God Wrote Our Love Story

DIVINE LOVE

“Vine, what is holding you back?”

“Fear…” she replied.

“Despite of that fear, are you willing to step out in faith and trust God for an exclusive relationship with me starting today?”

Silence broke in their midst. Nalds was patiently waiting for Divine’s response. His heart was pounding. Praying. Waiting. Divine was thinking deeply, wrestling with her thoughts, remembering what God has been revealing.

How did it all start?

N.G.S.B. No Girlfriend Since Birth. That’s me, Nalds. When I joined the volunteer staff program of CCC last 2001, things began to change. My heart longed for someone who will be my future mate. It was clear between God and I that I’ll marry a fellow staff. So, I began hoping…praying…and waiting. Then I heard a new staff will be assigned in Iloilo City. My curiosity grew especially when I heard her name: Divine. I wanted to discover more about her. And I continued hoping…praying…and waiting.

 Uncertainties and excitement filled my heart when I was assigned in Western Visayas, my first ministry assignment. My mind was focused on discovering the region and how I can start my personal ministry. Getting into an exclusive relationship was never a priority then.

                                                                                                             

August 10, 2002. I was busy in helping prepare for our church anniversary. That day, Divine arrived in Iloilo City. I was excited to meet her but I can’t leave because I had to finish my task in the church. The following day, Divine, together with my teammates, was one of our guests at the church. That was my first meeting and interaction with her. I found her simple, humble, beautiful and challenging to get to know.

Meeting with Nalds was just the same as meeting other new guy friends. During the first week, I and my roommates kept receiving text messages from him. But as the days passed, I found out that he was no longer sending messages to my roommates yet I still received daily messages from him. Hmmm, something is “fishy”!

Several days passed by and my interest to get to know her more grew deeper. There was a time wherein I set an appointment with her to discuss matters about our Leadership Training Conference (LTC) with the motive in my heart to really spend time getting to know her. We met and discussed things for about 4 hours. I felt fulfilled!

I said yes when he asked for an appointment to talk about our LTC with the thought that it was just a business meeting.  My roommates were aware of it. I was a little bit impressed with his ideas of how we can work well to help the training. Along with our discussion, he started to ask questions about my family, why I joined staff, etc. He also started sharing about his life. Our conversation turned out to be a personal one. 

That meeting gave me some glimpses of who Divine was. I kept on replaying in my mind what took place in our meeting. Every week, I was excited to see her on our staff meetings. I also took time keeping in touch through text messages. My desire to know her more even grew stronger. Were these feelings mere admiration? True love? Whatever it was, I didn’t give it much thought.

After a few weeks, I was shocked when he said that he loves me. “Who are you to say that? You don’t know me. I don’t think it is love because it is not grounded in knowledge and careful evaluation.” My ideals of love were shattered! I was mad because I doubted his feelings and I felt he was not careful.

Divine was backed off from me. I felt guilty about what I did and I apologized the following day. When she released forgiveness, I was relieved and so blessed. That event drove me to admire her more. I was then looking for ways to befriend her. There were so many times too that I was so down and paranoid in relating with her. Some CCC staff, family members and churchmates were instrumental to pray for and comfort me. On May 16, 2004, I went to Manila for the nine-month training with CCC’s Great Commission Training Center (GCTC) as full-time staff. It was difficult for me because that meant I couldn’t see Divine regularly. But when I went back to God, poured out my heart and sought for direction, His word encouraged me to take heart, persevere and delight in Him. So I persevered. Despite distance, I regularly called her by phone at least once a week. Our conversation became meaningful as months and days went by. On September 20, 2005, I proposed for an exclusive relationship and marriage within two years. Despite negative thoughts from others, I resolved with myself that I’ll keep on pursuing her no matter what it took. I was tested, indeed.

I was not comfortable to interact with him but I resolved to treat him as my brother in the Lord. Sometimes, I didn’t know how to deal with him. At times, I was intimidated at him. But the moment he would ask to talk with me over the phone, I had no reason to turn down his offer. The more I knew him, the more that I appreciated and enjoyed him as a unique person. I admired his consistency and his passion for God. When he proposed his intention for an exclusive relationship with me and for marriage within two years, I asked him for a month of silence in our communication.

