Although 70% of the Philippines’s population struggles with considerable poverty, over 20 million Filipino young people are seeking a brighter future for themselves and their families. We live in the city of Iloilo, an education hub with 135,000 students attending eight universities and six colleges.
In 2020, I (Elna) established a core group of eight young women attending university. Since then, this one small group has morphed into many more as each woman has become a leader in her own right. I continue to disciple and lead small groups of women on university campuses. I also seek to provide for students’ physical needs since many struggle to afford university.
I (Rod) am the director of Calvary Bible Institute (CBI), a 10-month modular leadership training school for mainly young professionals studying and/or working full-time. Having trained 100 students since 2012, we average 15-20 students per cohort. Local pastors teach courses that range from learning how to manage one’s finances to understanding the basic doctrines of the faith to becoming a servant leader.
Both of us desire to see God work mightily in young Filipino leaders so that they can help change the very fabric of Philippine society—all for His glory!
I (Rod) attended Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas, graduating in 2000 with my Associate Degree in Theology. In 2009, I felt called to the Philippines, interning with a children’s ministry. During that time, I saw a considerable need to train young adults to become godly leaders. I (Elna) was born in the Philippines, accepting Christ in 2000 while at college. Sensing God’s call to full-time ministry, in 2014, I became an administrative staff at Victory Church in Iloilo, leading discipleship and small group ministries. I also led short-term mission trips across Southeast Asia. We then met at Victory Church, marrying in 2019.
