Testimonies

I have attended a number of events of BAM Philippines online, and each one has been a meaningful learning experience. Because of this, I am encouraged to see the work of BAM Philippines thriving and progressing in different parts of the country. This demonstrates the relevance of a ministry that advocates a Biblical approach to business through the 4P’s concept of Purpose, People, Profit, and Planet, where godly stewardship is emphasized, the glory of Christ is pursued, and the dignity of God’s creation is upheld.

I pray that the Lord will use BAM Philippines mightily to help Christian business owners realize the wisdom of operating their enterprises in a Biblical way, for what the Bible contains are not theories, but practical wisdom for fruitful living. In my decades of being in property development, I have personally experienced that the adage “In God We Trust,” which is seen on top of many of our buildings, indeed led me to wise decision-making and kept me from unnecessary temptations in doing business.

Allow me this opportunity to commend Richard and Cathy Tan for their dedicated leadership and investment in BAM Philippines, together with the Philippine core team, and the Singapore team led by Bro. Matthew Kok. May the Lord grant you abundant strength and faithfulness to accomplish His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

I am a Christian first before a businessman.

I am engaged in used car trading. It’s quite a shady industry. Mileage alteration is rampant and a very common practice among used car dealers. This is a huge challenge for me because, as a follower of Christ, I couldn’t do what these unscrupulous dealers are doing. Proverbs 11:1 says the LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.

The Word is simple and straight. The Lord hates dishonest numbers and is delighted in honest ones, and finds favor in it.

So, by God’s grace, I decided to trust and rely on God’s word than depend on my wisdom. At times it gets pretty challenging, but I just always remind myself that it is ALWAYS better to trust the Lord than follow the ways of men- Praise the Lord! We’ve been in the business for more than a decade now and we are not just surviving but thriving! All glory to our Lord Jesus Christ! 🙏

Brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow Christian Business Owners, and servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, with immense gratitude, we share our testimony of transformation, not just for myself but also for my husband, Eli. I am Cecilia “Nenet” Cabarles from Panay Capiz, and Eli is from San Miguel Iloilo.

As sidewalk vendors, we lived with our own struggles. Eli was once immersed in vices, causing pain and tears in our relationship and business. However, God’s grace worked mightily in his life, and in 1991, he accepted Jesus as his Savior and was baptized, leaving his old ways behind.

Eli’s faith journey inspired me, and I followed him to enroll in the Berean School of Ministry. Together, we grew in our faith and graduated in 1993, becoming recognized ministers of the Gospel, and serving at Destiny Church under the First Assembly of God.

Starting our business with a small loan, we witnessed God’s blessings as our peanut business flourished. Eli’s dedication to the Lord led us to expand into various ventures with wisdom and knowledge from above.

Our children are now involved in our successful businesses while also serving in ministry. Through our experiences, we’ve learned that surrendering everything to Jesus brings unimaginable blessings. His transformative power is evident in both our lives, and we give Him all the glory, honor, and praise. May His love continue to impact our family and business as we serve Him faithfully. Amen.

I grew up in an entrepreneurial environment, running our hardware store in grade 5. After becoming a chief accountant, I entered the garments retail industry. The Asian financial crisis in 1997 wiped out my investments. This humbling experience led me to seek God’s grace and transform my self-reliance into God-confidence.

When given a chance to start a business again, I aligned it with God’s mission, vowing to give back and prioritize stewardship. Despite challenges, including the pandemic, I saw God’s providence in my bakery supply store and distribution company.

I’ve learned to prioritize God’s agenda, trust Him in adversity, and be resilient. While I’m still a work in progress, I trust God to guard what I’ve entrusted to Him. All glory belongs to God, and I’m grateful to Business as Mission-Philippines for this opportunity to share my testimony. May God continue to use me for His glory and inspire others.

“Praise and thanks be to GOD for Business As Missions 2nd Asia Conference. The past two years has brought over a thousand Christian business owners together to convene, sharing the opportunity to be refreshed, enlightened and nourished by God’s Word and the inspiring stories of Christian business leaders in various industries throughout the Asia Pacific. Every thriving entrepreneurial journey has God’s hand print of Divine Providence. BAM Conferences and fellowships never fail to impart wisdom and knowledge that spur one another towards good deeds and godly stewardship.

Our Printing and Packaging businesses has its humble roots selling school and office supplies, with a small print shop that printed notebooks and pad papers. My late Father-in-law Rev. Johnny Limchesing, at age 50, left business in the early 90’s to become a Pastor. The business was handed over to his eldest daughter and eldest son (my husband Raymond), and together with their spouses, we managed and grew the business. Our children are now on board. We’re mentoring our next generation towards godly leadership and faithful stewardship. God owns our business. We are only stewards. Our Business is our Worship. Business is a platform where we can proclaim and live God’s truths. We thank God for Business As Missions. BAM is a community that perpetually points us to our True North — to diligently seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and to faithfully obey the Great Commission in the Marketplace.

As a business owner, I’ve faced countless trials that tested my resolve. While entrepreneur- ship comes naturally to many Filipino Chinese, starting from scratch in Singapore—a Country where I had no immediate family or longtime friends—wasn’t easy. Yet, by God’s grace, I found opportunities and pursued my calling. During life’s ups and downs, my spouse encouraged me with Malachi 3:10: “Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven…” Initially, I dismissed it, but God’s blessings came in abundance, beyond our imagination.

As my wife and I sought to grow as a couple, we attended a BAM couples retreat, which included the Alpha Marriage Course facilitated by Nicky and Sila Lee. While focusing on strengthening our marriage, I was pleasantly surprised to learn from another speaker, Idris Jala, who was ranked by Bloomberg as one of the top 10 most influential policymakers in the world in 2014. I gained insights on Situational Leadership, Divine Intervention, Winning Coalitions, and Solving Problems versus Managing Polarities, among other things. It was inspiring to connect with others who shared how God made the impossible possible.

BAM is a great place to meet like-minded individuals who seek to integrate their life, faith, and business in a Christ-centric way.