Youth from the Philippines-Micronesia Field partnered with Peace Church of the Nazarene in Antipolo City, Philippines, to help construct its church building. 

11 young people from five districts worked together for two weeks on the project. This is the second time that the field Nazarene Youth International mobilized young people for ministry through Work & Witness. It was an opportunity for these young people to reach others and assist the local church in ministry to the community.

Edwin Cabatingan, senior pastor of Peace Church of the Nazarene, has been praying that God would provide the church with a building on their property. Last year, the congregation pulled its resources together to pay off the loan on the property, and this year, they become a recipient of Alabaster funds that allowed them to start construction. 

Peace Church is the second local Work & Witness project in the Philippines, and it will not be the last. As many young people hear about the ministry, many are responding to be part of future local teams.

The team members went out of their comfort zones by learning new skills like cement work and preparing the wall for skim coating and painting. 

It was also an opportunity for the team to build relationships with the local members as they work alongside them. On Friday night, long after the team had gone for dinner, the local church members stayed to prepare the room for a ministry event the following day.

In addition to construction, the team did the witnessing as well. The local members invited people in their community to the church for a time of worship and testimonies. 

The next afternoon, the team also ministered to 70 children for a time of worship, singing, dancing, and games. Jeca, one of the team members, shared the story of the Good Samaritan. Through this story, the children learned that Jesus wants everyone to love their neighbors.

On 5 June 2022, the church celebrated the completion and dedication of their new church building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. District Superintendent Ryan Cardinal led the dedication service while Elsid Paragas, NYI coordinator for the Philippines-Micronesia Field, gave the message on “Why we go on Mission.”

Although it was an exhausting week, the team was blessed with the opportunity to work and minister to the people in the local church and in the community.

“For more than 10 years, I have had a desire to be in the mission field and to be used by the Lord to preach His word,” said Mark Ezekiel Nepacina, a student on the team. 

While serving on the Peace church project, Nepacina says that God spoke to him in many ways.

“God has confirmed my calling to be a missionary,” Nepacina said. “There are doubts and fears, but I take courage knowing this is what the Lord wants me to do. I am realizing when the Lord wants you to go, just go!”

--Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific