Ptr. JP with his wife Roochie

Name
JP Masakayan

Department / Pastoral Area
Singles Ministry

Other Occupation
VP, Rockwell Land

Interests
Bible studies (private and teaching)

Hobbies
Golf, movies, and going to the beach.

Tell us about something God has taught you while you have been one of CCF’s community leaders.
You must be vigilant in ensuring that your walk matches your talk, and that there is integrity in both public and private life.

Pride is always a problem, at times glaring, more often insidious and subtle:

• When you do something well
• When you are attacked or criticized
• When you are challenged

God won’t let pride go unaddressed. He’ll do it with either rod or staff, but he’ll deal with it.

Name two or three things you love about working with CCF.

1. Working with people who love the Lord is energizing.
2. Working for, and seeing people come to know the Lord is deeply gratifying.
3. Following and learning from leaders who model holiness and natural zaniness is highly inspiring.

Grace

Name
Grace

Occupation
Student

Interests
Collecting, accounting

Hobbies
Watching TV, listening to music, reading Christian books

How and when did you join CCF?
I joined CCF through a summer camp in 2005. I was invited by my aunt, and there — praise God, I was able to understand the Gospel for the first time — by His grace.

Did you have any prior misconceptions about church/faith?
I thought that all of us are God’s children from birth. But when I read and understood John 1:12, it was clear to me that only those who receive and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ have the right to be called children of God.

How has God worked in your life since you joined CCF?
Before I met Christ, my life had no direction. I’d just go with the flow — cheating, lying, stealing — you name it. And, I used to blame my parents for not providing the kind of life I dreamed of.

But since Christ came into my life (praise and thanks to God for using CCF), there is unexplainable joy and peace inside amidst a chaotic environment. My life now has direction. I am still a work of progress and continuously learning to trust God in every area of my life.

Are you active in a ministry or outreach group? Please tell us a little bit of your experiences with that group.
Yes — JZONE Project SCHOOL at PUP (Polytechnic University of the Philippines).  Through this ministry, I am able to serve God where he planted me by discipling groups of young men and women, practicing kindness, love, giving, and knowing and meeting different kinds of people. It is an honor to be used by Him in this ministry.

Name two or three things about CCF that make you stay.
First, God himself. And I can see that CCF really worships the true God. Second, my friends and my D-Group.

By Sherryll S. de Luna

Working in CCF is considered a joy by Leticia P. Alves, chief accountant of CCF St. Francis Square (SFS). “Ate Letty,” as she is fondly called by the people around her, started working January 2004 in CCF Alabang, as accounting staff. She transferred to CCF St. Francis in November 2006 as general accountant and was promoted to chief accountant last June.

“I enjoy working as an accountant in CCF. Iba ‘yung joy ng serving the Lord (The joy of serving the Lord is different). At the end of the day, the Lord is your boss,” says Ate Letty.

Ate Letty considers the accounting department as one of the tools to help further God’s kingdom. She says that all of them in the department are service-oriented, foremost to God, then to the pastors, elders, and the whole congregation.

“It was really the Lord who impressed it in my heart to serve in a Christian organization. When I learned that CCF Alabang would have an accounting team, I prayed and fasted for it before I filed my
application,” narrates Ate Letty.

Ate Letty first heard the need to have a personal relationship with God at a retreat in college. Back then, even though she knew that she was a good person, she was not sure if she will go to heaven. She found herself searching. She soon accepted Christ when her officemate, whose sister attends the Bible studies, invited her to join CCF, which was then located at the AIM building in Makati. That was in October 1986. And the rest is history.

By Mae Young

Pastor Jim and Louie

Q: How did you and your wife get started with doing God’s work? Where are you involved now apart from CCF?

A: We met as staff members of Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC). Louie was involved in the professional ministry of CCC while she was a mathematics faculty member at UP and FEATI. God led her to join CCC full-time at the same time I joined CCC in the US. I had been involved in CCC as a college student and while working as an engineer. My first assignment after joining CCC full-time was here in Manila, where Louie and I went through a nine-month new staff training together.

God has given both of us a burden to equip leaders. Nearly 20 years ago, the Lord led us to work with ISOT-Asia, part of CCC, which is committed to building Asian leaders to help fulfill the Great Commission of Christ. When the school was moving to Manila from Baguio in 1990, I spent time with Pastor Peter and saw what God was doing at CCF. So, when we moved, we committed to be involved in CCF.

