By Tito Pel

After my wife and I were married in 1986, we lived in an apartment complex near a golf course. I wasn’t interested in golf back then because I was a basketball guy. A seminary friend was also living in the apartment complex, and one day he asked if I wanted to try golf. I went with him to play for the first time, and that was the beginning of my fascination with the sport. 

It was one of the most challenging and difficult sports I had ever played. So I began to read about it, I watched matches on television, and played whenever I could. 

An Amazing Event

That same year my wife and I moved to the Philippines as missionaries. I continued to play golf and in 1993 a new golf course opened near our home. Two well-known PGA tour professionals from the U.S. came for the opening, and I was invited to an event welcoming them to the Philippines. 

While there I met Tom Watson and John Daly. My wife even took a picture of me with them. I was on cloud nine. As soon as I got home, I called my father-in-law who was also an avid golfer, and told him about my great experience. 

An Amazing God

As I was talking to my wife later about my experience, she said something that made me think about the kind of response everyone should have when they encounter Jesus Christ. Jesus is far superior to any sports professional or any human being on earth. He created everything. He performed miracles. He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. He ascended to Heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for the saints. Truly, there is none that can compare to him!

Isaiah’s personal encounter with the living God moved him to worship. His worship of God moved him to say, “Here I am Lord, send me.” Our only response to Jesus, our God and Savior, must be one of worship. And our worship of him must move us to say, “Here I am, Lord. Use me.” Get to know him more and you will be moved to worship him and to do his will. 

Tito Pel is the minister of the Moores Hill (Indiana) Church of Christ. He and his wife, Sandy, served as missionaries to the Philippines for 22 years. They live in Cincinnati, Ohio and have three children and one grandson.