Behind the Pulpit

I had a lot of dream jobs when I was still a kid. I’m pretty sure a lot of kids do too.

I wanted to be an astronaut because who doesn’t want to see the moon up close?

I wanted to be a scientist who will be the first to discover the secret to time travel, invisibility, and teleportation.

I wanted to be a pilot and fly airplanes to places I have never been to.

I wanted to be the President of the Philippines. Who doesn’t want to be in the most powerful seat in the country?

But none of these materialized. A lot of factors: opportunities, finances, and probably because God has a different purpose for me.

Never have I imagined that I would be serving people, not from space, not from a laboratory, not from the skies, and not from Malacanan Palace, but from the humblest place I know. The church. God called me as a minister. I am currently serving as a Christian Education Pastor, teaching, preaching, and writing Bible-based lessons and materials.

Far from the glamour of secular jobs, away from the promises of an ordinary 8-5, I am busy working in an environment that some people often refer to as “walang pera dyan.”

True enough. I could have been earning more. As an accountant, I could have been working elsewhere. Modesty aside, I know what I am capable of, and it is not far-fetched to buy things that I want regardless of the price, and to travel as often as I want to only if I work somewhere else.

And yet, I satisfy myself with just enough to survive the next payday.

But hey, I am happy! And I feel content and happy because I feel like I am living my purpose, and this is where I belong!

As a pastor, I have seen how the Lord provided for my family’s needs. I have experienced miracle after miracle – God answering my prayers on time and on point. Ever since I entered the ministry as soon as I graduated from college, I have never experienced God failing me – as a single, and now as a married man. True, “walang pera” sa church (as opposed to people labeling the church as “cash grab from unsuspecting parishioners” – though I agree, some organizations give the church a bad name). However, answers to prayers abound. (I wanted to share more stories, but I’d like to keep this short hehe).

I may not be an astronaut, a scientist, a pilot, or a world leader, but I am glad I serve the God who orchestrated everything to give me the most humbling, yet most satisfying career I could ever have.

I am a pastor, and I am proud to be.

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I haven't posted anything in a while so I will tag those I remember in Hive account@hiveph community:

Hive account@ruffatotmeee Hive account@wittyzell and Hive account@charmingcherry