It was indeed a powerful ICON for my wife and me. Just being able to attend was already a blessing for us. 

We started the year by just deciding that we wouldn’t be able to attend the ICON due to financial constraints. But I guess we were just blessed with wonderful friends who I believe are messengers from God to allow us to attend this conference. 

It was indeed a major Back-to-Basics conference for us. The message to me and Hazel were so simple, but powerful.  Christ just told us, "Just seek me in everything that you do and I will bless you." Simple yet sometimes forgotten.  It totally reminded us that if we continue to see things as an obligation or a task, there will really come a time that we will wear out. But if we obey God because we love Him and He loves us more, now that`s a different story. 

Why are we here in this community? Why do we need to bring others to the community? Why do we serve in SAGIP? Why do we attend households? If we have other reasons other than loving Jesus Christ and following his commandment to love, then definitely we will become lost and lose ourselves in service. Jesus Christ is the source of everything. If we are called to serve, and if you have the desire to serve, then SERVE.  Because once you heed God`s call, He will help you along the way. He will move mountains. He will fix your schedule. He will give you the resources and everything that you need. All we have to do is say YES, and then realize that He will make you His instrument. It is not you who will do the task, but it is His Spirit moving inside you. This is why we need to PRAY. Pray a lot, pray better, and allow God to nourish our spirit.

We may have not been able to attend the entire conference, but Christ has given us the message. Even if we are already married, our service in SFC or any ministry doesn`t stop. We will serve wherever He wants us to serve. We will say yes whenever He needs us to serve and stay there until He says so.
Marriage is indeed a wonderful gift for we are bonded by God not only because of our love for each other, but also because He knows that WE (you and your spouse) could serve better together. We are not married by God just to procreate, but to serve Him and His people. We are living examples of love. With the love that we have for our spouse and for God, we are called to be living examples for the singles that we have under our care. That they may find partners just like we did, and continue to serve, just like we do. 

We must continue to focus on Christ, focus on His deeds, and focus on His words. In everything we do, let us continue to do it for the greater glory of God, and not for our own glory. 

We serve because we love. We obey because we love. And we have faith because WE ARE LOVED!

Raymar and Hazel Ranin are former SFC members who are now serving as SAGIP Sector Coordinators in South B.