As an IVCF graduate living in America, I wanted to connect with fellow IVCF graduates. And the Balikatan Conference is the perfect opportunity. But it took me ten long years to finally decide to come. A friend encouraged me to come in July of 2011 in Berkeley, California. She wanted me to help her prepare snacks for the conference fun night. Truth to tell, what I thought was just an opportunity to help my friend, the Lord gifted me with a two-fold blessing which I cherish even to this day.
- God’s message to be still and know that He is God. My first Balikatan conference was a blessed time of connection with God, reflection and growth in my Christian life. My spirit was recharged, my faith was deepened and I stepped out of the conference prepared for the journey ahead.
- I see the unwavering support to the IVCF Philippines movement is still very much alive. Balikatan’s all time purpose to help fulfill Christ’s Great Commission by being a missionally effective support movement to IVCF Philippines remains to be its focus and goal. Its purpose is being carried out by providing prayer, financial and other forms of support to staff and alumni involved in Christian ministry.
As a Christian graduate, my desire is to create ripples of change in my world. Through Balikatan, God helped me connect faith and work. I learned to think, live and speak for Jesus in the places where I worked and now as a retiree and a lay leader in my church in San Francisco, California. Glory to God!