Wally and Leah Castro were in faith to be part of the Every Nation Building project in spite of financial challenges. When they were faced with setbacks, the Castros believed in faith that God would provide for their giving—and He did much more! Read this story of God’s faithfulness in the midst of the trials that surround us.
by Jeck F. Maog
When I first heard of the Every Nation Building Phase 2 project at a building banquet at Victory Fort last November 2011, I was excited to be a part of it, but also a bit hesitant to make a public declaration to pledge. At the time, I was more than a year into believing God for promotion at China Bank, and, while I never doubted God would deliver, I wasn’t completely sold on the idea of formally pledging.
Nevertheless, I decided in my heart that I wanted to participate, telling God I would give my entire gross increase for one year if and when I got promoted.
I received my promotion a month later.
So I began giving to the Every Nation Building Phase 2 Project, starting January 2012, giving online through the project’s credit card facility because it was easy and automatic.
Two months into giving, my father was diagnosed with cervical spondylosis, a condition that stresses out the spine. He needed immediate surgery on the C1 and C2 parts of his spine. The next few months were a draining time for the entire family, financially and emotionally, but God always provided, and my giving to the Every Nation Building Phase 2 fund wasn’t affected.
In September 2012, I received another increase, this time, the result of a favorable performance appraisal. I was soon prompted by the Holy Spirit to raise my giving to Php10,000 per month, increasing the monthly pledge by Php1,300, plus a one-time Php11,700 to cover the first nine months of 2012. Before I could even question where I would get this money, the Holy Spirit reminded me of my recent increase, and the nominal amount was so much more than the additional Php1,300. When I sat down to compute my increases for the year — for the promotion and for the performance appraisal — the total increase, net of tax, was still more than the Php10,000 the Lord asked me to give.
I continued to give, and the Lord continued to provide.
When 2013 started, I decided to give the remaining balance of the 25-month pledge, and the Lord paved the way for me to be able to sell some of my stock options at a 150% profit. Despite big credit card payables, I gave the remaining Php120,000 happily in one lump sum. I then paid all my credit card bills.
Knowing I am contributing to something bigger makes me happy and contented. I told myself,
We cannot boast of whatever we give to the Lord’s work.
He is the one who equips us for it.
Everything we have comes from Him.
We are merely GIVING BACK to him
a very small portion of what He gives us.The author (third from right) with friends from her Victory group
In retrospect, I realize once again that the Lord provides more than what He asks of us to give. In my case, He provided twice as much, well in advance. It is a joy and privilege to participate in His work, and I will always be thankful for the love and presence of a God Who so generously, amazingly, audaciously provides.
When Eduardo “Dads” Valencia first heard of the Every Nation Building Phase 2 project, God spoke clearly to him, giving the virtual executive assistant a sum that took him a bit by surprise.
“He wanted me to pledge Php250,000,” the KIDS Church volunteer at Victory Fort recalls. “I thought to myself, ‘That’s already half of what I’m earning! That would be really crazy!”
For Dads, it didn’t seem possible. He was renting a place in Manila, away from his senior citizen-aged parents in Bulacan. “I have debts to pay,” he says, “and a girlfriend I want to marry someday. I support my parents. Giving Php10,000 a month for the EN Building Phase 2 would have meant I wouldn’t be able to live decently!”
Despite his trepidation, Dads decided to take God on, and pledged the full Php250,000. He believed God wasted no time, and by January 2013, his finances life read like a laundry list of blessing.
“My boss in Canada decided to hire me directly,” Dads smiles. “He doubled my salary and allows me to work from home. At the same time,” he adds, “I became the part-time virtual assistant of another person, the CEO of a non-profit organization, for an additional two hours of work daily, but with very good pay.”
He pauses, then lets a wide grin break across his face. “God tripled my salary. And I don’t need to pressure myself anymore to work abroad,” he adds, “just to do the things I want to do and attend to all my responsibilities.”
