By Cyrus A. Natividad
Japheth Espinosa was the CEW speaker for the Junior High School convocations.
In the morning of August 13, 2019, the Rose Memorial Auditorium was filled with enthusiastic students. It was the opening of the Christ Emphasis Week (CEW) Convocation for the Junior High School.
Japheth Davis Espinosa is the invited CEW speaker that morning at the Rose Memorial Auditorium. He is a Centralian from Kindergarten to 3rd year High School. He belongs to a family with many businesses. His wife and children also studied in CPU.
What is noteworthy about him is that he speaks honestly about himself; ĴýYou got to see what is the real me, I have nothing to hideĴý, he said. ĴýThat is how I understand ĴýNo FilterĴý, Espinosa added.
Espinosa talked about how he had fallen with drugs and alcohol. To avoid being tempted to use drugs, he attended regularly the Bible study with his wife at their residence – until somebody tempted him to use drugs. ĴýIt was of a little amount until I lost control. I became addicted and became totally dependent on ĴýshabuĴý and alcohol; I had to find them at all cost, anytime when I needed themĴý, he said.
ĴýMy life was a total mess and miserable, I told my wifeĴý. ĴýThen I told myself that my life is going darkerĴý. ĴýI asked protection from God, and that I was successfully rehabilitated. I turned to the Bible verses that assured me about changing, about living a new life with ChristĴý.
In his message at the CEW, Espinosa said ĴýJesus Christ changed meĴý, declaring Him as Ĵýmy Lord and helper – referring to the verses in Matthew 10: 32-33. Espinosa also pointed to the verse in Jeremiah 29:11 – ĴýFor I know the plans I have for youĴýĴý to drive the point that God has a wonderful plan for each one of us if we surrender our lives to Him.
In addition, Espinosa encouraged everyone to live in Christ, and declared that ĴýThere is no place to run. God is the safe place to hide, He never leaves us for one momentĴý.
Espinosa, having been used by God, is now engaged with the Celebrate Recovery Ministry that is helping people with substance abuse. When Japheth was introduced by Rev. Cris Amorsolo V. Sian, Senior Pastor of the University Church, it was said that he baptized 63 Ĵýtokhang surrendereesĴý whom he has been ministering into.