Visit our online magazine, featuring more than 20 stories by people whom God has kindly and graciously impacted through Kapatid Ministry.
We praise God for 20 years of His grace as we celebrated our 20th Anniversary last October 16, 2023 at International Soo Jung Missions Centre in Sucat, Paranaque. We were graced by 60 guests, 21 of whom are our local partner pastors. In this event, we aimed at fostering a time of fellowship and a time of exhortation to our partner pastors and their wives through the Word of God.
During the event, our partner pastors were able to reminisce the friendship, fellowship, and faith-driven actions of our late founder, Bro. Titus Laxa.
Our guest speaker was Rev. Jessie Arce, who was instrumental in encouraging our late founder Bro. Titus and his wife Sis. Beth to consider ministering to Overseas Filipino Workers' families way back in 2003. He preached on Philippians 1:6, emphasizing God's faithfulness in calling each of us for salvation and for the ministry. We were rebuked, encouraged, and strengthened with the reality that our calling is a privilege from God. After the devotion, the participants had an opportunity to share with each other as to what God taught them in the devotion, and also prayed for one another.
In the afternoon, Pastor Jessie Arce gave a talk on the struggles and strivings of fulfilling the ministry God has assigned, basing his seminar on 2 Timothy 4:5. The talk encouraged the pastors to consider how their ministries affect their loved ones, and on why it is needed for pastors to make preparations for their loved ones should they be called home to be with the Lord.
We also had the opportunity to invite Pastor Noi Barrameda from AMG Skilled Hands Technological College (ASHTEC), our long time partner for our out of school youth program. He was able to share with the pastors on how ASHTEC could be a viable place for their young people to acquire skills and develop their characters to have a better future.
The anniversary also gave us an opportunity to share with the partners the various impacts of their partnerships through the programs of Kapatid Ministry. Sis. Priya, a sponsored child, shared her testimony, on how God has enabled her to have a good education from kinder to college, partly through the Child Sponsorship Program. Sis. Cath, a former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFWs) in Genting Highlands, Malaysia, shared on how the ministry in Genting brought her closer to the Lord and revived her passion to serve God, even as she is back in the Philippines. Sis. Chicky, our former staff, also gave her testimony, reminiscing on how her time with Kapatid Ministry impacted her life, and has given her motivation to help the upcoming generation in their studies through the Child Sponsorship Program.
Lastly, in the event, we sought to appreciate the partner pastors, both in the past and present, through the giving of a token of appreciation, consisting of a financial gift and a small pack of rice for each pastor. We are grateful to God for all those who have given to make this possible: an opportunity to bless our partner pastors who have laboured out of love and obedience to our King Jesus, who has called us all to bring the life-saving Gospel to all who need to hear it.
Little did we know that the faithful "Yes" of Bro. Titus and Sis. Beth back in 2003 to God's call to reach out to families of the OFWs will lead to 20 years of the existence of Kapatid Ministry. Since 2003, God has expanded the ministry to include programs for underprivileged youth, children, and senior citizens. We believe that God is not done doing His work through our ministry and our partnership with you all. We pray that we will continue to grow in our faithfulness in passion, in our perseverance, and in our participation in the work that God has called us to, until His Son, our King Jesus returns.
To all our partner pastors, partner churches, supporters, prayer warriors, and friends of the ministry: thank you for being part of this celebration, and for being part of our 20-year journey. Thank you for your support, and for your kind greetings and prayers!
Here's to more years of partnership in the ministry ahead of us!