Time to Say Good-bye

These four guys were six years of my life.

One is a lawyer (our chairman), one is a pastor, one is a trainer and executive director of a large campus Christian youth organization, and one is executive director of a movement/fellowship of Christians in government. And there's me.

In these capacities, we were all individually invited to form the five-member National Advisory Committee (NACs) of the Leadership Development Program (LDP) of Compassion International in the Philippines.

We had various duties but primarily, we helped identify young Compassion-assisted men and women who have shown potential to become Christian leaders. Through the LDP, the chosen ones (around 35 every year) receive the opportunity to get a college degree and develop Christian leadership skills and abilities.

The five of us were thrust into this role with different perspectives, coming as we were from disparate backgrounds. Once a year, we listened to an average of 60 heart-rending stories of poverty from hopeful scholars—and chose who would join LDP.

Those interviews had been weepy for me, but I always emerged more compassionate and determined to partner with Compassion International in "Releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name."

Three to four times a year, the NACs passionately brought to the discussion table our expertise in our individual fields, which were always miles apart from the other! We laughed, we cried, we argued, we ate, we cracked lawyer jokes, we quoted from the scriptures, we cited facts, we narrated personal experiences—but always, we ended each discussion on any controversial issue with a consensus.

In the process, from each other we learned things we never knew before—and became dear friends.

We also shared the joy of seeing those whom we picked for LDP graduate with a degree, and changed for life—some with honors, and some hugged by their sponsors who'd fly in from distant shores for this milestone.

Each time we met—to review some students' progress—I always felt a see-saw of emotions. Being released from poverty is a painful process, needing prayers and perseverance to keep going. This we recognized as a group, and we shared the pain.

Now six years have passed; and life has phases which have beginnings and endings. And so this phase of my life with LDP has reached the finish line.

It is time to say good-bye.

The NACs was a place of great honor, for which I would like to thank God, whom Compassion International serves. The road forks for NACs—to meet again, surely, at some points in the future.

Meanwhile, I think of the LDP scholars, as though I birthed them myself, and continue to pray for them as I would for my own children.

And knowing we share the same faith—in Christ's saving grace—I am positive that my past fellow NACs will do the same.