Meet the Team: Philippine Summer Butuan Kids - Victoria

Meet Victoria

Hey y'all, I was born and raised in a small, Texas town. I grew up my whole life in a Christian household. 

My passion for missions started at a very young age. When my dad allowed me to “tag along” with him one Christmas to do missions in a trash-slum in Mexico. 8 year old me was broken when I saw young children, by the dozens, emerging from the trash in tattered clothing while I stood there shivering in my layers and jacket. That day changed me. I am forever thankful for my dad. And his example of “going” and “telling” to the nations that he has given me to follow. 

Growing up I continued to read missionary biographies and doing small missions trips across the border. At the age of 16 I began working at a Christian summer camp. I spent my whole summer there and grew a lot spiritually. I loved seeing God at work in people's lives. I dedicated 3 summers there before I picked up the command to “go.” So at 20 years old, I did a summer of missions with Nehemiah Teams in Guam. This greatly encouraged me to continue “going,” especially to places more lost and hungrier for the Gospel. 

The Lord placed the Philippines on my heart. Even though it wasn't the place “I” wanted to go, I remembered it wasn't about me. This summer the Lord has blessed me so much and I consider it honor to be apart of what He is doing here. 

Romans 10:14-15

How then they call on the one they have not believed in. And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 

-Kylie 

Philippine Summer Media Intern

Let the little children come...

Butuan kids team has been blessed in our ministries. We are doing house to house sharing each morning and have the privilege to disciple two new believers.

We are also adored by the many, many children here... so that has been opportunities for opening doors. We finished the final days of our version of VBS earlier today. The kids earned stickers for answering questions about the stories we shared on previous days... they were excited to get this small gift!!

The rest of our time is filled with tutoring sessions with the kids, more kids community outreach, youth Bible studies, Sunday Bible studies (no church in our village) and weekday Bible studies with the moms of many of our students. 

Pray for the Bible studies to go beyond evangelistic studies to ones that will see fruit in the lives of those we've been meeting with.

-Victoria

Butuan Kids Team

Finding the People

Our Explorer team has been going great in one of the South Pacific islands. Research has bee
n going strong.. we've covered 6 unengaged unreached people groups (UUPGs) and have potentially identified 2 previously unidentified UUPGs and I "unmarked" UPG. 

During our time, God has opened doors to gospel conversations and we've seen God's hand over our research. He has provided persons of peace, homes to stay in during travel, doors into the community and plenty of spiritual conversations with members of the groups we've visited.

We are seeing a lot of spiritual idolatry, witchcraft and sorcery. Please pray for those who claim to be believers, who might even profess with their mouth but don't truly understand the freedom and power of accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

-Brett

South Pacific Explorer Team

Student 2 Student: Philippine Summer

We have been meeting with some local high school students. We meet at the school once a week. We do a Bible study with them, pray together, and then simply spend time hanging out and getting to know them. In many ways, it looks a lot like a youth group you might see in America.

Don't let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.   -I Timothy 4:12

• Pray for our team as we get to know the high school students better. Pray that we'll be sensitive to their needs & be bold as we share Christ with them.
• Pray for the beginning of a church in this village.

-Kylie

Philippine Summer Media Intern

Daily Rhythms in Guam

We have found ourselves in a steady rhythm here in Guam in both ministry & daily life. Recently we spent time connecting with local pastors & their youth groups. This has given us a base to continue to build relationships for the summer of ministry.

We also started a backyard Bible club for local kids... 11 kids have join us which has been a really sweet & exciting start to the ministry.

For the past couple weeks we have also been doing market evangelism. We seek out those to start conversations with & share about Jesus in everyday settings. 

Join us in praying for:

• open hearts, 
• wisdom in navigating cultural & religious context, and
• continued unity & strength as a team 

-Callie

South Pacific Summer: Guam

A new sister in Christ: Philippine Summer

Our team had the privilege of doing a Bible study with Ate A. We walked up to her house hoping she would invite us in so that we could share the Gospel with her. We ended up doing a complete Bible study with her!

She knew we were in the area because her niece attends the school where we are staying. Her niece had told her there were Americans in their village & she welcomed us into her home. We studied the story of the two criminals on the cross with Jesus. After the Bible study, we spent time answering her questions. At the end, we asked if she had ever decided to follow Christ like the criminal did, and then if she wanted to make that decision herself.

She said she did!

In that moment, she put her faith in Christ. She accepted the free gift of salvation that God offers to us, the gift that Jesus died a sinner's death to provide and then rose from the grave to secure by conquering sin and death.

A few days later, we went back to continue studying with Ate A. When we arrived, her whole family was there, and honestly, I was excited. I thought we were going to get to do a Bible study with her whole family and that everyone would have the opportunity to hear the Gospel. 

However, when we asked if we could come in, we were told no, so we had to leave.

A few days later, we tried again. This time, only Ate A was home, and she gladly welcomed us inside. We sat down and had another Bible study with her. At the end of our study, she asked if we had a Bible that she could have. We were more than happy to give her one. We even marked the Gospel of John so she would have a good place to begin reading on her own.

But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name.   -John 1:12

• Join us in praying for Ate A. Pray that she continues to grow in her faith, and pray that her family's hearts would be softened as she shares her new faith with them.

-Kylie,

Philippine Summer Media Intern

Sharing through English

The Lord has been gracious to provide many opportunities to share the gospel with our new friends. A couple friends have joined our Bible Translation class where they can learn high level English while studying God's word. We've also had the privilege of being invited to multiple campuses to teach English, share our testimonies, sing songs & share Bible stories. 

God has opened the door for us to minister to dorm students. We teach the boys English, play sports with them, and have recently started to lead them in a Bible study. Many of these are young Christians but all come from Buddhist families.

• Pray for the "dorm boys" as we spend time with them, developing relationships which we pray will lead to more discipleship.

-Dylan

Evangelism & Discipleship via English

Southeast Asia