LA biographies

Ate Luming Arzadon: “If you want to be a disciple, you must be willing to spend and be spent”

Sitting beside a woman who made a difference on her own, it was a pleasure interviewing Ate Luming Arzadon, the woman after God's own heart.

Ate Luming grew up in a Christian family, attending church services, Sunday schools and fellowships to seek and learn more of God. She then grew up conscious about God with the desire of meeting Jesus in heaven. Her father emphasized that "if a heart doesn't have Christ, that heart would be unclean and polluted." School teachings added "that if you do good, you will go to heaven, otherwise, you're doomed to hell." She never wanted to have a dirty heart so she chose to have Christ while she did good things.

In high school, she was baptized in an independent church where she became an active president of the young people. In college, she continued what she had started on church-related works and activit ies.

After she graduated, she joined the NAVIGATORS because she was not satisfied with just attending the church, practicing for choir, church visits, and youth conferences. She wanted more relevant and meaningful service to God. She met Gene Tabor from the Navigators who presented the bridge illustration.

Ate Luming's flrst bible study group was in UP Diliman under the Navigators. While doing office work as an architect at the Pasig Public Works, she was challenged by the fact that when you are a disciplemaker, you really have to make sacrifices. It was said, "except a grain of wheat fal ls into the ground and dies, it remains alone" - and cannot bear fruit. She learned the principles of discipleship from a missionary who told her, "if you want to be a disciple, you must be willing to spend and be spent. Spend your money, your time, and even your own life for the Lord."

She once said to herself, "I will commit myself to the Lord and I will continue the vision the Lord has given me." She learned that God gives visions differently for each person. This challenged her even more so she underwent training. The Navigators sent Ate Luming for training in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. When she returned to the country, she was asked to live in a girls 'training apartment.

Ate Luming decided to work full-time because she really wanted to know Christ and serve Him more. She told God, "Lord I want to love you with all of my heart, with all of my soul, with all of my mind, with all of my strength, and to love others as I love myself. I want to obey the greatest commandment of all."

She said she has learned so many things in her personal walk with God. Anyone who really wants to become a missionary or a full-time worker has to face a lot of sacrif ices - like... either you marry late or you don't marry at all. "Its because you give up everything", she discloses. "There will always be a cross to carry. You serve God but you will also serve people. "If you're a full-time worker", she shared, "you provide spiritual nourishment to the people. But it doesn't end there. You will provide for almost everything - financial, emotional, psychological, and spiritual help. You really have to deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Christ." It is really sacrificial, a simple sacrificial lifestyle.

She is married to Kuya Boni Arzadon with whom she shares the vision of Matthew 28: 18-20 and the promise of Isaiah 60:22.

Serving in the ministry, however, is not always as smooth sailing in calm waters. There are turbulent times where we will face hostile waters and surging billows. When asked about how she looks at this reality, she was reminded about a word from an American missionary— the greatest problem you will encounter is not outside of your home but inside it. She identified criticisms and disobedience to God as common problems in the ministry. She did not deny that these situations are difficult to handle. Yet as a leader, you have to take care of everything. This includes shepherding the flock particularly, taking care of t he lamb, feeding the sheep, taking care of the sheep. Amidst these challenges, she maintains an attitude similar to David's- you just always have to take it from the Lord.

Currently, Ate Luming is the coordinator of the Los Banos women's ministry. She also oversees tfie fulltime women workers in the national ministry. She handles Bible studies with some of them and helps in overseeing the activities of the LA Center,

Ate Luming believes that serving the Lord as a full-time worker is the highest calling. She believes that the purpose of life is to serve the Lord, to love Him above all, to love others, to help them become disciples, and to help them produce reproducible disciples. We are born to reproduce and we produce our own kind. Therefore, we must be Christlike to produce a Christlike disciple. Being a disciple is to be like Jesus.

Angel Sumague: "The calling to become a missionary is an Invitation from God"

Angel Sumague or Kuya Angel accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior when he was in his senior year In High School. But while his acceptance of the Lord was genuine, he did not involve himself in Bible study. It was only during his college days that he committed himself to grow deeper in the Lord by studying God's word.

When he was a freshman at UPLB, God provided mature leaders to help him grow in his Christian life. His love for God and his desire to serve Him in a ful l time capacity grew each day.

One day white answering a BS material during break time in the Agronomy building, the idea of serving God fulltime suddenly flashed in his mind. He was a third year college student then. That idea was set aside because of a greater desire to finish co llege, get a good job, and help his family.

