The MB Church of The Philippines (KAMPI) was welcomed this summer as a new member of the International Community of Mennonite Brethren. This conference of nine churches and 1,000 members is led by 10 pastors who reported 30 baptisms in 2023.
“We are committed to reaching the unreached in our communities following Jesus’ Great Commission,” says Sam Arcano, KAMPI chair and ICOMB representative. “We place a special focus on winning the next generation for Christ.”
Philippines is a country of more than 30 million young people 24 years old and below, Arcano reports. “The tremendous influence of negative social media, substance abuse and the growing disconnect of children and parents are huge problems,” he says. “Even our government is calling upon the churches to help direct our children on the ‘right path’ toward godly and morally upright living.”
For these reasons, KAMPI is focusing their efforts in evangelism and discipleship on high school and university campuses. In January 2024, a Multiply Disciple Making International (DMI) team helped KAMPI connect with the more than 7,000 students on five high school campuses in the Palawan province. Church leaders sent letters to the schools requesting the DMI team be allowed to present testimonies in classes about transformation through faith in Jesus. Arcano reports that more than 3,000 students on four campuses prayed to receive Jesus.
Breaking down strongholds
One high school declined the request. As the DMI team prayed for the high schools, one DMI team member discerned that the school was under a spiritual stronghold, says Arcano. “We understood then why we were prevented from doing the DMI campaign in that campus. So we prayed that God would breakdown the stronghold on that campus so we could reach out to more than 1,600 students.”
In July, KAMPI followed up on the DMI campaign with Youth Convergence, an event that brought 128 young people from different high schools and one university campus together for four days of activities led by a Multiply ACTION team. The students were “exposed to the transformative power of having a personal relationship with Jesus” through speed painting, skits and direct proclamation of the gospel, Arcano says. Tim Geddert, retired Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary professor, was the guest speaker.
“When the invitation was given to entrust their lives to the saving grace of God, prayers of receiving Jesus echoed through the covered court and our hearts were filled with joy for the miracle of being a new creation in Christ,” Arcano says.
One surprise during Youth Convergence was that 30 of the campers came from the high school that had declined to have the DMI team visit the campus.
“Because we prayed for a breakdown of a spiritual stronghold, God, in his mighty power, broke through and called 30 students from that school,” Arcano says. “This group will become a nucleus of disciples that will spearhead the student ministry in that campus this coming school year. Hallelujah for answered prayers.”
KAMPI overview
Mennonite Brethren church planting in the Philippines began in 2004 through the vision and leadership of Arthur Loewen of Canada and Samuel Arcano of the Philippines. The ministry has grown over the years and local congregations were established in three areas, Baguio City, Nueva Vizcaya and Palawan.
The Philippine churches held their first conference in Baguio City in 2014, and in 2017 they organized as Kapatirang Menonita NG Pilpinas Incorporated (KAMPI in Tagalog). There are now nine churches and 10 pastors in this national conference with 1,000-plus attenders. In 2023, they baptized 30-plus individuals.
“We are committed to reaching the unreached in our communities following Jesus’ Great Commission as stated in Matthew 28:18-20,” says Arcano, who chairs KAMPI and represents the national conference in ICOMB. “We place a special focus on winning the next generation for Christ.”
KAMPI ministries include local evangelistic teams, outreach to high school students through sports, camps and retreats, regional worker gatherings, Missional Leadership Training (MLT) groups and evangelism in partnership with Multiply’s Disciple Making International program.
Prayer requests
Pray for Pastor Shown Amporias as he disciples and trains students at Abueg National High School in Palawan. Pray for wisdom and God’s direction and that leaders will find a place to hold weekly discipleship meetings and other activities.
Pray for KAMPI’s work in Baguio City, specifically that they will find a new location for their ministry activities.
Did you know?
- Philippines has 7,641 islands and more than 5,000 remain unnamed on most international maps. The Philippines is one of the world’s largest archipelagos.
- Even though most people speak English, there are more than 175 languages spoken in the country. The official language is Filipino, based on Tagalog.
- 92 percent of the population is Christian and 12 percent is evangelical. Philippines is the third largest Catholic country after Brazil and Mexico. There are 30 unreached people groups.
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Cave entrance of Puerto Princesa subterranean underground river. Photo: Getty Images - The world’s longest underground river is located on the island of Palawan. It is located in Puerta Princesa Subterranean River National Park.
- The largest and most expensive pearl in the world was found in the Philippines! It was being found in Palawan, weighing a staggering 75 pounds and valued at an astonishing $100 million.
- Filipinos celebrate Christmas longer than you think! Christmas celebrations begin in September and last until January during the “Feast of the Three Kings.” The festive atmosphere includes decorations and numerous parties.
Connie Faber joined the magazine staff in 1994 and assumed the duties of editor in 2004. She has won awards from the Evangelical Press Association for her writing and editing. Faber is the co-author of Family Matters: Discovering the Mennonite Brethren. She and her husband, David, have two daughters, one son, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law and three grandchildren. They are members of Ebenfeld MB Church in Hillsboro, Kansas.
