A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to interview one of the admired 'elders' of SFC Abu Dhabi Chapter 1... continue reading for the full article...
Good things come in small
packages they say and I should know - I come in a small package too! Har har!
Kidding aside Bro Nelson Ciriaco
may not be one who towers in height but he is one of those few people who can
easily command attention. When he talks, people listen and not because they
have to but because he has a way with words and talks in a way that would make
you want to listen. Who would have thought that this engaging and
inspiring speaker was once much comfortable hiding in the shadows during his
CLP?
He is one of the first few
friendly albeit unfamiliar faces I saw when I first came to the CLP. His
bespectacled innocent baby face, belie a person who has gone through so much.
Blessed with a father with a strong
heart and a mother whose resilience is incomparable, Bro. Nelson grew up in a
family who was very much active in church despite being beleaguered with
challenges.
With his father being in and out
of prison, having been unjustly accused of various criminal cases, and his
mother crashing from one relative to the next to attend hearings in support of
her husband, Bro nelson took on responsibility at an early age and helped
support his family by taking on odd jobs since he was in Grade 4 (from being a balot
vendor to a tricycle driver) until he graduated with a degree in accountancy
and landed his first job at former American Military Base Clark Pampanga.
Presented with independence, the
opportunity and the means, he found himself trapped in the professional success
he has attained and the temptation filled environment he is in. Drinking in
bars and frequenting night clubs became a habit – a lifestyle he carried on
until he came to Abu Dhabi
in 2009.
He was leading a double standard
life of practicing his religion, going to Church regularly and even accepting
the invitation to attend the CLP and join SFC whilst carrying on his drinking
habit and illicit relationship.
His epiphany came during Talk 4:
Repentance and Faith. Having just celebrated his birthday the night before and
coming to the CLP still intoxicated with alcohol, the talk hit him to the core
- it was the push that he needed to finally turn back on his unchristian ways
and while his decision was firm it was nonetheless testing and distressing. The
succeeding Talks helped him get through this trying time and validated his resolve
to let go of the… that led to his
transformation into a better person thus becoming a good influence to those
around him and evangelizing people with words and more so with his positive
example.
After a year of continued service,
he was tapped to be a DGL. Bro Nelson considers this period in his SFC life as
the most challenging. He not only is assigned with new members who are as
stubborn as he once was but it also seems like every aspect of his life is in
chaos. He was struggling with office problems, his parents had health issues
and to top it all his personal relationship is in shambles. A little nudge from
God by way of coming out unscathed and harming no one in a freak car accident
brought him back to the realization to never give up despite life’s
complexities because if you hold on to God you will always – always emerge
victorious.
He continued to grow with and in
the SFC community but there are still times that he feels unworthy and
inadequate – talking in front of a crowd particularly holds him back as he
feels scrutinized and under the spotlight. He considers the 2009 Family
Conference another turning point in his SFC life. Despite vehemently refusing
up to the last minute, armed with the encouragement of Bro Joje he took stage
and shared his experiences. From then on, his eagerness to proclaim how God
changed his life grew and along with it, his realization that God equips those
whom he has called to serve.
Recently inducted as Unit Chapter
Head he thinks of this as God’s way of training him for the responsibilities of
handling his own family in the future as he prays for the SFC community to
empower more brothers and grow not only in numbers but in faith as well. Bro
Nelson prays for us members to be the face of Christ to all those around us,
encouraging us to spread the Christian culture not only within but outside the
community as well.
Calling to mind his favourite
bible verse Phil 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens
me" he advises all SFC member to ‘never forget that in the community there
is always someone will listen, that the answers to all our worries are already
there – God will send angels and instruments to help us thru the most difficult
times in our lives, we only have to dial God and make him our Master Call’
Bro Nelson truly has endured so
much in life and while some would call it suffering he calls them blessings and
thanks God for all these challenges. Standing up victorious from each and every fall by God’s grace strengthened his faith, character and
brought his family closer than ever. He truly is a son of a champion for he is
a son of God.
And for all of this May
God Be Praised!
