My encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ on October 08, 1987 in a Bible Study at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia brought me an incomparable peace that hooked me into His Ministry from then on. Since I arrived in Saudi Arabia in 1981 up to the night before I first attended the Bible Study Group, I have not enjoyed a night with a good sleep. But on the night after I attended the Bible study, my nightmares vanished and I was able to experience peace throughout the night. The Lord has truly allowed me to experience the remarkable difference of His great love that made me so dependent on Him and His Word since then!
My first living experience of the Lord’s protection happened in January 2001 when the Gulf War was raging in the Middle East. My General Manager forced me to go on vacation. He took the occasion as an opportunity for him to relieve me from my job because he wanted me replaced with a brother Muslim. He placed me in the last plane that flew out of Riyadh because of the war. After I arrived in Manila, the following day, I visited my former Pastor, Mario Pingol in his office. While we were sharing, his phone rang. After he put the phone, he broke the news that our church in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was raided by the religious police and some brothers were detained. After he mentioned the name of Bro. Fred Mallo as one of them, I could not hold my tears because he was the one whom I asked to take my place as Deacon in-charge of cleaning the sanctuary. I could only thank the Lord for what He did to me.
Again, when I returned to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in April 2001 after the war, he allowed me to experience His loving-kindness. While I was arguing with the Custom Officer at the Manila International Airport about the Christian literatures that I am bringing to Saudi Arabia, He spoke to me very audibly and clearly, saying, “I am greater than the situation”. This word which became my only prayer has allowed me to pass through the Custom inspection at the Manila International Airport and the Custom inspection in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with nothing of my things confiscated.
These situations have strengthened my faith in Him that enabled me to stand up for His Word, against all odds. Thus, in October of that year, I quit from the Ministry because of the Elders’ decision to dismiss Pastor Wally Magdangal because to them, there is no Pastor in the Bible. This event led me to spearhead the establishment of another Ministry on October 13, 1991, the “Green Pastures Ministry”, having Pastor Wally Magdangal as our pastor. And because there was no let up of Christian persecution in Saudi Arabia, our group was not spared.
On October 12, 2002 we were discussing about the idea of stopping the Church’ activities because of the persecution; which I vehemently disagree. Our inability to secure unity in our decision, led us to pray. As we knelled down and began to pray, the religious police raided us. After three and a half hours of inspecting the whole area of the sanctuary, they gave up and sent us home, except for Pastor Wally Magdangal whom they brought for interrogation. Later, Bro. Rene Posedio was brought in. When the policemen were about to pick up my picture as the next to be brought, Bro. Rene prayed that I should be spared and he was heard by the Lord. I was left outside the prison to witness another great deed of the Lord – His incomparable ability to save His people on time. Pastor Wally Magdangal and Bro. Rene Posedio were scheduled to be beheaded on December 25, 2002, But the Lord intervened in their affairs and brought them home on December 24, 2002, barely escaping the verdict of death from the hands of the unbelievers.
After the departure of Pastor Wally Magdangal from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December 2002, we ran the affairs of the Church through the decision of the Board of Elders. But in 1995 many brethren were questioning us about the absence of ordained pastors in the Church. It was at this time that we spend a time in prayer and fasting, gathering every dreams and visions received by everyone in the Church. After reviewing the revelation of the Lord to the brethren, it came out that I was one of those called to pastor the Church. As I am very hesitant to accept the responsibility, I personally asked for His confirmation of my calling. The Lord did not deprive me of His answer. He gave me three successive dreams on the three nights before the scheduled final decision. Thus on October 27, 1995 I was the first among the three brothers to receive the drop of the anointing oil from the hands of Rev. Thomas Hamblin, a Missionary to Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
I was on vacation in Manila in 1998, when again the Church met another severe persecution. When the Operation Mobilization (OM) Program called “Desert Drop 2000” (aimed at providing a Bible in every Saudi home) was first launched, one of the brothers was apprehended. And it led to the capture and expulsion of almost over a hundred Christian workers and leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia alone. Though I was warned not to return by an American brother who has an access to police files, I tried to make my way to return. But on the day of my flight to Riyadh on June 17, 1998, Philippine Airline cancelled their flight because of the strike of their employees. While in Manila, the Lord used me as a conduit to bring the plight of these Christian brethren who were imprisoned, to the several Christian organizations throughout the world. God saved all of them, but the situation left me jobless and wholly dependent on His provisions.
Taking this event as God saying that I should spend my life fully in the Ministry, I took the pastorship of the local Church in Cubao, Quezon City. The almost unbearable situation in the Ministry, led me to decide in my heart to stop working in the Ministry. It was at this time that the Lord spoke to me once again, verbatim, saying “Read Revelation 3:8”. After hearing Him said it three times, I lazily picked up my bible and read the Scripture He advised me to read. After reading the Scripture that says, “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”, my heart melted and I was again reinvigorated to do the Will of Him who is aware of everything that is happening to me and knows everything what is best for me.
Now, that the Lord made Himself known to me, I was left with a simple task – only to obey Him! What a simple task! Who will separate me from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? The Lord has it made it clear to me that He has the power to save me in every situation! Glory to His Holy Name forever.
