When God called, the time to respond in obedience is now. In spite of the uncertainty in her heart, Almelyn B. Alejado decided to heed God’s call for more in depth ministerial training. This half-visayan half-caviteñan lady first stepped in CSAFMI June 06, 2004. Pastor Mel, as we usually call her, received Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior in one of the Sunday School classes she attended when she was 12 years old. She has been serving the Lord in her own special way since then. It was 1993 when she became involved in a Christian Youth Organization in Cavite City and has stayed there for more than a decade. There, she's been able to serve God and minister to others in various ways. The youth group provided avenues for her to offer her skills and talents to God. She was given the opportunity to become a regular teacher of Vacation Bible School, a telephone counselor of the group’s teen counseling line, a part of the administrative office and a regular Christian leadership training instructor.
She came to know about the SHARE PROGRAM through the sister of a pastor friend who's attending CSAFMI that time. After much consideration on her part, she finally decided to meet Pastor Arnold, the senior pastor of CSAFMI, last May 14, 2004. It was 5 hours of words of wisdom from a very much experienced Pastor. She went out of his office so very much blessed and overwhelmed by God's providence and goodness! She was finally on the official list of the SHARE program students!
June 06, 2004 was the beginning of her seminary life; she described her first week as madness but found herself more dependent to God in prayers. If she was learning about theories and theologies in Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries, CSAFMI provided enough ministerial training and equipping for her so that she may be able to respond to the call of the Lord Jesus Christ readily. Her first “church” ministerial exposure includes teaching the Sunday School children, humbly preparing the sanctuary for Sunday worship along with the other workers and attending meetings and orientations. There’s so much to learn and so many things to accomplish.
Taking Bachelor of Christian Education specializing in Early Childhood Education, it never crossed her mind that she would one day be pastoring a church. She was overwhelmed and felt like running and walking away the first time she’d known that she’s going to “handle” a church. The task that God is putting on her shoulders was too much for her to carry. She felt inadequate and unfit for the task. But whom God calls, He also enables. Pastor Mel finally yielded to God’s will and had taken over in shepherding the church in Bicutan, as soon as Pastor Resty went away for Ireland last March 2005.
Finally, on January 20, 2007, God had uprooted her f
rom the youth group and transferred her to Christ’s Shepherds and Flock Ministry International where the Lord wanted her to bear much fruit for Him. The Lord brings out the best in her through the patient guidance and mentoring of Pastor Sam Bontilao and Pastor Arnold Requierro. Until finally, last April 11, 2008, she had finished her Bachelor of Christian Education (specialized in early childhood education) in ASCM because of God’s faithfulness to the SHARE PROGRAM. She couldn’t have had finished her course if it wasn’t to the unselfish giving of the SHARE PROGRAM sponsors, who had taken part in fulfilling God’s plan for her life through their consistent financial support and prayers. The end of her seminary life marked the start of a life more challenging yet rewarding because of God.
rom the youth group and transferred her to Christ’s Shepherds and Flock Ministry International where the Lord wanted her to bear much fruit for Him. The Lord brings out the best in her through the patient guidance and mentoring of Pastor Sam Bontilao and Pastor Arnold Requierro. Until finally, last April 11, 2008, she had finished her Bachelor of Christian Education (specialized in early childhood education) in ASCM because of God’s faithfulness to the SHARE PROGRAM. She couldn’t have had finished her course if it wasn’t to the unselfish giving of the SHARE PROGRAM sponsors, who had taken part in fulfilling God’s plan for her life through their consistent financial support and prayers. The end of her seminary life marked the start of a life more challenging yet rewarding because of God. 
Presently, she’s attending the TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Certificate program in ASCM that would further equip her for international ministry. She has also been tasked the heavier responsibility of preparing the SHARE Program Students for God’s work. She was equipped to equip others in return. Part of her responsibility is to look for people who would provide financial support for the students who are part and will be part of the SHARE Program. The task is huge but she seems confident, we’ve asked her why, quoting another writer she answered, “A willing acceptance of all that God assigns and a glad surrender of all that I am and have, constitutes the key to receiving the gift of a quiet heart.” “And a quiet heart is the heart that trust and depend upon God no matter what.” She added.
