Lyric Dave Villarta
Youth pastor at Shalom Family Christian Church – Assemblies of God
Cebu, Philippines
If you could describe your ministry in three words, what would they be, and why did you choose them?
Identity.
Intentions.
Influence.
We teach our young people to find their identity in Christ. Then we teach them how God changes their intentions from worldly to heavenly, through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. Then they can influence other people for the Kingdom and point them toward salvation in Christ.
If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your past self?
I’d tell myself to take advantage of every opportunity God gives me to reach the lost. The enemy is constantly working to deceive the world, and we need to do our part in pushing back the darkness by helping Christ build the Kingdom of Light.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2
Tell us a story about a time you shared the Gospel and how it impacted you or your ministry.
One time I brought a small group of teens to a nearby mall, where I led them in sharing the Gospel with the people there. I was amazed at how courageous those teens were in approaching strangers. One teen even stood by people at a bus stop and passionately preached the Gospel while they waited! It was then I realized teenagers are the Church’s most powerful weapons in Gospel Advancing. They’re sleeping giants just waiting to be mobilized.
