Testimonies From The Philippines
New Hope To Asia College Students
I’m Helen Domdom, 16 yrs. old. I became a Christian when I was 9 yrs. old at Superkids Bible Club. It was also the start when Jesus moved in my life.
I come from a family of 5 siblings and I am the middle child. Our eldest is my brother and is a special child. The second in the family is my sister who I was able to share the gospel of Jesus and started going to church with me. Then, I also have two other sisters younger than me. My mom works as laundrywoman and my dad does not have a permanent job as a carpenter. He drinks a lot and would sometimes beat my mom and us kids. We live in the squatters village near the church.
It was the Christmas of 1999 when I got hold of an invitation for a Christmas Party which was hosted by New Hope church. It excited me at once since the invitation says it’s only for children. And my mom allowed us three younger girls to go to the Party. In the Party I could still remember there was Santa Clause who shared the gospel and that he, too needed Jesus and needed to be saved. It was so much fun and I remember the food they gave was really delicious. And for me, it was the very first time that I felt special.
They invited us again to come to Superkids Bible Club. I started coming at the 2nd module and since then I never missed a meeting. And I do remember well that in Oct. 6, 2000, at the age of 9, I gave my life to Jesus and decided to live for Him. I had the hunger to know more about Him through His word. Though I lived in a non-Christian home and at that time I was the first one to become a Christian in our family.
At age 15, I started going to the Youth group where I learned more and more about Him. I also shared the gospel to my mom and since then she has been coming to church, too. My other sisters are all Christians now. But I’ve always been afraid to share Jesus to my Dad. I just continued to pray that God would touch him some day. And last March 25, 2007, on the 13th Anniversary of New Hope, I invited my father to come to church and he accepted Jesus in his heart as his Savior.
God continues to bless me and use me in different ministries. Now I am a cell group leader, also a tambourine dancer. I just graduated in high school and the church has helped me to find a good university to continue my studies. I plan to take up Hotel and Restaurant Management. Even though sometimes I have no more transportation fare, God has showed me His faithfulness and favor. And I will continue to walk in His ways even the road may sometimes be tough.
I am Christina Sismundo, 18 yrs.old. Everyone calls me Tintin for short. I am the eldest of 6 siblings. We live in my grandparents’ house in a squatters area at the back of a Baptist church in Brookside. It has been hard for us to befriend the children in our neighborhood because they treat us as nothing important. So we have no friends in our area.
Since I was a child, I already heard a lot about Jesus. Honestly, I was confused and didn’t understand. Especially I go to a public school and they teach about Catholicism, and at the left side of our neighborhood is another church called Iglesia ni Cristo which taught that Jesus is not God. And infront of our house is the Baptist church which taught that Jesus is our Savior.
Until when I was 11 yrs. old, I got an invitation to Superkids Bible Club. Here we learned about Jesus’ saving grace for each one of us and that He gave Himself up so that we may spend the rest of our lives in heaven. And when I accepted Jesus in my heart, everything came into place and suddenly I had the understanding of who Jesus is.
At 13, my family moved to another place and going to Superkids became difficult for me. So I stopped coming. But then a year later, my family moved back to my grandparents’ house behind the Baptist church. And then I found out that New Hope church has transferred just a block away from our house! This made me realize that God truly love me and He’s the one making ways to come literally near to me. Since then, I’ve always come to church and never missed a service.
I started coming to Youth meeting where I learned more deeply about Jesus. He also has started showing me my talents. I have learned to play the keyboard and now I am part of the worship team. I am also one of the tambourine dancers, also a cell group leader, and teach Sunday school and help a lot at Superkids. I pray that God will continue to use me even more than I can think or imagine.
I also had the privilege of going to a good college at the University of the Phil., which I heard it is where the President and senator’s kids go for their college degree. With the help of the church, God provided me a sponsor who fully supports me in all my college expenses. Next semester, I will be 3rd yr taking up B.A. major in Fine Arts.
Last year, February 2006, my father decided to go to Saudi Arabia to work as a forklift driver. But then in July of the same year, my mom was hit by a loose rolling tire from an 18 wheeler truck and killed her. It was truly devastating and discouraging for us siblings especially my father cannot come home to be with us in this difficult situation. His company did not allow him.