“(Pledging to the Every Nation Building Phase 2) is a faith goal that may seem too impossible in my own human perspective,” Dads says, “and yet God has put the desire in my heart with this specific amount. He told me December 2012 that He would -” Dads then quotes from Isaiah 30:23 “- send me rain for the seed I sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful.”
Another lopsided grin.
“I am simply amazed and overwhelmed by how God works!” Dads exclaims. “It has been really an amazing life since I have surrendered my life to Jesus one year ago. Now I am believing that He will make it really possible for me to be true to this pledge and continue with my commitment of giving Php 250,000 for the EN Phase 2.”
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Editor’s Note: Two weeks ago, Dads Valencia received payments from both his jobs. He has given the first installment of his pledge to the Every Nation Building Phase 2 project.
Coordinating building banquets for the Every Nation Building Phase 2 project was not difficult for Partner Relations Coordinator Ria Catalasan; it was listening to the nightly invitations to partner in faith that tugged at the former bank executive’s heart.
“Every night,” she says, “ a different pastor would pray, but nobody knew my situation. It got so bad,” she adds, “that I didn’t have enough money to buy a pair of shoes.”
Things weren’t always so tight for Ria; only a few short years ago, she had a thriving career at one of the country’s largest banks. While she was sole breadwinner and responsible for sending her brother to school, her family’s finances were manageable, even earning enough to secure a house and lot along C5, which, rented out, generated additional income for her family.
In 2001, she decided to start a business with her cousin. She handled the daily operations; he converted his condominium into office space. From the get-go, the business struggled; envisioned initially as a call center, it transitioned into a human resources consultancy, then a virtual office.
“I didn’t pay myself a salary,” Ria says, “our household expenses were all paid using credit cards.” After months of financial bleeding, in, Ria’s cousin decided to sell his condominium, effectively terminating the business arrangement and leaving her tens of thousands of pesos in credit card debt.
“The failure of the business was very difficult for me,” Ria recalls. “I cried so hard.”
In, determined to rise above her situation, Ria threw herself into her new job – Partner Relations Coordinator at Every Nation’s Partner Relations Office – with passion and fervor. At the same time, she and her family decided to put their C5 property on the market.
“It wasn’t easy,” Ria says. “The property was for sale for several months, but we had no inquiries. Meanwhile, the summer was difficult; we didn’t use air-conditioning. I sold all my jewelry so we could buy gas. The worst part for me,” she adds, “was not being able to give to the building.”
In July 2012, Ria had a conversation with a friend from the bank for whom she used to work. That friend reminded her that she had stock options she hadn’t claimed; the value was close to Php32,000.
“I couldn’t believe I had money! I converted it to cash,” she says, “so I would have two to three months of worry-free living. But then I was prompted by God to give it to the building.”
“How could I do that?” Ria said to herself. It didn’t sound like something she could do.
Banquet after banquet passed as Ria mulled over what God was asking her to do. Finally, after one particular banquet during which Pastor Paolo Punzalan of Victory Fort Bonifacio prayed, she decided to obey God in faith.
“I said, ‘Lord, You’re my source.’” Ria smiles, “Wala na. I had nothing to bank on. I just prayed, ‘Lord, increase my faith, I know this is just temporary.’” She gave the full Php32,000 to the building fund the very next day.
“I didn’t have money,” she says, “but I had peace. I knew He would sustain me and my family.”
The next few months tested the patience of Ria and her family, but also featured miracle after miracle. Despite no additional income, Ria and her family found resources to meet their monthly needs. Her household expenses decreased as the family worked to become more efficient with their expenses. And after several years of being on the market, their C5 property finally found a buyer.
“The first thing I did was pay off my credit cards!” Ria grins, “Back then, I prayed to be a good steward of God’s blessings, even when I didn’t have anything. Yun yung nangyari,” she adds, laughing, “I didn’t have anything.”
“When you have nothing, though,” she adds, “it becomes even more meaningful when God reminds you that He will always provide something for you. I may not have had money, but I always had God. And that was more than enough for me.”
