“I Sold my Business for 1 peso.”
My heart almost sank. I was seated at the couch of the small, humble office of pastor Joby Soriano at CCF Alabang.
“Why did you do that?” We were just talking about his very successful business when he blurted out that one-liner.
“Because I believe God would take care of me as I entered ministry full-time.”
I pondered a while. Amazed at the towering faith of this man.
I met pastor Joby way back as a Sunday school kid. Well actually ‘met’ may not be the most accurate word. I heard him speak at the pulpit when I was a kid and then really just got to meet and get acquainted with him when I was in my teen years.
A soft-spoken man who will give you an impression that he’s always smiling, pastor Joby is a guy who you wouldn’t think was into business. Ever.
But during the short moments where I got to talk with him as he mentored me about faith and how to manage my startup company, I see him light up. It turns out that pastor Joby was an excellent entrepreneur before he went full-time into ministry.
He gave it all up for the Lord.
In fact, his business partners thought that something was wrong – hence the 1 peso sale of shares. But there was nothing wrong.
It’s just that his heart was right with the Lord and his calling was clear.
The question that it leaves me now is: Could I do the same someday?
That has yet to be seen. But this I know: Because pastor Joby paved the way for entrepreneurs like me to go full-time with full faith in the Lord, it makes it that much encouraging to leave it all behind.
The last thing I would want to do is to jump in, give it all up and then look back.
“Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62
Thanks for showing us the way pastor Joby.
