Church of the Nazarene leaders gathered with motocross racers and fans 19 November at MX Messiah Fairgrounds to celebrate the recognition of an out-of-the-box (or perhaps out-of-the-starting-gate) ministry to people who might never enter the doors of a traditional church building.

Metro Manila District Superintendent Arnel Piliin, Philippine Micronesia Field Strategy Coordinator Stephen Gualberto, Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary President Bruce Oldham, and Pastor Lucinda Tamayo were among those in attendance along with a group of extreme sports enthusiasts who have been meeting regularly on Sunday mornings for Bible study between morning practices and coaching sessions.

This new church-type mission, Generation Congregation Nation, was first envisioned by former Shell/Yamaha Team motocross champion Sam Tamayo several years ago. Sam, an APNTS Master of Divinity graduate and ordained elder, was pioneering Generation Congregation Youth at Taytay First Church of the Nazarene, a group that now has several hundred teens and young adults in attendance every Sunday, when God called him away to create a venue where people who are passionate about extreme sports could come to learn, ride, and hear the gospel.

Pastora Lucinda Tamayo, senior pastor of Taytay First Church of the Nazarene and Sam’s mother, described during the service how she didn't understand Sam's new ministry at first. She now praises God for leading the way and creating a family of believers in such an unlikely place.

Piliin officiated the event, sharing the core beliefs of the Church of the Nazarene and welcoming the Generation Congregation Nation into the global Nazarene community. His message and challenge were to take the gospel to others and continue to strive to live a holy life as the Bible instructs. 

As the ceremony ended, the attendees got back on their dirt bikes and returned to practice for an upcoming race. 

--Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific Region