The E-vangelist: An Open Home, An Open Heart

By: Boots Endaya

Every time that Joem and I answer forms that ask, "Are you willing to open your home and host brothers and sisters from the SOS?," we always answer “Yes.” At the back of our minds, we are willing but, we find it to be quite impossible because our house is small.

During the last Asian Regional Youth Workers’ Training Conference in October, Cor Marcojos, my former PL, asked me if our family could do just that -- host a youth worker, and I told her that we just have a small house. I was so convicted when she said that she is not looking for a family with a big house but, for a family with a big heart.

My worry about not having a big house was converted into a realization about the kind of generosity that the Lord is asking from me and my family. It was the same conviction that made even our YA children, Gerard and Theresa, realize that the Lord is asking us, not only to share our home, but more importantly, to respond to God’s call with whatever we have.

We were guided by Ephesians 3:20:

“Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.”

Opening our home was such a small task that would give glory to our community and to God, not only now but to all generations -- a way to go, especially for Gerard who gave up his room. Only by God’s grace, we were able to stretch, not our house, but moreso our hearts in accommodating two (2) of our SOS brothers.

At the LNP Center, first row:
Rommel Abas and Joel Nery
of People of God Community

In the end, it was our family who was so blessed by the presence of our brothers - Rommel Abas and Joel Nery from the People of God Community of Cagayan de Oro. The brothers brought with them so much wisdom and “holiness”, not to mention the joy and fun that we experienced with their presence.

“Are we willing to open our home and host brothers and sisters from the SOS?”

Our family will always answer “Yes!” Even if our house is small, the Lord’s grace made our hearts big enough to share with them a place they could call home while they were with Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon.