Over the weekend, members from Cebu and Toledo Street Levels along with a few of the American team members came together for a weekend retreat in the mountains.
The intent of this retreat was to provide an opportunity for the members at both locations to come together for fellowship, but also have an opportunity for additional training. Pastor Tim opened the weekend up with a message on making your life count and not living an unfinished life.
Over the weekend, the group discussed topics on commitment to church, how to read the Bible, prayer, and service. We were able to share real life examples with each other and many students came away from the retreat with conviction and a desire for a fuller life with Christ.
In between sessions we shared meals together, played games, and enjoyed the sunshine and cool mountain air.
The team ended the weekend together at Believers Church Cebu. God is good, and we are excited to see what He has in store next.
While on Bohol, a couple members of the US team joined with some members of Street Level Cebu Island to host a youth summit. This gathering is designed for young people stepping up as leaders within their churches. The topic of the summit was “Follow Me.” We discussed what it means to be a sold out disciple of Christ. Some students have been a part of youth summits in the past, and some were new. There were great discussions and we hope the students will return to their churches fired up and ready to disciple and lead their peers.
After a short stay in the city where we attended Believers Church Cebu, we traveled to Bantayan. While on the island we are hosting an MTI class for pastors and church leaders, and updated some tech for the TV station we have here.
This week we welcomed a team visiting from Believers City Church in Wisconsin. Shortly after their arrival, we traveled to Bohol with the team and six Street Level members from Cebu.
We began our time in Bohol with a Ministry Training Institute (MTI). These trainings are intended to equip local pastors and ministerial leaders. The subject of this particular MTI is that being a genuine disciple is not about what you THINK but what you DO. We were happy to see many familiar faces at this training.
While the MTI was happening, the Street Level members split into groups and handed out fliers near the universities, inviting students to an evening pop-up Bible study. We have done several of these studies over the last two years while we are in the city and are starting to see a couple of the same students returning each time. This one was well attended, and we had a really good night of fellowship and talking through John 9.
Please pray for us as we continue to minister and travel over the next few weeks. We have a lot planned and hope that God will bless our efforts and those we meet.
As we near the end of 2025, we wanted to take a moment to look back on all that God has done in and through Shofar Mission over the past year. There is much to be thankful for!
Two PASTORAL TRAINING INSTITUTE classes were held. The first was on Bohol where Pastor Jesse met with a group of pastors from all over the island for a week of classes. The second week of classes took place at our office in Cebu City where Pastor Tim and Jesse spent a week with pastors from Bantayan Island, Bohol Island, and Cebu discussing church ministry and administration. These PTI classes are seminary level training and offer a great opportunity for pastors looking to further their training, to come together and discuss practical ministry for a week. We are looking forward to the next one in March, 2026!
Throughout 2025, we held several MINISTRY TRAINING INSTITUTE classes – in Toledo City Cebu, Santa Fe Bantayan, and Tagbilaran City Bohol. We were blessed to have multiple pastors, elders and ministerial staff from Believers City Church and Believers Church Duluth teaching these classes for pastors and church leaders. It has been great getting to know those who come to the classes better each time, as well as meeting new faces in all the locations.
The SHOFAR YOUTH NETWORK has continued focusing on training up the next generation by hosting a Youth Leader Summit in three different locations throughout the year. Bringing youth leaders from several different churches in each location for a day of Bible teaching, worship and small group discussion is always a joy for us, and we hope has served to strengthen their own faith as well as their youth ministries and churches.
Our university ministry, STREET LEVEL MINISTRIES, has seen a very active year with outreaches to universities, hosting events, going on a mission trip and a couple of summits, in addition to our weekly Bible studies in Cebu and Toledo. Several students have stepped up in their commitment to SLM, becoming members this year. We are also excited to have four new Street Level Staff – these students will be taking on the responsibility of overseeing much of our outreach efforts, have some teaching opportunities, and additional training. Going into 2026, we are looking forward to seeing what God will do! Check out the videos to see our member’s favorite memories of 2025…
BELIEVERS CHURCH CEBU saw growth in maturity and numbers too – tied closely with the growth of Street Level. This brought about expanding into another space, giving a more traditional sanctuary feel to our Sundays. We have been having a class before church every Sunday for several months now, but starting January 2026, that class will become a more official “Believers Class” focusing on Biblical doctrines.
There is much more that could be mentioned here – many ups and downs that goes along with any real ministry, but suffice it to say that 2025 has been one for the books! Many memories made and relationships built. To those of you who are committed to this ministry, prayerfully or financially, we want to say thank you.
“Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Phil. 3:13-14
