Seeds of Faith: From Mockery to Ministry
There’s a profound gravity in retracing the footsteps of history, standing where once the Roman soldiers stood, immersed in what was once a casual pastime marked on ancient ground. During my visit to Israel, at the site believed to be the governor's headquarters as told in the Gospels (Mark 15:15-20; Matthew 26:27; John 19:1), I was struck by the sight of ancient Roman soldiers' game carved in stone – a relic from Jesus Christ's era. This sight stirred memories within me, memories of a time when I played a different kind of game.
As a teenage college student at the University of the Philippines, I was an atheist, the mocker of student Christian ministry, and an activist fervently advocating for everything I believed in except the Bible. I was well-versed in the language of dissent, not Scripture, seeing authority – both human and Divine – as a challenge to be contested.
As a rebellious teenager with a hardened heart, I was caught in the enthusiasm of student activism and extreme feminism. By 18, my heart was a fortress armed with disdain for authority and the spiritual convictions of those around me. I let my actions speak the language of rebellion, leaving behind a trail of decisions and deep-seated scars that no time could heal alone.
My journey from there to here has been nothing short of a Biblical transformation, akin to Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19). Now, as a regional host of the Bible Bee Summer Study, the Holy Spirit replaced my past mockery with a humble awe of the Word of God I once disdained. I've been healed and renewed by God's grace.
To all parents reading this: know the power of planting seeds of faith in your children's hearts. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). You are cultivating the soil for growth that you may not immediately see, but "so is the kingdom of God. “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how (Mark 4:26-27).
Encourage your children with love and the truths from Scripture. Remind them that "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7). When the world confronts them and mocks their faith, they can stand firm, for "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me" (Matthew 5:11).
Instill in them the understanding that while "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12), we are also assured that "greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
By nurturing these budding disciples with the infallible Word of God, you are equipping them to be "salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13) and "light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). Remember that each verse they memorize, every biblical story they learn, is a seed that might one day grow into a mighty tree, offering shade and shelter to many.
I stand as a living example that even those who once opposed the faith can become its fervent followers and proclaimers. Your child, too, could be a Paul in the making, a voice for truth, a testament to the transformative power of Christ's love.
As you guide them, cling to the promises of Philippians 1:6: "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
With every seed of Scripture you plant, you are weaving a tapestry of faith that will shape your children’s lives and touch countless others in ways we can only imagine.
Let us then sow these seeds with hope and watch in wonder as God brings forth the harvest.
Free Bible Bee Summer Study
Online or In-Person. Games. Fun. Fellowship.
This is awesome! I love how you posted Bible Bee’s flyer. I love this post. Hallelujah!