I entered Victory Pioneer while (Kuya or Pastor?) Hym was preaching on the pulpit, and was able to catch the tail-end of the prayer meeting, as we prayed for the transition tonight.

The room was quiet, with a certain stillness in the house, a quietness that is not bothersome; rather, it’s a kind of stillness that is rather comfortable; looking back, I believe it must have been the same stillness that had come upon Bethlehem when the Angel had appeared to the shepherds.

Right after the prayer meeting was food and fellowship.. The kind of bonding that could only be construed as family gatherings around a potluck meal. While most of the people got their food early, I gorged on the leftovers and took two helpings of the last-minute donuts.

Then, the main event was brought on. As the opening bars of Mission Impossible’s theme ripped through the air, people watched in anticipation as Pioneer presented a video directed and edited with such excellence by the Creative Team + the leadership team wonderwoman extraordinaire (name withheld for our dear Ate’s protection), even the video’s seeming “week points” proved to be strengths, as they added a dose of humor to the entire vid. The overall effect was one thrilling, exciting, welcoming video for Pastor Robert Hern.

It seemed to me like the ceremony of two rulers, presidents, or even kings, as one acquiesced his throne, for greater work to be done, and the other one received the baton or scepter, as he assumes the helm of Victory Pioneer.

Even though the ceremony had poignant undertones, I felt the poignancy only as I write this; indeed, as a dear Ate told me, I wouldn’t even feel the transition. Rather, the entire Team Pioneer was rallied to the new season that it is entering in: to a season where we would see a fierier Victory Pioneer, as we spur each other on, under the leadership of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Himself, Jesus Christ.

I was so elated that Pastor Robert Hern reminded us of how we should be on our knees and praying, worshiping, reporting for duty before our ultimate Captain, before we even take a step for any work to be done in church. The admonishment of: “If you are burning out, it only means one thing, you’re doing it from your own strength.”

So, yes, we catch up to the rest of those in the Race of Life, and we rally behind our Captain Ball, Jesus Christ, submit to our human leaders and human Captain Ball Pastor Robert Hern, but let us not forget, that before we run off to join the race, we first have Milk spiked with a bit of Coffee with our King of Kings and Lord of Lords; let’s enjoy breakfasts with Him, reading our spiritual newspaper (the Bible), as well as drink our spiritual milk (the Bible pa rin) spiked with a bit of Coffee (preachings/podcasts), and we worship Him because all the work we have to do is for Him and WITH Him anyway.

If Jesus took the entire night sweating blood before the Father to enable Him to do the task of being publicly humiliated, flogged, carrying the cross, and finally being crucified before the mass of people who hated Him, it is only fitting that we emulate our Lord and Master, and agonize before Him in prayer, even before our day starts.

But if we are too busy with Life, why not take every opportunity to be with Him and worship Him? Bus, jeep, mall, as you look outside the window and see the world He has created, take the time to give honor and worship due to the Hand that created it; and like the book Cat and Dog Theology states, it’s much like a mini worship service then and there.

Victory Pioneer, we’re going places; we are no longer babies who need to be cuddled and hugged. Now is the time to play ball with the world and take dominion for AND with Jesus!






Thank you Pastor Luther for fathering us. Team Pioneer, let’s pray for Pastor Luther, Ate Net (his wife), and his children more, as he and his family birth more spiritual babies to come.