Missions

Is it really worth it to go on a short-term missions trip?

September 27, 2024

Many people often wonder about the impact of short-term missions. Some also wonder why one should go when there is much work where we currently are.

While it’s true that short-term missions trips last briefly, the Great Commission calls us to make disciples of all nations. Every small step of obedience is seen by God, and he honors it.

God deeply loves all people from every tribe and every nation. This is why since 1984, our church has been answering His call to go.

By God’s grace, your prayers, and support, we have sent out 700 teams of short-term missioners and 6,000 missioners since 1984. Our church, although relatively small during our humble beginnings, has always had a deep passion for global missions—a passion that stems from an encounter with God’s love.

This year, we are sending out 52 teams of short-term missioners to bless 20 nations.

Our heart in short-term missions is to engage with the locals, share the gospel, support the local church, and ultimately establish an apostolic church in that nation. We believe that these few days will have a lasting impact on that nation and that one day, locals will encounter God and worship Him.

*From Left to Right: English class – a joint effort of our ground team and short-term missioners held in Cambodia in 2019; our short-term missioners praying for a local in Panama*

A number of Filipino-planted churches in Asia have had their senior pastors and full-time ministers reached through short-term missions trips.

Take Leap’s testimony from Cambodia. In 2016, she was invited to an English class organized by our church with our short-term missioners. Leap heard the gospel for the first time in one of these sessions. She eventually made a decision to accept Christ and become involved in our church. Now, she’s preparing to be part of our School of Ministry – World Missions Track for 2025.

*Leap first heard the gospel through our short-term missioners to Cambodia in 2016. She is now preparing to be part of our School of Ministry – World Missions Track for 2025.*

From Leap’s words: “I’m taking my leap of faith to the highest degree that I can get in this lifetime—answering the call of the Lord to make Him known.”

She envisions Cambodia to be a Christ-believing nation one day, and that all campuses and sectors of society will bow down and worship Jesus.

Leap represents the many people whose stories began with someone whose heart is to obey God’s call to go on a short-term missions trip. As we continue this work in the next 40 years, let us be in faith that more local leaders will be raised and that they will impact their nation. God can use many more local individuals like Leap to be a mouthpiece of His love.

More than being citizens of our own nation, we are first and foremost citizens of heaven. Let’s keep praying for more open doors, and for the 25 nations we’re heading to for short-term missions in 2025.

With a Bible and a passport in hand, we are prepared to go and share the gospel with every nation. The Bible helps us to know God better, and the passport allows us to obey Him by loving people from all nations, just as He does.

New Series: A Bible and a Passport

September 19, 2024

In 1984, most of our first few church leaders were university students. Many of them had never visited another country. Some had never been off the island of Luzon, where Metro Manila is located. Few had ever even seen a passport, much less possessed one. It was an unlikely group to launch a worldwide church-planting movement!

Yet, they started learning what it meant to follow Christ by laying their hands on an old National Geographic map and interceding for the nations one by one. Pastor Steve Murrell also empowered them that a Bible and a passport were all they needed to answer God’s call to make disciples of all nations.

From those humble beginnings, the gospel has been planted in 82 nations—yet still, we continue to reach for more. And since then, Psalm 2:8 has always been our prayer:

“Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.”

Join us over the next two weeks as we cover these topics:

Week 1: Know Him

Week 2: Make Him Known

See you at our weekend services!

You may check the worship service schedules here or by visiting your Victory location’s Facebook page.

New Series: From Mission Field to Mission Force

May 17, 2024

We often hear the saying, “There is no growth in comfort,” and we took this to heart from the beginning. We were once recipients of a short-term mission outreach in Manila. If we stayed with a mission-field mentality, we would never become the mission force we are today.

As God empowers us to carry out His mission, let us step out of our comfort zone into the unknown by faith.

May we press on with the same passion, pursue His call to make disciples, and be His mission force for the next 40 years and beyond.

Join us in the next four weeks as we go through these:

Week 1: The Motive—Honor God

Week 2: The Mandate—Make disciples

Week 3: The Manifesto—Change the campus. Change the world.

Week 4: The Mission—Every Nation

You may check the worship service schedules here or by visiting your Victory location’s Facebook page.

2023: A Year of Miracles

January 8, 2024

Let us recount the great things that the Lord has done in and through us as we welcome 2024.