While waiting upon God and being silent in our communication, in my quiet times in John 15, God so impressed in my heart to keep on pursuing her and to abide in Him. And surely He will grant whatever I asked from Him. So after that one month, I immediately called her.

I told Nalds that I needed a year to seriously seek God and pray about it because I didn’t want to miss God’s best for me. I started seeking counsel from my parents and some CCC friends and church mates who committed to pray for us. Sometime in January 2005 my heart began to soften towards Nalds because, as I recaledl what I prayed in the past regarding the man I liked, almost all the qualities were in him. But I did not entertain the thought.

After my graduation in the GCTC, I went to Iloilo City. On April 25, 2005, I asked Divine for a date.

I agreed to meet with him on the 26^th of April, having in mind that I’ll give him my answer next yea r - be it yes or no. 

That’s how it all started.

After almost 30 minutes of waiting for her response to his proposal, Nalds again asked, “Vine, Despite of that fear, are you willing to step out in faith and trust God for an exclusive relationship with me starting today?”

But still, Divine was engaging with her thoughts so deeply. Then they moved out of the restaurant since it only operated from 9am -3 pm. Nalds was so determined in pursuing her and he didn’t want to let this opportunity pass without winning her heart. Even along the road, he continued asking for her response. Then out of the blue, Divine uttered a condition that he’ll know the response if a green jeep would pass by.

“Vine, that’s impossible! There’s no green jeep that passes by this road. But because you say so, I’ll trust God for this.”

Then he prayed, “Lord, green jeep please…”

After a few minutes, a green-head-colored jeep passed by, but it was not the one she is expecting. He waited again and hoped. There was a green truck that passed by, but, it was not the one she was expecting! Nalds kept praying, expecting from the Lord. After about 5 more minutes, right before their very eyes…a full-green -colored jeep passed by! Nalds’ heart was beating so fast, excited to hear from Divine! It was truly a Divine Providence!

Thinking that she had no other reason to say no to Nalds, by faith she uttered, “Yes, I trust God for an exclusive relationship with you, Nalds, starting today.”

And he replied, “Yes! Amen!”

Such a love story authored by God will be blessed on the 31^st of March, 2007. 

Colored Memories

Self-Leadership Tips

Richard Leider suggested some tips on how to manage your self as a leader effectively.

1.The quality and depth of our leadership reflects itself in our relationships with our colleagues and followers; we must be clear about our values because they reveal who we really are as leaders.

TIP:  recognize your stress level.  Watch for the signs of stress-forgetfulness; chronic fatigue; sleeplessness; changes in appetite; increase colds, back pain etc., ask your friends whether they’ve notice changes in you.

2. We are not powerless in choosing our living and working conditions; we have choices and they are the secret of our power; the willingness to exercise our choices is the source of leadership energy.

TIP:  Gain control where you can.  A leader’s job includes stressful forces beyond your control.  Look for personal areas where you can take charge.

3.Real change come from changing our mental maps; high energy comes from a clear and passionate personal vision.

TIP:  Take a daily solo.  An absolute essential for clear pictures is to allow at least fifteen minutes a day to reflect on the big picture and to set or revise priorities according to it.

4. Leadership assessment is best done on the basis of our own complete records of what we do rather than anybody else’s partial, incomplete records.

TIP:  Do what you love.  We may burn up doing what we love, but we do not burn or rust out.  If you’re burning out, you may not really love what you do and may need to reinvent your job.

5. We must take inventory of our leadership talents if we are to profit in the future from the lessons of the past.

TIP:  Examine your job.  Keep a notebook for a week in which you jot down everything you naturally love to do and everything you intensely dislike doing at work.  Ask yourself honestly,  “How much time do I spend doing what I naturally love to do?”  Then focus on your strengths and manage your weaknesses.

6. We must decide personally by which criteria we want our leadership legacy measured.

TIP:  Renew a relationship with a mentor or coach.  Ask yourself, “Who are my teachers today?” “  Who is the first person I’d call for leadership advice?”

7. Reinventing ourselves is a lifelong and continuous learning process; we must become comfortable with the reality that satisfaction always leads to dissatisfaction.