Since then, we have led a pastoral area, headed up the training department — Louie was at one time the head of CCF’s Sunday School — and now we are part of the elders and in charge of CCF Missions. But our full-time work is still with the school. I am the executive director of the Global Leadership Group-International Graduate School of Leadership (GLG-IGSL) and Louie is a full-time faculty member there.

Q: What keeps you and your wife persevering in ministry?

A: God’s grace and seeing the lives that are being impacted through those we train.

Q: How many years have you served in ministry, and which ministries have you been involved with?

A: 28 years with CCC, 18 with CCF, 10 years as an elder, and one year as missions pastor.

Q: Did you and your wife always have a heart for missions? How did God confirm this assignment for you both?

A: When we first met, we were attracted to each other because we both had a burden for China. We continue to train and equip students from a variety of strategic Asian countries. Both of us share a desire to see the Great Commission fulfilled by raising up leaders who can reach their own people with the gospel. It is really in our blood — God’s call is not something we want to escape.

A leap of faith. Pastor Jim takes a bungee jump.

Q: What would be the most trying time you and your wife had to face while in ministry and how were you able to overcome it?

A: Being in ministry is no guarantee that you will not have problems. We have had losses of family members, illness, and stress from ministry overload. Maybe the hardest time was a stretch of two months: our youngest, Sharon, was a newborn and had to go back to the hospital due to complications, then Louie’s mother passed away, and Louie was found to have cancer. We just had to learn to trust God in very trying circumstances, and God honored our faith. Sharon is strong and healthy, Louie has been cancer free for many years, and we continue the ministry He has called us to.

Q: How has your missions work enhanced the growth of your own family’s love for God?

A: No family or kids are perfect, but both of our kids have been on mission trips, and continue to be interested in missions. Sharon recently went on a mission trip to Mexico last summer where coaching other missionary kids was part of the project. Both our kids love the Lord and have seen His faithfulness in our family. We have no regrets that He has called us as a family to be missionaries.

Q: What is that one dream that you and your wife have that has yet to be fulfilled by God? What would you like CCFers to pray for you and for Mrs. Whelchel?

A: Of course, as parents, our greatest prayer is for the future of our children. Please pray for Michael and Sharon as they discover God’s plan for their future, for their future spouses, and for God’s protection and covering. Often in the spiritual battle of ministry, Satan targets our children. Please pray for their protection and victory in their own walks with God.

Aumar

Name
Aumar

Department / Pastoral Area
Singles Ministry (under Pastor JP Masakayan)

Other Occupation
TV host for “Pinoy Gamers” on Makisig Network and “twBF: This Week’s Big Five” on RPN 9

Interests
All kinds of sports, audio books

Hobbies
Watching movies, reading books, running

Tell us something God has taught you while you have been one of CCF’s community leaders.
I’ve learned that ministry is about people, and dealing with people comes with a lot of challenges. Not everyone sees things the way you do or how God has revealed them to you, and not all of them share the same values. So, at the end of the day you are left with the reality that everyone is unique, and that each one’s distinctiveness will inevitably bring about conflict one way or another.

As leaders, our role is to help people find unity in diversity. Our responsibility is to find a place where people can find common ground and set aside differences – and that common ground is Christ.

What are some of the difficulties that you have experienced, both as a leader and as a Christian? How has God helped you to deal with these through CCF?
Surrendering to God’s will is not just a one-time thing done in a prayer of acceptance. It is done in every moment and every aspect of our lives. When I gave my life to the Lord, God asked me to also surrender anger and bitterness from a strained relationship with my father. I didn’t know how to do it, and certainly did not want to do it.

But God’s word is clear. I had to reach out to an estranged father and allow God to work in reconciling our relationship. The initial step of reaching out happened despite a hurtful rejection, but through the help and prayers of my CCF Christian family and friends, I have seen much progress in a three-year strain between me and my father.

There is still a lot of room for God’s miracles, but I know that God is setting the stage for His name to be glorified and praised.

Name two or three things you love about working with CCF.
It is inspiring to see people up close, who have given not just their time but their lives to serve the Lord. And, there are also people from whom you can learn a lot and get godly wisdom. You can rest assured that their counsel comes from God and His Word.

Bobbie Jean with her children

Name
Bobbie Jean

Occupation
I’m a servant of God in CCF’s NxtGen Children’s Ministry and also a Homeschool Mom!

Interests
Communicating ideas, music, organizing events, road trips with the family

Hobbies
Creating custom jewelry, making hand-made soap, crafts

How and when did you join CCF?
I was invited to join CCF in November 1985 and I’ve been here ever since.