I thank God that He provided us with people that truly loved us and took care of us. The church continued to surround us with love and encouragement as we went through this darkest time of our lives.
Now, I’m still walking, determined to serve the Lord in every way that I know and nourishing the ministries He has given me. I continue to hold on to His promises. And I know nothing can separate me from His love.
All my siblings are now coming to church and serving the Lord. My mother, before she died, was also attending church regularly. Also, my other cousins are coming to Christ. I continue to pray that God will touch my father, even if he is working abroad. And I pray that my life may be a pleasant offering to my Father in heaven.
I’m Pinky Ellen Menoria, 18 yrs. old. I met Jesus when I was 10 yrs. old. My friends told me that they have received a piece of paper inviting children ages 3-12 to attend the Superkids Bible Club. They said that it was given to them by a woman riding in a car. It was indicated in the paper that there are lots of games, gifts, and food for us. So we were all excited to know what Superkids is all about. We decided to go to that meeting and I was surprised to see a lot of kids there who received the paper invitation like us.
At the meeting, we met Ptr. Ding and Ate Mona. They taught us Christian songs and bible verses. But most of all they taught us about Jesus and shared the gospel to us. At that time, when I heard the word and knew that Jesus loves me I had that feeling that Iwanted to know Him more. I wanted to hear more about Jesus. So when Ptr. Ding asked who wants to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior I immediately raised my hand together with other children and prayed the prayer of salvation. I surrendered my life to Jesus when I was 10 yrs. old and since then He has been good to me and my family.
I felt so blessed because I was the first one who became a Christian in our family. I started to share Jesus to my younger sisters and now they come to Superkids, too.
Now I’m in college. I thank the Lord for giving me a great blessing because I was able to study in college even though my parents said it was impossible for me to go to college. God provided a way and my education is being supported by our church.
Thank God because now I have a hope and a future. I believe God has plans for me and He will use me as a living testimony for the salvation of my family. It never came to my mind that by that simple piece of paper the Lord will move in my life in a way I never thought before but He did. Thanks be to God.
Now I am serving God for almost 5 yrs. God uses me also as a cell group leader. God has also blessed me by teaching me to play the bass guitar which I am now a part of the worship team.
I will continue to serve Him the best that I can.
I am Marivic D. Castuera and I grew up in a Catholic family. We lived as temporary dwellers or more commonly known as squatters in Gruar. Before I became a Christian, I lead a procession in our community for Mary (a Catholic activity wherein statues goes around the place). In spite of that (being so-called religious) I do stuff like drinking, smoking, and hanging-out with people that do bad things.
In my younger days, I remember we were so poor I went to school without being able to eat anything. My mom stays home to take care of us and my dad has no permanent job. But I already felt determined to go to school even if I had to walk. And eventually I finished my high school.
After high school, I knew I wanted to study more so I took up a vocational course Telecommunications Technology. But my dad got ill and all the little money that we had was used for his medication. My dad’s situation became serious and I had no choice but to stop schooling. It did not take long and he died. He was diagnosed to have Lung Cancer.
I had so many questions in my mind, too many which lead me to seek for an answer. There were kids in my neighborhood attending Superkids Bible Club every Saturday and they keep on talking to me about what they do at New Hope church. My friends that go to the Youth meeting at the church amaze me so much, from being drug addicts and thieves, has tremendously changed lives. And their testimony has placed an impact on me. It took sometime for me to make the decision because I knew that I will have to withdraw the lifestyle that I enjoyed and the friends that I hang out with.
Truly, God has a plan for me. He keeps on revealing Himself to me. God left me with no choice but to surrender my life to Him. It was that turning point in my life where I felt so much pain – pain of being hopeless, pain of knowing that I will never have a good future, pain of being around with people who treated me like I’m a nobody. It came to that point that I told the Lord, “ok Lord, I will try you. But if I will not find happiness, then I’m really stuck in the kind of world that I live in.” And I accepted Jesus in my heart. And suddenly everything changed. My outlook in life changed. Suddenly I felt secured in His arms, peacefulness and hope lay. I regularly attended the Youth meeting in church and learned more about how much Jesus loves me.