6,105 people gave their life to Christ and were baptized

26 new churches were planted across the nation

975 campuses opened their doors for the gospel

Over 20 communities and 70 campuses in Metro Manila experienced God’s love as we partnered with school administrators and local government units

1,475 Real LIFE scholars faced the future with hope, and 164 graduated this year

*© Every Nation South Korea (Church plant in Busan)*

196 missionaries were sent to preach the gospel to 35 nations, and 19 Ten Days teams were sent to 12 nations

109 ministers (pastors, cross cultural and campus missionaries) were commissioned to bring the gospel to the campuses, cities, and nations

95 pastors and leaders from 35 nations came together at the Every Nation building for the residential intensives of the Every Nation Seminary

But nothing is greater than the miracle of knowing Christ together.

Let us enter 2024 with the same hope–that we have a God who fulfills promises and sets us apart for His purposes.

Got a miracle story? Click here to share it with us!

New Series: Dead Ends to Doorways

September 18, 2023

Are there possibilities beyond what appears to be a dead end?

God’s compassion knows no limit. He can turn dead ends into doorways for the gospel to reach every nation. The world awaits to discover the miracle of His great love.

Our new series, Dead Ends to Doorways, starts this weekend. Journey with us in these next two weeks.

Week 1: Strategic Sending
Week 2: Providential Scattering

Join our worship services by checking the schedules here or visiting your Victory location’s Facebook page.

Beyond the Series: Bringing the Gospel to the Nations

October 7, 2020

The call to bring the gospel to the nations is for every believer. In this article, Pastor Michael Paderes and his wife, Pia, talk about their experience as missionaries and the importance of doing missions.

Why do we need to go or send people to do missions work abroad when we can do the same work here in our country?

Pastor Michael: Missions is a matter of obedience. Going back to the mandate of God in Genesis 26:1–6, it says we are to extend His glory and rule over all of creation. It’s not just a project or passion of Every Nation. It’s a response to God’s call; and it shouldn’t be unique to Victory or Every Nation. Every believer should participate in God’s mission to redeem all of creation. That is why if we don’t go to other nations, we would be limiting the scope of the work of God. In Matthew 20, it says “Go and make disciples of all nations.” In Acts 1:8, it says that we’ve been empowered to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. It is very clear in Scripture that as an act of obedience, as an act of faith, we are to go and proclaim the gospel as our way of helping redeem all of creation back to Christ.

Even Jesus Christ came to be among us. The Father sent the Son, and the Son’s ministry was incarnation. Christ came to be with us in order to redeem us. The same principle applies to us. It’s one thing to just broadcast the gospel. It’s another to be among a people to proclaim, to demonstrate, and to live out the gospel so that other nations would be redeemed and discipled.

How has doing missions work affected your lives as individuals and as a couple? How have you seen God accomplish His work through you?

Pia: We went as missionaries to Russia a year after our marriage. We were young and ready to conquer the world. We went there thinking that we would be going to change this nation and change the people. After four years, we realized that it was us who got changed—our perspective about different people and cultures. We know that the gospel is all-encompassing, that it’s the truth that all people from all nations need to know. But the way we are to present God’s truths will vary depending on the culture. What will work in one nation may not work in another.

Pastor Michael: Personally, it’s not so much our involvement in missions that changed me as it was the preaching in the early days. Every Sunday preaching felt like a missions message. From the very beginning, God gave me a global vision. I was very much willing to go anywhere to fulfill the call of God. Pia and I went to the mission field not because we were called to be missionaries, but because we were obeying what God says in His word to all believers. Seeing all that God is doing left permanent imprints on my mind and heart.

First, God’s word is true. He really has called us to go to the nations. Second, He can use anyone to make an impact in the nations. And lastly, Every Nation—and Victory, in particular—has a unique call to reach the next generation in the nations of the world. Even after 25 years of doing this, I am still in awe and humbled when I see locals surrendering their lives to Christ. I can’t believe that I get to be part of it. To me, it’s nothing less than a miracle. Seeing a person of a different faith, culture, religion, and worldview leave all that to surrender his or her life to God and be totally transformed is something I will never get tired of. That’s still what gets me up to this day. I’ve seen how the gospel transforms individuals, families, communities, and cities.

Like all missionaries, we faced trials and challenges in the mission field. These challenges strengthened and fortified our relationship with God. Out there, you will literally fall on your knees and cry out in desperation to God. You really will not be able to rely on your strength. You will learn to cry out and hold on to God. And He always comes through. May it be in your finances, your ministry, or issues in your heart that God brings out. You will learn to depend on God alone.

When we were in Russia, the Russian economy collapsed and we relied on God alone for our daily provision. We also experienced security threats and numerous discouragements. We faced difficult challenges, but we also experienced God’s faithfulness and how He can miraculously turn situations around. In the mission field, you will experience the reality of God. If you are in the middle of God’s will, He will make a way. He will always show Himself faithful.

Why do think missions should still be a priority now, when there are other pressing needs due to the pandemic? How can you be a bearer of good news to nations in the midst of a global crisis?

