New Role, New Adventure (Radiate Aug2024)
New Role, New Adventure - Radiate Aug2024
I’ve been serving as Regional Director for two months now. I was appointed to this position after serving as OIC-RD for six months. I’ve been learning a lot with this new role—a very humbling and character-transforming experience. I thought I knew enough about servant-leadership, but my new role gave me another level of understanding of leading through serving. I'm used to leading and journeying with the students but it's different from leading and journeying with fellow staff workers and volunteers. I have to reorient myself.
I even thought having a background in fundraising and being an accounting graduate would make things easier, but they didn’t. Because this is a ministry and it needs more than just a set of skills. It requires discernment, much prayer, and dependence on God.
Honestly, I am constantly overwhelmed with the responsibility but also excited about what God will do in and through me. I’m excited about how this new role will draw me closer to God even more. I’m excited to see what God has in store for us as a Region.
While the responsibility is overwhelming, so is the help and support of the people around me. The Lord sent the Regional Council to help me discern and decide on what is best for the Region. Their wisdom and counsel make the work more bearable. The support of our Ministry Partners who are faithful in praying and giving financially encouraged us to be faithful also to what we are called to do. Our staff and volunteers, whose dedication and commitment to reaching out to students are very inspiring. And our student leaders, our front liners, whose testimonies fuel our passion to continue what we have started.
Our region is striving despite the challenges we encountered. And I can see that God is working in four different areas. Let me share God’s work in North East Davao, Davao City, South Cotabato, and North Cotabato.
North East Davao Area
IVCF Northeast Davao area started the academic year with excitement together with the student leaders, staff, and graduate volunteers when we conducted the local leadership summit. This summit helped the area to evaluate and reflect, pray, and plan for the whole school year.
The summit reminded us of the great commission commanded by Jesus that we should completely obey- evangelism and discipleship. As our response to God's message, the students from four campus chapters geared up their plans respectively for the ministry and fervently prayed. Prayer works when we do it habitually. This is my only weapon when I do the work that God is leading me now.
This academic year is very tough for me since I am alone as a full-time worker in my area. However, the Lord sent co-workers in the presence of student leaders and graduate volunteers to help me work out the plans for this academic year. It is comforting to know that even if technically I'm alone yet I have a companion in the field. The Lord also taught me to depend on Him and submit to Him always, especially in discerning his leadership in my area. What makes me alive amidst this huge responsibility is dependence on the Holy Spirit and allowing him to take control, not me.
Praises:
Praise the Lord for the lives of committed student leaders in North East Davao.
Praise Him also for the new and old graduate volunteers who passionately give their time, effort, and finances to handle small groups in different campus chapters.
Praise God for the unwavering financial support from our ate’s and kuya’s who give generously to our campus activities.
We thank the Lord for student leaders who are now leading students for Christ by handling small groups ( UMTC, USEP, KNHS, & KCAST).
Praise God for the success of various freshmen treats and club days from different chapters as classes started.
Thank God for the new contacts and the receptive hearts of the students this year.
We thank the Lord for the social media influence of the FB page used by campus chapters to promote the ministry through this platform. Most of our new contacts are products from this social media platform.
Davao City Area
For almost two years, IVCF in the Davao City area has struggled for volunteers, sustained activities, and new student contacts on campuses, which remained pioneering, but I am reminded that despite these challenges, God is at work, and it is He who goes ahead of me and leads me.
I must seek Him always and deepen my relationship with Him as I’m called to build relationships and journey with the people He entrusted to me, then I will go and follow wherever He leads because He is the one preparing the work for me.
This academic year, the Lord graciously opened opportunities and partnerships to expand his work through IVCF here in the Davao City Area. Through referrals and invitations, we have existing small groups and contact students in (DMMA) Davao Merchant Marine Academy College Of Southern Philippines, University of Mindanao (UM) Bolton and Matina, San Pedro College (SPC), (CCSA) Christian Colleges of Southeast Asia, University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) Mintal, University of the Philippines Mindanao (UP Min.), Ateneo De Davao University (ADDU), Lyceum of the Philippines- Davao (LPU) and ISCF activity through values formation class in Davao National High School in partnership with the DMIRIE Foundation. With this growing opportunity, we invite and encourage more graduates who are willing to handle small groups or other ministry matters and students who attended the camp last June 2024 to step up and intentionally participate in the ministry.
Here are three highlights in the Davao City area in the 1st quarter of this academic year:
1. IVCF Davao Core Student – Student Leadership
Praise God for the life of this student who stepped up and took the initiative to help the ministry as the core student of the Davao City Area. They help invite contacts and plan future activities for the student.