I continued to pursue my studies. This time, I took up college degree course in B.S. in Secondary Education. On my last year of schooling, my mom told me to stop because of the heavy expense of going to school. But I knew that this is not God’s plan for me. I tried to find a job to support myself yet I only ended up frustrated. I kept on believing God for His promises and I knew He will help me finish my course. True to His promises, I was called to the school office and handed a letter stating that I am one of the 25 students given a scholarship by a Catholic congregation. I had to live in Catholic convent but through this last year of my schooling, I saw how God lead me every step of the way. He showed His mighty power over me.
I am now a Teacher in a Christian School and God has given me the opportunity to share the gospel to students. In the church, I am one of the cell group leaders. I thank God for He continues to uphold me everyday and shower me with His love.
Mark Olasiman
I am the eldest among 4 siblings. I live in the squatters of Bagong Silang. My dad is a taxi driver and my mom works as helper. My dad is a messed man, Twice he ended up in jail for getting in trouble with other people’s wives. I myself was a mess, too. Before I came to Christ, I learned to steal. I dropped out of school when I was 12 and I had special friends that got me into more trouble. I started going to Superkids because all our neighbor kids were going, too. Back then I was just interested with the good food they serve. I didn’t realize that I was learning more and more about Jesus, until a few months later I accepted Him in my heart and was baptized in water.
Then, I started coming to the Youth meetings. That’s when I was amazed how they freely worship the Lord, lifting hands, dancing, and shouting for the Lord. I went back to school and I realized that if I do study well, I always end up at the upper 10% of the class. This is all because of the Lord.
Now, I just finished my High School and the church helped me pass the entrance exams at PUP. God has given me the opportunity to go to College and He has been faithful to me even if I am faithless to Him.
Junel Manalo
I am 2nd in a family of 4 siblings. My two older sisters are twins. We grew up in a Christian home and every Sunday we go to church. I go to church because it was a habit and my whole family goes so I had to go. As a young boy, I was lazy and sleep a lot. I had bad habits and hang out with lazy friends. I like playing computer games with them and this was what we usually did most of the time. My father used to work as a laborer and had no permanent job. So we lived in the squatters beside New Hope church. One Saturday, I saw many kids coming to the church so I looked around. A guy invited me in. At once I enjoyed the first meeting. Then they shared the gospel and prayed for children to accept Jesus in their hearts. I did pray too. Nothing has happened in me yet then. But while I was growing I started attending the Youth meetings and joined a Cell Group. This is where I have truly accepted Jesus in my heart that God has touched my life and felt His presence that I have never felt in my entire life.
The Lord has blessed my dad and gave him a new job as a salesman at a mayonnaise company. We transferred to a studio-type apartment, which is a lot better than our previous house.
Now I just graduated from High School and I will continue to pursue God’s desire in my life by being obedient to Him and His Word. I am very thankful to God that He has taught me to play the drums and will use it for His glory.
Agnes Besa
I am the eldest of 3 siblings. My father and mother separated when I was young girl. My mother took all the burden of supporting us and decided to work as a domestic helper in another country. I was 3 years old then. So my two brothers and I stayed with my mom’s sister. She is single and she took care of us and loved us.
While growing up, I felt emptiness in my life. I was missing my father. I didn’t know him but deep inside there was longingness and a need for a father. So I accepted the fact that I will never be happy because I don’t have a father.
But in my First year of High School my life changed. I joined our school Youth retreat and from there I accepted Jesus in my heart, as my Savior and as a real Father. I suddenly felt that He filled up that emptiness and longingness. I surrendered my whole being and promised that I will serve Him as my Father. The following Sunday I joined my cousins to New Hope church and I have been coming since then.
Now I am a play the bass guitar for the Worship team, and also a part of the Dance ministry. I am thankful to the Lord for He has truly filled up my life.
Jenny Rose Dellosa
I am the eldest among 6 siblings of all boys. My family is poor and we live in the squatters behind the church. My dad is a laborer and has no permanent job. My mom’s job is more regular as a high-speed sewer. Our way of life was so difficult because of scarcity of water. My parents decided to move to my grandparent’s house. It turned out to be worse and so we transferred back to our house behind the church.
