PUC Worships with Alumna Pastor Samantha Angeles

Pacific Union College was happy to welcome back alumna Pastor Samantha Angeles to speak for the spring Week of Worship. From April 14-18, she spoke around the school year’s theme of “Passion,” discussing her experience in ministry at the age of eight and feeling that spark that would later lead her to PUC.

When Angeles was in fourth grade, she went on a mission trip to the Philippines with her sister and parents, who were high school sponsors. One of her duties was translating Bible studies into English. One day, the students leading the Bible studies fell ill, leaving her in charge. The next day, with Angeles still leading, she asked in Tagalog if anyone in the congregation wanted to give their lives to God. Four people raised their hands. She was by their side during their baptisms at the end of the mission trip. In witnessing this commitment, she felt nothing was better. With a life of faith requiring total devotion and surrender, Angeles reminds students that when they don’t feel they are doing their best, trust that God is enough to carry them across the finish line if they remain steadfast in running their race of faith.

“Even at eight years old, I recognized that there was something in my heart that loved doing this,” Angeles said. “That loved sharing about God, teaching about the Bible, and wanted to invite people into relationships with Jesus—something in my heart there aligned with what I was experiencing.” This is when she knew she wanted to become a pastor and follow Christ.

Unfortunately, her traditional church was not supportive of her desire to become a female pastor. However, Angeles was not deterred from her calling, taking any opportunity in ministry as a student and preparing for her college career at PUC.

Attending PUC also came with challenges. Angeles was without a scholarship or other financial support to boost her into the theology program. Instead, she accepted an invitation from the University of California San Diego and majored in political science.

As she was about to begin the school year there, she knew it was wrong. “I knew I was not living according to what God was calling me to do,” Angeles said. “I had decided instead to play it safe.”

Speaking from the books of Matthew and Mark, Angeles preached that the passions students have in their hearts are gifts from God and must be nurtured. She asked them to consider their values, strengths, and interests to see their calling. It’s important to ask oneself: “What is it that I’m doing in my life right now that I cannot do without the power of Jesus?”

Angeles addressed many real-life questions and issues students face daily in their academic, personal, and spiritual lives. Her insightful messages impressed the students, which PUC Student Associate Religious Vice President Leila Beltran knew would happen from personal experience. After Angeles graduated from PUC, she became the associate pastor at Beltran’s church. Recalling her memory of meeting Angeles when she was nine years old, Beltran said, “I thought she was the most amazing thing since sliced bread.” With Angeles’s innovation for her church and their fond memories together, Beltran asked her to be the Week of Worship speaker.

“She connects well with students, and her messages always seem to hit home,” Beltran said. “I really appreciate that she covers all the aspects of passion that I have in my definition. Passion does not just mean passion for God, even though that's the most important kind of passion. Passion also means the drive that makes you unstoppable, that makes you fight for other people. Hearing her speak on these things makes me appreciate her that much more. She's been so kind as to check in on me and make this a collaborative process. I couldn't be more grateful.”