On Being an Obedient Witness to Christ

by Andy Ralota

“Lord, to whom shall we go?” John 6:68. Perhaps, during this pandemic in our moments of crisis both in business and in personal affairs, we also ask this question. There’s only one that brings good news- Jesus Christ. Jesus is an invitation to a life-changing relationship. Our Built To Last Series is our way of heeding to this invitation by inviting ourselves, our friends, and our community to have a deeper personal relationship with Him through a weekly scheduled series of talks, reflections, sharing, and worship. When I was asked to lead this BTL program, at first I felt daunted by the given tasks because of my business and other family obligations. But I did not say no to the invitation. I know I’m busy. At times I feel tired. Doing this task to lead the BTL would add to my hectic schedules, but I still said yes and committed to the task because I find comfort in what St. Augustine had confessed, “Thou has made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee”.

Here came 2020 tugging along COVID-19 pandemic. Offices, recreation, and even church

activities were mostly closed, physically-stopped or curtailed to a minimum because of the lockdowns. Life hibernated. People stayed at home and being positive connoted a negative

meaning. Then slowly we calmed down, adapted, or got used to it although physical interaction was not yet safe.

Our Built To Last Series Batch 5 (BTL5), supposed to start in April 2020, had to be postponed. Since the pandemic still lingered, we planned then to host it virtually. Unlike physical gathering, virtual BLT program is undoubtedly more difficult because of connectivity issues and inability to connect socially, psychologically, and spiritually as a group during talks, praise, and worship. Given this daunting task, I realized that there is no challenge I cannot overcome when I’m doing it as thanksgiving to God. I realized that obedience and witnessing to God is not measured by how big the challenge is, but how big our response is in carrying out His challenge. Serving in the BTL5 is my way of responding to God’s love to me and my family. Balancing personal life, business and community is quite challenging as well as dealing with different personalities, behaviors and different levels of spiritual maturity. It truly takes making a conscious effort to find God amidst all the chaos and find our center in Him, and to remind ourselves why we are serving and whose work we are doing. I realized that it is the condition of our hearts that matter when we serve.

Being in the community since 2013, I have been exposed to different services including the

Christian Life Program or the Built To Last Series in HCC, assisting in every session through

welcoming participants, distributing food, being a discussion group leader or being the chief servant. Being part of accomplishing God’s work is very fulfilling and a great honor indeed.

When the Virtual Built To Last Series Batch 5 started in January 2021, I made an agreement

with God that I would take care of His business as a course leader. In return I asked Him to take care of mine. My weekdays and even weekends are usually filled with virtual business

meetings. Yet during the BTL5 series I made sure I had less meetings and more time with my preparation for every session. I am a witness of God’s love and amazing grace. In Matthew 6:33, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”. Thank God-- our businesses were able to run smoothly with minimal intervention from me. During this time too, our business in Davao City finally opened after more than a year of preparation and construction. Praise God for giving me the opportunity to serve with brothers and sisters in the community who unselfishly offered their time and effort. It has been a very rewarding eight-week journey with its share of trials and victories. Indeed, when we obey, accept, and witness His call, not only do we accomplish God’s work, but we are also blessed abundantly and experienced little miracles in the process. I am humbled seeing the transformations and growth of the participants and even the service team members. I am truly grateful for the service team and our HCC community not only for the support, but also for being powerful witnesses and instruments of God’s work through their service.

Although the BTL5 has been completed, let us continue to set our eyes on the prize and stay committed to our journey to holiness through obeying, accepting, and witnessing Christ in our daily life. In the days and years to come, as God calls me again to be of service, I will definitely say ‘yes’. Our obedience to the Lord will allow us to be witnesses and to testify to God’s great love and power. I pray that He will continue to use my talents, abilities and resources for His greater glory.

Finally, I realized along the way was that our affirmation to God’s call is more than obedience to Him. It is more of acceptance to His will with steadfast faith, just like believing with closed eyes but with open heart, that everything will be alright despite the prevailing challenges of the time, as Jesus said in Mark 9:23 that all things are possible to him that believes.

** first published in Ang Panimalay 1Q 2021