the abecedarian

My full name is Antonio Angelo Gutierrez. Currently, I’m 28 years old and was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. Recently graduated from the Biblical Seminary of the Philippines, completed my Masters in Divinity in Biblical Studies last March 30th 2008.

I come from a Buddhist-Roman Catholic family which is typical of Filipino-Chinese families living in the Philippines. My father and mother are still alive and well (thank God), though they are living separately for more than twenty years now. I also have two younger sisters, both working in an international bank.

I’m a graduate of a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science in the only Chinese college in Manila, but a friend changed my life last September of 1999. He shared to me how to have a better life than what I’m having at that time – that is to know God and have a relationship with Him. He explained to me that we are sinners, bound for eternal death, and that nothing in our abilities can save us from it. But God loved us and gave up His Son, Jesus Christ, for us and pay for the penalty of our sins. At the end he told me that to receive the forgiveness of my sins, all I have to do is to accept Christ as my Savior and make Him the Lord of my life. I accepted the invitation of Christ and that is the beginning of my life as the “Abecedarian” – someone learning the rudiments of something, in my case, this life and its Creator.

On the summer of 2000 I decided to dedicate my life for full-time service to God. But my journey to seminary training lasted for more than five years. The journey was not easy because I encountered persecutions and doubts from my family and friends, probably because they knew me too well and this gave them the hard time accepting my new found faith. They did not fully understand what had happened to me.

But thank God, after many prayers and extended patience, my mother became a Christian while working in Korea and most of my family, relatives and friends have accepted the new me. And even recently, some of my relatives became Christians! God has also blessed me with an understanding and loving lifetime partner in the person of Charmaine.

Currently, I’m serving in a Filipino-Chinese Church in Cebu City, ministering not only to the youth, but to the young at heart as well. There are a lot of things to do and challenges to undergo.  But God is gracious, He will provide strength and wisdom for His servants.

As I serve Him in this church, may He use me and my other co-servants for the glory of His name. I eagerly wish for your partnership in the ministry through prayers. I will regularly put up prayer requests in my main page so that you will know how to pray for me.

Soli Deo Gloria! May God also bless you abundantly!

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