Finding Peace - Explore Archived World Race Alumni Blogs

OK – so maybe Mindinao is not quite the Muslim hotbed I thought it was going to be. Sure, four of the terrorists from 9/11 were trained right here on this island and the U.S. government calls this place a high alert travel location, but strangley enough – I feel right at home. Funny how God works ain’t it! All month I’ve been stressing out about coming here, thinking for sure I’d end up getting killed. But, instead I find myself falling in love with this place. In fact, I may not be leaving. Lynette and Amy are set to catch a ferry up to Cebu tomorrow night – God willing I won’t be with them. If God has called me to extend my stay, looks like I’ll be flying back to Manila October 5th instead of this Friday. We’ll just have to wait and see.

For now I want to show you some pictures and tell you about the incredible people that have taught me so much about trusting the Lord our God with all our hearts, and souls and minds. I got a peace in my heart here I haven’t had in – maybe ever!

First off, let me tell ya’ll a little about where we are staying in Ozamiz City. Locals call it the “compound”, but the official name is All The World Outreach Church or ATWOC. Basically, it’s a Bible school (Strongerman Bible Institute) and a church (The Sanctuary) combined that reaches, teaches and trains folks in the area. This place is all about equipping people to go out and do God’s work. (Eph. 4:12) ATWOC also overseas and helps run about 1600 churches on the island. It’s led by a guy named Tommy Smith, no not the same Tommy Smith you folks back in Arkansas are thinking about. Bishop Smith is a year older than me, 33, and he’s from Georgia. So needless to say hearing his southern accent has made me feel right at home.

Tommy has been such a wonderful influence on me over these last few days. Smith’s dad is a pastor, plus he has got a bunch folks in his family that are also in full-time ministry. So Tommy has a wealth of wisdom and knowledge about our Heavenly Father. Which is awesome because right now I find myself thristing for more of God’s Word in my life – more truth!

But to be honest, it’s the young men and women in the Bible school that have stolen my heart. These kids come from all over the island. And while Ozamiz City might be safe, the rest of this island ain’t. Most of these students have Muslims in their families or came from Muslim communities. And yet their love for Jesus is unwavering. The faith and trust of the students have grown my faith and trust in the Lord more than you’ll ever know. These young warriors are following Christ NO MATTER THE COST. And they do it with such passion, such hunger. Again, they do it in a place where it’s VERY dangerous to be a Christian. These people know about the darkness that’s in the mountains, they’ve seen it, they’ve lived in it – yet the young men and women continue to follow hard after Him.