Sunshine Bearer
LIGHT OF JESUS PASTORAL CARE
JUST call me Cathy.
You know, it just happened that I began writing this sharing at the time when the Gospel for the day was about salt and light— as we read in Matthew 5:13, 15-16: Jesus said: “
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted. You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick that it may shine to all that are in the house
So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
This is one of the verses that I ’ve taken to heart, inspiring me to serve God.
I began way back in the 1990s as guitarist in the Light of Jesus Family was actively serving in the Music Ministry of Esther, the spin-off LOJ ministry exclusively for single women.
Just like in our mother LOJ Community, i n Esther, members are divided into Caring Groups, now called Light Groups—as in small versions of the Light of Jesus Family.
Before I knew it, my elders were already grooming me to lead a Caring Group, getting me to attend the six-month Basic Christian Counseling Course as part of leadership training f or Caring Group heads.
After finishing the course in November 1997, I started volunteering at the Light of Jesus (LOJ) Counseling Center, now renamed LOJ Pastoral Care .
Before joining the Pastoral ministry, I thought I was just okay serving the Music Ministry.
Little did I know that I was being called to be a pastoral carer—yes, to take care of people struggling with emotional and spiritual pains.
I ventured to help, but in the process, it’s been I that have been also helped– to face my own wounds and obstacles against my spiritual growth.
It is here in the LOJ Pastoral Care that I have become aware that I had trust issues, shame and self -hatred– and that
I need healing.
Yes, the Lord, in His mercy, sent me this invitation to a program that has led to my healing.
In his talks, our LOJ founder, Bro. Bo Sanchez, says, “Your greatest pain can be your greatest ministry.”
True. Since I went through life’s challenges, I can very well empathize with people experiencing the same pains
I suffered, and share with them how I overcame my difficulties through God’s mercy. Because I’m one with them, they listen to me, like yes, I am the salt that helped them realize their brokenness, and the light, the sunshine, that brightened up the darkness in their midst.
God brought me here, and engineered ways for me to be here.
The Lord is my Boss, so when He says stay, I’ll stay. When He says go, I’ll go. Up until now, the Lord hasn’t changed His command, and so I remain as a
Pastoral Care Person.
God be praised!
