the 1st sem started, I also began my journey
with my new discipler, Ate Pristine. I thought that I was allowing God to heal
my wounded heart that time, but I just realized that I was fixing it my own. Thank
God for the life of Ate Pris who played a big role in my life. Praise God that through her, I was encouraged
to have a change of heart and go back to the ministry by just allowing God to
lead me. That struggle of forgetting pains, and lifting everything to God
spanned for almost half a year. I took part in the church youth leadership
again, but my involvement in UP CCC activities remained silent. I found it hard
to start again… to gain the confidence to share Christ again. It became a blank
page in my mind and for many months, I was struggling to revive my discipleship
group but our schedules did not fit anymore.
So, another sem
began, and now, I was introduced again to another new discipler—Ate Alleli. My
journey with her was another big turning point in my life, especially in my
involvement in the CCC… J
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