In early 2012, company general manager Shane Posadas was riding high. He was happily married, father to wonderful children, and looking forward to serving out the rest of his career with his current company. When Victory Fort announced in early 2012 that it would be taking up a fund for a new project called the Every Nation Building Phase 2 Project, Shane did not hesitate to sign up.
“Right then and there,” Shane says, “(My wife and I) decided that we would contribute on a monthly basis for the next 25 months. With a monthly contribution, that wouldn’t be too much for us.”
Not soon after Shane submitted his pledge, the company where he worked announced it would be downsizing, and Shane suddenly found himself forced out by job redundancy. In addition to all retirement benefits, he was given two months of extra pay, but the reality of a jobless future troubled him and his family.
“It was very difficult,” he says, “the most difficult time of my career. I am ready of retirement age. The challenge was if there would be an employer who would accept me.”
Despite the dark days over the horizon, Shane never wavered, and he and his wife decided to honor his commitment to the church.
“(We decided to) give a one-time check to complete the 25 months,” he says.
Within days of his giving his pledge, a former employer of Shane’s gave him a call. He was called in for an interview with his former company, and not soon after, he received stunning news.
“They said ‘yes, we will be accepting you for the job,’” Shane smiles. Bigger news awaited: Shane was not hired solely as general manager; he was appointed president of the company! To this day, he still can’t believe how God came through for him.
“For the last 35 years of my career life,” he says, “the only highest position I had was the general manager position. In fact, I’d surrendered that to the Lord that if it’s only to this level, then so be it. The appointment given to me, I consider a God-appointment. Because who would expect that presidency position at this age?”
God honored Shane’s generosity not just with what he needed but with something he has long dreamed of; as a result, God’s Name was glorified, and a man’s faith serves to encourage an entire church. As a matter of fact, when Shane’s Victory Group heard of what happened, they were so encouraged they stepped out in faith and gave their pledges in full, too!
“We believe that God keeps his promise,” Shane adds, “and it’s never delayed. Just wait patiently and it will come on time.”
My name is Anson Yu. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior when I was in high school, although back then, I was not part of any particular church. I wanted to be part of a church, but it wasn’t until 1992, shortly after I graduated from university, that I fervently prayed to God to lead me to a church where I would grow.
It was funny how God answered that prayer. Back then I often hung out with some students who attended a church known as Victory Christian Fellowship. It wasn’t long before they invited me to attend a service, and, despite some hesitation on my part, I finally attended one. After a few more visits, I knew God spoke into my heart that Victory was the church in which I would grow.
Twenty years later, God is clearly proven right; Victory was indeed the church in which I grew. Not only that, the church has become my spiritual family.
A few years after joining Victory, plans were announced that we were going to build a new facility at what was then the newly developed Bonifacio Global City. But to finance the new building, we needed to raise funds. So I decided to commit PHP500 a month to the building fund, although my only source of income back then was working for my family.
God proved Himself faithful by enlarging my territory. By the time the new building opened, I began a career as a freelance writer. Not long after that, I started exploring photography. The ability to write and take photos helped open doors for me to various magazines, newspapers, and websites—all of which tapped me for lifestyle features. I also began working as a heritage tour guide for Old Manila Walks. Looking back now, those part-time jobs became a channel of God’s blessing; what I earned from them definitely helped supplement my income.
Late last year, I was asked to photo-cover a fund-raising event at church. Imagine my surprise to learn that it was for a new building to rise on the Every Nation Building parking lot! The more I listened to the presentation, the more I got excited. Seeing how the church has helped me and other people grow, I decided that it was a good investment to give to the new building fund. The question now was how much.
Eventually, God placed an amount in my heart that was easily the biggest amount of money that I would have ever given away. Frankly, within me, there was no struggle whether I should give or not. I simply felt that I should give that amount. If this facility will help in the training of more campus workers and leaders who will make a difference for God, I thought, then I am behind it.
A few months after I completed my pledge, the time came when my family’s business gave out its year-end bonus. I was shocked when I saw how much I would receive. It was literally a hundred times the amount that I gave to the building fund! There was no doubt in my mind that it was God’s blessing!
