Ruel Aguirre, a Couples for Christ (CFC) missionary, has devoted his life to service and formation. Today, he develops training modules for CFC and Full-Time Pastoral Workers (FTPWs), a role he once embraced himself. His journey is not about instant transformation but about the slow, steady rebuilding of a life anchored in faith, discipline, and service. His pursuit of relevance and excellence continues to propel him forward—for the greater glory of God.
Like many young people of his generation, Ruel once lived what could be described as an irrelevant existence, drawn to temporal pursuits and seemingly unmindful of the future. He candidly admits that he was fortunate to have enrolled in an academic institution without a dismissal policy for repeated failures. His scholastic record was riddled with failing grades, so much so that his Transcript of Records “bled” with marks during a job interview at a bank. Unsurprisingly, he was never called back for a second interview.
Yet a seemingly ordinary invitation to a youth camp in the late 1990s became the pivotal moment that rewrote his life’s direction. The camp ignited a fire within him, and he became active in CFC Youth for Christ (YFC). After graduating from college, he joined friends from the ministry on a long-term mission in Baguio and Benguet. This experience opened his eyes to a wider and deeper sense of mission. With a burning desire to serve, he committed himself as a lay missionary: a Full-Time Pastoral Worker. Eventually, he was sent on an international mission to Africa.
Reflecting on that experience, he shares that “Africa changed my life.” Despite differences in race and culture, he discovered one profound truth: “Pare-parehong uhaw para sa Panginoon. (All are equally thirsty for the Lord)”. This realization emboldened his resolve to dedicate his life fully to the mission. Even after returning to the Philippines, he remained steadfast—traveling across the country to strengthen communities. Later, together with his wife Maan—herself an FTPW—he served for three years in Kalinga, in the Philippines’ Cordillera Administrative Region, working to fortify the CFC community and collaborate with the local church there.
For Ruel, the essence of mission lies not in the instrument itself but in the willingness of the one who wields it. He affirms that “The point is to allow yourself—willingly—to be used by God for His greater purpose.”
His academic journey equally took a remarkable turn. Under the auspices of CFC, he pursued and completed a master’s degree in theology, graduating with Latin honors from San Carlos Seminary. For someone whose college record was marred by failures, this achievement was nothing short of extraordinary. He humbly attributes it not to his own ability but to divine assistance, declaring that “Only because of God’s grace and God’s blessing nakayanan ko (that I made it). Nakayanan ko dahil sa Kanya at hindi dahil sa kakayanan ko. (I was able to do it because of Him, and not because of my own abilities.)”
Armed with new learning, Ruel seeks to further enhance the services of CFC—not only for the local church, but also for the universal Church. He emphasizes that in all endeavors, one must discern where God is calling and what He is asking to be accomplished. This conviction is the primordial reason he remains on mission: because he believes this is where he is most relevant.
To be relevant, he insists, requires disciplined obedience to divine promptings, the full use of one’s talents, and a resolute rejection of mediocrity. Excellence must always be the standard, for the God we serve deserves nothing less than the best of us.
Finally, Ruel underscores the importance of the gift of presence. Just as God had been present in the highs and lows of his life, so too must we be present to our communities, especially to those in the margins of society. You need not say anything—your mere presence is enough reminder of God’s presence for them.
His story reminds us that divine calling often manifests in the most unlikely ways. If we answer that call and allow ourselves to be used by the Lord, we may uncover talents we never knew we possessed and discover our true place in this world. Relevance is a jewel refined through constant direction, tested by life’s trials. Yet in both highs and lows, we can trust that God is always beside us.
To discover your calling, answer the call. And when you do, pursue excellence in everything for the glory of His Name.
Credits:
Written by Manuel Rabanes | Edited by Angeli Arellano | Graphics and Layout by Jay Lucena