Pastor Michael: God is so committed to His mission that He will see to it that His plans and purposes are fulfilled. God chose to do this through the Church—pandemic or no pandemic. The global situation is a big shock to all of us, but not to God. God knew from the very beginning that this will hit us in 2020. God made His plans and chose, empowered, and anointed us knowing that a pandemic will hit us this year. We don’t press pause on life, the mission of God, or what He is asking us to do because of an unprecedented pandemic. God’s will is to work in and through us in the midst of this.

When campuses started to close, new doors opened for us to continue doing what God wants us to do. Discipleship in several parts of the world are actually at a peak because of these new doors. Some churches are currently having their record-breaking number of ONE 2 ONE meetings. A lot of students now are more open to talk about life when we shifted online. This pandemic created opportunities for our missionaries. All the more, we need to be ready to share the hope and peace that can only be found in Christ in this season of global crisis.

How can a regular church member be involved in missions?

Pastor Michael: Every member can help fulfill the Great Commission. They can pray for missionaries, for the nations, or for a particular nation that God put in their hearts. They can give and become a partner of our Every Nation missionaries. They can also go by joining a Ten Days team or go long term, by becoming a cross-cultural missionary. The call to make disciples of all nations is for every believer. Whether through praying, giving, or going, we can all participate in what God is doing in every nation.

Truly, there is hope in the gospel that is for all people. Taking the gospel to the nations is what will transform the world, and as believers, we should all actively take part in it.

Pastor Michael Paderes has been serving as the Missions director of Every Nation Philippines for 18 years. He was 28 years old and his wife, Pia, was 24 when they went to Russia as missionaries. They are blessed with three lovely children who are also actively serving the church.

Beyond the Series is a set of interviews on topics related to our sermon series.

Metro Series

September 25, 2019

Cities are part of God’s plan to save and redeem man. In just a span of a century, we’ve seen a vast number of people flock and relocate to cities, or metros, which have turned into centers of activity all around the world. While this move may be a means for people to meet their physical needs, God, as revealed in Scripture, has planned this beforehand to carry out His plan of redemption for all mankind. In this series, we will look at God’s purpose for our cities and the role that we play in it.

Here are the topics for each week:

Week 1: Why the City?
Week 2: Our Eternal City

Together, let us make disciples in every nation by reaching more cities for Christ!

See you at our worship services across the Philippines!

Not My Plans but Yours

February 28, 2019

Eduardo is a doctor who recently opened his own clinic and finished his subspecialty training. After spending half of his life training for his profession, he had been looking forward to formally starting his practice this year—but God seemed to have other plans.

I grew up in a Christian family. I used to tell myself before that there was no need for me to be highly involved in the ministry because I already know Christ. But, God had His ways; I was eventually connected to a Victory group in 2011 and started growing more in my walk with Him.

In 2015, I heard the pastor tell the congregation to pray for a nation. When I did, God had impressed in my heart a creative access nation in Asia. I didn’t understand and tried not to think much about it, but that prayer stayed in my heart.

I am an otorhinolaryngologist or an ENT specialist by profession. During years of toil and hardship, God would always carry me through and assure me that it was Him who brought me to where I am now. Last year, I finished my subspecialty training in plastic surgery and opened my own clinic. I was ready to reap the time and money I invested in my craft, when God, unexpectedly, started calling me to do something beyond my profession.

During one of our prayer and fasting meetings in Victory Malate this year, God placed in my heart a desire to go to the nations, particularly in a country that is deemed to be dangerous by many. But like what happened in 2015, I kept brushing aside the idea of being a missionary. I kept telling myself that maybe, God was just calling me to pray for the nations. I kept ignoring the desire He had placed in my heart.

Until one day, I talked to one of the leaders in our ministry and opened up about it. I was told that going to the mission field is a process and I should not hastily decide on it. We prayed, and after that, God revealed something to me.

While I was mulling over everything, God showed me the real condition of my heart—the real reason I didn’t want to obey His call. Unknowingly, the blessings He gave me became my priority. I was looking forward to my career and how it would impact my life and identity because I knew a lot of people were expecting big things from me this year. I didn’t want to disappoint them, so I put more weight on the provision than the Provider. I placed my security on what I could achieve.

On the last day of our prayer and fasting week this year, God assured me that He who began a good work in me will bring it to completion. He gave me peace as I focused on Him and waited for His plans to unfold. I realized that what I should really focus on is how I could serve God with all my heart—whether through my profession or through a “different mission” elsewhere.

And that’s what really matters.

