“… On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." - JESUS (Matthew16:18)
One evening of January 2001, I could not sleep and I decided to spend time with the Lord in prayer. Then, God impressed upon my heart three (3) passages of Scripture ... God's Call to Abraham, God's Call to Moses and God's Call to Joshua. I readily turned to those Bible verses...
God's Call to Abraham
"The LORD had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.' " (Genesis 12:1)
As I meditated upon this verse, I told God that it was hard to be in the shoes of Abraham caused He told him to "... leave ... go ... I will show..." I told God that normally, servants of God in our time first wait upon God to show, before leaving a ministry field and then going to where God is showing them. Yet, God told Abraham to leave first, then go no where and then He will show. The more I pondered upon God's call to Abraham, I sensed God was telling me to leave my comfort zone. It was tough for me to leave my home church QCEC, where I spent the past sixteen (16) years and also my other ministry in FCL and much more my director and mentor, Dr. Whelchel, who has been my discipler, confidant and friend. Yet, I had to obey God.
God's Call to Moses
"The LORD said, 'I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey...' " (Exodus 3:7-8)
For the month of September 2001, I spent time with the Lord in prayer and fasting, seeking for God's direction. As the Lord impressed upon my heart God's call to Moses, I asked God to show me what's the crying need out there that He sees and hears. I asked God to reveal to me what breaks His heart and what He wanted me to do. The Lord touched my heart to the need to reaching out to graduating students of Christian schools entering different colleges and universities. As I did an initial survey among Chinese Christian High Schools, I found out that there are at least about 1,000 graduates yearly in Metro Manila alone. However, less than half becomes a part of a Christian church after they leave the Christian school. God has shown me that about 10 years of investment among these students may be wasted if no one will follow them up. God wanted me to bring the church to the Universities.
God's Call to Joshua
"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them." (Joshua 1:6)
On May of 2002, Christian Agape Fellowship (CAFÉ), DLSU Chapter was formed, with about thirty (30) students gathering at Kenny Rogers in Taft Ave. Soon, CAFÉ UST, CAFÉ AdMU and CAFÉ MIT was formed. I would spend one whole day in one university and spend time leading Bible studies among college students. November of 2003, CAFÉ UP was also formed.
On May 1, 2005, a small group of college students were baptized in the Christian faith and formed the core of the church family, the Christian Agape Fellowship. Last October 2007, some passionate members of CAFÉ formed the Earth Shakers with the thrust of bridging a gap between the society and the church and aim to make a difference among our circles of influence. On May of 2008, CAFÉ celebrated our sixth (6th) year church anniversary. We dedicate ourselves and hope the Lord continue to use us for His glory and honor in expanding His kingdom and in fulfilling His Great Commission by brewing Passionate Disciples among Today's Youth! ❄