TIP:  Challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone.  Pursue a non-leadership position or anew task in a professional or community organization.  Risk and challenge can recharge your batteries.

8. We must establish solid support systems – a personal “board of directors”- that can carry us through the vagaries of change.

TIP:  Who are the people whose wisdom and personal counsel you value?  Who would you select to sit on advisory team for your personal life, work and leadership?

9. We must take risks to initiate courageous conversations that will keep us in honesty and creative face-to-face dialogues with our colleagues and followers.

TIP:  Busy leaders tend to over commit themselves.  Saying no and meaning it will reduce your stress and gives you back your sense of control.  Look over your schedule and choose to stop participating in activities that do not reflect priorities and your value system.

10. People are attracted to what is celebrated; celebrate the many face of celebration

TIP:  Lighten up.  Celebration is a building block process; notice the “baby steps” toward change by phoning, writing notes, and affirming your progress all year long.  And refind your smile if you’ve lost it.

Grand Wedding Ceremony!

After five years of multicolored married life, blessed with two lovely kids Dana & Ardi, all the more that we appreciate the beauty of being together in the ministry, in raising up kids and in pursuing one another in love and in Christlike character. Through thick and thin, we learn to be more loving, understanding and accepting each other.We also come to realize how deep Christ's love is to His church as His bride. One day, we will all march along the aisle, very excited for the Grand Wedding Ceremony. He is our Groom. We are His bride.

Courageous, peaceful Ardi

Ardi Daniel 

Ardi, besides being taken from the first two letters of Arnaldo & Divina, means courage. Daniel in the Bible is a man of integrity and prayer. This is our prayer for Ari Daniel. That he will be a man of boldness to stand on the truth, speak the truth in love and of courage to persevere what life may bring. May his courage manifest a prayerful heart - uttering a complete dependence to His Creator.

As early as 5 months now, he learns "push-ups, football, paint ball in his crib, and plays hide-and-seek" with Dana. :)

Days fly so fast! We are reminded to maximize our time with our kids - that means being so creative in the way we do things with them and our respective roles in and outside our home.

It's an exciting journey to nurture these kids that reminds us of God's loving heart. 

What character of God becomes so real with you lately?

Beautiful, sweet Dana!

Just this morning, as I was preparing for my talk for the Medical Students Congress, she woke up and said, "Daddy, work ka?"

Every time she sees me in front of the computer, she would ask me if I'm working and sometimes she would ask me to leave the computer and go to Jollibee.

Yesterday, when we were in Jollibee (near our house), she had a lot of fan - explaining to me everything that she's doing, asking "what" questions inside the play area and a lot more to test my patience. But every time I see her smile, I'm reminded that life is beautiful. No matter what we go through, we need to live life to the max. Maybe this is what joy really means as James 1 says. I want to grow in my faith like this child. I want to enjoy life according to His standard. Thanks Dana! You're a testimony of God's joy. You're a reminder of a life of faith in Him. I love you!

Lifeloooooong Story!

Driven to Achieve

By Arnaldo J. Ganaba

When I was in grade school, my teacher would flash the cards before our class for a competition. These cards contained numbers to be solved either in addition or subtraction. I would normally beat all of my classmates. So, I believed I was the best in the class. This experience motivated me to excel, to be well-known and to achieve something for myself.

In High School, I studied well with the aim to be on top of the batch. I became a consistent 1^st honors from 1^st year to 3^rd year and graduated Valedictorian of the class. I was also elected president of several clubs and organizations, including the High School Student Council. I pushed my way to the Student Publication and eventually became the Editor-in-Chief. I felt good that I got what I wanted. Because of those achievements, I was granted with a scholarship in college. I was so determined in my studies to make sure that I will not be left out being in the star section class. The same pursuit to achieve, to excel, to be well-known and to feel good for myself kept growing in my inner being. I would go to the library during my free time to study. I would plot my weekly schedule and ensure that everything is purposely done. My routine was, school, church, house, farm – I was helping my father then in planting and selling vegetables and even farming though I didn’t like it.