Currently, I am helping a friend know God more through ONE 2 ONE, and doing it gives me a different kind of joy and fulfillment. Helping people through my profession gives me a similar feeling, but it’s different in many ways. It’s one thing to save someone from a physical death; it’s another thing to help someone be saved from an impending spiritual death. God truly changed my heart.

While I am waiting for God to send me to where He wants me to be, I resolve to continue honoring Him through what I do as a doctor and as a disciple willing to make more disciples. I am ready to obey and give up all that I have to follow Him; I will always choose His plans over mine.

We may make our plans, but God has the last word. Proverbs 16:1

God’s plans for us are always bigger and better than what we have for ourselves. Allow Him to replace our plans with His. It is hard most of the time, but following His will is always worth it in the end.

Giving All to the Call

October 17, 2017

God is mindful of our needs. This can be seen in the life of Jeff Cariaso, a Victory group leader from Victory Malate. In 2016, Jeff began to save money to buy a car for himself and his parents; he had a desire to drive for his parents so that they wouldn’t have a hard time commuting to places. He also wanted to be more productive at work and be a greater blessing to his friends in church, serving them through driving.

That same year, Jeff had an opportunity to go on a Ten Days mission trip. As he was raising funds, he felt compelled to give half of the money he’d raised for the car to their mission trip. It was not easy, but he gave it anyway, went on with the mission trip, and continued to save money.

By 2017, he had enough money for the down payment of the car he wanted. He even took driving lessons to prepare for it. However, he was faced with a greater opportunity. Jeff was invited to serve as the team leader for another Ten Days mission trip scheduled to leave in a few months. He had a substantially shorter time to raise support for the mission trip compared to his previous one.

Weeks before the deadline of the trip, he had only raised 15% of the amount he needed. It was at this time that God called him to give all the money he was saving for the car. It was all he had left, but he gave it in faith anyway as he was reminded by God’s promise of an inheritance in Joshua 1:2. It was at this point where God said to him, “Just believe. I will take care of the need you are praying for. I just want you to go.” And so, he did exactly as God commanded him and gave.

Jeff knew he had no money left to buy the car, but that’s when God took action. A few weeks before he left for the mission trip to Japan, Jeff received a shocking phone call from one of his brothers. His brother wanted to buy a car for Jeff and his family. He even asked Jeff to look for a vehicle that was way bigger than what Jeff intended to buy!

At present, Jeff drives for his family and serves the people in Malate through the new car that was generously given to him. He is also praying for another opportunity to go to the nations. He knows that financial challenges will come his way, but he is sure that God will provide because of the demonstration of His provision in his life.

Jeff was able to obey God’s call to go to the nations and experience His provision in a personal way. But even before going, he already had an encounter with the mindfulness and generosity of God through his obedience in giving.

A Heart for the Nations: A Ten Days Story

September 26, 2017

Reaching the nations is a response to the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28:19,20.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We are called to make disciples of all nations. This is the reason why we value world missions as a church. We believe that each disciple is called to obey the Great Commission in different ways. Everyone is called to pray for the nations. Others are called to give to our missionaries and mission trips. And then, there are those who are called to go.

One of our Victory group leaders was called by God to pray, give, and go to the nations. Gretchen Sacang was a college student in the University of the Philippines in Los Baños when she encountered some long-term missionaries of our churches in the Middle East. Hearing their stories stirred in her a desire to participate in world missions. She began praying for the nations in the Middle East ever since, hoping that she will go there one day as well.

When Gretchen started working and attending our church in U-Belt, she continued to ask God for an opportunity to go to the nations. As an act of faith, she gave to several mission trips and supported other missionaries. Shortly after becoming a Victory group leader in 2015, Gretchen was given the opportunity to join a Ten Days mission trip to Sri Lanka.

The Ten Days mission program is one our major expressions of world missions in the Philippines. Through this program, selected Victory group leaders are given the chance to serve Every Nation churches in different parts of the world for about two weeks. Reaching other nations through the Ten Days mission trip gave Gretchen a greater desire to go to other nations. She went on two more Ten Days mission trips in 2016. Furthermore, because of her great heart to obey the Great Commission, Gretchen is now on board at Every Nation Philippines as a staff member of the Missions department, where she helps train and send cross-cultural missionaries to every nation.

We are called by God to participate in His work in the nations. Those who pray, give, and go are equally valuable in His kingdom. How about you? How is God calling you to be involved in reaching the nations today?

Know more about our heart for world missions this Sunday as we go through the last week of our All Access series. To give to our Missions efforts, click here.

Papua New Guinea Endures Growing Political Unrest

January 9, 2017

University students from Papua New Guinea started a widespread boycott of their classes last May in protest at Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s handling of corruption allegations. The University of Papua New Guinea’s Waigani campus is considered the epicentre of the protest. The government and the university administration have been urging students to return to class to salvage the remaining months in the school year but the students demand one thing: the Prime Minister’s resignation.

