Learning Live Streaming Amidst the Pandemic



Web Content Specialist

For some ten years, I had a job called “web content specialist” or something like that. I myself could not really figure out what the exact title of my job really was haha! But essentially, I uploaded articles into various WordPress websites. Sometimes the work needed a bit of knowledge about basic html codes and sometimes one needs to be good at English grammar. There were times when I was asked to write articles too and there were times when I got involved in link building activities. I also got involved with writing emails to website administrators as part of link building activities. I learned a lot of things all those ten years more or less but the main thing that I always did was to add more content to a lot of WordPress websites. I helped create as well as maintain a lot of websites. Many of my fellow church members are unaware that I have an online job for all those ten years. They only know that I’m retired as a full time pastor and as an employee of my church or maybe some still think that I’m still employed by the church.

Since it was no longer allowed to have worship services in church buildings, I learned how to do live streaming quickly.

Jobless During this Pandemic

So, I was a “web content specialist” for some ten years until the COVID-19 pandemic engulfed the whole world. When the President declared a quarantine/lockdown throughout Luzon on March 12, 2020, I was already thinking about the implication of this pandemic on my online job. And then it happened a week or so later, on March 25, 2020. I got a call informing me that I no longer had an online job. That was sad but at the same time I’m grateful and thankful for the Lord’s grace on me and my family all those years.

About ten years or so ago, I was in the same exact predicament — I was told I no longer had a job. Ten years ago, I was also jobless and I didn’t know what’s next. I did not know how I could provide for my family. But the Lord did provide for me and my family all those ten years or so till now.

I therefore will continue to trust in the Lord for his provision as he always did. I have nothing but thanks to the generosity of my employers all those ten years or so. In fact, the American employer even thanked me and asked me if I’m willing to be hired again if things get better again. Of course I gladly replied, “I’d be on standby.” So, I’m jobless again.

More Active Web Ministry Due to COVID-19

What is odd and interesting about all this is that despite the pandemic, being jobless and being at home due to the quarantine/lockdown, I’m still quite busy at this time because I got involved in organizing a weekly online worship service for my denomination. “Work from home” or telecommute is nothing new to me. I’ve always worked at home haha! So now that I’m jobless, I still work at home. I might be a senior citizen but somehow something still keeps me busy.

Successful live streaming of my denomination’s online worship service for our membership nationwide (some from overseas joined) although I did not really know much yet all about it. I’m continuing to learn haha! I’m having fun!

Online Worship Service, Live Streaming

Since March 15, we were able to organize an online worship service every Sunday up to now. What is interesting about this is that when we started, I did not know anything at all about “Open Broadcaster Software” (OBS) for live streaming haha! But now I seem to be getting familiar with it. I need to continue learning though. So, here I am jobless but still busy working from home.

So, just in case you need to hire a senior citizen like me, I can work from home. I always did. 🙂

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4, NIV


Responding with compassion — it will be alright



Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have heard so many sad stories of people around the world who got sick or died because of this corona virus. We have learned through the news that some people are apprehensive about their future, some have lost their jobs or about to lose their jobs. The world economy is down and many businesses have closed shop or are temporarily closed. Some have great concerns about their daily needs especially the poor masses of society. In fact, just a few hours ago, a man attempted suicide by jumping off the bridge because he can no longer feed his family. Thankfully, the authorities were able to rescue him. The future is uncertain for so many.

We can be glad that God is in-charge and he gives us his assurance. Jesus said his Father provides food for the sparrows and we are more than just sparrows. We are his beloved brothers and sisters and so Jesus tells us, “Don’t worry.” It will be alright.

Whether it be famine, pestilence or pandemic, earthquakes, tsunamis, super typhoons or volcanic eruption, God assures us that nothing can separate us from his love. It will be alright.

So how do we respond to this current pandemic? With faith, with hope and with love. When someone approaches you for help, respond with love and understanding. Don’t berate the person for his misfortune. Sometimes, because we also have personal problems of our own, we react negatively when someone asks for our help. Respond with love and compassion instead. And if you ask for help and is rejected, respond with love and understanding as well knowing that the other person also has his own reasons for doing so. Live a life of compassion. Live a life of love.

Respond with faith, fully trusting God in all circumstances. Respond fully filled with hope knowing that God is in control and we are safe in the palm of his hands. And respond with the love of Christ in our hearts towards our fellowmen. It will be alright.



GCI Philippines snapshots



Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, churches around the world have cancelled their regular meetings and worship services and suddenly many have gone online. It’s the same with my denomination. We’re still neophytes in this area of online broadcasting or live streaming but it was very helpful that we already had set up a GCI Philippines website sometime in 2010 and more than couple of years ago we also had set up a GCI Philippines YouTube account for our denomination in the Philippines. This has helped a lot rather than starting from scratch. With the help of several techie young people in my denomination we were able to pull it off last Sunday, March 15, 2020, our very first online worship service. It was not perfect but we learned a lot from that experience.

What is amazing about this is that all of these techie young ones are all volunteer workers. They are not employed by the church. They do it for God and for the church for free.

For the second online worship service this morning, March 22, 2020, we decided to pre-record everything and posted it online as a playlist at our GCI Philippines YouTube account trying to avoid copyright issues and trying to overcome technical difficulties along the way as we tried to learn this new development in the life of the church.

Then I posted it at 10:00 a.m. in our GCI Philippines Facebook Group for our church members to watch our Online Worship Service. We had announced it in advance so many of our church members nationwide were able to watch it online.

Thankfully, I’m glad we had set up a Facebook group for our denomination in the Philippines some ten years ago too. We even created a Trinitarian Theology Forum for those who are interested in incarnational, Trinitarian theology. After some years, we requested Pastor Ted Johnston to take care and moderate that group and it has been going on very well for a long time now inspiring and helping people around the world about the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

The past couple of days, the tech support group–composed of techie young ones in church–had a busy night and day working to produce today’s worship service. Thankfully we were able to pull it off again and we learned lessons again on what to do and what not to do. Another learning experience.

I was assigned to create a video composed of snapshots of our denomination around the country. I do have several shots so I just compiled it and turned it into a video. My original video was only two minutes long but someone on the team suggested to slow down the speed without reducing the number of photos so that the images can be better viewed. It turned out to be longer. Oh well, haha! As it is turning out, viewers online seem to like it although it’s a bit longer. Maybe next time 3 minutes or less should be good enough. Here’s the video below.



Faith, Hope & love



A time for prayer and meditation on: Faith, Hope and Love

1. Faith – Trust God, Father, Son and Spirit. Believe him. Have faith in Jesus. Read all of Hebrews 11 and learn about God’s people who had faith in God no matter what happened to them.

2. Hope – In these trying times, let’s continue to hope in Jesus for our healing and salvation. Read all of Romans 8, be inspired and continue to be filled with hope in Jesus.

3. Love – In the midst of our difficult situation, we can continue to participate in Christ’s love for the whole world by showing love to all. Read and meditate on 1 Corinthians 13 and learn about the love of Jesus.



Close up of my wife



Last night, as my wife was chatting with her sister and brother, I took photos of her as I usually do. It’s been my hobby since she was a teenager until now that we’re both senior citizens. This time I once again attached to my camera my old, old lens, my more than 30-year old 50mm Nikon prime lens just for fun. I don’t know why but I like this old lens. It still works up to now. It’s really good for close ups and portraits. And for a senior citizen I really think my wife is beautiful haha! I love my own.

Here are two photos of my wife–black & white and colored.

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A blog about life and love