Philippine Campus Ministry
Jesus On Campus / Encounter Christian Campus Ministry Updated September 2020 The largest university north of Metro Manila is found in Baguio City, The St. Louis University. And about half a dozen more colleges (big and small) are also in Baguio City. About 1/3 of Baguio City’s population are students. Therefore the need to minister to these students is not just a felt need, but also an open field for the Gospel. Around March 1989, when missionaries Dennis & Loritta McKinney; Mike & Liz Carman; together with fresh graduates from Aparri Bible Seminary Arnold Pasion & Solomon Perillo moved to Baguio City and started a mission work in and around Baguio City. The team (Philippine Christian Mission) planted churches and began church leadership trainings in the Cordillera area. Since then, more missionaries and Filipino workers came and joined the team. Among them are Scott McKinney (son of Dennis) and Steve Hong among many others. The Philippine Campus Ministry was started in 1992 as an answer to the call. The pioneering missionaries were Steve Hong and Scott McKinney, who were fresh graduates of Pacific Christian College in California USA, together with Jun Perez who is now residing in the US. Due to strict regulations of most universities about religious groups in their campuses, bible studies and small groups were conducted in boarding houses all over Baguio City & La Trinidad. There were several meetings held in Steve and Scott’s apartment, which was located in T. Alonzo St. During those times, the ministry was focused on evangelism through many Home Bible Studies. In 1995, Pete and Paulette Cocco from Michigan came to take over the leadership of the Campus Ministry. Pete and Paulette Cocco has been involved in Campus Ministry back in the US. Through their leadership, training leaders was given an emphasis. As a result, Joshua Sarmiento and Jessie Batuna rose to be the main Filipino leaders of the Campus Ministry; assisted by Melody Awitan for the women. Before the Coccos left in 1996, the Philippine Campus Ministry was handed solely to Filipino nationals through the Philippine Campus Ministry Board. Appointed head of the Board was Arnold Pasion and the members were Elmer Potectan and Mrs. Sonia Tan. The ministers then were Jessie Batuna assisted by Joshua Sarmiento and other student leaders. Joshua Sarmiento didn’t stay very long because he graduated in that same year and went on to look for a job in Manila. Jessie Batuna stayed as the minister for one and a half year, and then he resigned in August of 1997. The same year, Mrs. Tan also asked to be out from the Board because of personal and business problems. Paul Medina, Harold Santiago, and Chris Calumnag, students of Philippine College of Ministry, continued the work through the supervision of the Board. In May of 1999, Arnold Pasion assumed the position of Philippine Campus Ministry Minister together with Harold Santiago, Chris Calumnag, Abraham Palola, and Charyll Laud as student leaders. At the same year, the name was changed from Philippine Campus Ministry to Jesus On Campus or JOC. Since then the campus ministry became more visible to students from different universities. This is due to dedicated student leaders of the ministry. Ronald Vegiga was added to the core group of the ministry and served as student-intern in the ministry. After his graduation from Philippine College of Ministry, he joined Arnold Pasion as one of the paid staff until he was called as a missionary in Indonesia. The ministry came to another development when Arnold Pasion was challenged by the Christian Campus Ministry of Illinois State University to take the challenge of leading the ministry full time. In the summer of 2006, Arnold Pasion went to the US to collaborate this plan and in June of 2006, the name of the ministry was changed once more from Jesus On Campus to Encounter Christian Campus Ministry. All of these were regarded as success of the ministry for the Lord and this is due to the help and dedication of Student Leaders from different universities and Colleges. In the first semester of 2006, a group of college students from Illinois State University1 came to the Philippines and stayed for two months. They helped established the ministry in Dagupan City, particularly in University of Luzon. Ronald Vegiga, then became the main campus minister of Encounter Christian Campus Ministry—Dagupan City. The ministry in the University of Luzon became a thriving ministry. University of Luzon officially recognizes Encounter as a legitimate ministry in and out of the University. During the school year of 2007-2008, a new vision was conceived—a vision to start another campus ministry in Benguet State University. Arnold started a small group Bible study in Benguet State University. From 2 students meeting every week, it became a large group of an average of 15 students every meeting. This paved for the establishment of the ministry in this University. And so, during the first semester of 2008, a group of