“I feel so blessed and privileged, yet unqualified.”

For Haggai Leader Ann Cristine Sagay, these words capture her desire to demonstrate the Gospel through her work and life in her community.  

As a senior lawyer in the Philippines, Ann Cristine regularly encounters people from diverse backgrounds who are navigating some of life’s hardest trials. She already had a strong knowledge of the Gospel, but attending the Haggai Leader Experience turned that knowledge into passion.

“It changed my heart as a person, lawyer, wife, mother, daughter and sister. I felt confident in sharing the Gospel and qualified to minister to anyone I encountered.”

This life change she experienced at HLE opened doors for her in her community back at home. Through her career and local church, Ann Cristine provides tithes and supports various ministries, including scholarships for youth, pastors, and deaconesses. She actively engages in conferences to cultivate her spiritual growth and refine her skills as both a legal professional and a dedicated servant.

She has taken the passion she gained from the HLE into her workplace where she can point struggling clients towards Christ. Particularly, when a client came to Ann Cristine burdened by a cancer diagnosis, the weight of unforgiveness, and financial hardship, the Haggai principles of resource stewardship and the power of personal testimony equipped her to offer holistic support. Beyond legal counsel, she had the privilege of inviting them into the church community to truly experience the presence of God. She has rallied her church and fellow attorneys to work directly with those in prison, offering medical services, distributing supplies, and sharing the Gospel.

Now, those who seek out her office find more than just expert legal support; they arrive expectant of prayers and encouragement.

Ann Cristine is also intentional about bringing pastors into her workspace for Bible study, creating a sacred space for colleagues to encounter divine hope and healing. Whether her clients are facing complex cases or personal trials, Ann Cristine strives to lead every conversation toward the love and restoration found only in Jesus Christ.

Ann Cristine’s faith journey shows what happens when a leader stops treating faith and career as separate. The Haggai Leader Experience did not just add to what Ann Cristine already knew about the Gospel. It gave her a new framework for living it out, one that turned her legal career into a platform for Gospel witness. 

As Ann Cristine continues to practice law in the Philippines, her work reflects a simple conviction: the office is not just a place of business, it is a place where Gospel hope meets human need. Advocating for justice and pointing people toward restoration in Christ are no longer separate pursuits for her. 

written by Leah Spivak