The Faces of Faithfulness
In April-May 2018, our missions team from Cross Culture Murrieta (now known as Reliance Church) flew to Palawan, Philippines and hosted two Fortify Pastors & Leaders Conferences and outreach concerts with an incredible team of local servants from Nations Church in Puerto Princesa. We spent almost three weeks serving, singing, praying, evangelizing, eating, and traveling with these amazing individuals, each of them gifted in their respective fields and in so many areas of ministry. These guys are incredible. Many of them wore different hats, playing/singing on the worship team, teaching, translating, and leading camps. Long before and after our time in Palawan, they have continued serving to bring God glory.
I am encouraged and inspired by their heart for people. Their love for God is evidenced in their love and care for their immediate church family, their communities, and for the unreached people on their island. They are supernaturally empowered and equipped to carry the Gospel to wherever the Lord leads, whether that be in their workplaces or to a mountaintop tribe in the province. By God's grace, they have overcome and endured a lot of criticism and resistance from certain denominations in regards to their young age and methods of ministry. Through it all, they have recognized that they "do not war against flesh and blood," and their hearts ache for unity in the Body of Christ in Palawan across all Biblical denominations for a more effective impact for the sake of the Gospel (Ephesians 6:12).
I love these guys with all my heart. I want to be like them in every way. I am so grateful for their friendship, leadership, faithfulness, and resilience in following Christ and making Him known.
Kristian Dior C. Solina
Age: 30
Ministry: Lead Pastor of Nations Church
Occupation: Registered Nurse
“My prayer request is for Palawan local churches to be united, and for our church’s vision and mission to take place by God’s means.”
Mark E. Retanal
Ministry: Youth Pastor
Life Verse: Jeremiah 33:3
“[My prayer is] for the Palawan churches and believers to do and understand the importance of sharing the Word of God and to reach out people.”
Sheila Bañez Rallos
Age: 23
Ministry: Camping, Music Ministry Current
Occupation/Major: BS in Civil Engineering graduate
Life Verse: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
“Prayer Request for Palawan: For the body of Christ to be united in one Spirit with one vision, to share God’s love and to take part on the Great Commission.”
Janine Joyce Alvarez
Age: 27
Ministry: Kids, Women’s Ministry
Occupation: Accounting
Life Verse: Gen 1:1-3
“Prayer for Palawan churches: that we will not be divided by our differences (the way we worship, etc.) and [instead] just be united as one body and to reach those people in the secluded areas of Palawan (tribes) to share with them the light/love of God.”
Shenir Bañez Rallos (aka, Shen)
Ministry: Missions/Outreach, Camping ministry
Occupation: Part-time business/financial management
Life Verse: Psalms 37:4
“[My prayer is] for Palawan believers to have the desire to reach those unreached people groups and for the urban churches to be more missional (to support missions by any means).”
Sheemaiah Jeiel Doctor Areja
Age: 26
Ministry: Kids/Women/Music Ministry
Occupation: Academic and Guitar Tutor
Life Verse: John 10:10
“[My prayer is] for Palawan believers to have one vision and mission in reaching the unreached and not to neglect the children [the next generation) to be discipled and strengthened.”
Benjie D. Badenas Jr
Age: 25
Ministry: Associate Pastor/Young Professional Ministry
Occupation: Loan Officer/Marketing
Life Verse: Psalms 23
“[It’s my prayer] to see Palawan have one vision to reach out to the lost not only in the province but in other nearby countries.”
Christine P. Borje (aka, Tin)
Age: 23
Ministry: Women, Children and Music Ministry
Occupation: Academic Tutor
Life Verse: Jeremiah 29:11
“[My prayer is] for Palawan believers to be united in reaching the unreached and to not focus on their differences and for workers to continue standing strong in their faith (most specially in times of hardships).”
