nations

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.

Pray for God’s Peace and Restoration in the Middle East

February 27, 2024

On January 28, Sunday, an aerial drone packed with explosives flew into Tower 22, a US military outpost in northeast Jordan, along the border of Syria and Iraq, exploded in the barracks, killed 3 US service members, and injured 34 others. Both the Islamic Resistance in Iraq and the Axis of Resistance, militant groups said to be backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for the attack. There have been nearly 200 attacks against US targets since the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, this is the first known instance of American casualties.

The strike has backed US President Biden into a corner. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Ja Austin III declared on the same day that “The president and I will not tolerate attacks on American forces, and will take all necessary actions to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests,…” However, due to the complexity of the Gaza war, the President’s response must carefully weigh military duty against political pressure while being mindful not to further escalate the current regional conflict.

While retaliation would seem like a natural response, it would heighten the volatile situation and fuel an all-out war.

Iran, despite accusations, claimed these militant groups do not take orders and act independently. The country states that it does not intend to be pulled into a regional war.

Less than a week later, the world found out the answer. On Friday, February 2, five days after the drone attack, the US launched major airstrikes on 85 military targets in 7 locations in Iraq and Syria.

As we have learned throughout human history, there are no winners in war. War begets war. Leaders and nations are often handcuffed by larger political interests despite their desire to fully pursue paths of peace. When man runs short of answers, it becomes all the more clear that only the Gospel provides a lasting answer to our troubles. Let us pray for His Light to shine on the world during this time.

Prayer Points:

1. Pray for wisdom, diplomacy, and discernment to prevail over President Biden and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to avoid war and bring the independent militias under control and even be dismantled.

2. Continue to intercede for the end of the Israel and Hamas war and for normal life to resume as quickly as possible for both sides. Ask God for a supernatural answer that will be acceptable to both the Israelis and Palestinians in their 75-year war over the land of Palestine.

3. Intercede for a spirit of revival to wash over the world as the risk of an escalating regional war looms in the Middle East. May this desperation force people, leaders, and nations to fall on their knees and humble themselves before the Prince of Peace.

Know more:

Three US troops killed in Jordan drone strike linked to Iran

https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-says-three-us-service-members-killed-drone-attack-us-forces-jordan-2024-01-28/

US carries out retaliatory strikes on Iranian-linked militia targets in Iraq and Syria

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/02/politics/us-strikes-iraq-syria/index.html

U.S. hits Iranian proxies in Iraq, Syria in retaliation for deadly strikes

https://www.npr.org/2024/02/02/1228132782/us-biden-iran-drone-response-strike

Why did US wait to retaliate for drone attack on its troops?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68182658

Pray for God’s Peace and Stability in Taiwan

January 31, 2024

Taiwan opened 2024 with a presidential election on January 13 which had major implications for Taiwan and China, with the rest of the world watching. While there were other major domestic concerns, such as the economy and housing, no bigger election issue was at stake than the candidates’ position on Taiwan’s relationship with neighboring China. The ruling party (DPP) fielded Lai Ching-te who campaigned on a strong pro-independence platform. The biggest opposition (KMT) was represented by New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih who ran on increased diplomacy and possible reunification with China. A third party (TPP) was led by former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je who offered a middle ground – continued sovereignty while dialoguing with China. China obviously backed KMT candidate Hou and called this election a choice between “war and peace. All 23.5 million Taiwanese felt the weight of pressure leading to the elections.

DPP’s Lai won the elections with a majority of 40.05% of the votes. It was a very strong message to China. It also meant greater uncertainty, rising tensions, and a risk of war escalating moving forward. Two days after the elections, China lured Nauru to cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan through promises of economic assistance. Tuvalu is expected to follow soon. It is part of China’s efforts to isolate Taiwan. Twenty nations have switched diplomatic relations from Taiwan to China since 2001. China is also expected to step up its military exercises near and within Taiwan’s defense zone.

Whatever happens in the next few years has serious implications for the rest of the world, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Philippines. As God’s people, we do not fear. Instead, we lift everything up in prayer, knowing God is sovereign.

1. Pray that the message of Christ’s love will break pride, animosity, and hatred — bringing about lasting peace.

2. Intercede for peace-minded politicians and leaders on both sides to find a political solution that will satisfy both governments and people.

3. Pray for God’s wisdom for President Lai as he leads Taiwan during these difficult times.

To know more about the current situation, you may check the links below:

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.