2. Campus Volunteers and Regional Associate for Finance – Answered Prayer
After a year of transition from the previous staff assigned here in Davao, I was the only staff in the area doing campus and office work specifically in admin and finance for the region, which was too much for me to handle. So, we’ve been praying to God to send more volunteers for campus work and a person who can take the task for finance since I want to focus on the campus work. Then, the Lord answered these prayers through the life of Samuel, a young pro in IVCF Davao who expressed to handle a small group; we also have Shaira, wife of Kuya Chang, who joins small group discussions together with Kuya Chang in UP Min and USEP Min; and lastly, we also have Ate Russell, who committed to be the new finance officer in our region. I am beyond grateful for how the Lord answered our prayers and put things into place for His glory.
3. ISCF (Inter-School Christian Fellowship) in partnership with DMIRIE foundation
Ate Ging Clemente shared with me what they have been doing in the DMIRIE Foundation to minister to young people, especially in high school, and asked me if I would be interested in joining. Last Sept. 28, I joined their orientation. What we will be doing is handling a class to discuss Christian values and share the gospel with the material and activities provided. I was inspired and encouraged that more than 103 volunteers, from 15-year-old senior high school students to 75-year-old Nanai/Ate, attended that orientation with a passion for ministering to the youth. Everyone is accommodating, friendly, and eager to share their experience and excitement for this partnership.
Praises
Praise God for partnership with other organizations and Faculty members’ initiatives on the campuses
Praise God for the lives of our volunteers, students, and ministry partners
Praise God for new contacts and new open campuses (DMMA, CCSA, LPU, UP Min, USEP Min)
Praise God for the continued fellowship among graduates (Seasoned and Young Pro)
Praise God for the growing activities and opportunities in the Davao City area
South Cotabato Area
In the past months, I have learned that serving the LORD takes total dependence on Him. I plan and strategize, but the steps he planned for me to take will be done (Proverbs 16:9). I used to get frustrated whenever I didn’t do anything I planned to do or achieve anything I planned to achieve within the day.
As I continue to serve the LORD through IVCF, I’ve seen God working on me in this part of my character. I tend to over-control and sometimes forget that God is with me and is working with me. So I praise God for revealing to me that apart from Him, I am nothing. I started to take everything step by step and little by little, with my eyes on Jesus; waiting for Him. May the LORD continue to work in me as I journey with the students in total dependence on Him.
As I continue to serve the LORD through IVCF, I’ve seen God working on me in this part of my character. I tend to over-control and sometimes forget that God is with me and is working with me. So I praise God for revealing to me that apart from Him, I am nothing. I started to take everything step by step and little by little, with my eyes on Jesus; waiting for Him. May the LORD continue to work in me as I journey with the students in total dependence on Him.
Three highlight events/updates in our area
We had a successful Freshmen Treat entitled’ “Sycamore Day: May Naghahanap Sa’yo” taken from Luke 19:1-10 last August 29, 2024. It was attended by 49 students, graduates, advisers, and staff.
Seven Kairos Course graduates who are student-leaders at MSU
Weekly Bible Studies in MSU, RMMC, and Cronasia campuses. There are currently seven active small groups in MSU and a small group for the city proper campuses in Gensan. Praise God for the first small group meeting with the students from Ramon Magsaysay Memorial College - Gensan and Cronasia Foundation College.
North Cotabato Area
It’s been 2 months now since returned to staffwork after my 2nd Sabbatical leave and I praise God for what He has accomplished through IVCF Ministry here in North Cotabato. I have been asking myself if there is anything more that I can give or contribute to His ministry in IVCF because recently I have felt that I have nothing more to offer but then God’s word reminded me that both my being and doing are all by His Grace alone (1 Cor.15:10).
And so His works continue and I praise God because at the start of this academic year, we have started meeting several students for Evangelistic Bible Studies and Training. Also, God has raised a new associate Regional Staff Intern in the person of Ms. Wendy Utay. Wendy is assigned to the USM Kabacan Chapter and she is also the new IVHome Manager.
Also, God has raised a new associate Regional Staff Intern in the person of Ms. Wendy Utay. Wendy is assigned to the USM Kabacan Chapter and she is also the new IVHome Manager.
Moreover, we are starting to meet some of the graduates here in North Cotabato and they have expressed their willingness to help the fellowship through prayers, financial support, and other means.
Lastly, the Lord opened a door for us to pioneer a college chapter at Cotabato Medical Foundation Incorporated in Midsayap North Cotabato. Lord willing, we can visit this chapter once they are officially recognized on the campus as an organization. Indeed God’s work will continue to thrive in the campuses here in North Cotabato and beyond because this is His work, this is the Lord’s ministry. Glory to Him Alone!
