Dear friends,

A colleague was given a surprise send-off by her friends, and I was given the privilege to share a message. And since all of us can easily remember ABC, I outlined my message as such.

As we go through life, let us remember the ABC of living a life with a purpose.

First, A – Allow God to work in and through your life.

God does not force anyone. God can only shape those who are willing. If we want God to mold us, we first need to surrender our will and give way to the will of God. This is  very difficult, and would be a lifetime struggle. But the moment we give God a space in our lives, He will surely start something transformational. And when we let God in our lives, He will mightily use us to reach out to others.

Second, B – Build a community of true friends.

For Jesus, one of the highest forms of relationships is friendship. Jesus said to his disciples, I know call you friends.

A friend of mine, Dr. Lee Spitzer, the current General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches, emphasized the friendship factor in growing healthy churches in his book, “Making Friends, Making Disciples: Growing Your Church Through Authentic Relationships.”

Yes, our friendships can become transformative forces that can shape society for the better. True friends would always look after the welfare of their friends. When Jesus used friendship as a paradigm for the Church, He is telling us to love, care, and be there for one another.

C – Commit to always do your best to excel.

Be passionate and excel in whatever you will do for the benefit of mankind and for the glory of God. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 14:12 “… try to excel in gifts that build up the church.”

May God bless us all!

Sincerely,

Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Director
Office of Communications
Central Philippine University