I started to work in June of 1977 in the government and later moved to the private sector. After working for 26 years as an employee and spending the last ten years as an executive of a marketing company, I decided to go into business with my friends who were also executives in their respective companies. Before I decided to resign, I was an Executive Vice-President and was receiving a substantial salary plus all the perks of a company executive. I was confident that I can duplicate my success in my previous companies which will make me and my investors rich. We had the financial resources and expertise to be successful in our venture. We were even labeled as the “Dream Team” of the industry.

But we had a poor start and later made a dismal performance for the next 6 months. Our company contracted a virus: the Cashflu virus. We had cash deficits, fund shortages, and needed to secure loans to tide us up. Being a new company, we are not eligible for a bank loan, so I just made cash advances amounting into millions against my credit cards with very high interest rates. I also drew soft loans from my siblings. Eventually, my company defaulted on the credit card bill payments so I was in trouble.

Nick Amparo & Family

In spite of this situation, I was attending dawn watch, d12 meetings, leading my own dgroup and teaching Biblical Foundation Level I every Wednesday. My wife also teaches Sunday School and I would assist her. All these meant that I had to come to CCF five times a week which meant that I had to pay five times for my parking fees which summed up to around P1,000 a month. For someone with a ‘cashflu’, that was a big amount. My vehicle was not efficient in fuel consumption: 6 kilometers per liter. So every time I went to the gas station it was like going to the Red Cross for blood letting – dinudugo po ang wallet ko. But praise God because my vehicle did not break down, which was fortunate because I had no budget for repairs.

In one of our worship services, I was distributing the pledge forms and suddenly God told me I have no right to distribute because I had not made my own pledge. So I sat down and God impressed on me an amount I didn’t have and could not afford. So I made the pledge by faith. I am an accountant and I tried to strategize by trying to involve in my pledge my wife, daughter and son who are all employed. But they told me that they already submitted their pledges.

I searched the Scriptures to better understand my situation. Just like Isaiah I saw the Lord seated on His throne and He is in control. Then the Lord reminded me in: Psalm 46:10 to “Be still, and know that I am God”, in Habakkuk 2:20, to “…be silent before him”, and in Philippians 4:6-7, to “Be anxious for nothing”. I remembered God’s promises which numbered more than 2,000. I was praying constantly, moment by moment, and my prayers were recitations of God’s promises. I also tried to remain faithful to God, serving Him as He allows me, and being sensitive to His leading.

While I was in the office, my distributor introduced me to his friend who was a manager of a parking lot. I inquired where the parking lot is, and he said beside Podium and he can give me a pass. Thinking it as a one entry pass I politely said “No thank you” – utang na loob ko pa, P40 lang. Then my distributor whispered to me, “Sir, one year pass yun!” Oh no! To save face, I allowed them to leave and then texted my distributor, “Please ask for the pass”, and he went back the following day with the pass. Praise God!
One day, when I was about to gas-up, the gasoline boy directed me to go to a certain lane, only to find out it was a one peso per liter discount lane. Praise God again!

One afternoon, I received a call from a girl Friday of my former distributor in Cebu asking me if she can come to the office. She asked if she can be a distributor and reluctantly I said yes. I gave her our bank account number when she promised to make a P30, 000 deposit, which she did a week after she arrived in Cebu. The following weeks, she deposited large amounts of money which later totaled to more than P1,000,000 and was followed by more deposits in the millions. Similar stories started to happen.

We were back in business and we experienced financial breakthrough because of a girl Friday sent by God. I was able to settle the millions I owed from my credit card and so with my loans from my siblings which amounted to several hundred thousands.

When I checked my car pass it was about to expire, so I called the manager to ask if he can renew my car pass but he said he has already resigned. I was not bothered, however, because when this happened, I already had the money for parking fees. After a year or so of getting a one peso per liter discount, one day I drove back to the discount lane, the gasoline boy was again waving at me, but this time directing me to go to the regular lane with no discount. When I was about to protest, my son shoved me and said “Papa, you now have the money.” As to my old faithful van that did not breakdown – this time it broke down, but I already had the money for the repairs. Remember my pledge? God provided for Himself the way He provided for Abraham and Isaac at Mount Moriah. God allowed me to fulfill my pledge.

Before I started the business a friend told me “sana hindi kayo masunog sa negosyo” (“I hope you don’t get burned in business”). That was my prayer and I remembered the story of Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego, who went out of the fiery furnace unharmed. God had caused me to experience a Miracle of Failure and had used it for my good. It was a worry-to-worship experience. For God causes all things to work together for my good.

I am Nick Amparo, a product of God’s mercy, grace and faithfulness.

The typhoon that hit Metro Manila and its adjacent areas has severely affected thousands of Filipinos. Many CCFers were not spared especially those living near water courses in Marikina, Cainta, Pasig, Antipolo, Taytay, Marilao, Meycauayan, Bocaue, and even Quezon City. Now it has been three days since Typhoon Ondoy left but many CCFers are still stranded in areas not passable by vehicles. A number of them have portions of their houses, their belongings and their vehicles buried in mud. They have not had food nor water for two days.

In response to this, CCF has mounted a relief program to extend help to CCFers, first and also to other affected families as well. Donations in the form of cash and/or kind are accepted. The donated goods are packed and delivered to satellite churches in CCF Pasig, CCF Marikina, CCF Taytay, CCF Marilao and other outreaches. The outreach pastors then distribute the goods to their members and in many cases mobilize them to bring the goods to those who are still stranded.

CCF Relief Operation

At the moment, there is still a lot of need for rice, canned goods, bottled water, clothes, shoes, medicines, and appliances. Hundreds of volunteers are in CCF St. Francis Square, on the fourth floor accepting donations, packing them for delivery to the distribution centers. There is also a huge need for volunteers to help in cleaning the houses of mud and salvaging the furnishings. CCF St. Francis Square is open to all volunteers who would like to help from September 28 –October 04, 2009 (Monday to Sunday) at Room 402 from 9AM to 5PM

We are therefore appealing to everyone to pray for the victims and also extend help by sending their donations and/or giving their volunteer work. Cash donations can be sent online [click here]. Please specify that your donation is for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy.

For more CCF Relief Operation Photos, click here.

Photo taken by Jay Jay Lucas

“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”
Isaiah 40:31

Let me tell you the story of a guy by the name of Dr. Glenn Cunningham. When he was eight years old, the school where he was studying got burned and he was trapped inside. When they got him out of the school, he was almost dead. Half of his body was scorched. The doctors said, “It will be a miracle if you will survive.” but He survived! Then the doctor told his mom, “We need to amputate his legs. He can never walk again. The muscles were burned. It’s too bad. We cannot salvage the legs.” The boy said, “Don’t cut my legs. Please don’t.” So the mom did not consent. When he was released from the hospital, this boy was on a wheelchair and the mom patiently massaged his legs for two years. One sunny day while getting some fresh air outside their house, he decided to get out of the wheelchair. Of course, he fell on the grass. And he began to crawl. He crawled to the edge of the fence. He got up on the fence. He grabbed the fence and he began to walk, pulling his body with his hand near the fence. So he dragged himself. He did this every day. And he began to walk. And then he began to run. Then the most amazing thing happened. He broke the world record for the one-mile run.

His favorite verse is Isaiah chapter forty, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…” Here was a man who was willing to turn disappointment into His appointment for blessing. He didn’t give up. He waited on the Lord. He kept his faith. He fixed his eyes on Jesus.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Horatio G. Spafford

Click here to read the full story of Dr. Glenn Cunningham.