Manila, Philippines: The Southeast Asia (SEA) Field and the Philippines-Micronesia (PM) Field collaborated for a one-week intensive ministry exposure and learning for the local Thai pastors and leaders from the Thailand District. Eight Thai pastors from five local churches, including a Thai translator, participated in this trip. Rev. Jasmin Eugenio, SEA Field District Development Coordinator, led and coordinated the team.
The team did various activities and visited local churches and educational institutions. They had the opportunity to listen to pastors and leaders from the field, district, and local churches in the Philippines about different church strategies and what the churches in the Philippines are doing to achieve the mission of making Christlike disciples and equipping the members to be effective church leaders.
Some of the highlights of their ministry exposure trip are:
- Meet with PM Field Strategy Coordinator Rev. Arnel Piliin to learn about the vision, mission, and strategies of the field.
- Meeting with District Superintendents from Metro Manila – Rev. Ryan Cardinal, from Metro Luzon – Rev. Ernesto Gono, from Philippines Luzon Highland – Rev. Sam Galino and from Philippines Luzon – Rev. Marcelino Ochoco. These DSs were very welcoming and gave presentations about the various ministries and mission opportunities in their region.
- They visited the Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary and Philippine Nazarene College. They saw the campuses and learned about how the schools equip future church leaders in the region and beyond.
- They visited various local churches: Antipolo First Church of the Nazarene, Metro Manila First Church of the Nazarene, Taytay First Church of the Nazarene, River of Life Community Church, Harvest Church of the Nazarene, Tabuyoc Church of the Nazarene, and GMA Church of the Nazarene. They learned about the different ministries that each local church is doing, how they are engaged in the community, and how they impact their communities.
- Thai pastors had the opportunity to preach to some local churches
This trip has inspired the Thai pastors to be creative in their ministry and to apply whatever learning they received from their exposure trip to the Philippines.
By Jasmin Eugenio
