Pastor Efren Ucab Ortega shared his journey toward his pastoral calling after being officially ordained to the gospel ministry on August 8, 2026, in Pinamungajan, Cebu.
A Journey Rooted in Resilience
His path to the pulpit reflects extraordinary endurance. Growing up in Bukidnon as the youngest of nine siblings in a devoted Roman Catholic household, he stood out as the only Adventist in his family, finding his faith and being baptized in March 2005 at Mountain View College (MVC).
College life brought rigorous financial trials. To support his education, Pastor Ortega worked for 11 years as a working student, taking on demanding roles such as assistant dean, barn worker, and student guard until he successfully earned his college degree in October 2014.
His ministry commenced in Bohol in 2015, followed by assignments at the Adventist Academy Cebu (AAC) and Capitol SDA Church from 2018 to 2021. By 2022, he took on his current assignment as district pastor for the Western Cebu South District (WCSD), overseeing Aloguinsan, Pinamungajan, and Toledo towns.
A Partnership Woven in Faith
Ministry is rarely walked alone, and for Pastor Ortega, that journey found a joyful partner in Ruby Myrrh Carillo-Ortega. The two first crossed paths in 2018 at AAC, where Ruby Myrrh was teaching, after Pastor Isaias Guisando introduced them in 2015 during Pastor Ortega’s assignment in Bohol. Their relationship blossomed over the years, leading to marriage and the blessing of raising their child together.
His ordination to the pastoral call, held at the Pinamungajan Auditorium in Poblacion, was a solemn event graced by leaders from the East Central Philippines Union Conference (ECPUC) and the Central Visayas Conference (CVC), alongside Metro Cebu and Cebu province pastors with their wives, parents-in-law, wedding sponsors, and members from the 16 churches and three home divisions of the Western Cebu South District (WCSD).
Overcoming Discouragement: A Testimony of Grace
Such a moment was a highly anticipated milestone for every servant of God who dedicates his life to pastoral herding, but behind the joy of the ordination ceremony lay a deeply moving story of human frailty and divine restoration.
During his response, Pastor Ortega courageously shared a painful chapter from his past when discouragement ran so deep that he tore his own Bible—a stark reflection of the intense spiritual battles he faced. However, God’s grace proved greater than his despair.
Looking back with gratitude, Pastor Ortega honored his mentors, Pastor Danilo Pagatpat and his wife, whose encouragement and pastoral support helped him regain his footing.
The ordination service itself was filled with unforgettable moments, highlighted by the solemn laying on of hands during the ordination prayer, the donning of the ministerial robe, and a deeply symbolic touch: a special afternoon baptism where eight individuals were brought to Christ, beautifully echoing the date of his ordination.
“A calling may be tested, a servant may become weary, and a journey may have difficult seasons, but God’s grace remains faithful,” Adventist Central Visayas stated in a social media post.
With the full support of his wife, mentors, and the church family he shepherds across Western Cebu South District, Pastor Ortega stands committed to continue proclaiming the gospel and winning souls for the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, his wife, Ruby Myrrh, was also warmly welcomed to the Ministerial Spouses Association by Melodie Mae K. Inapan, children and women’s ministries director and MSA coordinator for the ECPUC.
Lyn Lucero | East Central Philippine Union Conference Communications