A Heart for the Philippines: Answering God’s Call After 30 Years

For more than 30 years, the Philippines has held a special place in my heart. From my first six-month mission experience as a young man to the most recent trip in June 2025 — and every visit in between — God has been quietly shaping my heart and preparing me for such a time as this.

My journey with the Philippines began in 1994 at a Discipleship Training School (YWAM) in Antipolo, Manila, and later on the island of Mindoro. One of our assignments was simple yet profound: draw a picture of where you believed God might call you to serve 20 or 30 years down the road.

I remember sketching a globe, a microphone, and a Bible with the caption, “To share the love of Christ globally.” At the time, I

was certain that meant I would be the one travelling the world to share God’s message. But as the years went by, God began to gently shift my perspective.

He showed me something far better — that the Filipino people themselves are uniquely equipped to reach their own communities with the gospel. They understand the language, the culture, and the challenges of daily life in ways I never could. Over time, I realized that my role wasn’t to lead from the front, but to walk alongside and support those already serving faithfully.

It wasn’t an easy lesson to learn. For someone eager to go, stepping back required humility and trust. Yet in that process, I discovered the beauty of partnership — of seeing God work through His people in their own context.

That realization has now come full circle. On November 1, 2025, I officially stepped into a new chapter as the first Executive Director of TRIBE Mission International (TMI) — a ministry dedicated to training and supporting indigenous tribal pastors on the island of Mindoro, Philippines. Our vision is to equip and empower local leaders to share the gospel and plant Bible-believing churches within their own tribal communities. Currently, we are focusing on the Mangyan tribes, which consist of eight districts, culturally diverse tribal groups of roughly 280,000 Mangyan people, of which the majority are still unreached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

This ministry was born out of friendship, prayer, and a shared passion for missions. My friend and ministry partner Jayden Tuin and I caught a vision during a ministry trip to support the outreach work of Pastor Norberto Fermin, who began this work in 2020. Together, we officially launched TRIBE Mission International in February 2025, incorporating it as a not-for-profit organization in Canada.

Since then, God has been confirming this calling in unmistakable ways. He has provided abundantly! What began with five Mangyan pastors in training in 2025 will grow to fifteen in 2026. We are also adding a part-time Philippines TRIBE Ministry Director and exploring new and exciting opportunities to serve the Mangyan communities.

As my family and I take this step of faith, we are filled with gratitude and anticipation. God has been faithful every step of the way, and we trust Him to continue leading as we seek to serve the people He has placed on our hearts for so long.

We invite you to join us in prayer and support for TRIBE Mission International — that the Lord would bless this ministry and use it to advance His Kingdom far beyond what we could ever imagine.

To God be the glory - 100% of the time!