Pastor JR: ChangeMaker in the Philippines

The following was written by former Missionary to the Philippines Jimmy Walker: 

The mountain areas of the Philippines are very primitive and difficult to get to. During the rainy season it is almost impossible to travel the many small dirt paths leading up the mountain. One of those mountainous areas is Katilingban, where people make their living off the land and whatever they can grow and trade. 

Pastor John Rey Navarte ministers to those mountain people.

Their church is a ninety-minute motorcycle ride from Bacolod (Negros Island), and for the first few months of Pastor JR’s ministry there, he slept on one of the church benches. Once the church was established, he asked me about building a room on the back of the church so he could better take care of the people. A small place to sleep would allow him to spend more nights there and make daily visits with people in their homes. JR requested $200 for materials and constructed a 7 x 7 room out of concrete blocks then put a bamboo cot inside.  

In just a few months’ time, the little church is already reaching another community down the road and JR has started weekly Bible studies with them. Due to the pandemic and “essential travel only” restrictions in the Philippines, however, JR had to limit his visits to the mountains. 

There are many new believers Pastor JR has led to the Lord, and he desires to make more disciples. JR’s visits may not be considered “essential” by the government, but they are to him, and he will find a way to minister the mountain people he serves. His prayer is that the church will continue to grow and reach more and more people in the mountains.

Please pray that Covid restrictions would be lifted, more disciples would be made, and people’s physical and spiritual needs would be met.

Praise the Lord for John Rey Navarte’s willingness to be a ChangeMaker in the Philippines.