Did you have any prior misconceptions about church/faith?
Though I was open to trying something new, the prospect of “conversion” was initially a turn-off! Then, during my first few Bible studies at CCF, when it became clearer to me that at the core of all the fuss was a RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, that’s when I became excited to learn more of God through his Word. To this day, that special relationship still remains the core of all I do.

How has God worked in your life since you joined CCF?
The major events in my life all happened since I joined CCF. I came to know Jesus Christ in CCF, got married in CCF (the first-ever wedding of CCF, actually), had my four children and watched them grow in CCF, and made the difficult transition from wife to widow 11 years ago in CCF.

Through all these life-changing revisions, my relationship with God is the only thing I have been able to hold on to for strength, comfort, and purpose. With CCF’s help through its consistent training, equipping, and discipling efforts, my faith in God has grown deeper with each passing season. Today, I continue to stand on his Word, taking every opportunity to serve and follow him as I look forward to faithfully finishing the race.

Are you active in a ministry or outreach group? Please tell us a little bit of your experiences with that group.
I am with the NxtGen Children’s Ministry. Through the years I have seen in my own children’s lives how Sunday School, when regularly attended, can have a powerful impact on a child’s personal relationship with God. Because of this, the Lord has put a passion in my heart to creatively communicate to young lives just how AWESOME, REAL, and ALIVE his love truly is!

I also do regular volunteer work with the Glorious Hope Recovery Program. This is a Christ-centered program for everyone with all kinds of hurts, habits, and hang-ups in life. The program equips people to acknowledge the root of their problems, leads them to take the necessary steps to deal with deeper issues, and eventually overcome the barriers that keep them from experiencing fulfilling relationships with others and a transformed victorious life in Jesus Christ. It is an amazing experience to witness how God uses even the ashes of our lives to bring him glory!

The Kool Single Parents Family Ministry (KSP) is another group I am connected with. Being a single parent, I cherish the joy of drawing on God’s strength and comfort from identifying with other single parent families. Whether to rebuild, recharge, or renovate, the KSP is God’s extended family for the single parent to journey with.

Name two or three things about CCF that make you stay.
More than the fact that I have been with CCF through the most trying and triumphant times of my life, I am now seeing my children grow to be strong men and women of God as they serve Him in various ways in this church.  CCF is indeed our family in God’s embrace!

Cholo

Name
Cholo

Occupation
Student

Interests
Playing drums, computer gaming, listening to music, sports

Hobbies
Working out at the gym, reading

How and when did you join CCF?
We were invited by my father’s co-worker in the year 2004.

Did you have any prior misconceptions about church/faith?
My belief about faith before I met Christ was that I need to be good to others to merit points for going to heaven and having eternal life.

I was really confused before, by all my former church’s rituals, and so bored — doing things like that every Sunday, without any passion in worshiping the Lord. I was always just pushed by my father to attend on Sundays. I felt like I was just practicing and participating a never-ending rehearsal — kneel, stand, sit, hold hands, eat communion…

I also wondered why you would need to confess your sin to a person in authority. My conviction is that God in heaven can hear us directly.

How has God worked in your life since you joined CCF?
Since I became a member of CCF, I’ve been involved in a discipleship group in which my growth and passion in serving the Lord has been so fruitful. And, my family suddenly noticed the changes in my life, from being a disobedient and hot-tempered son to being a better Christian.

Are you active in a ministry or outreach group? Please tell us a little bit of your experiences with that group.
I was invited by my friend to assist in Sunday School. Every time I minister to the kids, I am so blessed to see them. Even though the kids are so very difficult to handle, their innocence reminds me of how Jesus wants us to be like them, with sincerity and purity in our hearts.

Name two or three things about CCF that make you stay.
The children in Sunday school, and JZone youth ministry.

Esper

Name
Esper

Occupation
Retired

Interests
To be happy with my family in every way, to be happy serving the Lord

Hobbies
Doing household chores. I stopped hiring a helper when I retired.

How and when did you join CCF?
My daughter Fifi was already a CCF member. She prayed for me for two years before I joined CCF in 2001.

Did you have any prior misconceptions about church/faith?
No. I believed in God, and I also believed in prayers, but I [expressed these beliefs] through idols and rituals.

How has God worked in your life since you joined CCF?
Now that I’m retired, my life is centered on serving the Lord through the ministries that I’m in. Special attention is given to my D-Group members.

Through the GLC, I learned ways to enhance my life, especially with my children and grandchildren. God is doing wonders in my life.

