Christian Life Testimony

MY PERSONAL TESTIMONY OF MY CONVERSION TO CHRIST

 

PERSONAL AND FAMILY BACKGROUND

 

I am Gerry V. Araneta, born on February 9, 1979 lumad nga taga Ipil. Eldest of eight children of Mr. and Mrs Julian and Floriana Araneta. I am married to Ms. Anna Ria B. Araneta of Looc, Jagna and blessed with 2 children-Tyrone (6) years old and Tyra (5) months old. I work in the municipality as town planning officer and now presently residing at Looc, Jagna, Bohol.

 

ELDEST SON OF EIGHT, ACTING AS A FATHER OF THE FAMILY AND HARDSHIPS IN GROWING UP

 

As eldest of eight siblings, we grow up and experience life that is full of hardships and difficulties in order to survive for a living since my father is not rich man to sustain and provide his children needs. In 1996, we became a broken family, my father left the house and my mother also looking for a domestic job to support our family. Since then, my father did not support us anymore and we survive with the salary of my mother as “labandera” and domestic helper in Manila. I graduated with highest honor in elementary and high school, passed the DOST-SEI scholarship exam, government scholar and a leader in youth and school organization. I am motivated by difficulties and hardships in life of which I had no choice but to study hard, thinking that someday I can get over the trials and a family of poor in nutrition, shelter and other needs in the family. I had passed all those hardships and sacrifices and succeeded as licensed civil engineer, licensed environmental planner, master plumber and graduated as master in public administration, master in theology major in public administration.

 

PAGKAILA NI CRISTO (NOVEMBER 19, 1999)

·        I started as an inquisitive person of who really God is. I have a lot of questions regarding our faith in God, why we worship Mary and other saints. I was one of the leader of Campus Youth Ministry in the Catholic church during my youth days but, it all started with unsatisfied explanation from the Roman Catholic priest.

·         I was one a person preach by various religious denomination such as March of Faith, Bible Baptist, Jehovahs witnesses, Seventh Day Adventist, Iglesia ni Kristo and many more but landed and stay in the discipleship ministry of Keith Patterson at Sir Narding Ranas Ministry in Brgy Looc, Jagna; Accepted Jesus Christ as my Personal Saviour and born again on November 19, 1999 and from there Holy Spirit dwells in my life; was baptized in water; hunger for more spiritual growth and development and because of it, I decided to join Theiological Expansion Training (TEXT Class) under Rev Pastor Edwin Ranan D.D. and graduated in 2005;

·       Formally join Jagna Christian Gospel Fellowship after having been granted as SEC registered independent church located in Cantagay, Jagna, Bohol.

 

.     At present time, we are residing at Colorado Homes Subdivision in Bgy Guiwanon, Baclayon, Bohol and attending fellowship at Family Christian Fellowship in Bgy Cogon, Tagbilaran City and cell group meetings every Thursdays.

 

PAGLUTOS UG PAGSULAY BEING A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN

 

·         My family. They question me, naunsa man ko, bright man unta nalain naman hinuon ug pagkasabot sa pagsimba; lain na ug relihiyon, dili na mosimba sa Catholico, dili na magpasaka sa Birhen (dawn rosary). My brother Dosito himself told me, unsa daw mahimo sa sige ug basa bible study, maka asenso bad aw na sa kinabuhi, dapat daw molihok ang tawo para maka income.

·         Mga Tawo. Gibiay-biay ug gidaut ang akong pagkakatawo. Gihulga nga dili na apilon sa dajong nga kapunungon or even dili na pwede ilubong sa public cemetery. Sayang daw ko kay bright nga bata pero naadto naman hinuon sa mga born again. Mao na ilang thinking nga sayang kaayo tungod kay dili naman sab ko kaayo active or magatabang sa mga lihukon diha sa kapilya or sa simbahan.

·         Silingan nga Balay. Gidaut ug gisalikway sa mga buhat espirituhanon, born again dili na mag fiesta, dili na apil sa kapilya ug uban pa nga makasakit nga pulong;

 

PAGBARUG SA PAGTUO UG MGA KAUSABAN

·         Sa dili na pagsimba sa Simbahang Catolico, dili na mag fiesta;

·         Padayon sa pag attend ug bible studies. Pagskwela ug hermeneutics, old and new testament survey, doctrinal series, etc.

·         Pagka bag o sa kinaiya: dili na mamakak, pagbaton ug pagpugong sa kaugalingon, pagka mapailubon, pagpugong sa kasuko, pagpaubos ug pagka masulundon sa balaod sa Dios ug sa tawo;

·         Mindsetting issue that only through Jesus Christ alone ang paagi sa kaluwasan

·         Pagsabot nga dili makaluwas ang maayong buhat

·         Pagsiguro nga gidawat si Jesus Christ as personal savior and had renewed life and assurance of salvation;

·         Pagbarug sa pagtoo against other wrong practices and doctrines in some of the evangelical churches;

 

PAGKAMINYO SA CRISTOHANONG PRINSIPYO

·    Usa ka hagit para nako ug pagsukod sa pagtoo. Pagbarug nga dili magpakasal sa simbahang Catholico; prefer to surrender or to quit engagement rather than pakasal sa Catholico;

·         One versus many. Kung dili lig-on ug pagtoo, chances are mo compromised nalang sa Catholico since my wife to be is a Roman Catholic;

·         Guided by Pastor Edwin and answered prayer, I had made my wedding ceremony the way I wanted to be happen;

 

KINABUHING KRISTOHANON (BORN AGAIN)

·         Sa sinugdan medyo lisud apan sa hinay-hinay mausab ang atong lifestyle inspired by the word of God and of the co-believers in Christ, finally firm of the denomination where I belong and proud being a born-again Christian;

·         Sa trabaho, identified as non-catholic, exempted from the catholic religious activities and gain respect from the colleagues;

·         Inspired also as member of the Gideon Ministry International in distributing bibles to schools and hospitals;

·         Adunay common understanding and feeling towards the love of Christ; has a feeling to help my co-believers in Christ;

·         Hearing every Sunday message helps remind of the basic doctrines and day to day application of God’s Word;

·         A chance to preach the good news and share to other people, friends and relatives;

 

 

INSPIRING WORKS OF GOD IN MY LIFE

·         He gives me wisdom to fully understand when He died in the cross for our sin and had hope for eternal life after death;

·         Claim His promise not to abandon us in times of need, trials and difficulties;

·         He answered my prayers and requests

·         He always protect and provide all our needs

·         He controls my life, my decisions, my feelings and the desire of my heart;

·         My sacrifices paid with good fruits, like sending to college of my siblings and successfully landed a job

·         My desire and prayer that my wife will become a true and faithful believer of Christ

 

CHALLENGES IN CHRISTIAN LIFE

·         As a parent,  the challenge of moulding our children towards Christ-like personality and upbringing.

·         As a person who is a Christ-centered man in all aspect of life and how to become  a responsible husband and a father of my children

 

MGA PAGSULAY SA KINABUHI

  • I have been challenged by God, the matrimonial sanctity of marriage is about to broke.

 

At this moment, still strong and faithful to our saviour Jesus Christ seeking His everyday spiritual guidance and works of the Holy Spirit. To God be the Glory!