Called To Mission
By Lea Santos

As I begin to write, it has been exactly one year ago since I last attended Lingkod Makati’s prayer meeting as a member of the branch.

The 1st Calling 

"Lea Santos (2nd Row, third from right) with the Lingkod Makati Sisters"

I can still vividly remember the 1st time I attended Makati’s Open Prayer Meeting. I was quite shy then, staying at the shadow of my blood sister (Ayie), who was part of the Mission Team of Lingkod Makati. After attending the Christian Life Program (CLP), I gradually came out of my shell, becoming more active in service and building relationships with brothers and sisters.

Years passed…. I can no longer count how many CLP’s, Lenten Retreats, Unity Games, NLTC’s, Christmas Parties and Anniversaries I’ve attended. Not to forget, weddings of brothers and sisters, bridal showers and later on even baby showers of our sisters, where I also served.

Along with these, I witnessed several installations of Makati’s Branch Leaders (BL as it was later on called) and Branch Women’s Moderators. I was also placed in different Action Groups over the years (how hard it was indeed each time the sisters’ AG were reconfigured) which also meant being under the care of many Action Group Leaders too.

Year after year, people came and people left. Some would “move forward” (get married) and some would “move on” (started another branch, join Ligaya, relocate or simply went somewhere else…). While brothers and sisters evolved, I remained… comfortably serving (occasionally tired) in Lingkod Makati and happily growing (sometimes spiritually dry) in my personal relationship with the Lord.

The 2nd Calling

During the last quarter of 2005, in one of my prayer times, the Lord’s message was, “New things for 2006.” I was excited. The thought that I will have a new work came to mind, as I was discerning then of a new post in the office. Little did I know that I will be invited in January 2006 by Lingkod Makati’s BL to establish a new branch in Marikina. I was apprehensive with the invitation since I will be separated  from my 2nd “home” for many years and from the brothers and sisters whom I have treated as my extended family. Fears crept in knowing that I will be taken away from my comfort zone; I lacked faith on what God can do through me. My only prayer then was for God to make things clearer for me and guide me each day of my discernment.

I asked myself, why I was afraid while from the very start when I joined Lingkod, I knew that I wanted to participate in God’s mission work, to bring people back to Him. Through continuous prayers, the Lord affirmed me and blessed me with His words:

“He must become greater; I must become less.” (Jn 3:30)
“Do not be afraid…you have found favor with God.” (Lk 1:30)

The 3rd Calling

Three months after joining the Mission Team, I was asked to discern (again) this time by our Branch Leader in Marikina to consider a higher service as Branch Women’s Moderator. My initial reaction was, “Lord, here we go again…” but eventually I prayed the same, for Him to make things clearer for me.

While on vacation then during my birthday month, I sought for the Lord’s guidance and lifted up all my doubts and fears again. And the Lord was quick enough in relaying His words to me through various people and events:

“I will teach you the way you should go; I will instruct you & advise you. You that are righteous, be glad & rejoice because of what the Lord has done. You that obey Him, shout for joy!” ( Ps32:8/11)
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Is 43:1)
 

"The Marikina Mission Team"

God’s love indeed is abundant. He will never leave us. And so in full confidence and trust in God, my only response to Him was:

“Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word.” (Lk1:38)

Being called to Mission is not easy. It means setting aside familiar things and giving up old habits. But with it carries much promise… a NEW life for me and the Mission Team and also NEW life for others whom we will meet along the way in our mission.

May all of us in Lingkod (present and future branches) live out the call of Christifying the Workplace!

Note: Before I started writing this sharing, I came across one of my old journals. One of the personal prophesies given to me during Lingkod Makati’s Sister’s household in 2001 was “You will be in mission…healing relationships in family, officemates and community.” The Lord indeed prepares us and sends us when our hearts are ready.

I just want to share with you some reflections on today's first reading, (Gn 22:1b-19) Abraham's offering of his only son, Isaac:

In the course of his life, Abraham trusted in God's promises for his son. Now, would Abraham be willing to sacrifice his son and the promises? After the test, Abraham would know that he loves his son in the same way God loves because he chose God over his son. We know without doubt that God approves our dedication to a particular task if on some particular occasion we have shown that we are willing to let go even of the task, if God wills it so. But no explanation can soothe our wounded sensibilities on seeing how God imposes on Abraham the most costly sacrifice for a father. Is there no other way to bring us to perfect love? Though Abraham is a believer and God's friend, he is also a sinful man and only "surgery" can purify his heart. Here, it is Abraham who dies, not Isaac; and yet through his sacrifice, Abraham achieves life.

God tests his friends in order to increase their faith. God saves his best gifts for those who remain faithful during times when he takes all hope away from them. God has placed you on a road. What will you do when the road appears closed?

I got the above from Christian Community Bible and I got the sense to share this with you as I feel it appropriate for your upcoming anniversary. This is my way of honoring all the brothers and sisters who have served faithfully through the years because I know that most of them had their own Isaacs whom they gave up for the Lord. I encourage everyone else who may be having second thoughts about serving the Lord and His people. A lot of lives have been changed because of radical decisions just to follow the Lord. I believe that more will continue to do so.

