Fear to Faith

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” — Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)

Even before our five-night seminar began, heavy clouds of doubt and discouragement had already set in. The internal noise was relentless: Nobody is going to show up. Everyone is too busy. Remember the last crusade? Nobody came.

When our pastor announced that we would be doing groundwork for an upcoming crusade in Panguiranan, we were met with discouraging stories. Church members told us that during a previous attempt, not a single person had attended. Naturally, we felt a deep sense of nervousness. We honestly worried that all our hard work doing house to house visitations, late nights, and preparation would end up going down the drain.

Due to a fact that our assigned area is an unentered territory. Yet, amidst all of the doubts we chose to anchor ourselves in the very message we were preparing to share: "Finding Hope in Uncertain Times." We reminded ourselves that real hope isn't defined by the absence of struggle, but by the presence of God.

At midnight, we knelt in prayer, asking for guidance and for hearts to be softened.

When opening night finally arrived, God completely blew past our low expectations and transformed our venue into a space filled with grace. Instead of the rows of empty chairs we braced ourselves for, we were met with a dedicated congregation of 86 people each night—all genuinely longing for the Word of God.

On top of that, we had the privilege of running a Vacation Bible School for 165 children. Directing a high-energy kid's ministry while conducting an evening seminar was a massive undertaking, but God continually supplied the patience and strength needed to pour love into every child's heart.  

The most unforgettable moment came during the closing appeal. As we watched 15 precious souls step into the waters of baptism, every sleepless night, anxious prayer, and quiet fear melted into tears of joy. That moment became a testimony we will carry for a lifetime: Never let your present fears become the measure of God's limitless possibilities.

We started this journey terrified of failure, but through God’s undeniable faithfulness, we concluded with 165 blessed children, 86 faithful nightly attendees, and 15 new family members in Christ. What began with fear ended in faith, because Jesus was always the One leading the story. The numbers are a testimony, but the real miracle is transformed lives.

Name: Jan Aubrey Suico

Batch: 66th

Mission Field: Panguiranan, Masbate