Ramon Gantang, Jr.: Wakes Up at 5:AM to Prepare Jesus Christ Majesty "Chapel"
Posted on Sunday 10 April 2016
Ramon
Gantang, Jr.: Wakes Up at 5:00AM
To
Prepare Jesus Christ Majesty "Chapel"
By Apolinario Villalobos
It was a Sunday, almost seven in the
morning and I just arrived in Sta. Cruz, struggling with a box full of
notebooks, books, pre-used copies of Bible and pens for the Jesus Christ
Majesty “chapel” along F. Torres. I was hoping against hope that it would be
open that early. The service was yet to start at 10:30AM, but I expect the
venue to be ready because of the musical instruments that had to be set up. I
was downhearted when I found the folding gate closed though the chairs which
were stacked up were obviously ready for their usual arrangement, but the musical
instruments were already set up.
Luckily, when I tried calling, a smiling
guy peeped from the far end of the corridor. He approached the closed gate and
after I introduced myself, he opened it and invited me in. Still smiling, he
introduced himself as “Jay R”. Excusing himself, he went out in haste and after
several minutes, was back with two styro cups of coffee. I was glad that he was
told beforehand by Sister Mayette about my plan to drop by, preferably on a
Sunday, in time for their worship.
I looked around and could not help myself
from getting amazed at how Jay R could singlehandedly transform the big room,
from its “carenderia” setting into a “chapel”, with all the musical instruments
such as, keyboard, drum set, and the stacks of chairs. He confirmed my
assumption that he wakes up as early as 5AM.
Jay R’s story is about a journey from
another denomination towards the flock of Pastor Allan and Sister Mayette
Guerrero at the Jesus Christ Majestry Ministry. It all started two years ago
when he found about the humble New Christian ministry in the midst of a busy
section between Ongpin and Sta. Cruz. That was the time when he got employed at
the Philippine Ports Authority with the help of the couple, who are also with
the same government agency. Just like other spiritually restless souls, the
Divine Providence guided him towards the humble house of worship.
Pastor Allan and Sister Mayette, further
helped him by offering the office which doubles as a “Sunday School” for
children, for his lodging. The office also serves as a repository for their
scant reading materials, as well as, the musical instruments. This arrangement
eventually, proved to be convenient for Jay R who used to commute from his job
at the port area to Quezon City. At 49 today, he serves as the ministry’s
in-house overall Coordinator, Secretary, and on worship days, as a “Worship
Leader”.
The twinkle in Jay R’s eyes shows that he
enjoys what he does on the day that he was supposed to be resting or just
killing time around the city, after the tedious job of receiving and
transferring calls.
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