“An Excerpt from Kim’s Testimony”
Friday, June 22nd, 2007Christianity in my family started in my grandfather’s generation (the late Mateo San Buenaventura). Since then our family became totally committed to almost all sorts of church activities and programs. Kim never missed Sunday school when she was a child because Sunday Services were held literally in our house. I offered to share the space of my house where our pioneering church could meet anytime without paying for any rental fees.
Kim grew up, was trained and moulded in Sunday School. I could still remember the first time she sang in front of the congregation, that was Christmas Program, and the first song she sang solo was "Away in a Manger" at age 6. Through this song she discovered God’s wonderful gift to her. And part of who she is now, is thru her Sunday school teacher (Cynthia Atienza) who has been a blessing in Kim’s life.
Every summer, the church in Montalban is conducting Vacation Bible School for 1 week. We reaches out to children of different age levels to join our church and enjoy singing, dancing, playing and learning about Jesus in simple ways. Soon, Kim got tired of being just a listener, a participant, a spectator, she realised that she wanted to teach. At age 11, Kim wanted to attend VBS at MBS. I remember one Sunday during an announcement time, Church was looking for a youth to participate & be trained @ MBS then Kim raised her hand and she asked the congregation if she can attend the training. The church was amazed at her sudden outburst…it was a complete silence..however church sent her to be trained. After 7 days of training church was so delighted of the result because Kim got an award " the Most Promising Student."
Kim started maturing at that age because that was the time she began attending seminars, workshops, youth camps and conventions. She become more and more inspired to serve God and discover something new about Him each day. She had a very colourful Christian life because she met so many people from different parts of the Phils. who share the same faith as ours and made some really good friends out of them.
But then sometimes she still find it boring that she grew up in a Christian family. She wanted to trade her life with a committed Christian where she came to know God and He actually touched her heart and transformed her to a new person fully surrendered to Him.
Kim’s life as a Christian didn’t end there. Being a Christian did not mean that everything’s well and she was always happy. There were series of ups and downs in her life. She struggled with family relationships, she struggled reaching for the answer why God just suddenly took away her dad four days after she was born, she struggled with the thought that her brother back slided, she struggled with school work, financial hardships and many more. But then again because she is a Christian, God keeps knocking at her door and her reflex action would be to come and run to HIM to find healing in His arms.