Remembering Reverend Ramon C. Sanchez

A Life Lived Serving the Kingdom

Rev. Ramon’s Sanchez
Autobiographical Sketch of My Early Life

I was the eldest of my mother’s children, and the eldest of the grandsons, and I was raised by my maternal grandparents. My grandmother was a truly born again Christian, fruit of the labors of the early, pioneering American missionaries in the Philippines, during the era of American colonialism. She truly loved the Lord. Because of her strong Christian influence many of my kin became Christians and some entered the ministry to serve the Lord. It was in this Christian atmosphere of my grandmother’s home that I acquired a knowledge of the Gospel, God’s love, and God’s word. In this same situation, the Lord prepared the soil of my heart for the Gospel and for the ministry.

Hence, I always believed that it was my grandmother who led me to the Lord and the person who exerted on me a very strong influence to enter the ministry. However, this decision to take the Christian ministry as my vocation came only after I completed my first year of college. I happened to attend a commencement exercise at Febias Biblel College (then known as Far Eastern Bible Institute and Seminary). During the commencement speech, I was decisively challenged to consecrate my life to the Lord. That night, I committed my life to God and His ministry. I entered the same seminary the following school year, despite my parents’ objections who, at that time, were not yet consecrated Christians.

Indeed, my ministry as a young seminarian was not all bright sunshine. God never promised it that way anyway. There were many frustrations, persecutions, deprivations, and anxieties. Like other zealous young workers in the service of Jesus Christ, I pioneered among the tribal people and worked without pay, except for the love offerings and contributions from concerned Christians. Our situation among the tribal people was quite challenging, compared with our foreign missionary colleagues. But this did not discourage us from serving the Lord in this way. In fact, I was prompted to work even harder; I wrote a research paper on Philippine-American Relations in Protestant missions, in compliance with a graduation requirement.

After graduation, I worked with the Christian Literature Crusade as a gospel tract writer in English and in Pilipino while studying for my Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. Despite the financial hardships and sacrifices, God allowed me to complete my studies. Eventually, I left the full-time ministry and accepted a position teaching Philosophy at the University of the Philippines. For a long time, my only active Christian ministry was preaching during Sundays and teaching Sunday School. This teaching experience was my preparation for future Christian ministry. At that time, my heart was opened to the apparent irrelevance of Christian Faith in the context of the economic and political realities which engulfed the Philippines. I was one of only a few in the Church who were preaching and teaching lessons on “Christian Relevance, Commitment and Involvement.” I had been living in the United States during the period of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. leadership the Civil Rights Movement. His example inspired me to take a stronger stand.

God, in His power, manipulated circumstances in an amazing way and he brought me back to full-time Christian Ministry. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I was following God’s will with my role in teaching and preaching Christian relevance and presence. In 1974, I returned to full time Christian work by accepting a humble position at Far East Broadcasting Company, a Christian radio network. There, I served as as a letter counselor and script writer for a program called “Christianity Today.” At the same time, I worked as Associate Pastor of Manila Calvary Church.

Afterwards, I accepted the work to manage Edenton Mission College, a small Christian College in the dangerous areas of Southern Mindanao. I took my family to that place completely trusting the Lord. Once again, God proved Himself patient, loving and faithful. While the surrounding areas were seething with violence and war, our mission had continued to remain peaceful. Similarly, our daily needs were provided for. “There is no fear in love.”

I know for certain that I am following God’s will and what he wants me to do with my ministry. It is clear that God wants me to minister within the church as a teacher and a writer. God has allowed me to have experiences in church and school administration and management, but I am convinced that teaching and writing in the context of a Christian educational institution will be my primary task. I feel very strongly that it is along these lines that I could contribute the most to the Church of Christ in the Philippines, especially in the field of training of Christian leaders and ministers. I also desire to expand my theological knowledge, in order to be better prepared for greater involvement Christian Mission in the Far East.

Our Memorial Gathering