In 2018, Bro. Jefferson “Jeff” Concepcion was asked if he would pursue greener pastures after getting his bachelor’s degree. Back then, he was working at the Couples for Christ Provincial Mission Center in Bulacan, and graduating from college could be his ticket to a more comfortable life.
However, without hesitation, he never considered life away from service. Young as he was, he already understood that God’s grace willed him to surpass the trials that came to him and his family. This unwavering gratitude inspired him to bless the community as a full-time pastoral worker for CFC Singles for Christ.
Walking on Solid Ground Amidst Life’s Challenges
Bro. Jeff’s journey to achieving his dreams entailed several roadblocks. There was an opportunity to finish his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree through a scholarship provided by a religious order. Unfortunately, the set-up turned out to be a scam as the foundation had been using the religious sisters’ image and likeness to extort money from aspiring scholars.
He nearly missed the chance to enroll at a state university that could have given him quality education. Financial and physical woes also made his path tougher. To help support his family, Bro. Jeff took on various jobs such as working at a fishpond, putting up promotional posters for an online gaming company, and serving as a laborer for a beverage company. He also delivered milkfish from Manila to Bulacan and worked as a secretary for a milkfish supplier.
While his race wasn’t easy, taking the Lord out of the equation was never an option. Despite the battles he faced, the CFC Kids for Christ member who once aspired to be a lawyer constantly chose God. When Bro. Jeff transitioned to the CFC Youth for Christ, he eventually became a Mission Volunteer.
Little did he know that answering the call to serve led to the opportunities he prayed and longed for. As he said, “God’s plan is the best. His timing will never be late. It will never be advanced. It will always be the right time.”
Serving as an MV meant having a key role in preparing for the 2012 and 2013 YFC Central Luzon Regional Youth Conferences. This mission saw him spend extensive hours at the Provincial Mission Center, giving him much time to meet the CFC members that helped him pursue his degree.
Bro. Jeff learned about CFC ANCOP’s Educational Sponsorship Program through his then-YFC Regional Coordinator, Bro. Tan Ecleo, and his Provincial Couple Coordinator, Bro. Jess and Sis. Tess Alonzo.
Even though he nearly missed the chance to enroll for the next college semester, Bro. Ted Pangan, a CFC Bulacan Area Governance Team Member and a college profession by trade, helped pave the way for the opportunity that Jeff deserved. He got into Bulacan State University after passing the entrance exam, even though the admission period was over.
Faithfulness Leads to Blessedness
Balancing work, school, service (and the occasional lovelife) wasn’t easy for Bro. Jeff. It even came to a point that stretching himself thin nearly led him to fail a subject. Luckily, he got a chance to pass.
Beyond him, the seeds he planted for the mission bore fruit not only for him but for his family. Three of his siblings—Fatima, Pauline, and Guada—entered school, while his other sister, Grace, started a family. When Grace needed blood during her pregnancy, the CFC community helped their family find compatible donors.
Bro. Jeff may not be living the life he once dreamed of. However, he strongly believes that he’s where God wants him to blossom. His previous job prepared him for the noble profession he now has. From promoting online games, Bro. Jeff is now promoting the beauty of the Catholic faith through SFC. From being a laborer, he’s now working in the Lord’s vineyard. From dealing with fish, he has become a fisher of men.
The mission continues for Bro. Jeff, and he will offer every ounce of himself to it. For him, “In everything that I would do, I offer it for his glory, I will just do it for His love, with His love, and in His love.”
Credits:
Written by Lawrence Andrew Fernandez | Edited by Angeli Arellano | Graphics and Layout by Jay Lucena