#CAYATalks: Level Up Life on Faith, Family, Finances

On June 12, 2026 – Philippine Independence Day – BEEEF CAYA (Christian Association of Young Adults) members from all over Batangas gathered together for the BEEF CAYA Grand Fellowship 2026, held at Saving Grace Christian Church in San Pascual, Batangas. Theme: CAYA Talks – Level Up Life on Faith, Family, Finances.

And I don’t think it was a coincidence that they chose a holiday. Think about it, CAYA members are young professionals. Busy. Work always gets in the way. Getting everyone in the same room at the same time is no small feat. So holding it on a national holiday? That was a smart, intentional decision.

Now here’s where it gets good, I mean really good. When we first started planning, the registration fee was ₱200 pesos per person, and we were all prepared to shoulder it ourselves. KKB (kanya kanyang bayad). We were also ready to split the gas money for the L300 van we’d be taking.

Then someone suggested, “Why don’t we ask if the church has a budget for this?” So I did.

To our surprise, the church provided ₱2,000 for registration and another ₱1,000 for transportation. We were incredibly thankful. The only problem was that we were eleven people, not ten. That meant we’d still need to come up with an extra ₱200 ourselves. No big deal, we can just shoulder it.

But God wasn’t finished yet

When we arrived at the venue, I handed over the ₱2,200 registration payment. The lady at the registration table looked at me and asked,

“Kasama niyo po ba si Pastor?”

I said yes.

She smiled and replied, “Free po ang registration ni Pastor.”

I literally paused for a second. That extra ₱200 we thought we’d need? God had already taken care of it before we even arrived. And somehow, it gets better.

Lunch was completely free too, snacks and milk tea, all included.

So let me put this into perspective. We came in ready to pay out of our own pockets. The church blessed us with a budget. God covered what the budget couldn’t. And then He went above and beyond with a free lunch on top of it all.

That, my friends, is exactly what the fellowship was all about, and it hadn’t even started yet. Because right there, in that small moment at the registration table, God was already preaching the message before the speaker even took the stage.

And the message? What He gives is always enough. In fact, it’s more than enough.

And with that, let me tell you what we learned inside..

CAYA Talks

It was set up like a podcast-style show with hosts, Bro. Arnel Concepcion and Sis Carlene Alamag, and invited guest speakers who discussed how to level up life sharing insights on Faith, Finances, and Family. Here are my takeaways:

FAITH

Speaker: Pastor Lester Hanzel Emborniza – One of the most comforting truths I walked away with is this: God will never place you in a situation where His grace cannot reach you. He will not abandon you – not now, not ever. So if your life feels chaotic right now, if everything seems out of balance, don’t panic. Just trust the Lord. What you cannot balance on your own, He will balance for you.

Now, when it comes to making decisions – listen closely. Don’t rely solely on signs. Why? Because the enemy hears you too. You won’t always know whether the sign you’re seeing is from God or from the other side. So instead of chasing signs, chase God Himself. Let your relationship with Him sharpen your discernment.

And here’s my favorite part of the whole talk — the difference between Holy Pilit and Holy Spirit. A lot of us do good things, give, serve, show up – but deep down, napilitan lang tayo, or we’re just going through the motions because everyone else is watching. That’s Holy Pilit. But what God truly desires is for us to do everything with a grateful heart – not out of obligation, but out of genuine love. That’s the Holy Spirit moving through you.

FINANCES

Speaker: Bro Jediael Neri – Here’s the reality check we all need to hear: your job is a blessing from God. It’s not just a source of income — it’s a gift. And like any gift, it deserves to be dedicated back to Him.

Can you trust that whatever God provides — whether it feels like too little or more than enough – is exactly what you need? Because that’s how He works. He knows your needs better than you do. And if He’s allowed a financial challenge to come your way, know this: He gave you that challenge, and He will see you through it.

Here are some practical tips worth keeping:

1. Set aside God’s share on Day 1 — the very day you receive your salary or income. Not tomorrow. Not after the bills. First things first.

2. Live below your means. Don’t let your lifestyle dictate your budget. Keep it simple, keep it intentional.

3. Diversify your funds. Don’t put everything in one savings account – having it all in one place makes it too tempting to spend freely. Take advantage of trusted banks, digital banks, invest, and designate specific accounts for specific purposes. Think of it as building a pool of funds with a clear lane for each one.

4. Have a purpose for every peso you save. Saving without a goal is saving without direction. Know what you’re saving for, so you don’t end up spending it on something that doesn’t matter.

And above all — pray for wisdom in handling your finances. Ask God to guide not just your spending, but your mindset around money.

FAMILY

Speaker: Dra. Pamela Purugganan – This one hit differently: your family should not adjust to your work — your work should adjust to your family. Let that sink in. You are working for your family, so never let the reason become the sacrifice.

Be a role model to your children. What they see is what they will do. You are their first and most lasting example of how life is lived.

For those who are still single and looking for a lifetime partner, here’s a guide worth holding on to. Look for someone who:

1. Is a Christian — faith should be the foundation.
2. Has a mature and deep faith in God — not just religious, but genuinely rooted.
3. Has leadership qualities that will lead you closer to the Lord — not just a leader in life, but in faith.
4. Is a provider with a stable income — and this goes both ways.

And for the wives — be submissive to your husbands, not as a sign of weakness, but as an act of faith, anchored firmly in God’s Word. It is a position of grace, not inferiority.

At the end of the day, leveling up isn’t about hustling harder or doing more. It’s about getting your priorities in the right order — faith first, then family, then finances. When those three are aligned and rooted in God, trusting Him completely, everything else starts to make more sense.

Not perfect. But grounded, intentional, and moving in the right direction.

That’s the life worth building. 🙌