Are you active in a ministry or outreach group? Please tell us a little bit of your experiences with that group.
Yes, I’m active. After I retired, I started sharing the gospel with employees at Robinson’s – about 4,200 people in 46 stores. Now, our brothers in CCF do the follow-up with them. I also lead the Welcome Ministry, sharing the gospel with first-timers and giving prayers and counseling.

Name two or three things about CCF that make you stay.
I really learned about our Lord and how we should become like Jesus Christ. The teachings in CCF are sincere, and the church has good speakers.

Julia

Name
Julia

Occupation
I am a sophomore at the Philippine High School for the Arts.

Interests
I’m interested in playing the violin, basically. But aside from that, dancing interests me as well, specifically classical and modern ballet, and hip-hop. Also, composing and re-arranging songs.

Hobbies
I’d take pictures of our school, write poems and articles, listen to music, and play dodgeball or baseball during leisure time.

How and when did you join CCF?
I joined CCF when I was three or four years of age, when my mom sent me to Sunday school one Sunday morning. CCF was in Valle Verde back then. I guess you could qualify me as a “laking CCF” kid.

Did you have any prior misconceptions about church/faith?
I truly accepted Jesus Christ at a very tender age. And it was a very tender time indeed. I didn’t take it seriously at first. It was all in the mind. I only took it to heart truly when I was ten or eleven. But, aside from that, I did not think of the faith as a weak one, or something.

Since I grew up in Sunday school, and having been inundated with God’s word at my young age, I did not have any misconceptions about Christ and about the faith that I’ve been taught. Although [like I said], I did not take those learnings seriously until I was ten or eleven.

How has God worked in your family since you joined CCF?
My dad left us for another woman when I was very young (three years old), and this gave me a distorted picture of a father. I grew up with a feeling of hate towards my dad.

But through a message in one of the worship services, God showed me the undeserved forgiveness that He has given me through His son, Jesus, and that I am to do the same.

This opened my eyes to the real image of a father and so, as hard as it was, I forgave my dad for his shortcomings. I have chosen to overlook my dad’s limitations, resulting in a restored and more fruitful relationship with him.

Tell us about being a TMA homeschooler.
I was homeschooled from Third Grade until Seventh Grade. It was a very big part in my life, because that was where I learned a lot from God, and that was where I believe God prepared me for the bigger field.

I learned a lot of facts about Him as well, and many other things that helped me grow in the Lord, like journaling, meaning putting my insights about God into writing. Homeschooling allowed me more time for other interests, resulting in the discovery of my God-given talents (i.e. playing the violin, and my inclination towards music, dancing, and painting).

Are you active in a ministry or outreach group? Please tell us a little bit of your experiences with that group.
Right now, I am leading the Bible study in school and am the Project SCHOOL (Saving Colleges and High Schools of Our Land) coordinator. SCHOOL is a project of JZone geared towards bringing Christ outside the church and into the schools.

In our school, we run in a hectic schedule. Half of our day is spent on academics and the other half on rehearsals in my major (Music-Violin) and studying. Because of this, I learned to be more dependent on God in managing my time. By His grace, I am able to share the Gospel to fellow students during free time and conduct our regular Wednesday night Bible Studies.

Name two or three things about CCF that make you stay.
The things that make me stay here in CCF are its strong foundations in the Lord and His word, and the people, most especially my D-Group, in whom I see the evidence of such foundations. The love and support is very different and there is much emphasis on sharing Jesus.

I do go to other churches on some occasions when I don’t have enough travel time, but this is where I truly grow in the Lord, and so I consider CCF my home church.

Francis with his family

Name
Francis

Occupation
Businessman

Interests
Public speaking, gadgets, technology

Hobbies
Reading, research work

How and when did you join CCF?
Upon counsel by Harold Sala and Andrew Liuson, in 2005.

Did you have any prior misconceptions about church/faith?
I have realized that the church (the body of believers) is saved, but we are not perfect. We are still works in progress. I thought that people in church were perfect, free from defects and then I realize that just like me, we all need correction, encouragement and support to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How has God worked in your personal life since you joined CCF? In your family?
I get to meet more singles, young entrepreneurs, and corporate executives. As for my family, my children became more involved in their spiritual walk.

Are you active in a ministry or outreach group? Please tell us a little bit of your experiences with that group.
My work involves ministry outside church.

Name two or three things about CCF that make you stay.
1. The quality of people attending.
2. CCF’s faithfulness  to the handling of God’s word.