When I was young, I had so many dreams. Simple dreams like to be able to swim in a wide, open sea. I also dream that when I grow up I will be an electrician. TV antennas always fascinate me.
Since we live just behind the church, all my brothers and I started coming to Superkids Bible Club. And that is where I gave my heart fully to the Lord. Not only because of the gifts and prizes we receive, but it is in this church that I started realizing my dreams. Joining the Older Kids class handled by Sis. Ed gave me the opportunity to go to the beach and swim.
When I finished High School, Pastor Ding and Mona helped me to pass the entrance exams in a state engineering school. My parents have no way of sustaining my school expenses but the church has continued to support me. I am now taking Electrical Engineering, which was also my dream when I was young. God is so good to me and will serve Him all the days of my life.
Milet Dire
It was funny how God called me to Himself. My family lives in a squatters community in Bagong Silang in Cainta, I was looking for my younger sister when I saw a bunch of newly bathed squatter kids (my neighbors) practicing a dance one early Saturday morning. I asked them why and for what are they practicing the dance. They said they will be doing a special dance number for the Superkids Bible Club. I got envious so I asked if I can join them. They said I am welcome to come only that I should not expect to receive any more groceries because it was the end of the module. Even then, I still went with them. And from then I never missed a meeting. I received groceries and rewards in the succeeding modules but best of all, I received Jesus in my heart.
In my last year in High School, my dad and mom lost their jobs. I was so sad because my mom told me to stop schooling. But God had other ways. I went to live with Sis. Ed and helped with their house chores and she helped me finish my High School.
Then Pastor Ding and Mona helped me pass entrance exams at a state university in Cainta. Even how unstable my dad and mom’s jobs are but still God always provided for me. I am now taking B.S. in Secondary Education because I want to be a Teacher. I love teaching children. In the near future, I want to be used by God to teach in our school. I feel so lucky that God had picked me out to be a part of His kingdom.
Jenneth and Jenny Manalo
Jenneth and Jenny are twins and the eldest of 4 siblings. Their dad does not have a regular job as a laborer. Their mom works as contractual as a high-speed sewer. They used to live in the squatters in a huge empty lot beside our church. They started coming to our church 6 yrs. ago and accepted Jesus in their hearts then.
Now, they are also part of the Dance Worship Ministry. Both are Cell Leaders comprising of young people. Both have learned to play the drums and take turns in the church Praise and Worship Team. In their own schools, they have instigated Bible Study groups among their classmates. God has continued to bless them. Their dad has found a better job as a Salesman of a Mayonnaise company. And the family has transferred to a studio-type apartment. Though the job is better paying, school expenses still a burden for the family. The other brother, Junel, is also going to college this coming June, 2008 and passed the entrance test to the Polytechnic University of the Phil.
Vivian Macalino
I am the youngest of 3 siblings. My family is poor and I grew up in the squatters of Gruar. Also, I have a broken family. My parents separated because my mom was a drug addict and a gambler. Soon after they separated, my mom got a live-in partner and both of them used drugs together and gambled together.
I grew up with just a few teeth as a result of my mom’s drug addiction when she was pregnant with me. The kids in my neighborhood make fun of me. They also called me vampire because I did not have front teeth but just the incisors. I grew up very shy and have no confidence in myself.
One day my friend invited me to go with them to the Superkids Bible Club. I told her I don’t want to go because the people there might laugh at me also. My friend insisted so finally I agreed to go with them. I was so happy that day because for the first time I felt I am welcome and nobody laughed at me. Pastor Ding and Mona prayed for me so I accepted Jesus in my heart. I was 12 years old then. That was the most wonderful thing that happened in my life. I attended the Superkids Bible Club for three years then I transferred to the youth group. I also joined the Cell Groups. God started touching my life and I grew more intimate with Him. Then I started to pray for my teeth. Everyday I prayed that God would give me dentures. After a few years God answered my prayer. He used someone to pay for the cost of my dentures. Again I was so very happy and thankful to God.