Earlier this month, police opened fire on student protesters marching at an anti-corruption rally in their campus, which injured 17 people and sparked riots in the capital Port Moresby. There are conflicting reports of the number of injured, with an opposition member reportedly claiming that four people were killed.

More violence stemmed from this incident, while looting and rioting have been reported in several parts of Papua New Guinea since the unrest began. The students, who now harbor tremendous distrust towards authorities, demand for the university administration to apologise and guarantee their safety before they relent to go back to campus. After seven weeks of boycott, many students reportedly want to resume classes, but they are not confident they will be safe. The unrest has exposed deeper problems of Papua New Guinea.

Today, there are hopes that there will be reconciliation between the students and leading university officials. Let us continue to intercede for our Every Nation church, missionaries and local contacts in this culturally diverse nation. It is truly a test of faith, boldness, and obedience for our incoming missionaries as they prepare to preach the gospel in this country despite the dangers they may face. We are in faith that God is sovereign in Papua New Guinea and that miracles and transformed lives will continue to unfold.

New Series: Beyond Borders

September 21, 2016

Join us this weekend as we kick off our missions series break entitled, “Beyond Borders”. May each of us see greater value in being involved in advancing God’s kingdom in the nations, and be compelled to pray, give, and go.

See you at a Victory location nearest you! Victory is one church meeting in 29 different locations in Metro Manila. We also meet in different cities across the Philippines.

If you’re tweeting about our series, “Beyond Borders,” please use our official hashtag #BeyondBordersSeries.

See you at our services!

Youth worship service launches in restricted nation

July 4, 2016

As a movement, Every Nation has always given emphasis on making disciples of the next generation. We believe in reaching the campuses because we believe that every student has a chance to change their lives through the gospel, and in the future, positively change the world too.

That is why we celebrate this recent milestone for one of our churches in a restricted nation in South Asia. Last June 30, they launched their first youth service, which is also the first worship service catering to young people that happens on a weekly basis. Typically, churches in this nation can only hold a youth service once a month. Scheduled at 7:30 PM, the service aims to accommodate students after their classes, before they end their day.

We believe that God is opening new doors into the mission field for the next generation. We are in faith that many young people will receive Jesus as their Savior, and will be discipled through these services. Let us intercede for our Every Nation church in this restricted nation as they break barriers and boldly preach the gospel.

Pray for the worship team and other young people serving as volunteers to the worship services, that they may delight in their work and be refreshed as they serve.
Pray for new volunteers and leaders to step out, so that the current teams will be spared from exhaustion and fatigue.
Pray for new preachers among the youth, so that the gospel may be preached in a manner that will resonate most with their fellow young people.
Pray for protection against any kind of attack–be it physical or spiritual–as our missionaries continue to serve in this restricted nation.

Together, we believe that we can reach every student, on every campus, in every nation.

Our Every Nation missionaries in this creative access nation continue to boldly preach the gospel, disciple locals and raise leaders. If you would like to support our missionaries with monthly or one-time gifts, please click here.

Note: The image used here is from a Buddhist temple in Thailand. It does not represent the nation referred to in this missions update.

Sons’ prayer comes true on Father’s Day

June 20, 2016

“I will never forget this Father’s Day,” says 19-year-old Ateef, “because on this day, my father first walked through the doors of our church. It is proof to me that the God I worship is truly a God of miracles.”

Ateef and his brother Masheer attend an Every Nation church in a creative access nation in South Asia. Both students in a prominent university here, they were connected to our church by their uncle Sayeed, who was, in turn, discipled by Kevin, one of our cross-cultural missionaries. Despite the challenges faced by the church–daily blackouts and soaring heat are frequent problems here–the church community is tightly bonded and supportive of its members’ situations. As a result, members like Ateef and Masheer do not hesitate to give of their time and resources; both brothers volunteer for the church’s technical support and ushering teams.

“We really wanted our parents to experience what we are experiencing,” Ateef says. “The warmth and friendship we receive here, feels like family. So we were hoping our family would see and feel it too, and so we prayed quite earnestly for them.”

The entire church joined Ateef, Masheer, and Sayeed, in praying for the brothers’ parents to join them at a Sunday worship service. They prayed daily for a month and a half, which was the duration of time that the two brothers went through ONE 2 ONE. As the two brothers completed the booklet, God prepared a special surprise for them.

“We finished Chapter 6 of ONE 2 ONE,” Ateef says proudly, “and our prayer was for my father and mother to join us at church. Yesterday, June 19, was Father’s Day, and my parents joined us at church! Our prayer came true! It was a great weekend!”

