bahrain christian fellowship

Pastor Poe Burlat is an associate pastor looking after BCF-Area 3. His area includes Gudaibiya and Hoora. He has been with BCF since 2005. In 1990, I was part of a pioneering work launched by one of the associate pastors of my home church (Monterey Christian Church) in Caloocan City. I was Praise and Worship leader for four years. Then I began to preach.

Later, I was assigned to have oversight of the Youth Fellowship before my pastor asked me if I might consider becoming an associate pastor. I hesitated at first. Many thoughts crossed my mind: I thought I was not qualified for pastoral work, since I have not gone to a Bible school. Besides, I have never really aspired to become a pastor, since I knew the enormous responsibility in being one. However, after some deliberation, I accepted the calling.

How did God steer your circumstances, which led you to sense and accept God’s calling on your life as a pastor?
How did God steer your circumstances, which led you to sense and accept God’s calling on your life as a pastor?

On hindsight, was there a Biblical verse that leapt out at you and spoke to you as you soul-search and seek affirmation from God of His calling?
Jeremiah 1:5. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

How easy or difficult was it for you to arrive at a decision to become a pastor?
I am a person stricken with what we call, “stage fright.” I struggle with it since my childhood. So, it was not quite easy for me to accept the calling for me to be a pastor. But, I have gradually overcome it only after I accepted Jesus Christ. As I mature spiritually, my acute nervousness associated with standing before an audience was slowly overtaken with the knowledge of God’s truth that, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
 
How did you prepare yourself for pastoral work?
I have taken Bible classes (short courses) even before I was called to a pastoral work. I continued attending the classes, which are regularly offered in our church, even while I was already serving in different ministries. Through discipleship with my senior pastor as my mentor, God prepared me for ministry.

Why do you think God called you to be a pastor? What areas in church ministry are you most uniquely gifted in?
I do not have any qualities I could think of that will uniquely qualify me for God’s calling. But I learned to listen to Him and obeyed in His calling. I love to evangelize.

How did you become part of BCF?
Since we arrived in Bahrain, BCF has been my family’s home church. I have heard so much about BCF while I was in the Philippines, because Pastor Freddie Cudiamat is my brother-in-law.

What are your immediate plans for Area 3?
My plan for my area is to disciple every faithful and obedient believer.