“After a few years of tilling the ground here in Tagum, finally, we have conducted the second Missionary Training Program. When God sets the time, it is perfect.” – said ACM’s Training and Deployment Coordinator for Mindanao during the culmination of the MTP Tagum Batch 2 held last January 6, 2020.
Gathering the workers in Davao has not been easy as few challenges hindered the training in the previous years. Finally, God made it possible in 2019. From August to December, the trainees have undergone the four-month classroom training and were exposed to a two-week short-term mission trip.
This training equipped 21 workers from different churches in the Davao region. As hearts are fanned with a burning passion to give glory to God, these workers are all set to engage in local and global cross-cultural missions to bear witness among the unreached and the immigrants.
“This training taught me the reality that many are still unreached with the Gospel across the world. I also realized that many of them are just around our communities, not just simply the unbelievers, but the immigrants who, perhaps, do not know anything about Jesus yet.” said one of the graduates.
“I believe this is the best time to be used by God for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” – said the youngest trainee, a 19-year old. “Yes, this is the time to do missions and share the Gospel to the lost.” – stressed another trainee as asked about their thoughts regarding the series of earthquakes that hit Davao in late 2019.
Ptr. Bong Palacio also graced the occasion and spoke the Word of God to the trainees. “Soak yourselves in the presence of God until His very presence is screaming in you,” said Ptr. Bong.
Referencing to Colossians 2:6, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”, Ptr. Bong stressed how a missionary must walk his or her journey. “Not just walk with Him; but, walk in Him.” – having eyes, heart, and mindfully attentive to Christ. “You will not last long in the field if you don’t spend quality time with God on a daily basis,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ptr. Bjorn Rodriguez on his endnote said, “It’s not the end. It’s just the beginning. You have just started the missionary life.”
Do you want to be part of God’s growing mission force and reach more people for Jesus? Join ACM’s upcoming training this 2020! Consider praying about the Missionary Training Program or supporting ACM’s initiatives through giving. God bless you!
By JM Bautista, Communications Staff, Asian Center for Missions, Inc.