college students from the US (Illinois State University) under Encounter came and lived in one of the housings of BSU for two months. They led Bible studies, Small Groups, events and classes in the classrooms. Thus the ministry in BSU became a reality and Cris Salvador became the first Campus Minister in this new campus ministry. In the summer of 2008, Martie Casimina also joined the team of Encounter Staff. Martie started with a part-compensation coming from different individual sources until Baguio Sunday Encounter started in June of 2009 where in the Sunday Church had its own finances. From a personal perspective, I, Arnold, greatly overjoyed and overwhelmed when my wife, Gigi (Melinda) decided to join me in this ministry first, as a voluntary staff in 2011 and as a paid staff in 2013. This has been my dream and desire and prayer for many years and God made it happened. She has been involved in many different ways: leading Small Groups and reaching out to the women in the ministry. After Crisanto Salvador left for Sweden, Ace Maghunong took over (practically took over) the ministry in Benguet State University from May 2012 to December 2013. Martie was also ordained into ministry in 2013. In August of 2014, Ptr. Harvey Bacuyag joined the staff and is currently leading the ministry in Benguet State University. In 2014 the staff, student leaders, and Young Professionals of the Baguio Encounter came together, together with the assistance of Ptr. Conrad Garcia (Minister of MidCity Church and President of Philippine College of Ministry) and drew the Road Map of the ministry that will serve as a guide for years to come. As all ministries come to turning points so as Encounter in the Philippines. Ptr. Ronald Vegiga move to another ministry and was replaced by a fellow homegrown leader of Encounter in the person of Grant Victor Amasi as the Campus Minister of Encounter Dagupan City. Grant began his ministry in Dagupan in November of 2016. The following year, in March of 2017, another campus ministry was started in the Municipality of Los Baños, Laguna where University of the Philippines has its biggest (land area) campus. Encounter Elbi, as it is called, was started by a product of Encounter in the late 90s and early 2000s—Harold Santiago. Harold was a student leader then; but after graduating from Bible College went on to ministry and later on to a secular job for over 12 years. God’s call for ministry came knocking on him (again) and this time came back to ministry as the Campus Minister of Encounter Elbi. School Year 2017-2018 marks the 25th year of the ministry and 8th year of our Sunday Encounter. As we look back, we only see God’s hand at work through thick & thin. The ministry thrived because there is so much to be done in this area of God’s ministry. It is not only where future leaders are reached, developed, sent and multiplied; but it is where non-conventional spiritual leaders are developed, tested, grow and continue to reach for the ACADEMIC WORLD for Christ. In June of 2017, Jairpaul and Diossa Abarca joined the team of Encounter. Ptr. Paul has been a positive addition to our staff and in charge of the Baguio Praise ministry; leads several Life-Groups; and other relevant ministries in and out Encounter Baguio. School Year 2018-2019 also marks some developments in the ministry. Pete Cocco, the campus minister of Encounter USA and whom God used to lead the global ministry to what it is today, left Encounter and started another ministry. This led to several turning points in the ministry. One is the raising of financial support, which is now handed to Arnold Pasion. This indicates that Encounter USA has become one of the supporters of Encounter Philippines among few others instead of sole support raiser for the Philippines. Though the plan to start a Campus Ministry in Manila did not materialized, Ptr. Martie Casimina has taken the lead to organize our Encounter Alumni in Metro Manila. Up to date, Encounter Metro is meeting regularly for edification and mission to our alumni. A transition also made in October 2019 when Jairpaul & Diosa Abarca moved down to Dagupan and Grant moved to Baguio for realigning of responsibilities and positions. 2020 may have been slowed down by the Pandemic brought about by Covid-19 where face-to-face classes were suspended indefinitely; but the ministry goes on and thrives more in many ways such as online worship, Small Groups, Virtual Encounter and other online ways of doing ministry. We have come to appreciate and maximized the use of Virtual Ministry and Social Media Ministry. Truly, Encounter Christian Campus Ministry is at the pivotal place in God’s Kingdom and work where we continually Reach, Develop, Send and Multiply disciples for the glory of God. * 2006 USA-ISU Team: Micah Baird, Andræs Torres, Karen Williams, Britany Owens, Breanna Morton Whittum, Ali Stone, Heather Lawrence, Emily Rawden * 2008 USA Team: Stephanie Thomas Addiks, Bradie Piepenbrink, Kim James, William Eichberg, Missy Hill, Danille Ash, Katie |