Balikatan 2009 is over! Many of us are still savoring God’s abundant blessings during the 3 day conference at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We came to Balikatan unaware of what God will reveal to us at the conference. For the past 26 years, we have been meeting annually to rekindle our commitment to support the ministry of IVCF Philippines, to support IV alumni in missions and to fellowship with one another. At the conference, God has spoken to us in many ways: through music, song and dance, laughter, inspiring messages from our speakers and testimonies of our IV alumni in missions. God has revealed His love to us as we shared our pains and joys as Filipino immigrants in the US. The stories that we shared touched our hearts. We cried and prayed for one another. We also sensed the presence of God and felt that he is making a new thing in our midst. We have asked some of you to share your experiences this past Balikatan. May we discern, as we read what our brothers and sisters have shared, what God is saying to us now as revisit Balikatan’s mission and vision.

Paul Ignacio – HIS 1040 Founder and CEO, Virginia Beach, Virginia

It is so good to reconnect with all those precious saints from Campus Impact days. What a blessing to see them. I even met people who’ve prayed for me during my MV Logos years while they were at their IVCF chapter.

I meant what I said about my IVCF heritage. I am grateful to God for it. It has prepared me for my early ministry of the Word, honing my leadership skills, my passion for evangelism and making disciples. Then the Lord built on that with my time on M.V. Logos, with OM ship and OM India. IVCF is part of my spiritual DNA. I am so blessed and really grateful to God for it. At times I feel like I have not given back to IVCF Phil.

I believe coming to Balikatan is a divine appointment for me. Meeting Christy Jutare is the reason why. I really hope people who have resources have taken the opportunity to bless her and invest in her. I think she is one of the most strategic persons in that gathering, who God is using in a very needy region of the world. I almost missed her session because I tried sneaking back into my hotel room to get some rest and save my energy for my coming session. God got me out of my room to hear her share about her work. I had to pick up my jaw from the floor when I heard her share and completely understood her unspoken words.

I believe many don’t understand how isolated she is in so many ways. How she has to operate under the radar of the KGB and Islamic militants.
What a clout of influence! I have spent time and prayed with her. In my next meeting with my Board, I will present her work for strategic worth in that region. I have been in prayer for someone who is working in the Balkans and among the 5 stan countries. I believe I found the person. Let me just say, as the Lord allows and makes provision, we’ll come alongside her thru MEANS. (To learn more about Paul mission organization, visit their website at : www.his1040.org)