Sayeed, the young professional who invited his nephews to church, was equally excited.

“Even my father joined one of our worship services,” he says. “We are so blessed and encouraged to see how God moves and works on our behalf.” Sayeed is so passionate about seeing more of his countrymen get saved that he has decided to attend the Every Nation School of World Missions in Manila in 2017, much to the delight of Pastor Kevin.

“I recently read Revelation 3:8,” Pastor Kevin says, “and it encourages me very much. It says, “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.'”

The men smile. “We am convinced,” says Sayeed, “that we will see even more people come to know Christ here.”

——————–

Our church in this creative access nation is believing God for a new meeting facility. Because our worship services are being held in the house of one of our missionaries, they arouse the curiosity and suspicion of neighbors and local authorities, who are curious as to why so many people come and go into the house every week. Please join us in prayer for divine protection for our work, favor from the neighbors, and provision for our church.

If you would like to support our ministry here with a one-time gift or monthly gifts so we can secure a new meeting facility, please click here.

Expanding God’s Kingdom in Canberra, Australia

June 13, 2016

In July 2012, Rolando Sulit, a former radio jock more popularly known as Joe d’ Mango, and his entire family responded to an altar call in Victory Greenhills and surrendered their lives to Christ. They went through ONE 2 ONE, and then, eight months after their Victory Weekend, received an email from the Australian Department of Immigration granting them permanent visas for Canberra. They were given three months to prepare for their big move.

Big may be an understatement, because Canberra is located in Australia, which is literally an ocean away from Manila. It would take eleven hours of air travel to get there. Apart from the distance, the transition would affect every aspect of their life. The Sulits prepared to leave their home, their jobs, their loved ones, and their new church family in Victory Greenhills. They were sent off with prayers and well wishes, and the family started their new life in a country unknown to them.

Fast forward to 2016, and Rolando has nothing but praises for God’s faithfulness to his family. From the first day they set foot in Australia, they experienced His sufficient grace. After living contentedly in a small apartment, the Sulits were blessed with a beautiful new home. “We were surrounded by His amazing creation–flowers, trees, fresh air and clear blue skies, animals and birds,” Rolando shares, “It’s just one big beautiful picture of God’s majesty.”

The family knew that it was not just for them to enjoy, but for them to share with other people. They decided that their home would be used to honor God and live out the Great Commission to make disciples. They then started to hold Victory group meetings with Filipinos and Australians in their home, even extending the invitation to young adults and children. Soon, they had to schedule different meetings in different parts of the house because they could no longer fit. More and more people started experiencing God’s blessing through their generosity and hospitality.

“This house has been purposed to advance the kingdom of God,” Rolando declares, “And the Holy Spirit continues to empower us to do this work for His glory.”

The family would take time out to intentionally do ONE 2 ONE to everyone who has opened their hearts and are hungry for the truth. Last 2014, they held their first water baptism right on their backyard with Victory Greenhills senior pastor Dennis Sy officiating. They’re looking forward to another water baptism this year when Pastor Dennis visits Canberra again.

Always looking for ways to connect not just with Christians, but with the rest of their community, the family also reached out to their neighbors who hadn’t heard the gospel yet. They arranged worship nights and events like outdoor Christian movie nights, themed cookouts and food celebrations. “We wanted to show them and make them feel that Christ loves everyone,” Rolando explains, “That He died, not for us to have a religion, but to restore our relationship with His Father.”

Sometimes, the Sulits would get visitors from all over the world. Their friends and family from different Victory and Every Nation locations would visit them and generously offer their time and talent to minister to their community.

This year, Rolando, along with his wife Bing, went back to Manila for four months to study at the School of World Missions with the purpose of equipping himself better as they continue to preach the gospel in Canberra. Having developed a heart and burden for their new hometown, the couple bravely left their daughters and entrusted their Victory groups to the leaders they’ve been discipling.

Last May, Rolando finally graduated from the School of World Missions and he and his wife headed back home to reunite with their daughters and continue their work in Canberra, now that they’re more equipped and refreshed. “Our family would just like to encourage everyone that wherever God brings you, He brings you there for a reason,” Rolando shares, “And if we are obedient, the love of Christ will shine in our lives and glorify the Father, who is in Him.”

Together with their community in Canberra, the Sulits are in faith for an Every Nation church plant in their area. They’re also praying for more workers who have a heart for Jesus to help in their ministry work. As they train young leaders, they are believing that God will empower this next generation of disciple-makers who will boldly preach the gospel, not only in Canberra, but to the rest of Australia. Despite challenges and the occasional homesickness, Rolando knows that their family is right where God wants them to be. “We know that God will finish and put into completion everything that began here in Canberra,” he declares, “We cannot claim anything for ourselves, the glory belongs to Him forever.”

