How Kristine Lim Balances Being a Missionary Artist and a Military Reservist

In collaboration with the Philippine Navy and the City of Manila’s International Relations committee, Goodwill ambassador, missionary artist, and maritime reservist Kristine Lim mounted “Bridging Horizons,” an art exhibit aiming to promote cultural projects and exchanges, and support efforts of the Philippine Navy when it comes to civil-military operations and missions. The event opened on October 11, and the exhibition ran until October 16 at the restored Metropolitan Theater Manila.

At the opening of her exhibit, Kristine Lim expressed her overwhelming gratitude to the people who guided her throughout her journey as a trainee and reservist in the Philippine Navy. “Here in the Navy, I didn’t just realize the plan of the Lord for me; I realized what real obedience is about and I saw God’s face when I joined the Navy,” Kristine said in her speech. “Thank God to everyone who’s here and to everyone who I’ve met in the Navy for showing His face through how they lived their life as a soldier not just of the country but a soldier of our Lord.”

The Artists on a Mission founder also walked the audience through how she happened to tail the Philippine Navy reservist track. “I’m just a servant. I just do things that I am called to do and my boss is the Lord. And when I joined the Philippine Navy as a reservist, sa totoo lang, wala akong balak,” she recalled. “Sabi ko, ‘okay, sige,’ without really thinking about it. Tapos pagkatapos kong sabihin ’yun, sabi ko, ‘ba’t ko ba sinabi ’yun?’ Ano bang gagawin ko du’n sa Navy? Baril-baril? E, artist ako!”

At first, while Kristine was having second thoughts about the traineeship and auxiliary soldier program, she felt positive about the sudden calling. “Ano namang lugar ng art ko diyan? Higit sa lahat, ano namang alam ko diyan? But clearly, alam ni God kung ano’ng ginagawa Niya,” she continued. “It has beautifully unfolded on why God placed someone like me here. It’s not because I’m deserving of it, but because He knows I will obey Him. Ganu’n lang talaga ko sa Diyos because He has been so faithful in my life.”

“I obeyed [Him]. I obeyed my commanders; I obeyed everyone na talagang nag-ga-guide at tumutulong sa’kin sa Philippine Navy,” Kristine went on, explaining how her whirlwind career came about. “And I realized,” she added, “sa Bible, kaya pala sinasabi na ang disciple ng Panginoon, para dapat sundalo, because we have to obey in such a way that a soldier obeys his commander—we obey without question; we obey without understanding the reason why, kahit na hindi nagme-make sense.”

Prior to Kristine’s military path, she has also sustained a wound so aching it took her at least a decade-long time off. She lost her son, John, and left the art scene for about ten years. It was then a painful period in her life, but Kristine was led to a greater purpose with greater strength. “Before I became a mom and all these things that you said, I’m first God’s child. And as a follower of Christ, it’s not easy,” she shared in an exclusive interview with Metro.Style. Kristine expressed that she, too, doesn’t have a tip on how to juggle things and deal with them tirelessly.

Instead, she reminded herself incessantly of what God is sure to give. “I don’t have any tips. All I know is when we put God first and when we obey Him and we just do what He called us to do in every season, He makes sure that He goes with you. He’s the one who gives us the talents. There are times [when] as a mom or as a soldier, I get overwhelmed. There are a lot of things that I need to do. I feel like I have so much on my plate. There are times [when] we get tired and we feel that there are things we couldn’t do. But you know, that’s how we follow God.”

When asked what her advice is for people—especially women—who want to embrace multiple missions and roles in life, Kristine responded with a promise: “It’s not my strength that I’m relying on; it’s His strength that I’m using just to go through everything and to make sure that I fulfill everything that He’s called me to do. So my advice to everyone is just this: You surrender your whole life to Him and you make sure that you understand that you are not in control. It is not you who will put balance in your life; it is God who will put balance in your life.”

A wife to Jasper and a mother to Justine, John (+), and Judah, Kristine is willing to champion art and her causes despite cultural differences, barriers and borders, and seasons in life. She is sure of her purpose, and that is to promote and uphold the arts and her unrelenting passion for patriotism, culture, community, sustainability, and above all, spirituality. As she would always word: “A true artist is someone who can create meaningful pieces that impact and change lives, because it is not self-serving. It is purposeful.”

Lead photos from @kristine_s_lim