However, he continued serving the Lord during his undergraduate years by committing to follow-up guys, becoming active in witnessing and involving in different ministry activities. This commitment was sustained by God even up to the time when he worked at the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), where he served for six years.

In October 1991, wh ile preparing for his wedding with Ate Joy, the invitation to go full time came. That invitation brought some struggles like feelings of unworthiness and inadequacy. He was about to get married, so how would he be able to support his family since there was no assurance of a big allowance from the ministry?

His desire to advance professionally would also come to an end. Yet he continued to pray and sought counsel from the elders. He did not want to miss God's call and opportunity. If ever he would decide to become a full-time missionary, that would be a step of faith.

He prayed a simple prayer and God gave him peace and joy as he decided to accept God's call. Reverent fear enveloped his heart because he realized it was an invit ation of God Himself and not of man. God spoke to him clearly in Isaiah 55:12, which says, "You w ill go out in joy and be led forth in peace; The mountains and hills will burst into song before you and all the trees of the field will cl ap their hands". He was already ready to get out of IPB with a joyful heart.

Surprisingly, better job opportunities which he desired and waited for 5 years came. Yet he was determined not to be hindered by the enemy. He clung on to the promise of the Lord that He would provide for his family. He will serve God no matter what. At the end of December, he told his confused direct supervisor about his decision. Truly, until now Kuya Angel experienced God's faithfulness and blessings because of that step of faith he made 13 years ago.

Eppie Serrano: "I cannot imagine another work not associated with evangelism."

It was in April 1976 whi le teaching at Visayas State College of Agriculture (VISCA) where Ate Eppie Serrano made a commitment of making her life count for God. She fi led a resignat ion letter where she stated that she wanted to serve God full time. Where, when and how — she had no idea.

In June to July 1977, she reviewed for the Forestry Board Exam while attending every Thursday the Forest Research Institute (FORI) Bible study group upon the invitation of Sim Alonzo (Pasicolan) to join their BS group. She witnessed to some families at the Forestry Sawmill site and followed up several kids which ushered the start of the Kids' Ministry of LA-Saturday.

She got a job and was transferred to Pagbilao, Quezon but distance proved not to be a hindrance for her to travel back on occasions to Los Banos to attend the Bible study with Ate Luming. Her love for God grew stronger. She loved answering all those BS lessons even when alone at Pagbilao. In June 1979, she was granted a Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) scholarship to pursue her Master 's degree.

After seven years of being a Christian, Ate Epple f inally decided to be a full time worker upon t he Inv itat ion of Ate Luming and Gene Tabor in May 1983.

She got invo lved in developing materials and modules for Bible studies and disciple -ship trainings.

According to her, she has no regrets of having decided to serve God full time. She emphasized, "This is where I am happy and I cannot imagine another work not associated with evangelism and discipleship."

In the ministry, she is dedicated to use her gifts and talents for God. She has the gifts of teaching, wr iting, acting and directing. She also wants to develop more discipleship materials and write Christian books. Her future plan is set to conquer nations and places for the Gospel. Desp ite her busy schedule as a devoted wife, lov ing mother and conscientious community worker, she manages to shuttle back and forth to nearby off ices for Bible study and follow-up.

Pastor Peter Miral : No Regrets !

It was during the Leadership Development Institute (LDI) last Apri l29, 1999 in Los Banos, Laguna when Pastor Peter Miral saw the need for ful l time workers. Right there, he decided to be one for the Lord.

Previous to this, he served for 14 years at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM). He finally made his calling sure to be of God's service in a fu ll time capacity. His spiritua l journey started at USM when the late Brother Restie Cahatian shared to him the Gospe l and Brother Harem Roca nurtured his spiritual growth through Bible studies and discipleship trainings.

Galatians 2:20 became his l ife verse which says: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me .The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. "

There were many challenges in his Christian life as he devoted himself to full time ministry. But he and his family has always been "living by faith" and were just amazed by God's provision for a ll their needs.

He does not regret his decision to go full time because his security rests in God alone. Although there was an offer for him by his brother to go abroad, he gladly refused it. God's blessings to his family and the Davao LA Ministry are evident. Among these many blessings are the increase of cell groups from 5 to 37, increase of committed cell leaders . God's provision of a van for transportation and donation of some musical instruments by friends.

Truly, the supernatural movement of God 's hand in Davao ministry is amazing. They are now ministering to four universities in the areas of UP Mindanao, University of Southeastern Philippines, Brokenshire College and lately, the University of Immaculate Concepcion.

Indeed, when one fully commits himself to God, by His grace and faithfulness . He will be the one to provide everything, just like what Pastor Peter Miral has experienced and still experiencing.