Category: Philippines

  • 2025 Recap

    2025 Recap

    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

  • Believers Church Cebu & Bohol Ministry

    This week began with a temporary time change for our Sunday church service, beginning in the morning instead of evening in order to head to Bohol for some other ministry opportunities. The sermon on John 10 reminded us that Jesus is our Good Shepherd and He’s given us all new life. After church we shared lunch together and it was a great time of fellowship between the Cebu and those visiting from Believers City Church in Wisconsin.

    Afterwards, we traveled to Bohol for another Ministry Training Institute (MTI) class. Pastors and church leaders from several different churches gathered for two days of class. This particular class we cover the ways, the power and importance of prayer and the importance of Abiding In Christ through all the ups and downs of life.

    While in Bohol, we also had the opportunity to invite university students to a pop-up Bible Study. After just a short time between rainstorms handing out flyers, God blessed us with an opportunity to have a Bible study with 15 college students! We read and discussed a passage in Luke 13, and spent time afterwards getting to know each other. We look forward to seeing any opportunities God might give us in the future here, too.

  • Street Level Ministries Summit

    This weekend was Street Level’s Summit at the Street Level office in Cebu City.

    On Friday night, the members from Cebu City and Toledo City joined together for a dinner and members meeting. We announced new staff positions, ministry teams, and some plans for how service positions and outreaches will start to be organized heading into 2026. The four new staff members are really stepping up and will be organizing and leading our outreach efforts.

    Street Level Ministries Cebu staff

    With it being the week of the Thanksgiving holiday, the team from America also prepared a traditional Thanksgiving meal, including mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and more! 

    Street Level Cebu & Toledo members – several new members have been added within the last couple months.

    On Saturday, the Summit had four sessions covering the topic of “Dangerous Expectations: Four Things We Want from God that Don’t Exist”. The day included worship,  teaching sessions, and small group discussions. There were 25 college students from various universities on Cebu Island. 

    Overall, it was an impactful weekend for Street Level and an enjoyable time getting to know each other from three different SLM locations better.

  • Change of Plans

    Earlier this week we were supposed to holding our second MTI class on Bantayan Island, unfortunately due to weather we were unable to travel on the ferry to host the class. We quickly pivoted to plan to use our time in Cebu City for outreaches and uncanceled Street Level for Wednesday night. To promote Street Level and Church, two groups with some of the Street Level members went out for free coffee giveaways at a few universities and to go pass out fliers. We invited 100s of people that we came across and made a few connections. 

    Many of the Street Level members and others came together for Street Level and we enjoyed fellowship and an intimate Bible study with the crew that showed up.

    On Thursday, we were granted permission to come on campus at Southwestern University and so a few team members spent most of the day with 3 of the Street Level members handing out the new Word on the Street magazine issue and over 1,500 fliers. It was exciting to see the engagement and to see how quickly God made a way when we had other plans. 

    Pray as we head into the Street Level summit this weekend, there are many new people signed up for summit and we are looking forward to what God will do.