When we obey God, there is really no telling what He can do through us. Here is the story of a volunteer who said yes to God’s call to minister to uniformed personnel in our nation and is now seeing lives transformed by the gospel.
Four years ago, a friend asked me to consider volunteering in a nonprofit organization that aims to empower parents and strengthen families and marriages of those in the Philippine National Police (PNP). I was excited about their vision and felt the peace of God when I prayed about it, so I said yes. I served as a facilitator in their once a month event for those in uniform. When the meetings became more frequent, I prayed and asked God for direction. Without any doubt, I knew that God wanted me to continue serving Him this way.
In just a short time, we began to see the hand of God move. Doors opened left and right, and we started to have more opportunities to engage those in the PNP. After several months, I started serving as a life coach in the Special Action Force (SAF) unit of the PNP. Before the pandemic, we would travel to different camps all over the country and partner with churches to conduct our programs. Armed with biblical truths and principles and tools that aim to restore and strengthen families in this sector of our society, I went in faith, knowing that God will accomplish His will and purpose by His great power. I’m really grateful for the initiative of those who lead this organization, several of whom are members of our church. They have been instrumental in launching this platform for us to reach out to our police and participate in nation building.
When we obey God and allow Him to use us, there is really no telling what He can do through us. Our organization was well received by the top officials of both the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), that they integrated our program into their training system. Slowly, we started planting God’s truth in the hearts of these men. We have the assurance that in God’s perfect time, we will see a great harvest of changed lives. I am personally seeing how God is bringing healing and restoration in some of the families of these uniformed men. Marriages on the brink of annulment are getting restored and, as heads in their household, they are realizing more and more how important it is to take the lead in keeping their families together.
Contrary to what we thought would happen when the pandemic started, our ministry kept on growing. We are now getting invitations from the Department of National Defense, AFP, and Bureau of Fire and Protection to conduct our programs with their personnel. Because people are now more comfortable with online meetings, we regularly meet with our uniformed officers nationwide. With PNP-SAF alone, I meet with around 50 men every week, grouped into six teams. Surprisingly, despite this pandemic, they are holding on to hope instead of fear because they realize how much they need Christ, and that in Him, they have everything they need.
We are also given the opportunity to reach out to members of the PNP who are in quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure. We meet with them virtually every week. It brings us great joy that when PNP officials thought of addressing the mental and emotional health concerns of the police force during quarantine, they thought of us. It’s a privilege to be given that level of trust, and it assures us that God is working through the organization and bringing transformation in the lives of these individuals. With the crucial role that our armed forces have in implementing the laws of the land and securing peace and order, we firmly believe that these transformed lives will have a great impact in the transformation of our nation.
. . . and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.
Psalm 22:27,28
Wilmer has been a member of Victory Fort for ten years and serves as a team leader in the ushering ministry. He has been a volunteer of Pamilya Muna Pilipinas, a nonprofit organization that aims to empower parents and strengthen families and marriages in the Philippines, for four years. Wilmer and his wife are actively involved in church.