Gianne is a Pais Youth Academy student from the Philippines. She joined a Haverim Bible Study before the pandemic and shares how studying God’s Word with a group of friends has completely shaped her faith experience during the Covid-19 lockdown:

“When I was younger, I had a belief that Sunday was the Lord’s day and it was the only day I should study God’s Word. I didn’t take individual Bible study seriously. But as I grew up and sought to mature spiritually, I started looking for ways to grow in my faith walk with the Lord. 

I immediately found it hard to study the Bible and apply it to my life without having a community to share it with. That’s when Kuya (Brother) Raphael and Ate (Sister) Rely introduced me to Haverim.

The first time I joined them was February 7, 2020. My Haverim experience allowed me to discover and unpack God’s word with a circle of dear friends in a way that I hadn’t done before. I consistently met up with this group and developed a passion for our fellowship and Bible study moments. 

When the Covid-19 pandemic started, we unfortunately weren’t able to keep meeting. During the lockdown, school got cancelled and many of my family members were not able to go to work. 

Through those difficult times, because of my previous Haverim experience, I was encouraged to keep pursuing a relationship with God. My family and I also came together in my household to study his Word. We felt united as one body of Christ while sharing meaningful conversations about God’s truth. This unity helped us to feel peaceful even in the midst of the situation we were in.

I realized that my Haverim group fostered a lot of changes in my life. It allowed me to accept growth and it encouraged me to live a life with a purpose. My relationship with God matured, and I feel more connected and able to listen to His guidance for me. God has been good to me through it!

Now that some Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, I have been able to join my weekly Haverim meetings again. It has been a very special time in my life, and I look forward to attending and discovering more about God every week. In my group, I have not only found friendships, but I have friendships rooted in a common relationship with God.”

Find out more about Haverim Devotions, the Pais Movement method of Bible study here!