This month, my team is the Unsung Hero team. The Unsung Hero program is a newer part of the World Race where current WR teams on the field take a month searching for future ministry partners. The contacts we find may become WR hosts for future squads and teams. That is our job this month, our ministry.
Feature today: YROCK Church and Ministries
We've been on a journey this year, an epic quest.
I think the most exemplary gem we've discovered along the way are the incredible people we've met and seen in action. People with all different backgrounds, hard stories, and soft hearts. People with eyes only for Jesus and insane work ethics. People who follow their visions even when the others around them doubt.
This month, searching for ministries in Manila, we've met many people like this. Two, in particular, who blew me away are Nica and Joy from Y-Rock.
We had the pleasure of meeting these two ladies over lunch the other day to discuss their ministry. Y-Rock is a church that started from a campus ministry – which is very unusual. Most of the time, a church will create an organization, not the other way around. The church started with mostly young 20-something's and mostly accounting students, but the church has grown over the last ten years to about 900. Many young people have seen their whole families saved and attending church as a whole; others have invited friends and seen fruit.
The church is still reaching out to the campuses in Manila, as ministry to students is crucially important to their vision. They want their church to be full of active people with a desire to change their nation. They have programs to equip and grow the young adults in many unique ways, such as dance, worship, leadership, and media.
Joy, who we met, is one of the few full-time staff working for the campus ministry. She loves the students and really has a burden for them. Although she worked in a traditional job for a few months, she knew it wasn't really the right place for her. With courage and boldness to face the risk, she quit her job and came on full-time with the ministry. Quitting a good job is not often done in the Philippines where work is scarce and getting hired is hard. Although Joy is very humble and did not make these decisions seem exemplary, the bravery in her story shown through the cracks. I really admire this woman for her dedication to God and her ministry.
These women exemplify this quote.
Nica's story is also one of strength and perseverance. She really came to know God in college and only one member of her 7 person family is also Christian. She is from the province, the more rural area outside Manila. She has done well in school and her career, working for an auditing firm. She has to support her family with her income, so living in Manila is too expensive. Even though her church, her work, and her life is here, she makes the 2-hour trip everyday from the province to Manila. That's 2 hours each way, and then add on the chaos and unpredictability of Manila traffic. She wakes up at 4am every morning. On top of this, she manages to be a leader in the church and the ministry. She is so grateful for her life, despite the difficulties and limited sleep. Her attitude and energy despite her commute and demanding job are unfathomable to me; I couldn't help but marvel at her strength.
Nica's story reminded me of many of the people I used to work with in the Philippines in my last job – they often commuted long distances, sent the majority of their income to their families, and dealt with crazy weather and flooding often. Everyday is an uphill battle, and that is to work a really good, enviable job. Work is hard to come-by, and you take the good jobs, regardless of the sacrifices involved. To hear that Nica and Joy have made sacrifices and gone above and beyond for their ministry despite the difficulties of daily life is really admirable. They are exceptionally faithful women. I'm sure that has something to do with the success of the church and their ministry. Women like these, and their dedication to Christ, should be celebrated and honored.
So, if you ever come to Manila, make sure to check out Y Rock church. It's a place built on faith, dedication, and a serious love of God. And say hello to Nica and Joy for me!
Check out YROCK on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yrock.ca/info