After I graduated High School, I started praying again because I know I can’t go to college because my parents have no job and no money to send me to school. Again God answered my prayer. He used the church to help me go to college. Even though my mother and my other siblings are not good to Pastor Ding and Mona, still they helped me. They are my second parents, loving me even much more than my own family.
Right now, I want to give all my time serving the Lord in every way. It is the only way I know to thank God. I am very happy when I serve others. I’m looking forward to see my parents accept the Lord as their Lord and Savior and that they may also experience His great love and goodness.
Rina Bumanlag
I am 19 years old, the youngest of 5 siblings. I grew up in a poor family and I live in the Squatters in Gruar, Cainta. My parents are not Christians. They quarrel all the time, exchanging bitter and cursing words against each other. My father is a heavy smoker and drunkard. He usually comes home drunk and spent all his money with his drunkard friends. My mother gets angry and they become violent. This is a normal scene in our house. My brother rebelled and became addicted with drugs and has been in and out of jail for drug pushing. My oldest sister married at age 15 and has 2 kids but my mom takes care of her grandchildren. These are all so painful to me but I was determined to finish my schooling. I didn’t know if it were possible but all I know that there is a God who is merciful.
At age 10 last 1999, New Hope church came to our community and gave out invitations to a Christmas Party. I was so excited because the paper said we were to receive gifts and prizes. My friends and I went to the party and that was the start that God touched my life. I continued going to Superkids Bible Club every Saturday.
I heard a lot of Bible stories and learned memory verses. That was the time I accepted Jesus and surrendered my life to Him. My life was changed and I found new hope in Jesus. At age 14, my friends and I started going to the Youth meetings of New Hope. My relationship with the Lord became more intimate. God touched my life in a different way and those unexplainable things that he has done were really great and I value all of them.
When I graduated High School, I wanted to go to college but my parents have no ability to support my studies especially with all the family problems still going on. But God has a plan for me. He used other people to help me to go to college even though we have no money. God did a miracle in my life and now I’m taking up Bachelor of Science in Statistics and I am now in third year. I am so thankful to the Lord because of what he has done. I believe that if God works in one’s life, he is going to finish it. He has a good and colorful plan for my life. So I continue to seek Him and will not give up. Praise the Lord.
Jommel H. Paraiso
I am the 5th of 9 siblings. I heard about God when I was 4 years old. During that time my father and my aunts were talking about passages from the bible and I was there listening. I was perplexed to understand their dialogue. Who is that Jesus who walks on water? Is he a man or just a myth? Time has gently passed in my life and every moment, there were chapters where I encountered the name of a mystical man Jesus. Along the way I learned that Jesus was the Son of God and answered some my questions.
My learning about Jesus didn’t stop there. I realized he always brings me to something that will make me know him more. Because of my hunger, I joined different sects and some of them were cults. I attended meetings with the “Mahal na Ingkong sect in Bataan,” Jehovah’s witnesses, Christian fellowships, Dating Daan, and Iglesia ni Cristo. In search for truth I choose to be baptized in the sect “Iglesia ng Diyos, Kay Kristo Hesus Saligan at suhay ng katotohanan sa bansang Pilipinas.” I devoted my time studying the bible to debate those who are not in this sect. At that time I was enrolled at the Philippine Maritime Institute taking Bachelor of Science and Custom Administration if I completed the course I would be a custom broker.
In all these I was loosing my joy as I see these groups attack and debate each other about their faith. Then I got sick. My ears were almost deaf. For what reason, I do not know. I cannot hear clearly but a very mute sound from those who want to communicate with me. It lasted for almost two weeks. I blamed God for what happened to me. I said “Lord is this the prize of searching for you?”
Then one day the Lord healed me. I will never forget this day. It was a Saturday morning, a lady evangelist came to our house and none from my family knew who she was. When she came to the door she said “the Lord brought me here because he wants to heal somebody who is sick in this house.” My mom called me and she shared me about the Lord’s Salvation. In a very mute voice I heard her very clearly. After I prayed the prayer of Salvation there was a loud pop inside my ears that opened it. Instantly I was healed. The Lord healed me. From that day on I was attending their church. The lady pastor assigned me to be the Youth Chairman of the young people. The church sent me to MT. ZION BIBLE SCHOOL because they strongly believe that God has plans for my life and it should happen without delay. I experienced lots of things like did Paul. I experienced to be hungry, to be full, persecuted and accepted for the sake of serving the Lord.