One day, that was October 2, 1996, as I was studying beside the church across my campus, somebody approached me and asked if he can have a few minutes to share with me about the booklet that has been meaningful to him. So I agreed and took time to listen. I knew deep within me that I’m religious, I got almost everything that I wanted to feel good, I’m a good student, etc. but I realized that I haven’t really made a commitment to have Jesus as my Lord and Savior and allow Him to be the One to direct my whole life. Knowing myself as a practical person who would try to find out what or who could help me get what I wanted, after listening about what are the claims of Jesus, I sincerely made a commitment to receive Him into my life. 

That’s the turning point. 

Though I felt good that day, I was reminded in the booklet that…”don’t depend on feelings,” so I kept thinking about what took place that afternoon. The following day, I shared the same booklet to my 10 friends. I had mixed motives -  I wanted to let them know about what I have heard and at the same time, I liked teaching/sharing to a group. Soon I got involved with CCC, I was discipled, and I joined a lot of LTI’s (local and national levels). Through this involvement, I got to know a lot of real persons, real Christians whom I learned to be vulnerable and to trust with. I learned to be myself. I also learned that I don’t need to do something to get their attention and be accepted as I am. 

Through our weekly small group bible studies, my conviction for His word grew which helped me to love my family and people around me. I kept sharing my faith, I kept motivating them for further involvement, I kept following up new believers, I kept on doing these basic things that I learned over and over again. I was so loyal to the basics and I experienced good results of students going back for my follow up/discipleship groups. I enjoyed meeting new friends and I really loved managing people – the basics like arranging difficult schedule to meet, who will be integrated for certain groups, identifying the key leaders from among them, making discipleship plans, keeping records about their interests, skills, and many more ministry stuff. There were a lot of times that I was confronted by my co-leaders about my motive and I can be honest with them. God’s word consistently spoke to me and dealt my character. I was reminded of the parable of the talents (to me it made sense to invest my time, treasure and talent wisely), the cost of Following Jesus, Paul’s discipleship ministry and spiritual Multiplication through win, build, and send strategies. With these experiences, I had a clearer picture of God’s love for me.

Besides having been actively involved in helping fulfill God’s Great Commission through CCC, I was gradually climbing the ladder of influence in my campus through our School’s Official Student Publication. I became a Managing Editor in my 2^nd year, Associate Editor in my 3^rd year and had the privilege of becoming the Editor-in-Chief in my 4^th year wherein I had a lot of opportunities to write pre- evangelistic articles. I was aware then of my tendencies to boast or hide in the shadow of false humility. God provided CCC people to really help journey with me – to grow in Christ like character and excel for His glory. There was an instance that I had a self-evaluation. “Why am I doing what I am doing?” Then I made a commitment before God to continue pursuing excellence not to feel good about myself, brag about it, or to prove something about myself but give Him the highest honor and glory in whatever that I do, specifically with the gifts, talents and interests that He gave me. God also blessed me with a continued scholarship until 5^th year and I graduated With High Distinction with the Degree in Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering.

After graduation, the pressure started to sink in me because I was expected to work and help my family. I struggled and wrestled with God for almost 6 months. I applied to my Alma Mater as a Teacher in Computer Subjects or Mathematics but my supposedly demo was cancelled and I never had a chance to reapply again. Doors of opportunities in the workplace were seemingly unfavorable to me. Besides, I found myself keep going back to my Alma Mater, meeting my disciples and still generating more contacts. There were days that I never had an allowance because my father can’t support me anymore. My disciples generously shared their allowance with me. The battle inside of me was between the need of my family and a strong desire in my heart to keep doing evangelism and discipleship. The reason that I wanted to teach in my Alma Mater was to continue my ministry alongside my job but it didn’t work out as I planned. At that time I was reminded that I can’t get anything that I wanted. On bended knees, I kept seeking God’s will for me. On one particular personal devotion, God led me to 1 Peter 5:2 ,”..to be shepherds of the flock that God gave you and to take care of it willingly. Do your work, not mere for pay, but from a real desire to serve.” I kept meditating His word and had my “pros-and-cons” to asses where would I be – to be with CCC as full-time staff or in the marketplace. After days of praying and seeking God, He gave me peace as I decided to join CCC with a specific commitment of joining the volunteer program for 2.5 years and afterwards, apply for full-time staff. My issue that time surfaced that I was shy/afraid of MPD though I was able to raise support for my LTIs and other CCC functions.

