Testimony

TESTIMONY OF PASTOR ALEX DARANTINAO
Bethanyland Bible Baptist Church
31-A Mabini Ext., Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City

I AM PASTOR ALEX DARANTINAO, presently the pastor of Bethanyland Bible Baptist Church in Quezon City, Metro Manila. I was saved by God’s grace on December 16, 1993. During those times, I was deeply engrossed in worldly activities and vices like drinking and gambling with my peers which often caused quarrel between my wife and myself.. Oftentimes too, I wasn’t able to report for work because of hangover.

I am very grateful to God that during that year, He sent one of His children who ministered to me. He was pastor Timmy dela Paz who shared the Gospel of the Lord Jesus to me. It was then when I realized that a sinner such as myself needs the LORD JESUS CHRIST to save me and I accepted Him with all my heart as my Lord and Savior. Since then I gradually felt changes in myself, as I continued to serve Him.

I was formerly a Catholic, for a long time I belonged to this group but I never felt any change in my life; the more that I was sinking in the worldly and evil things I used to do. Then I realized that what the Bible says is really true, according to I Corinthians 2: 14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.”

The mission work of Bethany Baptist Church in Pangarap Village, Kalookan City started in this place (Bagong Silangan) in 1995 under the leadership of Pastor Timmy dela Paz. I became one of the members of the said mission church.

On the same year our pastor planned to join his wife abroad and he told me that he was planning to entrust to me the ministry in this place. I refused to accept the great responsibility, knowing that I lack the knowledge and qualifications to handle such a sensitive and great position.

In order for me to avoid the issue and the great responsibility God, through our pastor tried to give me, my family and I went to the place of my wife in Masbate, planning to stay there for good. I never found peace while I was in that faraway island. I was heavily burdened with the thought of what will happen to the church should our pastor leave our place. I had many sleepless nights, no matter how many times I told myself that I cannot be the person who can takeover the work of our pastor.

Because of the heavy burden and the call of the Lord, I decided to return to Metro Manila with my family and we continued to help in the mission work in this place. I studied in a Bible school.

On March 23, 1997 this church was organized with me as pastor. It was then when I truly understood that: when it is God who calls, we cannot say “no”, but all we have to do is to obey!

At present the ministry here is being blessed by the Lord in this populous area of Quezon City by adding souls to His kingdom. Praise God for His children who are willing to be used of God for soul-winning!! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

(Published in the May 2008 issue of The Baptist Chronicle)