A Testimony of God’s Unfailing Love

by Pastor Jayson Santos

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” - JOHN 3:16

Growing up I was a sickly child, and my mother, who modeled prayer and worship, sat with me, taught me to pray, and reminded me to pray at meals, bedtime, and early morning. At six I nearly died of typhoid fever and rheumatic heart disease, but after a long recovery our church family prayed for me, and that healing became one of the most memorable miracles I experienced from God.

High school was a difficult season of insecurity and identity struggle as I tried to fit in. My father fell into smoking and drinking, and I followed his example in secret, living a double life while keeping up good status at school and at home. A near‑fatal accident involving my parents became a wake‑up call for our family as my dad turned back to Jesus. That accident sparked my own repentance and my renewed commitment to Christ. 

While studying in Manila I was overwhelmed by city life, but a youth summer camp transformed my life during an altar call after a sermon on “Am I My Brother’s Keeper?” I committed my life to Jesus and embraced the Great Commission. I then served five years in the campus ministry and at our conference youth ministry, that led a lot of Youth to be fully devoted followers of Jesus. Praise be to God!

I prayed for a life partner and God answered when I reconnected with Richilda Encarnado-Santos after college. What began as friendship grew into a romantic relationship and later on to marriage. We are blessed with three children: Jianne Carl, Chloe Margaret, and Chelsea Grace. From then on, she became my best friend, ministry partner, and a gift who drew me closer to the Lord and helped me grow in discipline and service.

The Lord brought me to USA around 2005, and the early years were difficult, unstable work, temptation to despair, and even brief turns to alcohol, drugs and unhealthy relationship with people, yet God’s grace and mercy sustained me and deepened my faith and dependence on Him more. 

In 2012, we moved back to Sacramento and joined God's Family Christian Fellowship (www.gfcfsacramento.org) church through Pastor Pete Viray and Pastor Rudy Estacio, where my wife and I served in the music ministry and helped organize summer camps. A COVID scare deepened my faith more and led me to recommit my life to God and eventually enter in the pastoral ministry through the help and guidance of Pastor Jim Crawford and Pastor Renato Opena. During the pandemic, I was appointed as youth pastor while our congregation met online, in members homes and public parks. The sudden passing of my father was a crucible moment and decided to commit my life to full time pastoral ministry.

My calling is to love God, glorify Him, preach the gospel of Jesus, share His love to others, and lead those who would respond to it. My ministry priorities are evangelism, worship, discipleship, and healing ministry, which I hope and pray the key to strengthening families, church, and our community. My life verse is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”.  This is the work and power of the Holy Spirit in us. I give back all the glory and honor to God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!