Ejean Rose Guillamar — The Journey

Ministry Profile

Ejean Rose Guillamar

2 Years in Ministry

About My Work

My work focuses on serving children and youth through a ministry that caters to both their spiritual and practical needs. As a full-time missionary, I am dedicated to working within underserved communities. I believe that a lasting impact occurs when children are supported in body, mind, and spirit. By collaborating with families and the local community, my mission is to raise a generation that lives with faith, hope, and purpose, helping them understand they are loved, accepted, and belong. I wish to see them grow into compassionate and resilient individuals who can positively influence their communities and beyond.

How God Called Me

In 2002, a group of YWAM missionaries planted a church in my hometown, and that's when I first heard the gospel. From that day, I started to dream and pray about becoming like them, although I didn't know what being a missionary really meant. I became active in the church ministries throughout my teenage years.

When I turned 18, I left school and started working. While working, the desire to become a missionary slightly disappeared, as I wanted to earn more money instead. After a year of working, God gave me a scripture in Luke 4:18-19, which says, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." I didn't know what that scripture meant at the time, but since I received it from the Lord, it kept coming back to my mind. From there, I knew God was telling me something.

In October 2018, I resigned from my job, and earlier in 2019, my Auntie invited me to a six-month Discipleship Training School (DTS) under YWAM, and that's where the Lord reignited the fire in my heart to become a YWAMER. I really wanted to be part of it, but God had different plans. I met Venus, currently one of the missionaries of Kids International Ministry, and she was one of my classmates in DTS. She told me about their ministry in Tondo and invited me to be part of it, back then it was Hands & Feet. I was really undecided because I wanted to be part of YWAM. Yet, things changed when we graduated from DTS. I went back home, took the Alternative Learning System (ALS), and finished my senior high school year. Then, after a year, I started working in Manila. That's where Venus and I started to connect again. She invited me to be part of their ministry, and this time it's YouthLAB. Again, I didn't say "no," nor did I say "yes" either. All I was thinking about was that I needed to earn for my siblings.

A few months after our first meet-up, something happened. My mute sister sought help from us because she had been abused by her live-in partner. We rescued her and her and her three kids to my mother's hometown. When we got there, I wasn't able to go back to work. I was stuck there for four months; jobless, with no Christian community, and no church. My devotion and prayer life died. I was physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted, and I was spiritually dying. That's when I knew I was at the edge and seriously needed help. For the very first time, I felt pity for myself; I was so helpless and desperate. I messaged Venus, asking her to help me out of that situation. I was grateful that she immediately booked me a flight to Manila and offered me to stay at the Girls Home. She told me that I didn't need to get involved in their ministry right away. She allowed me to process everything while observing their ministry and the community, and that's where God started to light the fire in my heart for His ministry in Tondo, the same feeling I had when I first saw the slum area way back in 2019.

After three months of observing, I got the courage to become a Passion Team leader. Passion Team is the youth we're discipling to become the next leaders in Tondo. After three months of being a Passion Team leader, I became an Intern under Kids International Ministry for six months. I finished my Internship last March 2023 and then decided to become a full-time missionary.

Every time I remember what happened to me, I remember the story of Jonah in the Bible. I kept running away from where the Lord was calling me or telling me to go because of my selfish desires and ambition, despite His invitations. My poor decisions put me into a situation where I almost lost even myself. Yet indeed, God is good! Truly, no one can ever take us from the Hands of God. What is His belongs to Him. I am beyond grateful!

Why This Place & People

Manila's urban youth represent one of the most neglected mission fields in the Philippines. Many of these young people are digitally connected, yet they often experience deep loneliness. They are exposed to a wide range of ideas, trends, and influences, but lack a strong sense of grounding or purpose. I felt called to this environment because of the urgency of their need and because I sensed that God has uniquely prepared me to engage with the tension between modern culture and the timeless truths of faith. The city itself feels chaotic and restless, but beneath that noise is a generation quietly searching for something genuine and meaningful.

When I first encountered this community, I felt a deep burden placed on my heart. It was as if God opened my eyes to the contrast between my own life and theirs. I began to recognize how much I had been blessed—with stability, opportunities, and support—that many of them do not have. This realization stirred both compassion and responsibility in me. It wasn't just about seeing their struggles, but understanding that I am called to respond—to step into their world with empathy, humility, and a desire to share hope in a way that truly connects with their reality.

A Turning Point

Before I moved to Manila, I felt completely adrift—like I was just getting through each day without any real sense of direction, stability, or purpose. The dreams I once held faded, and I wasn't building toward anything meaningful. I was surviving, not living.

But over the past two years in this new community, everything has begun to change. I've experienced a deep personal transformation, one that I believe is rooted in God's work in my life. Little by little, I've seen growth not only in my faith but also in my character, my confidence, and my sense of calling.

Today, I serve as the Director of the Kids Ministry at YouthLAB Tondo. It's a role that constantly stretches and shapes me—not just as a leader, but as a person. Through this responsibility, I've learned patience, compassion, and the importance of guiding each other while continuing to grow myself. I've come to see leadership not as a position, but as a process of being molded and refined.

What amazes me most is how God continues to rebuild parts of me that I thought were already lost. The passions and desires I once gave up on—especially my dream of finishing school—have been renewed. Now, I'm actively pursuing a degree in Office Administration while serving full-time in ministry. Balancing both hasn't been easy, but it has given my life a sense of purpose and direction that I never had before.

Looking back, I can clearly see that this journey wasn't just about changing locations—it was about transformation. From feeling lost and uncertain, I've grown into someone with vision, purpose, and a deep commitment to both personal growth and serving others. And I know that this process is still ongoing, with so much more ahead.

"And I am certain that God, who began the good within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns".

Philippians 1:6

It reminds me that I'm still a work in progress, guided by something greater—and that it's okay to grow at my own pace.

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KIDS MINISTRY

The Kids Ministry shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ and helps meet physical needs through feeding programs. It aims to help children grow spiritually, assist in a practical way, build strong relationships, and learn Christ-centered values. The goal is to make a lasting positive impact on the children, their families, and the community.

HOMES KIDS MINISTRY

AROMA KIDS MINISTRY

BALUT KIDS MINISTRY

Ejean Rose Guillamar · Tondo YouthLAB · Philippines