Macau and Hongkong Hold Discipleship Conference

June 6, 2016

Last month, leaders from our churches in Every Nation Macau and Every Nation Hong Kong converged for their first Discipleship Conference. Following the theme, “Charge!” the event aimed to empower our current and upcoming leaders to be missional in honoring God and making disciples in their respective territories.

Pastor Jun Escosar, Every Nation World Missions Asia director, kicked off the conference by encouraging our leaders and interns to be more missional in preaching the gospel, especially to the locals of Macau and Hong Kong. Our leaders, tent-makers and full-time ministers were also reminded to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit when they reach out to the people in these two cities. The participants also heard from Victory executive director Pastor Gilbert Foliente, who talked about the role of the Holy Spirit as we evangelize people and reach out to the lost.

The conference also emphasized the importance of going to the campuses and reaching the next generation because we believe that the youth of Macau and Hong Kong will lead their country to be missionary-sending nations in the future. The participants also listened to updates regarding the progress of missionary efforts in Macau and Hong Kong. The 4Es–Engage, Establish, Equip, and Empower–were also discussed in the context of the lifestyle and culture in the two cities.

The conference was also an opportune time for our leaders in our two congregations to fellowship and enjoy each other’s company during breaks and meal times by taking photos, sharing snacks and exchanging stories. At the end of the event, our leaders and interns were recharged and refreshed to preach the gospel as they go back to their respective communities.

Lives Transformed In Restricted Nation

May 30, 2016

We’re excited to bring you the stories of three people who have encountered Christ in their nation–a country in South Asia with a population that is mostly Hindu. The lives of these disciples show the transforming power of the gospel, no matter the language, the culture or the race.

Sintha used to battle depression, and often felt lonely and aimless. She felt the need to perform to gain other people’s approval. One day, she heard the gospel through our missionaries, and realized that her deepest desires to be selfless and please other people comes from a place that is still self-serving. “I came to the decision to follow Jesus after realizing my need for Him,” she shares. Sintha discovered that it is only through Him that she can have true hope and joy, not through her deeds or actions. Now, she wakes up everyday with a sense of purpose, knowing fully well that there is no other way but Jesus.

Ramyu grew up learning about the gods and goddesses of Hinduism. As a child, he had many questions about his family’s faith that were left unanswered. Until he found the Bible, and started reading it. To his surprise, the questions that he had been asking for so long were answered by the gospel. It was that revelation that made him decide to follow Jesus. “It is only through Him that I understood the love of God, to the extent that He gave His life for me,” Ramyu explains, “no other Hindu gods did that for me.”

Theeba was dealing with unbelief and some trust issues when she experienced a miracle in her life. It was not a flashy showcase of power but an intimate revelation of God’s sovereignty in her life. She heard the voice of God telling her to get to know Him first before she turns her back on Christianity. One day she needed a ride to a prayer meeting, but couldn’t get one because all the public vehicles were full. Theeba became desperate and she started questioning God’s lack of provision. A while late, a bus going to the opposite direction broke down a few meters from where she stood waiting. All the passengers had to get off and the bus had to turn around, allowing Theeba to ride the bus all to herself, and to the destination she’s headed. This small miraculous incident completely overwhelmed her with the knowledge that God loves her. “As I got to know more about Jesus, I began to feel His presence and workings in my life,” she says.

As more locals are reached out in this South Asian nation, let us pray for more disciples to be raised up as leaders. These changed lives are testaments to the work that God is doing in the nations. As this restricted nation continues to open up to the gospel, let us continue to hold the ropes for our missionaries and pray for their safety, provision and protection.

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* The image in this article features K2, also known as Mount Godwin-Austen, and Chhogori Balti, the second highest mountain in the world, after Mount Everest, but K2 is not found in the nation mentioned in this article. For security reasons, we have changed the names of the locals in this article. If you would like to contribute to our efforts to bring the gospel to creative access nations like this one, please click here.

Nich Walks the Talk with Peakna

July 7, 2015

“When I understood about what Jesus did for me, I just had to share the love of God with her.”

Discipleship is relationship! In this missions story, a young girl in Cambodia demonstrates God’s love to her physically-handicapped best friend.

What can you do in Just Ten Days?

October 3, 2014

A team of Ten Days missioners from Victory Ortigas were the first to set foot in Sri Lanka. Read their testimony here!

We were posed with the challenge, “What can you do in just Ten Days?,” when we joined a short-term mission trip to Sri Lanka from May to June 2014. The question, however, is not what ordinary men and women like us could do. It was about what God could do through us. With that, the possibilities are endless!

