Brother Calixto “Alex” Fadriquela, a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bamban, Tagkawayan, Quezon, is a public elementary school teacher. He lives in Mapulot, Tagkawayan, together with his wife, Sister Lolita, and their two children. Brother Alex accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior through baptism on December 28, 1996.

For more than 28 years, Brother Alex and his wife faithfully returned their tithe—ten percent of all their income. However, despite their consistency, they often struggled financially. Their earnings were usually just enough—or even lacking—to meet the needs of their family. Though they managed to acquire a small property and a vehicle, these were obtained through loans, and they often viewed their possessions as the fruit of their own hard work rather than God’s blessings.

Things began to change when Alex attended the Stewardship Educators Certification Training conducted by the Stewardship Department under the leadership of Pastor Joshua Baldera. The four-level training deepened Brother Alex’s understanding of what it truly means to be a faithful steward of God’s entrusted resources—time, talents, and possessions. Through the sessions, He was convicted that everything belongs to God and that every achievement is possible only through His grace.

After attending the seminars from February to July 2024, Brother Alex began sharing the lessons he learned with his local church members in Bamban. His testimony inspired others, including their head elder, to become faithful in both tithes and offerings. His wife, though consistent in returning tithe, initially hesitated to commit to systematic giving. But during the final session of the training in October 2024, where spouses were also invited, she was moved by the messages and testimonies shared. Together, they decided to give more intentionally—returning 10% as tithe and another 10% as offering, beginning the very next Sabbath after the graduation.

From that moment, the Fadriquela family began to experience what Brother Alex called “the miracles of faithfulness.” Their salary, once insufficient, became more than enough, allowing them to save for the first time. Their sack of rice lasted longer than usual, their electric bill was reduced by nearly half, and even their LPG supply lasted much longer. During typhoons Kristine and Pepito, their banana plants and fruit-bearing trees were spared, while those of their neighbors were uprooted. “These were things we could not explain,” they said, “except that our loving God was the One preserving us.”

One of the most remarkable blessings came when their son, Alekhine, a licensed mechanical engineer who had been unemployed for three years, was finally hired by a company that honored the Sabbath. For years, he had passed both written and oral examinations in several companies but was repeatedly rejected once he mentioned his conviction not to work on Saturdays. This time, however, God opened a door. He was accepted by a company with a Monday-to-Friday work schedule—a direct answer to prayer.

“At first, we just wanted to ‘test’ if God would truly provide,” Brother Alex admitted. “But as we experienced miracle after miracle, I felt ashamed for having doubted Him for so long.”

Reflecting on their experience, Alex shared, “I tell these stories not to say that you will receive the same blessings if you do the same, but to testify of how good and gracious God has been—always ready to help, always caring for us. He wants us to be free from worries even though we are unworthy.”

He continued, “We realized that the only true solution to everything we’ve long desired and worked for over the past 28 years is this—to surrender everything to God, including our anxieties. To let Him use our abilities, talents, and all that we manage for His holy work.”

“Now that our monthly income exceeds our needs, we are even able to save. We have discovered the secret to a joyful and peaceful life—even in times of trials—and that is to recognize God as the Owner of everything we have and to become channels of His love and blessings to others.”

He concluded, “This experience has shown us how truly good God is. He is the one who first loved us. And if you wish to experience the same, I invite you to try God and see for yourself—and perhaps one day, you too will have your own story to tell of His goodness.”

Until his last breath on September 28, 2025, he remained faithful. His faithfulness continues to inspire his family, church, and community. And by God’s grace, when that blessed day of Christ’s return comes, he will hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”