GLORIA ESCOBER-SATORRE
SERVANT OF GOD
LIFE TESTIMONY
My greatest dream was to be a flight stewardess; so when I finished college, I applied to almost 6 airlines companies and all I got was rejection. My mom was pressuring me to work already since I am the only one among the 6 siblings who finished college but not yet able to find a job , I am the 5th.
I saw an ad that Honda Cars Alabang was opening and they need new employees. I applied to be a Sales Executive. After a month of extensive interviews and exam, I got the job. Modestly aside, “All glory to God alone”. I am one of the Sales Executives who always over exceeded my required quota. After 2 years, I got promoted and almost after every 2 years I am stepping higher to a new level. I always have the privileged to enjoy the incentive trips, since I am always one of the top Sales Manager. At the peak of my career, I met a guy who is not the same faith as I have, fell in love and in our 1st year anniversary I did something that I know did not pleased God. After a month, I got pregnant. And when he knew this, he left to the US without informing me. It was devastating to know that my first love left me. I literally almost died crying in my office; I felt alone and rejected. When I gave birth I said to God, “Lord, forgive me for choosing him over You…FROM THIS DAY ON, I am surrendering my life to you, USE ME FOR YOUR HONOR and GLORY”.
I started to have a Bible study in Honda every Wednesday 12NN- 1PM. One of our speakers is now my husband. He was praying for a wife for almost 7 years, I did not know that I will be an answer to his long time prayer. We got married in February 14, 2009.
In December 2011, the Lord asked me to serve Him, full time, I fasted for a week and wanted to hear God very clearly because that will not be an easy journey since Pastor Don is already full time and in my mathematics if I will resign we will not survive since the members of our church can barely have fares to pay when they go to church. The tithes will only go to the transpo allowance of the members. When I shared this to Pastor Don he fasted and also ask a clear word from God and the Lord told him in Luke 2:29, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace”. It was on January 1, 2012, the day after I tendered my resignation, it was really heartbreaking since I will be giving up my position, my 15th to 30th salary, commissions and financial and trip incentives, car plan, health card, insurance and all the perks.
My mom thought that when I resigned, it will be for greener pastures but when she knew that we will help the less fortunate community in Cavite she said, “You’re Crazy”.
I started to teach children reading and writing in Paliparan, Dasma Cavite area whose parents are drug users.
Reached out to men in the community through “pay per view of Manny Pacquiao Fight.
We opened a training center with NO TUITION FEES to reached out the community who are out of school youth, drug users, prostitute and even hired killer they will study in 3 months of skills and character formation. Through this school they have the privileged to study (massage therapy, electrical, welding, culinary and so on) almost 7, 000 students studied in that center, get to know Jesus as Lord and Savior because before graduation they are required to attend the Encounter God Retreat, they were empowered to bring out the best in them and they can have a better future since majority are TESDA NC2 passers after they graduate. Some are already working in hotel, Middle East country and private companies.
This is with the help of 35 volunteers who also had the privileged to study and pay forward. They freely share their talent and gifts to reach out the community and catch the vision.
Every summer we have Performing Arts Course and Sports Ministry for the youth. Helping them develop their God given gifts, enlightening them to go back to their God given purpose and assignment and rescuing them as they are the problems of the society.
And for almost 16 years Pastor Don and our family made a commitment to God to share the Gospel to all Region 4 public schools. We call it “School Mission Bible Distribution” in which a student will hear the Gospel and be able to receive and read the Bible. Just recently in December 2019 in Batangas and in January 2020 in Baguio. To this date we shared the gospel to a total of 5 million students.
When my mom saw this she said that:
“Akala mo ba mabubuhay ka ng kabayanihan and katangahan mo”.
But I just listened and focused on God’s promises.
Jeremiah 29:11 New Living Translation (NLT)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Deuteronomy 31:6 New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
It wasn’t an easy journey since we need to feed our volunteers, pay for the school rentals, provide for our family needs, transportation needs…. There are times that when my children open our refrigerator and the only thing that they will see is water and they will shout,” I am hungry Ma, What are we going to eat we do not have anything in the ref?” But Daddy Don will just tell them, “Praise God, we have bigger space for God to put our food in it”. Those were the days that I ask God, “Lord please don’t put us in shame please provide for us…we are serving a faithful God”, and the Lord will bring me to
1 Kings 17:14-16 English Standard Version (ESV)
14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.
Since I resigned the journey was really very challenging. There are times I cry to God please help us Lord and help me to be faithful with You but God will always prove that he is a miracle working God and a promise keeper. There are days someone will drop groceries in our house, text me and will ask me my bank account details because the Lord told them to bless us, a very close friend gave us a Mazda SUV when I lost my car plan and the Lord bless that man with a new CRV after he planted his SUV to us. He provided an OB Doctor to give us free service when I gave birth to Victoria and Josh. And a Dentist who gave his service for free since they know we are missionaries.
After 5 years of running the school and giving all our services for free… walking in obedience…the Lord blessed us by opening doors to Private Catholic School with almost 3,000 students to handle their Retreat/Recollection, Camp and Character Formation. We are doing this for almost 3 years already and more private schools like International British Academy
in Dasma and Bacoor areas. He also opened the door in corporate wherein we do a lot of Leadership Training and Team Building.
Just last year a total of 220 big and small companies and a Local Government Unit partnered with us thru teambuilding trainings and seminars. After the event we made sure to give Proverbs book, Bibles and gospel Tracts then we close and lead them in prayer to receive Jesus in their hearts since He is the source of true success.
If I may quote in last week Pastor Erwin’s Preaching:
“Obedience is your responsibility, leave the result to GOD. God works in you, you work out by obeying. God will keep us on the right course when we obey.”
Brothers and sisters in Christ, one thing I always hold on to keep me going is that God is always reminding me of my purpose and my calling; that it is in,
Isaiah 61: 1
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me to preach he good tidings to the poor;
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound…”
ALL GLORY TO GOD ALONE
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