Sri Lanka is a country with a people largely unexposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Less than two percent of its population are Christians, while about 70 percent are Buddhists. Bringing the good news to this mission field was truly a life-changing privilege.

Each of us in the team were challenged to reach out and share our faith to everyone we met, in every way we can. We boldly approached students and other locals in the streets of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. We shared our testimonies, trained local church leaders in discipleship and evangelism, supported English-speaking classes, and prayed for Sri Lanka and its leaders.

It is overwhelming to see the results of God’s work even beyond the ten days we spent there. We were able to connect locals to the church, and six Buddhists received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We also helped jumpstart a small group. One of the students started doing ONE 2 ONE discipleship with our Sri Lanka missionaries. By God’s grace, Every Nation Sri Lanka will be launched by January 2015!

Your prayers and support have made a tremendous impact in the nation of Sri Lanka. Istoothi (thank you) from the bottom of our hearts!

Equipping and Empowering the Nations

October 5, 2013

A Ten Days mission team from Victory Malate was sent to Bangkok, Thailand in May 2012. For them, it was “a journey of knowing God deeper.” Know why by checking out our article here!

Our trip to Bangkok couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. By the time we arrived, Every Nation Church Bangkok was going through a leadership transition. The church was first started by a team of Filipino missionaries, trained at the Every Nation Building in Bonifacio Global City. Now, this thriving church was going to be handed over to local leaders who we believe would be instrumental in making disciples among the Thai people.

When we arrived, our Every Nation church in Thailand was having a two-day camp. This event helped strengthen them, as our church members and leaders were reminded of the importance of spiritual family. Our team facilitated some of the activities, and we were able to build relationships with the local leaders. The camp culminated with the water baptism of five new disciples in the church. One of them was a young student who almost became a Buddhist monk.

Campers from our Every Nation Church Bangkok are excited for what's next. — Campers from our Every Nation Church Bangkok are excited for what’s next.

The camp helped leverage our relationships with the church members. We spent time soon after equipping and encouraging our Every Nation Church Bangkok leaders. We also held a youth event, where we talked about love and relationships to the students.

Of course, our time in Bangkok would not be complete without going to the campuses. We got to spend time and talk to some students from Ramkamhaeng University, the largest open university in Thailand. Ken, a communications student, was one of the students we interacted with. She received the gospel well and is now connected with our church members in Every Nation Church Bangkok.

We’ve seen how God has been sovereign in our short time as a missions team to Bangkok—and this is a privilege for all of us. Thank you for your support and prayers!

The Ten Days program gives Victory group leaders the opportunity to experience cross-cultural missions first-hand by engaging local contacts, encouraging the local team, and equipping the local leaders of Every Nation Asia churches. If you are a Victory group leader and would like to be part of a Ten Days mission trip, please contact your local church missions coordinator.

Ten Days leaders are trained for the Ten Days experience using materials developed at our leadership development facility at the Every Nation Building. We are currently building a second facility, the Every Nation Building Phase 2, which will serve as our leadership development facility upon completion. For more information on the Every Nation Building Phase 2, please visit everynationbuilding.ph.

Light in Laos

January 18, 2013

In Laos, 92% of its locals have not been reached by the gospel. Since it is a creative access nation, our missionaries have exercised extra care for our activities to continue in spite of restrictions.

Our team in Laos began hosting the locals—mostly students from different universities—through holding small groups and worship services in the missionaries’ living room. As more and more Laotians were reached by the gospel, the missionaries grew concerned about their safety. They did not want to risk making their neighbors suspicious because of the number of students coming in and out of their house daily.

Laos_service — Our missions work in Laos started by holding services in living rooms like these.

Our missionaries had to find an alternative to meeting the students and sharing the Word with them without compromising their security. Then they thought of putting up their own restaurant and cafe.

With bold faith, the church started praying for provision—and in less than a week, God made a way. They rented a three-storey unit in a building, developed and registered it as a restaurant-cafe. While serving food and drinks to locals, it would also double as a hub for ministry activities for the local disciples.

Laos_street — We are in faith for open doors and more leaders to be trained!

Now, the restaurant also serves as a strategic platform for the ministry! It serves as a hangout place for students—as well as a venue for outreach activities, worship services, Victory Weekends, and discipleship trainings. We are in faith that this year, aside from more students to be reached by the gospel, more Laotians will rise up as leaders and reach their families, classmates, and friends!

Please pray that more leaders are raised to make disciples, and for more weekly worship services.

As each of us steps out in faith to pray, give, and go, more nations like Laos are reached by the gospel! Thank you for standing with us!