Meet Carol Benzonan – First Student Enrolled APNTS!

As an Agricultural Engineering graduate, Carol Benzonan, who is known to many today as Ate (pronounced Ah-tay) Carol, took a job at the Philippine Government’s Ministry of Agrarian Reform. Her family was very happy that she was able to become a government employee, which at that time was a stable job. However, Ate Carol experienced internal conflicts as she was asked to do things that she knew were not right. Because of this, Ate Carol decided to take a leave from work to have some time to think and reflect. Little did she know that the vacation she took would lead to a new life vocation; from working in the field of agriculture she would be brought into the field of God’s work of planting seeds into people’s hearts.

Ate Carol went to her family’s new home in Tarlac. At the back of the house there was a school and she began to conduct Bible study groups with some of the students. Although at that time Ate Carol still identified herself as a Catholic, she had already accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior back through Navigator, a campus ministry, when she was in college.  After starting the Bible studies some young people from the Paniqui Church of the Nazarene took notice of what she was doing and invited her to their gatherings.

She soon became involved with the children’s ministry of the church. One time, Dr. Ronald Beech, professor at APNTS who was visiting Paniqui Church of the Nazarene saw Ate Carol and what she was doing in the children’s ministry.  He introduced her to APNTS and asked if she was interested in studying Religious Education at the seminary. Ate Carol did not have any idea about what a seminary was but Religious Education roused her interest.

Without telling her family and with just 50 pesos in her pocket, Ate Carol went to APNTS. Her family thought that she would be going back to her work but she actually went to APNTS to enroll in the Religious Education Program. She was actually the very first student to enroll in the seminary. The Paniqui Church of the Nazarene supported her decision to study in the seminary.

At first, Ate Carol had difficulties adjusting to the academic life at the seminary. It was difficult for her because she did not have any background in Biblical or theological studies. In addition, she had to find ways to provide for her living expenses since her family was not giving her any financial support. She worked in the seminary’s library and had sidelines like giving people haircuts. She did not accept money as payment but would ask for things that she needed like school supplies, toiletries, and other necessities.

While studying, Ate Carol was also involved in church planting ministries. She would go off the campus at least four times a week to visit different places in the provinces to minister to people. She conducted Bible studies and taught children in various areas to help in planting churches. Those experiences became very important for her to realize her call in life.

After graduating, Carol was assigned as the Youth Pastor in Antipolo. Later, she was also sent to Pililia and Tanay to Pastor churches in those towns. She was also sent to Japan as a missionary where she became part in the planting of the first Filipino Nazarene congregation in that country.

After the mission in Japan, Ate Carol faced a huge challenge in her family life. Although it was a very difficult situation, it helped her realize her call to become a Pastor. Without hesitation, she answered God’s call and pastored several churches in Rizal. Currently, she is pastoring Central Church of the Nazarene.

Through her life as a Pastor, she saw how God has been using her to plant churches and revive churches that are in crisis. “It was not an easy ministry but God prospered the works of my hands.” Through her experiences she learned how to walk with God in obedience, to never compromise and to always rely on God’s love. “I have learned how to be passionate and committed. No matter how many trials I faced in my life and ministry, I never gave up serving my God.” At 61, Ate Carol prays for a ministry where she will be able to minister to people her age.

Ate Carol has already faced many trials in her personal life and in the ministry but she never gave up. In the same way, she encourages us to also not give up, no matter how difficult the challenges may be. “Know what God has called you for and be committed to it. If you are experiencing trials now never give up. Do not quit. In due time, you will harvest God’s blessings. Just pray more and obey more.”