The year 2020 brought the world to a sudden, terrifying halt, confronting every individual with the ultimate threat of the unknown. For Bro. Charlie Olivar, a dedicated member of Couples for Christ for ten years, the challenge was both professional and deeply personal.
As part of the Global Mission Center (GMC) Clinical Services in the HR department, Charlie was tasked with monitoring the health of his co-workers, from those based in Metro Manila to those in the provinces and the International Council. His role placed him directly in the thick of the emerging health crisis, even requiring him to manage the logistics of a “bubble bus” service dedicated to keeping people safe.
Little did he know, he was about to move from monitoring the crisis to being at the very heart of it.
The Trial of the Unexpected Positive
The weight of the pandemic was immense: a silent pressure carried by everyone striving to stay vigilant and healthy. Charlie’s life was abruptly paused around his elder brother’s birthday when he received the shock news: he had tested positive for COVID-19. In that moment, the threat he had been monitoring became a paralyzing reality.
Like countless others who faced that diagnosis in the early days of the pandemic, Charlie was overcome with uncertainty. He was immediately isolated in a dedicated place for a mandatory 14-day quarantine, separated from his wife and daughter. The fear was a profound burden: he could not know if his symptoms would remain mild or rapidly escalate to a severe, life-threatening condition.
It was a moment of absolute vulnerability, a crisis of the soul where control was stripped away, leaving only silence and self-reflection.
This isolation presented a powerful, universal trial: the feeling of being completely alone when facing a terrifying unknown.
The Healing Power of Total Surrender
It was in the heart of this fear that Charlie experienced his defining moment of Faith and spiritual Healing. With nowhere else to turn, he turned inward, dedicating his time in isolation to intense prayer. He lifted his hands in surrender, speaking the words that mark the beginning of true devotion: “Lord, I offer myself to you. I will surrender to you everything.”
This act of giving up control transformed his quarantine from a prison of anxiety into a sanctuary of acceptance. The immediate spiritual healing was the peace that flowed from surrendering the outcome. Charlie understood that his life, his health, and his future were no longer his to worry about, but belonged completely to God. This deep-seated conviction proved stronger than the fear of the virus itself.
Rising Up as a Frontliner
Charlie did not just survive; he was restored, physically and spiritually, and he emerged from his quarantine with a renewed sense of Hope and mission. His personal encounter with the virus solidified his identity not just as a CFC member, but as a dedicated CFC Frontliner.
He rose from his sickbed, picked up his work, and dedicated himself further to the service, understanding that his experience now carried greater weight and compassion. His mission became twofold: continually serving his co-workers in the clinical services department by monitoring their health, and constantly advocating for safety through the taking vitamins, practicing physical distancing, and adhering to health protocols.
The ultimate lesson of Charlie’s story is the profound truth embedded in the anniversary theme: Christ Heals! Rise, Pick Up Your Mat, and Go! He faced the deepest fear of the pandemic, surrendered his “mat” of anxiety, and rose up to continue his work with greater vigor and Love.
His story is a powerful testament to all CFC members and the wider Christian community that even in the face of global uncertainty and personal crisis, total surrender to Christ’s plan is the only path to true peace, allowing us to serve others with a confident heart.
Credits:
Written by David Quiambao | Edited by Angeli Arellano | Graphics nd Layout by Jay Lucena