My volunteer years were, for me, just a continuation of my ministry in my campus. But this time, I worked with a team. I had a lot of exposure to the lives of my Ates and Kuyas in the team – how they managed finances, raised support, modeled ministry (I also heard a lot of stories from them which helped me figure out how can I apply it in my context). I observed their lifestyle. During that time, I have seen growth in my leadership and relationship with people I worked closely with. Coordinating events like Movement Getaway surfaced my attitude how I would relate to my teammates. I was confronted with the reality that I wanted to do things my way, without considering what really can be more beneficial from their perspective. I also enjoyed leading a ministry in my Alma Mater as well as in CPU. I felt trusted with a limited capacity that I had and it helped me envision for stronger movements in these campuses through Spiritual Multiplication alone. In WIT, I had 89 disciples down the chain and in CPU I reached 70 in two years. That’s how zealous I was (even until now) to a strategy of Spiritual Multiplication. Being a Volunteer was really filled with much learning and a sharpening stage in my missionary life. It better prepared me for something bigger and a more challenging phase of being a full-time staff.

In 2004, I joined the GCTC and was assigned in PUP as my field ministry assignment. The same perspective was carried along – I’m just assigned in a new Target Audience, I’m just continuing the ministry God has called me to do. So, I enjoyed the sessions, re-evaluated my doing in light of the biblical principles taught. I envisioned and prayed to see a strong spiritual movement in this campus. I learned to grow more in my relational life and connecting with my new target audiences. God blessed me with 35 disciples down the chain with 6 movers in my 9 months on training. On my second year in PUP, God blessed be with about 80. I have nothing to boast about these numbers but I’m thankful to the Lord for the privilege of investing in the lives of these people whom I learned to love, people whom God used for me understand more about His love.

In 2006, I was reassigned in MIT. Even during my college life, I looked up to this campus as one of the key influential sectors in our society through the Engineers they produce who can be movement builders for life. This is where I experienced more of what it meant to love by faith. I experienced to work with a team of 17 full-time staff and volunteers. This is where I kept on learning how to develop leaders for movement building, joggling different roles as a trainer, team leader, discipler, husband, father, etc. What a joy to see about 374 disciples involved in the movement in this campus. What a joy seeing our students step out in faith and make a difference in the lives of others despite academic pressures of having a quarter system. I envision to see this movement move to a saturation phase by 2013– where student leaders are really rooted in His word, are socially aware, have godly conviction, contaminating love for the Lord and committed to movement building for life.

In my missionary life, I dream to see more lives know Christ and make Him known through Spiritual Multiplication. I pray that I will continue to put God as my highest priority in life. I dream to produce/send 15 missionaries in ten years time. I desire to see more multiplying spiritual leaders developed and influenced through my life and in the lives of individuals whom I discipled. I’d like to acknowledge those who are here as part of this Volunteers Summit. Mark from Iloilo, Aljay, Rj, Mel from PUP and Dennis from Mapua.

I’d like to share with you an update from one of my key disciples in college who is now a practicing Electrical Engineer in Davao. He is Charlo Deniega. (Show his testimony through a powerpoint presentation).

“I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already for me to himself. Of course my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above.” – Philippians 3:12-14.

If my heart before was filled with dreams and ambitions to achieve, to feel good for my self, to be known, my heart this time continues to desire to achieve anything or something that would cause to give glory and honor to our Lord & King Eternal, Jesus Christ. Above all, my ultimate goal to achieve is to face with God someday and hear Him say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

Movement Moments I

Movement Moments II

Movement Moments III

About Us & Our Ministry

Writing a Book

Relational Leadership

Many people believe that Leadership is Influence. True. But, it's challenging to influence them the most if we don't relate well with them. In my experience of leading my teammates, I found it helpful to relate in a truest sense - not because we want something from them but because we are eager to learn from and serve them too.

I would love to write a book on Relational Leadership. I hope it will be... soon.