Youth With A Mission Butuan D.T.S.

 

 

HISTORY OF YWAM BUTUAN, PHILIPPINES

 

It's truly amazing how God moves in our lives - maybe He uses an unexpected event, or the casual comments of a friend or something we have read.  God uses many different ways to give us a passion and a call to fulfill His purposes.

 

For Nelson Malaque, it was a simple stop-over at the bus terminal in Butuan (on a trip from Surigao to Davao in May 2007) that God used to start growing a passion and a vision in his heart for a YWAM base in Butuan.  After another visit in April 2009, God further impressed upon him that Butuan indeed was the city that God was calling him and his family to. 

 

Then, in response to God's call, in June 2010, Nelson Malaque, his wife and their three sons moved from YWAM Davao to establish a YWAM presence in Butuan City (with YWAM Surigao being its accountable YWAM Base).  This partnership was soon to develop into a strong, but unofficial YWAM regional group known as YWAM CARAGA REGION.

 

For the first few months, the ministry focus was on prayer for Butuan City, and seeking God's direction.  It was encouraging to see God's hand at work immediately following this brief period, in bringing Nelson in contact with a wide range of Pastors and Church leaders through his involvement with the Butuan Evangelical Ministerial Association (BEMA).

 

At the end of 2010, a DTS Outreach Team visited Butuan, and as a result, a youth discipleship group was birthed in January 2011.  An average of ten youth, from a range of churches, met weekly at the home of the Malaque family.  The youth were given a mission exposure by attending a YWAM Camp in Surigao, organized by Soriano Catulay and Project Destiny Kids Inc.

 

In April 2011, a DTS Outreach Team from YWAM Balut, Manila visited Butuan for a two week period and was involved in various ministries, jointly organized by Nelson and Project Destiny Kids Inc.  This team was exposed to street kids feeding and related ministries, as well as conducting open-air evangelism and participating in various Church activities.  As a consequence of this visit, one of the DTS students, Paul Smith responded to God's call and joined as Staff in November 2011.

 

Butuan was further blessed by a visit in 2012 from a DTS Outreach Team from General Santos. 

 

A decision was made in 2012 to formally establish a YWAM Butuan Base, and to transfer the financial oversight and responsibility for the ministry in Butuan from YWAM Surigao. 

 

In August 2012, Eddie and Liezel Amarille, joined as new staff of YWAM Butuan.  God had clearly impressed upon both of them to join the growing YWAM Butuan family.  Their ministry focus was on children, student sponsorship and community development, later to add the ministry of youth discipleship. 

 

In 2013, YWAM Butuan was kept busy with DTS Outreach Teams visiting from Germany (in January) and Hawaii (in March), and a Church team from Australia (in November). God provided a suitable rental building in January, 2013 that would serve as a YWAM Base and accommodation for visiting teams.  Amazingly, this building was very conveniently located in Paula Village, where all YWAM Butuan staff were also living.  

 

Also in January 2013, YWAM Butuan was pleased to accept the addition of a new YWAM volunteer, Lelyn Manubag, who became Staff in 2014. 

 

Although YWAM Butuan's one year involvement with, and ministry focus to, the community at Mahay (commenced in March 2013), we were blessed to witness tremendous spiritual growth in the lives of many children, youth and adults.  Also, YWAM Butuan was able to provide financial assistance to a number of families through their newly formed Student Sponsorship program (CARE Ministry).

 

Another DTS Team from Germany arrived in January 2014 for a two week ministry in Butuan. Their time here was richly blessed by God in helping to cement valuable relationships with Churches and the community. 

 

At the end of April 2014, a couple from USA, Marlin and Rose Jones joined the YWAM Butuan family, which had now grown, by God's amazing grace and provision, to eight full time staff, and the soon to be added short-term volunteer, Girlyn Cabaron.

 

In May 2014, YWAM Butuan hosted a team from Kings Kids Philippines with more than 50 young people and leaders actively involved in open-air evangelism, various dance performances and other ministries.  This team made an exciting impact on the Butuan community and many Churches.

 

With the expectation of holding a YWAM Butuan DTS in 2015, and the very apparent need for additional staff accommodation, a second building was found in Roman Street, Estacio Village, which became officially the new YWAM Base, with the building in Paula Village being used primarily for youth ministry. 

 

In July 2014, YWAM Butuan believed it was God's calling to focus on Barangay Kinamlutan for a weekly children's program, including feeding, and evangelism.  God willing, within the next year, a parents' Bible study and student sponsorship program will be established.  Once again God provided in amazing ways in giving YWAM Butuan the free use of suitable land for the erection of a building for this ministry to take place. 

 

Cresente Barot joined YWAM Butuan in September 2014, having completed his DTS at General Santos earlier in the year.  We have been truly blessed by God in so many ways. 

 

All the Glory and Praise to our Great God!!!!!