From an active Catholic Leader to Adventist

Marilou Luna baptized by Pr. Jinwook Look at Okotoks church campground near Fort Macleod.

I am Marilou Luna, 43 years old and happily married to my husband, Jobert Luna. We have two sons, Matthew Jacob and Ezekiel. I will share the story of how I became a Seventh-day Adventist.

I was born in a family of Roman Catholics. I grew up in my grandparent's care because my father died when I was two years old. I'm the youngest of 10 siblings. My mother could not take good care of us; that's why my grandfather took me. I grew up feeling incomplete. There were times I envied other kids when I saw them walking outside with their parents. Just

like other Catholic, I go to church every Sunday. The spiritual aspect of my life became more active when I joined the charismatic group. I was working in Taiwan as a factory worker. I felt I had this spiritual drought.

One day, I saw this group of people going in and out of our dormitory chapel. I asked what they were doing, and one of them replied that they were having Bible study and invited me to join. After a month, I joined the charismatic group. They are the group of Catholics who are active in Bible study, songs, and praise. I felt blessed in that group because that was the start of my spiritual growth. I love helping others through prayer. I led in organizing religious activities. I felt happy doing it. I realized that you will not get tired if you offer your time to do God's work. I prayed and lifted all my worries to God. Truly God is amazing.

Marilou Luna and Beltran couple (Eleonor and Lemuel) baptized on the same day.

I got engaged to my boyfriend (now my husband). He was a born Seventh-day Adventist. I was happy he wanted to marry me, but at the same time worried because it meant I needed to make a big decision. I need to change my religion, and for me, that's an immense decision to make. Two months before we got married, his older sister invited me to attend the church service. I said okay without a second thought, and that is the start of my journey of becoming a Seventh-day Adventist. At first, the only reason I want to become a Seventh-day Adventist is for my husband and I to have the same religion. But as I started attending the church service for over a year and finally decided to be baptized, that's when I started doing Bible study with brother Jerson Delima. I came to understand more about the Sabbath day, the different kinds of law, and many other things. I realized I had made the right decision. I'm happy and blessed. Serving God is good, but it's best if we know the Word of God, its Doctrine, Teachings, and Sacraments.

I did another Bible study with Pastor Jinwook Lee before my baptism. I learned many things about history, doctrines, teachings, and ordinances. I learned that when we are broken, we are down because of the problems we are facing. All we need to do is to go back to our Creator by asking for help through prayers. He is the only one who can help us and cure us. If we rely on our capabilities, sometimes things get worse. I'm a living testimony. If we lift everything to God, He is always there to help us, listen to us. This is my favourite verse in the Bible (John 3:16) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." I was baptized last July 3, 2021. And I'm attending Okotoks Adventist Church here in Alberta. Right now, I continue to do Bible study with Pastor Jinwook Lee. Please include me in your prayers that I may be able to grow in my journey and the day will come that I have the courage to share the word of God with other people.

By Marilou Luna