by Gina Gebone
When the pandemic started in 2020, we were all forced to stay at home for who knows how long. I started praying and asking the Lord for ways on how I can serve Him especially in sharing the Gospel to other people in this lockdown situation. Then the Lord inspired me to make a video, sharing the Gospel and sent it to my loved ones and friends. Some answered back just to say thank you. But there’s one friend, a classmate from high school whom I haven’t seen since, except recently on Facebook, who responded saying, “Thank you for sharing Jesus with me to be my Savior and Lord.” I really praise God for this answered prayer! I sent him a Bible and the EE booklet. He then testified later when he became part of our Bible study group that he started reading the Bible, beginning with the book of John and it has transformed his life!
Early this year, 2021, two of my high school classmates died, one of covid and the other of a lingering sickness. And because of this, I was burdened all the more. Together with five of my high school classmates, who are believers, we planned how we can reach out to our classmates. Having been trained in church through the women ministry, I suggested that we organize a virtual Zoomustahan. It was a pure connecting event that lasted up to the wee hours just talking, reminiscing and laughing just like when we were in high school. Because of our mutual burden and desire to bring our classmates to the Lord, the six of us decided to meet virtually every Friday night to pray for our classmates. We did this for 3 months then we decided to organize another Zoomustahan again and extended it to the rest of our batchmates. Here we invited them to a weekly Saturday night Bible Study. At first only 2 attended, but we continued praying and diligently took turns in leading the Saturday night Bible Studies. Every week our number grew and each one was showing enthusiasm in learning the Word. When my turn to lead the Bible study came, I took the opportunity to share the Gospel. Everyone prayed to receive Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, Glory to God! They all expressed their joy, some even cried because they realized and understood their sinfulness and were grateful for the forgiveness, hope and eternal life they received through Jesus Christ. It was an overwhelming joy not only for them but for me as well because it was an answered prayer. God is indeed moving and working in and through this ministry- the UMTC80 Cares. I am grateful for the training I got from our church through the witness and discipleship ministries in which I am equipped to lead in and out of church. We continued ministering and discipling them through our weekly Bible studies and reaching out still to others at the same time. Now we are already 18 in the group!
I am always encouraged by these verses in Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” It is indeed a joy and blessing to be able to serve the Lord and to be a channel of His love to people near and far.
Pastor Bot Abelado
Pastor Bot is an associate pastor at Capitol City Baptist Church, and is focused on leading our Witness, Missions, and Outreach Ministries.
