Jezryl Ombao / The Philippines
My hometown is a small village on Negros Island, in the Visayas region of the Philippines. It is a quiet, peaceful place surrounded by jungles and mountains. From Parañaque in Metro Manila, where I now live, it takes almost two days by bus and ferry to reach it.
Leaving my hometown in search of a better future was not an easy decision. I had to part with my beloved family, and it was my first time living on my own. There was no one I could lean on—no one to comfort or guide me.
Even so, I managed. Between school and part-time jobs, I kept myself busy, and on my rare days off, I would ease my loneliness and fatigue by watching mukbang¹ videos online. I thought that was all there was to life—until I met the members of Zion.
One day, I came across members of the Church of God preaching passionately in the streets, undeterred by the scorching sun. Since childhood, I had attended the only church in my hometown and had even served as a youth leader. After moving to Parañaque, I had been hoping to find a church to attend, so meeting them filled me with quiet joy. I decided to listen to what they had to say.
Among those who preached to me was a Korean. But what astonished me was not the preacher’s nationality, but the discovery that the Bible testifies to the existence of God the Mother. Learning that salvation is granted only through keeping the new covenant established by God was a revelation that struck me to the core. I had never heard such clear and profound teachings before. Until then, I had simply been taught that believing in God would lead to good things. I did not understand what kind of faith was truly required, how to follow God’s will to receive salvation, or what a child of God should refrain from doing. My vague belief that I already knew and was faithfully following God was completely shattered in the Church of God.
I realized, “Heavenly Father and Mother came down to this earth to seek and save me. This life is not all there is.”
It was in that moment—far from my hometown, in the place I had chosen to seek a better life—that I glimpsed the possibility of a truly blessed life.
From start to finish, the only thing as beautiful as the flawless truth was the warm love shared by the Zion family. Each time I visited, the members greeted me with sincere warmth: “God bless you, brother! How have you been?” The overseer, too, was never authoritative but always thoughtful, teaching God’s word with care and listening attentively to my concerns. As I continued visiting Zion, I realized such kindness and consideration for others were neither momentary nor formal—they were genuine. And I came to understand that this love and selflessness originated from our Heavenly Father and Mother.
I wanted to share the joy of Zion—a place where our Heavenly Parents, spiritual brothers and sisters, and true happiness dwell. I longed to tell my family and everyone I met about this blessing and invite them to receive it together. So, through video calls, I began sharing the words of God with my parents and six siblings, and joined the Zion members in preaching the gospel. Before long, I started working the night shift, which left me with less energy and even less time. Still, I realized that a sincere heart always finds a way to spread the gospel. Many members were already working nights, sacrificing their daytime rest to take part in God’s work. Inspired by their devotion, I, too, resolved to become a gospel worker who follows the example of our Heavenly Father and Mother and spreads the truth with all my heart. Though the work was sometimes exhausting, I never stopped. When I thought of our Father and Mother, who came all the way from the distant land of the East to bring salvation even to me in the Philippines, my fatigue felt insignificant in comparison. Remembering that the greatest joy I can offer Them is to find and save even one lost soul renewed my strength each day.
Thankfully, my youngest sibling has accepted God Elohim, and a college student I met while preaching has also been reborn into a new life, steadily growing in faith. Not long ago, I had the opportunity to take part in preaching with a short-term mission team from Korea, and the experience taught me so much. Some members were not fluent in English, yet they preached tirelessly under the scorching sun—their faces flushed and their clothes drenched with sweat—striving to share even one more word of truth. Their passion moved me deeply, and I wanted to support them in any way I could. When we finally bore fruit together, the joy was beyond words. Through that experience, I was reminded once again that no visible circumstance or obstacle can ever hinder the work of God.
Building on that precious experience, I am now preparing for my first short-term mission trip—to another island where Zion has not yet been established. My heart is already filled with excitement and anticipation. I pray earnestly that Zion will be established there—and also in my hometown. The nearest Zion to my village is a seven-hour bus ride away. When I think about how the gospel will reach my hometown and when Zion will finally be built there, it feels overwhelming. Yet instead of leaving the task to someone else, I will do my best to preach whenever I have the opportunity. Each day, I study the words of God diligently so that I can testify to the truth clearly and boldly to everyone I meet.
I am deeply grateful for the life of purpose and passion that God has given me—to share the love of our Father and Mother, who came all the way to this earth, cherishing me even more than Their own lives, and to take part in spreading the blessings of salvation. Here in the Philippines, all our brothers and sisters are praying earnestly for a thousand Zions to be established throughout the nation. With that same hope in my heart, I will continue to walk diligently in the footsteps of our Heavenly Father and Mother.
¹Mukbang: a Korean term meaning “eating broadcast,” referring to online videos or live streams where people eat and communicate with viewers.