I have finished my BIBLE training and now I am serving the Lord in New Hope Christian Fellowship. To be able to serve him to the fullest I dropped my work and my selfish ambition. I enrolled at Harris Memorial College taking Bachelor of Elementary Education. It almost breaks me as man because it removes my capacity to provide for my wife and son. Every time I think of it my eyes flood with tears. But I knew, and I surely do, at the end of all these God will be glorified in my life.
GRADUATES
Argie Alburo
I am the 3rd child of 9 siblings. My father’s job was not regular. He stacks supplies in warehouses. My mother used to work as dressmaker but because she had children almost every year so she had to quit her job. We lived in the squatters where life seemed to be of no hope. Sometimes I had to sleep up the tree because there was not enough room in our small house. My older brother and sister married early and also had children and they all lived with my dad and mom. I grew up in the streets begging for money and food from passers-by and found friends that pushed me into alcohol, drugs, and sniffing glue (rugby). To sustain my vices I learned to steal. I almost died but I didn’t care less. I continued with my vices and stopped schooling.
One Sunday my friend Rona invited me to a youth meeting at the church. Everyone who goes there said there’s so much fun and they serve good food. And of course I was interested with the food so I went with my friend. And it was really so much fun. I forget all my heartaches and problems whenever they start worshipping. I continued coming every Sunday, this time not just because of the food but God started moving in my life. I was 18 yrs. old then when I accepted Jesus in my heart. From then I started to have hope and made a decision that I want to go back to school. I talked to Pastor Ding and he not only helped me go back to High School but even allowed me to live in the church.
I thought I will only be able to finish High School but God continued to bless me and be gracious to me. The church helped me find a vocational school that offered a course on Mechanic for Heavy Equipments and Servicing Technology. After two years I have finished my schooling and I am now employed in a company as a Service Technician for Generators.
I am the only one in our family who finished a college course and has a regular job. I am helping my other sibling to go to school. Also, I am now involved in the church as the only male Worship dancer. I will continue to serve the Lord to the fullest for He has given me a hope and a future in a time that I no longer had hope and a future.
Isidro Villarmino
I am the 5th child of 9 siblings. My father is a newspaper man going house to house delivering newspapers. My mother is a housewife. I live in the squatters of Cainta. Since we are a big family my mom and dad cannot sustain our daily needs and expenses. That is why everyday I spent my day in the streets selling cigarettes, and newspapers or whatever I can sell to earn money. I have friends that are thieves and from them I learned to pickpocket bystanders and almost got caught by the police.
With our poverty, my mom even went into drugs. Our family became more dysfunctional. Everyday drug addicts come to our house to buy drugs from my mom. My dad and the other siblings cannot do anything because my mom is involved in it.
At the age of 14 I started going to Superkids Bible Club. I said to myself at least, once a week I am fed well because at the church they always serve good food. I accepted Jesus in my heart and from then I learned how to pray and I started praying for my family. A few months later my mom decided to join the Moms Bible Study group regularly held at our community and finally she gave up her addiction to drugs to the Lord. I knew then that the Lord is restoring my family. With the help of the church, I have finished my High School and continued to pursue a skilled course. I am now a heavy equipment mechanic and employed in a Generator company where I am the Safety Technician. I am the only one in the family who finished a course in school. All my older brothers and sisters married young. I continue to thank God for everything he has done and for restoring my family. My younger sister (Charito) is also one of the preschool students of New Hope.
Rona Bumanlag
Rona is the first graduate that New Hope Church helped to finish a college course. She took up Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Rizal System. She chose to work for the church cooking and maintaining the kitchen for Saturday Superkids Bible Club, and feeding Preschool class everyday. She is also a part of the Worship team, handles her own Cell Group and Heads the Evangelism Team, and takes turn sharing the Word of God for Sunday Youth Meetings.