By John Hill, Executive Director
On Saturday, April 26, I departed from Raleigh-Durham International Airport alongside Harold Jones and Chris Singleton for a mission trip to the Philippines on behalf of the Board of Foreign Missions (OFWBI). Our journey began at 7:30 a.m., taking us through Boston, Tokyo, and Manila before arriving at our final destination—Puerto Princesa, Palawan. We landed during a heavy rainstorm but were quickly greeted by one of our local members who transported us to a nearby hotel for some much-needed rest.
The following morning, we met with our Philippine legal counsel, Attorney Tormis, to address several property-related matters and discuss future legal strategies. Attorney Tormis, a devoted Christian, has been an invaluable ally in our mission work. Over the decades, OFWBI has acquired property for churches, homes, schools, and future developments; however, some deeds were either inaccurately recorded or contained minor errors. Attorney Tormis has worked diligently to correct these records and safeguard our interests in the country.
After a brief breakfast, we visited the mission-operated school in Puerto Princesa, which also serves as the central office for the Palawan churches. We met with the Board of Trustees in the upper room to conduct the annual meeting. During this session, our long-serving chairman, Pastor Andrino “Andy” Segay, officially resigned. We celebrated his faithful service and welcomed Pastor Marcos “Marc” Taladro as the newly elected chairman. Although several important topics were discussed, time constraints required us to schedule a follow-up meeting for Friday, May 2, at 1:00 p.m.
Later that evening, we flew to Cebu and stayed overnight at the Bayview Hotel. Early the next morning, we joined a group of church leaders to take the LiteCat2 ferry from Cebu City to Tubigon, Bohol. For a small fee, we upgraded to “first-class” seating, which offered a window view—though there was little difference from regular seating. The scenic two-hour ferry ride brought us to the island, where a van met us to take us to the Annual Convention at Camp Karis in Ubay, Bohol. The rented campus was filled with vibrant palm and coconut trees, flowering plants, and the joyful sounds of worship coming from the chapel.
We arrived to a warm welcome from church members and leaders gathered outside for the evening worship service. Customary greetings included handshakes, hugs, and blessings for the children by placing the back of our hand on their foreheads—a beloved tradition among the youth.
The service began at 7:00 p.m. with Rev. Dionie Bel-ot as worship leader and Rev. Baby Boy Medina offering the opening prayer. Music was led by singers from the Northern Palawan churches. During the offering, Rev. Federico Abellana’s family and several members presented a special song, while others came forward to give. Rev. Desederio Hemilo then led the offering prayer.
I was introduced as the evening’s speaker and preached from Acts 2, reminding the congregation of the living power of Christ in the Church. I highlighted four themes: (1) The Sound of Heaven (vv. 1–2), (2) The Fire of God (v. 3), (3) The Voice of the Spirit (v. 4), and (4) The Power to Preach (vv. 14–21). Following the message, we held an ordination service for five young men who had completed their requirements. Rev. Camilo Pestaño and I laid hands on them, praying prayers of dedication. The evening closed with more worship and a final prayer before we returned to our hotel for the night.
Although we did not attend all sessions the following day, our Board of Trustees reconvened briefly to approve a new program—“Helping Hands”—designed to provide medical support. Under this initiative, pastors contribute 500 PHP to join. In the event of hospitalization or death of the member or immediate family, the program provides 10,000 PHP for hospital or funeral expenses. This marks a significant step toward self-sufficiency and mutual support among the churches.
The day concluded with another worship service, led by Rev. Arnel Pañares. The Cebu district led congregational singing in English and Tagalog, blending traditional hymns with contemporary praise. Rev. Dario Basingil officiated Holy Communion and gave the closing prayer. After the service, many gathered to take photos with us—missionaries, pastors, youth, and families alike—marking a joyful end to our visit.
The convention continued another day, but we departed early to catch the ferry back to Cebu City and flew again to Puerto Princesa for the second part of our meeting at the school.
After resting from the grueling travel schedule, we enjoyed a slower-paced morning before arriving for our 1:00 p.m. meeting. The agenda focused on the unification of the Free Will Baptist Church in the Philippines. Historically, due to the nature of the mission field, the work was divided into two separate incorporated entities. Both shared the same doctrine but operated somewhat independently. Now, after years of faithful ministry, the two will unify into a single nationalized body. This milestone reflects the maturity and strength of the Philippine churches. Beginning in April 2026, during the Annual Convention in Palawan, all church properties will be consolidated under one central convention—an answer to prayer and a long-standing goal of OFWBI.
The next day, we journeyed south to visit eight churches across southern Palawan. These were short visits—some to meet pastors, others to fellowship briefly with members over a mango shake. That evening, we stayed in a hotel in Brooke’s Point.
On Sunday morning, we worshipped at First Free Will Baptist Church – Brooke’s Point. The service was full of joy and energy, with special music from all age groups and a cultural tambourine praise dance by the older youth. I preached an encouraging message on sharing the gospel, and both Rev. Singleton and Rev. Jones offered words of greeting. The congregation, full of children and young families, radiated warmth and hospitality. After worship, we took photos with the members and were treated to a delicious meal. It felt like a Homecoming—though, as we learned, they worship and eat together like this every week.
That afternoon, we began our three-hour drive back to Puerto Princesa, where we spent our final night before embarking on the long journey home. Our return flights took us from Puerto Princesa to Manila, Tokyo, Boston, and finally, Raleigh-Durham.
We arrived home exhausted—but deeply blessed and filled with gratitude for the vibrant, faithful churches in the Philippines and for all that God is doing through our shared ministry.
