ANCHORED BY FAITH (1 out of 3): “I was not ready!”

Growing up, I always admired strong leaders—those who could guide others with independence and confidence, whether jogging alongside friends or walking in sync on winding trails. Their strength in leadership was always something I found comforting. However, despite my fascination with leadership, I wasn’t an active member of the youth community in our chapel, even though it was just a short walk away. The only time I participated in chapel activities was when my elementary school, St. Mary’s Initial Learning Experience (SMILE), was invited to join the fiesta celebrations.

Ironically, my family had deep roots in the church. My grandfather, Tatay Justino—known to many as Kuya Tino—was a dedicated lay minister, and my grandmother, Dada Efigenia—known to many as Ate Penny—was a cluster leader within the chapel. Yet, despite their active roles, my family, aside from my grandfather, would typically attend Mass at the Ascension of the Lord Parish, where I felt more at home. Still, I couldn’t help but feel the influence of my grandfather’s commitment to the church. Seeing his dedication, I started to reflect on my own path and how I could build my own legacy of service, just as he does.

When I turned 14, I took my first step towards serving others by joining the youth ministry at Ascension of the Lord Parish, where Rev. Fr. Zenon was the parish priest. The first ministry I became involved in was the Parish Disaster Action Response Team (PDART), which felt like a natural fit for me, as I had always dreamed of becoming a paramedic.

In March 2020, the pandemic and lockdowns hit, halting my involvement for a time. It wasn’t until a year later that I returned to my faith community. By then, I was 16, and something unexpected happened: I found myself at GKK Sto. Niño, a chapel I had never really considered before. During Mass at GKK Black Nazarene, our PSK, Tita Remy D. Chan, reached out to me and asked for suggestions on how to engage the youth. We met the following Saturday, and I gave her a list of ideas. To my surprise, she told me that she wanted to appoint me as the Pangulo Sa Batan-on (Youth Leader). At the time, I had no idea what this entails, and though I wasn’t prepared for such a responsibility, I hesitantly said, “Okay, Tita.”

Months went by, and suddenly, I found myself leading the youth—visiting homes, calling for gatherings, and organizing activities. I never imagined that I would take on such a role, as I had always been content to follow leaders rather than lead. Yet, little by little, the GKK Servant Leaders (GSLs) helped me grow into my role, guiding me to become a more confident and firm youth leader within the chapel.

Now, at 20, looking back on all these experiences feels like playing hide and seek with God. As He called me into this unexpected journey of leadership, it was as if He was saying, “Ready or not, here I come!” Becoming a youth leader was never part of my plans, nor was I ever truly ready for the responsibility. But when I became one of the servant-leaders, I encountered countless challenges, moments of failure, tears, and joy. And in those moments, I came to understand the deeper truth of what God was trying to tell me through the words of Jeremiah 29:11:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

These words resonate deeply with me, as my journey has shown me that God’s plan is often beyond our expectations. Through His guidance, I have found a sense of purpose I never imagined, and I now embrace the leadership role He has entrusted to me, no longer as a follower, but as one called to lead in faith and service. (Sophia Beatrice V. Sison | GKK Santo Nino Lanzona Youth)