May the fire in your hearts continue to burn for the Lord and may we all remain faithful till the end! Happy Anniversary and God bless!

Tess Pelejo

Sharing By Celina Larayos

“This is how we know that we love God’s children: it is by loving God and obeying His commands. For our love for God means that we obey his commands...” 1 John 5:2-3. This was God’s Word for me in 2006. At first, I thought that it was simply about obedience. But it was more than that. Obedience is the fruit of one’s Faithfulness to God’s Calling.

My journey with the Lord started back in college. That time, I felt a great sense of nothingness in my life and through Christ’s Youth in Action (the sister community of Lingkod that caters university students), the Lord showed me how rich and beautiful my life can be when lived with and for Him. Filled with so much joy, I decided to grow in my personal relationship with Him. Through CYA, I learned to appreciate having a daily prayer time, righteous living, participation in the life of the Church and the brotherhood & sisterhood which is about loving beyond convenience and comfort. In 1999, barely a year after I graduated, I joined the Makati branch of Ang Lingkod Ng Panginoon. The things I learned and appreciated back in CYA was inculcated more in my life. Through Lingkod, the Lord is patiently forming me to live, love and serve like His Son, Jesus.

My experience with the Lord through Lingkod Makati has been really great. It was a joy to witness and be surrounded by people, though amidst challenges, strive to live holy lives and make radical decisions for the Lord. It was a joy to serve the branch that is very committed in loving and serving one another. For me, Lingkod Makati was my second family. I would have wanted to remain in this branch (until I move forward to another state of life hehe) but the Lord has His own plans for me.

I can still vividly remember on the middle of 2005. I had a sense from the Lord that my life would dramatically change in the following year. At first, I just shrugged it off. But the sense was so consistent (and so strong) that I was lead to discern His leadings for me in 2006. During the time I was discerning, the disposition of my heart was to be more of service to Him. My prayer, “Lord, I wanted to serve more. I know I can serve more.” Weeks later, with much conviction and grace from the Lord, I discerned that He wanted me to reach out to another mission field of Lingkod. To where, when and how . . only He knows. I told my leaders about it and waited for the Lord’s will to unfold. I realized that His will for me is the deepest desire of my heart.

Come 2006, God’s leading for me has not changed. Until one Friday, before the start of the prayer meeting, my leader handed me a confidential letter. I placed it inside my bag and decided to just read it later at home because the prayer meeting was about to start. During the worship, I heard the Lord telling me, “I know you can serve Me more. I want you to serve Me more”. (I was struck by His words and later realized that the same words were actually my prayer when I was discerning in 2005!) Our speaker for that night, led by the Spirit, spoke about “going on mission”. I was the one in-charge of informing our speaker about the topic he was assigned. “Going on mission” was completely out of his topic. But as if a fire was burning in my heart during the whole time he was speaking. On my way home, I read the letter that was given to me. It was an invitation to be part of a mission team . . in Marikina! My heart broke. You see, I’m living in Cavite and working in Makati.

I was so dumbfounded. That time, I just don’t buy the thought of leaving home and transfer to a nearer place in Marikina. I will terribly miss my family! My human nature overcame me: I questioned God, “wrestled” with Him and to make it worse, I refused to pray. I saw my disobedience, unfaithfulness and lack of trust on His plans for my life. (Me? Who has been journeying with Him all this years? I cringe as I write this!) After a week of avoiding the Lord, I came to my senses and decided to settle this with Him through a Day of Prayer. During my DOP, I sensed the verse “James 2:14”. I looked for the said verse in my bible and it says, “My brothers, what good is it for someone to say that he has faith if his actions do not prove it.” Aray, Lord. Later on, I sensed another verse again: Exodus 3. And this time, it’s about God’s call for Moses. I realized that the Lord was giving me an opportunity to serve Him more – His answer to the prayer of my heart. The Lord was giving me an opportunity to live, love and serve like His Son, Jesus – the Great Missionary. I received more words from Him that confirmed His leading for me. On that same day, I sent an sms to our Branch Leader telling him that I will join the Marikina Mission Team. It was so freeing. I felt so much peace!

A lot of faith-testing situations came after that. (One of the most difficult I had to deal with was leaving my family of 7 years – Lingkod Makati.) Though really hard at times, it’s been my daily decision to remain faithful and trusting to His plans for my life. God’s words and assurances served as my shield and sword from the enemy who was trying to dissuade me otherwise.

The Lord was right! From the start, the Lord has always been an open book in terms of how the life of His disciples or His followers for that matter, will come about. Everything has been foretold. The underlying and most challenging question there is, not only for me but for all of us is, “How far shall we go?” My answer would not be that obvious. I have many things yet to prove through my actions. But
with God’s abundant grace and with a willing spirit, I continue to raise my eyes to the hope that my faith profess. “I love you, Lord. And if it would entail hardships and difficulties, than so be it. For my life would have no meaning if not for the furtherance of what You have willed and what is suppose to become.”

My exhortation for all of us, brothers and sisters, is to live out the life of faith we profess for there is no other way to express our sincere love for God than to put in action the words of praise and trust we utter.