This incident only validated for me the promise in the Bible, that “God will reward you if you are faithful in the little things.” Because of this, I’ve decided to increase my giving. Aside from what I normally contribute to the church, I have made a number of pledges to various other church-related causes that I feel are worth supporting. I’ve done this despite the fact that my writing and photography career has slowed down due to fewer offers. In the meantime, I find myself being more involved in doing tours and being involved our family’s business. Nevertheless, I am confident. I know God has more surprises for me in store.
by Grace Cartera
In 1999, Nonoy and Grace Cartera pledged to the Every Nation Building Phase 1, expecting to give comfortably out of gratitude for God’s provision. What they didn’t expect was a season of uncertainty that challenged the Carteras’ commitment to their building pledge and each other. Be encouraged as Grace Cartera recounts how God miraculously sustained and provided for their family.
The year was 1999. My husband, Nonoy, had a stable job at a multinational company, with good pay and substantial bonuses and commissions. I was content being a homemaker, homeschooling our four children: Kathryn, Joel, Paula, and Bianca. Life was good; the future was bright.
We had more than what we needed, and we believe this was so because we were faithful tithers. Nonoy and I have always been faithful in giving our tithes and more. We firmly believe God’s promise in Malachi 3:10: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
Tithing and giving was such a part of our Christian walk that when our local Victory church announced a building fund program for a Fort Bonifacio church, we did not hesitate to sign up. We prayed and decided to give an amount, an amount that was quite substantial for us, enough to almost cover a college educational plan for one of our children.
We had our finances planned out for the succeeding years. We thought we had it covered. But change was about to come, not exactly to our favor.
In 2001, my husband’s employer had to drastically cut back on expenses. The expected salary increases did not materialize, the bonuses and commissions were gradually removed. Inflation caught up. The children were growing and so were our family’s expenses. To make things worse, in 2005, my husband was asked to resign.
Nonoy started a business with his separation pay as seed money. While the first two years went very well, the business took a big hit in its third year, and profits dropped significantly thereafter, putting us in financial red. Yet, despite our lack, we continued to hold on to God’s promises, and our tithes were never compromised.
In 2008, we began to worry because our eldest child, Kathryn, was set to go to college the next year and we did not have enough money to finance her education. Stress and fear started to build up.
In January 2009, during Victory’s annual Prayer and Fasting activity, our family prayed for a full scholarship for Kathryn. I remember during one of those prayer times, a thought came into my mind saying, “You should have invested on your children’s college insurance instead of that church building fund. Then you would have enough money for Kathryn’s college.” I knew that wasn’t really me speaking; it was the enemy, so I rebuked it and I confessed the goodness and faithfulness of God in the past and in the future. I knew God would take care of my daughter’s education with or without the scholarship.
True enough, Kathryn topped her entrance exams and she was granted a full scholarship at one of the top universities in the Philippines. God came through as He promised, and just in time.
From then on, our faith started growing, and as it grew, God’s faithfulness started showing all the more. Although the business never recovered, we learned to rely on God and His promises in spite of the circumstances.
God is a faithful and promise-keeping God. He started pouring out His blessings on us in the most pleasant, unexpected ways. In 2010, our youngest, Bianca, was granted a full five-year scholarship at a prestigious international school. In 2011, Joel was granted a full scholarship at one of the more expensive colleges. This year, Paula was granted not one, but in God’s humor, three full scholarships at prestigious institutions!
To my husband and me, the hand of God moved undeniably in the magnitude, timing, and number of these scholarships. It was like the Red Sea parting right before our eyes!
God, Who is able to give more than what we ask or imagine, was indeed doing just that. My husband also got a full scholarship to study in Australia, all expenses paid, and with working privileges! I have wonderful things coming in my way as well: some parents have asked me to tutor their children. Tutoring has since become a thriving source of income for me. In just a few years, God has so radically changed our family’s situation!
Galatians 6:7 says, “…God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Instead of investing in college insurance, we invested in God’s kingdom, and we are now reaping kingdom dividends. We believe there is more to come, and in all these, we are ready and privileged to bring all glory back to God.
