God Touched My Life Through Curiosity

In its finest detail, I seem to be too grateful and yet too unworthy, and too unqualified to list God’s workings in my life. But let this testimony be for the praising of God’s name. To start, through hearing Catholics speakers, reading the Bible over and over at a young age, reading spiritual books, giving testimonies, teaching Sunday school – God has opened up my eyes to the different works He has for me. Specifically though, my journey of faith in which God touched my life is one that started out as life of pride as told in the following retreat story.


By: Vincent

I remember going to my first Indonesian youth group retreat. It was in 2002. I remember going there because I had attended a Christian denominational Church a couple of months earlier and still felt something was missing from it. I suppose that is how God touched my life, through my curiosity. I remember inviting out a friend who was the son of my boss to an Indonesian Catholic retreat, and off we carpooled. Day 1 of the retreat, it was announced that the main guest speaker, Tony Montante, was not going to be there because of an emergency. Disappointment. But I know now God was there to put an even bigger speaker, Himself – through the servants of the retreat, Chanuka, Andriani, Mario, etc.; day 2 was next.

There was one event during day 2 that I recalled vividly as a moment of pride. It was a session where the beginners were separated from the regulars or those who have attended retreats before. Since I been to several retreats, whether in a different community or a Catholic community, I decided to join the latter group. I mainly selected the latter group because I wanted to be with the “in” group. When I heard the topic of discussion, EVANGELIZATION, I cringed and decided to go with the former group. I had avoided evangelization at all cost because to me, at the time, it required knowledge, boldness, eagerness, desire, etc. all of which I thought I had but was a facade for my pride because of fear of rejection.

If anyone remembered me during those beginning times, the description of me would be reserved, timid, and shy. God touched me and started a change in me. He also touched several of my future Moses Prayer Group friends (the local Catholic group where I am serving now) that year, in that retreat place. He touched my life by showing that life is not about pride but humility; He showed me His presence during the praise and worship sessions, and through the people who were serving the retreat there.

So what was it that changed me? Simply, it is God’s grace. God’s grace allowed me to appreciate life more than I ever cared about. His grace allowed me to feel His love for me. But rewinding, here is what I thought of at the retreat, I was curious if there were girls I would meet. What fun activities could I look forward to? I wondered if people would like me. The gospel of John Chapter 14 verse 18 says “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” and my question about whether people would like me was answered by the friendliness of my future Moses Prayer Group friends, Denny and Adi, who were also at that retreat. Their love for the Lord was the catalyst that started Moses Prayer Group in Hollywood, the same group that I eventually joined and gave me strength in my faith, motivated me, and brought God to me.

I can testify today that when you let God be the center of your life, and my life, He will work in ways you never thought was possible. 1 Cor 10:13 mentions “…God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength ...” In my ministry as the current servant leader of Moses Prayer Group, I am proudly but humbly doing the work of evangelization through the preaching of the Gospel as it applies in life and also by teaching Catholic apologetics. This “evangelization” word that I cringed upon hearing before has now become a tool for sharing God to other people. This work did not start out right after the retreat in 2002 but 5 years after that retreat. Praise be to God!

INTERNAL PRAYER: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord for giving me knowledge to remember and the strength to share my experience through this writing. May your will be done in my life even more for the glory of Your name. I ask for blessings for my brothers and sisters in Christ that they will also have the fire within them lit up by your loving presence in this writing. I offer this prayer in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

By: Vincent Setiono