FAITH UNFOLDING: JOHN CARLO ABREA’S POWERHOUSE TESTIMONY

By John Carlo Abrea

Growing up in a broken family, I harbored bitterness towards my father, seeking solace among friends in our neighborhood. Despite the challenges, I stayed dedicated to my studies, driven by my dream of joining the police force despite the difficulties at home.

In 2006, Evangelical FREE Church, led by Pastor Erland Palean, then, its youth pastor, initiated a ministry outreach program in our school. This period marked a pivotal turning point in my life. The first time I met Pastor Erland was during a youth service invitation to our class. Little did I know that through this, God was about to start changing my life gradually. From then on, I became more involved in church activities, and by 2007, I made the heartfelt decision to be baptized as a devoted Christian, fully embracing God as my Savior.

Years passed and in 2013, I achieved my lifelong dream of becoming a police officer, unaware that it would bring significant challenges to my Christian journey. The demands of my job led me towards a more secular lifestyle. It was during this time that I met my future wife, raised in the Catholic faith. As our relationship deepened and we prepared for marriage, I chose to reconnect with Catholicism, a prerequisite for our union and the supposed foundation of our family. Together, we worked towards our shared dreams of building a family.

Almost a decade later, our marriage faced trials, and tribulations, revealing the difficulty of navigating family life without God at its core. This realization prompted me to lead our return to my home church and encouraged my wife to join me in this decision. Our journey back to God was, to say the least, very challenging. However, we persevered, and with God’s grace, we overcame the obstacles in our marriage. Along the way, we found peace and strength in our renewed faith. Since then, whenever our schedules allow, we actively participate in church activities, particularly in Powerhouse, the young professionals ministry of Evangelical FREE Church.

The Abrea Family (JC, Jacob, Nica and Ethan)

Being part of the Powerhouse family provided invaluable support in understanding and strengthening my faith. Our community here offered guidance, prayers, and encouragement, helping me face obstacles and nurture my connection and commitment to God. The sense of belongingness here constantly reminded me that I am not alone in my faith journey. The Powerhouse ministry empowered me to persevere, make wise choices, and be mature in my relationship with God.

JC in one of the Powerhouse Mentoring Sessions (left)

JC and Nica, together with the Powerhouse family during their baptism thanksgiving celebration (right)

January of this year, I decided to be rebaptized as a renewal of my allegiance to Jesus Christ in my life. Together with my wife, our baptism symbolized our shared commitment to surrendering our lives, relying on divine guidance, and wholeheartedly embracing the Lord as our Savior. At this point, my wife and I deeply grasped the significance of building our family on God's foundation, and every day we are praying and striving for a deeper spiritual connection and that our lives will always be aligned with God’s truths.

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John Carlo Abrea is a police staff sergeant at the Philippine National Police, and is one of the young husbands and dads of EFC Powerhouse, under the mentorship of Pastor Erland.

Just like JC, if you have stories to encourage your fellow young professionals in the faith, e-mail us at efcpowerhouse@gmail.com.