In 1986, Pastor Crisanto “Cryz” Colorado accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior during the DNYI Summer Camp then he went to the Bible school. Three years later, he found himself in the pastoring ministry. After serving for 10 years in the Pastoral Ministry, he felt the need to improve and upgrade himself as a minister of the Lord. Thus, he decided to pursue higher education in order to equip himself even further as he does what God has called him for.
In 2001, Pastor Cryz entered APNTS as a Master of Divinity student. Along with him, his wife and two children also came to the campus. It was challenging for him and his family because they do not receive financial support. “My wife and I needed to work. Our kids were enrolled in a public school and literally on their own in their studies.” Pastor Cryz had to take classes and at the same time served as faculty assistant. His wife, on the other hand, worked in the library. “The Lord provided for our needs and taught us to fully rely on Him.”
Remembering his days in the seminary, Pastor Cryz shared not only about God’s faithfulness through the provisions He has given him and his family but also about the important things he has learned in the seminary. “The seminary provided many learning opportunities beyond the corners of the classrooms.” He recalled the fire that broke in the neighboring community of APNTS in 2002 and the seminary opened its doors to the fire victims and provided shelter, food, blankets and prayers for them. He realized that APNTS really does exist not only to shape the hearts and minds of the students but to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the community.
Pastor Cryz also served in various ministries during his time as a student. He served in the Student Body Council, as an Associate Pastor in Taytay First Church of the Nazarene and worked with the Metro Manila District DNYI Council as an adviser. These experiences he had coupled with the education he received helped in shaping him as a minister and as a person which eventually became a huge part in his current ministries. “Everything I learned in APNTS is a great help in my present ministry today especially in the Pastoral Ministry and in my District Leadership.
Currently, he is serving as the Senior Pastor of Cabanatuan City Church of the Nazarene. He has been serving in that church since 2007. In 2014, he began serving as the District Superintendent in the Metropolitan Luzon District. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Nazarene College. Even with the experiences he already has, Pastor Cryz still believes that he must improve himself. He plans to study Guidance and Counseling to further improved himself as a minister of God.
“A lesson I learned in APNTS is that pastors and leaders should not stop learning. I had the great privilege to learn in APNTS with many leaders coming from different denominations and ages. It does not matter how old you are and how busy you are, education is still worth the time and resources you spend.” But he also reminds us that beyond the education we receive from educational institutions, we must not forget what is more important. “Spiritual is still more important than any knowledge learned. The chapel services, the discipleship groups helped shaped my heart and left a big impact in the life of my family.”
For the students of APNTS Pastor Cryz wants to encourage you to follow God’s call, to seize every opportunity to learn and to never give up. Just like what he has experienced in his life, everything was used by God to shape him and mold him into the person He wants him to be and has equipped him in the ministry.
