The pandemic has brought many challenges and uncertainties to all people around the world. But in the Philippines, many local churches took these as opportunities to plant new churches and expand the work of the Lord in their areas.

Ronaldo Reyes, Philippines/Micronesia Field church planting coordinator, shared that in 2021, 25 new preaching points were planted within the 11 districts in the Philippines. Despite the restricted movement because of COVID-19 protocols, pastors continue to have a deep passion to plant churches and train new pastors and laypeople to assist them in becoming effective in ministry.

Tanay Church of the Nazarene, led by Pastor Ron, has planted three churches since 2018. One of the church plants started when a family who was attending the church sensed God’s call to use their home to reach their community. They began to have Bible studies in their home. It is now organized as a local church with 70 members.

The Bicol District also experienced significant growth last year with 11 new organized churches. District Superintendent Danilo Feleo shared the story of one of the church plants: 

It began when one of the young people who is attending university needed to do practical work. She started teaching a group of kids in her neighborhood, and the Nazarene church in Legaspi City came alongside her and started a children’s ministry. They also began to visit the parents of the children enrolled in the children’s program, and during the Mother’s Day celebration in the church, the parents were invited to join. Four mothers came and were blessed with the warm welcome they received while in church and surrendered their lives to God. They started a Bible study together, and after several months, the group grew in numbers. In November 2021, this group was organized as a local church!

Ernesto Gono, pastor of Cananaoan Tribal Church in the Metropolitan Luzon District, envisioned planting a church. He shared this vision, which his congregation embraced as well. In June 2021, they started a kids outreach in San Fernando, Pampanga. After several months, the parents of the children saw the impact of this outreach in the lives of their children and they too decided to have a Bible study themselves. In December 2021, this outreach was organized as San Fernando Church of the Nazarene with 80 children, 15 youth, and 25 adults.

On the Eastern Visayas District, Pastor Sam Globio shared how he and his wife felt God’s call to begin a ministry in the Campakirit neighborhood in Maydolong, Eastern Samar. At the start of 2021, they searched for a place to rent in the area and God provided the space. A few days later, they had their first worship service with six families and a small group of single moms. The ministry expanded to have children, youth, and adult small groups as well as mid-week prayer service. In May 2021, they were formally organized as The Springs of Hope Church of the Nazarene with 37 members.

These are just some of the stories of how God is moving in the Philippines. 

“My passion is to see the church in the Philippines grow in numbers so that many would hear about Jesus,” said Arnel Piliin, Philippines-Micronesia Field strategy coordinator. “I would like to see that each person in these churches would grow deeper spiritually and walk the journey of life in close communion with their Savior.”

--Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific