Manistry month is a month where all of the men on a squad have the opportunity to live and work together to sharpen each other as men in Christ.
This month we have been on the southern island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Our ministry was split between two amazing sites. The first was in the city of Cagayan de Oro, where we worked with “Streetlight” a recent branch from Kids International Ministries (K.I.M.). Our ministry contacts were Natalie, Leigha, Megan, Brindy, and Jap-Jap. All thirteen of our men lived in a small apartment in the heart of the city. “Streetlight” is trying to reach the kids living on the streets of Cagayan with the gospel and provide food through feedings, making the recently opened center available as a place for education and potentially a place for then to sleep.
The second ministry we were involved in was in Malay Balay City in the mountains of Mindanao. Here K.I.M has a children’s home at a place called Mt. Moriah Camp. Our time at Mt. Moriah involved helping build a chicken coop, carving bleachers out of the hillside, going to local villages and teaching bible lessons and playing games, and helping to facilitate an AWANA style outreach on the camp site. The most rewarding time we had there was with the children who call it there home. There warmth and welcome made it feel like coming home. Being able to encourage those who work there and spending time with the kids made our time in Malay Balay very fruitful.
This month has been encouraging not only being able to see the growth that has occurred in each ministry, but seeing some of the greatest growth occur in our teams. Being able to learn to live in close community with these brothers has not only affected how I view community, but encouraged me in the character of these Godly men that I have been blessed to call my brothers and friends.
Thank you Matt, Ken, Mike, Jake, Andrew, Jon, Heath, Clay, Ross, James, Derek, and Zack for your willingness to be vulnerable, be strong, be a man for God!
