#cfc-sfc

Last night, I was so blessed to have finally become an official Singles For Christ! I don’t usually let people know my real name here in Tumblr but not this time! I am more than overwhelmed to be one of our Lord’s soldier. My journey in the community started in 2014 as a Youth For Christ. Everything was very different back then since I was only encouraged by friends to join and being the usual me, I was not able to say no. Prior to that, I stay at home all the time after school and I don’t have much co-curricular activities apart from volleyball and badminton every now and then. On my first day, it was nothing that I expected it to be! There were so many people which gave me anxiety and everything that I experienced is just far too strange for me to handle. I joined the entry camp which consisted talks which, I, unfortunately, forgot (shame on me). By the end of the camp, I can certainly say that something within me is seeking more of Him but as the time goes by, I slacked off and barely went to my households (weekly gathering) and everything went off course from there on. 

Months later, I was invited to join the 13 weeks Christian Life Program for Singles For Christ. The CLP is a series of talks along with sharer with the main purposes of knowing Christ even more and how we can live a Christian life. I remember our chapter head telling a story where this guy asked him “if you’re Singles For Christ then why do you have a girlfriend?”. To be quite honest, ever since I heard of the community, it is indeed one of the questions I had myself but not to worry, it does not mean that you literally have to be single, it only means anyone who is at the age of at least 21 years old or maybe a little younger until 40 years old who is UNMARRIED. 

The SFC vision is:

Every single man and woman all over the world experiencing Christ

The SFC mission is:

Building the Church of the Home. Building the Church of the Poor.

My journey in SFC is far too different from the one I had in YFC. I was able to get along with people who have the same thoughts as I do, more mature and level-headed in terms of working life and University life pressure. In here I was able to participate well and I was able to let go of my anxiety, concerns, and insecurities. Everyone is very much understanding and is supportive no matter what you may be going through. Not only did I gain friends but I gained a family. Our couple co-ordinated said that you don’t have to be a part of a group or community to have a strong faith, but it is a choice rather than an obligation.

Kuya Cy is our couple co-ordinator along with her very beautiful and bubbly wife, and I could say he’s friend not only to me but to everyone. They are both very humble and fun to be around which I believe made a lot of difference for the new participant. As anxious as I am, he’d approach me and would tell me jokes until I started asking for advice and he never refuses if you’re in need. God is so good that he will send his warriors to help you in any situations, each and everyone is an angel in disguise and I can certainly say that I am surrounded by angels and I am truly honoured.

My favourite talk has to be Ate Pia’s talk and it moved me the most when she shared the story behind the rainbow. As she said, rainbow is made by God as a promise to never bring destruction here on earth. And this moved me because I see people blaming God for everything that is happening around the world such as natural disaster but I know within me that my God will never bring harm to any of us. He is a good God like that.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

I have a wonderful family that I will always be grateful for to GOD! I know I have already written somewhere about how blessed I feel to belong to our simple and imperfect yet joyful family.

My Papa’s a seaman for about of the same years with my age now but he is no official of high rank. He has been to a lot of countries and places in the world and I admire how he stays humble in spite of all he has been through in life. My Mama’s a fulltime housewife ever since after I was born. My Papa wanted her to be hands-on to all of us while he was away risking his life to basically fulfill his role as the father of the family and provide all our needs. As years went by, all of us started studying. We were sent to private schools from the start, had househelpers, and even owned a little business of “sari-sari” store but we were renting a house then. It did not take too long though when they bought our own lot, built our own house, and acquired a public utility jeepney (PUJ). Nothing was grand. We are not a rich family. I can say that we’re in the middle-lower class. We can just afford stuffs. Just a so-so in the society. But ever since I have realized how GOD’s wonders worked in our lives, I firmly believe until now that everything was HIS providence for my family! From the very beginning of my parents’ family life, we have been intact although Papa was always abroad yet he stayed close to our hearts.

Having said all of those, we, the three children of the family did not live a regal life but instead had our equal share of treatment and responsibility at our young ages. We were not exempted of the sacrifices that we can and have to make to contribute for the better welfare of our family. Although we have started studying in private schools, there came points in our lives that we have to transfer again to a public school. All of us went to S.I.R Elementary School but not altogether. When one or two of us was/were studying in a private school, the other one or two was/were in the public. But that did not make us unfortunate. We got the best training in the said public school. We learned to adjust and understand our situations at all times. Same rule applied with the material things our parents provided for us. In addition to how our parents disciplined us in life, while growing up, we didn’t have househelpers anymore especially after some years that we transferred to our new and own abode. It was tough at first but we are practising it until now. All of us do our household chores respectively. We live in harmony but not at all times yet we know that all are part of the roller coaster ride of life. Then we went to the same affordable private school during our secondary levels, in Tecarro College Foundation, Inc. It was a very low profile private school, not even that much known in our city, but still we were taught and trained to be academically competitive. Soon we went to an inexpensive private university for college, the University of Mindanao, and had our diversed ways of overcoming challenges just to surive.

We encountered many problems and issues both individually and as a family especially when it comes to financial aspect. However, I love reminiscing the fact that all throughout these times, we have always been a prayerful family. We go to Church, though we were not consistent. We always pray together, thus we stayed together. Furthermore, I know that JESUS has always been with us. We have always been recognizing and appreciating all HIS blessings in our family. It was just unfortunate that something still lacked. We were the ones who were not always with HIM. But I know that if we are faithful in HIM, HE will never leave nor forsake us but give us infinite chances instead! Thus, I have started to make peace with all my family members and encouraged them to desire CHRIST hence making HIM the center of our family

Go And Sin No More (Rebecca St.James) - SFC Manila North A1-C Talk 4 Reflection (9-2-2012)