THE PHILIPPINES DIRECTOR'S TESTIMONIES

Henry Ventura, Luzon Director, is married to Cora. They have two children: James Ezekiel (22) and Melvyn (18). They reside in Baliwag, Bulacan, about one hour north of Manila. Henry has experience in radio and TV as an electronics technician and radio communications operator. He owns and operates a Tagalog language school for expatriate missionaries and has written language learning courses. He has also served in various pastoral and ministry positions in Baptist and independent churches. He is a graduate of BTCP (2004).

Henry’s Personal Testimony:

     I was born on Jan 11, 1957 in a religious and book loving family. My parents were both teachers at the neighboring elementary school. I was the second son and third child in a brood of 9 children. We were all taught to love books and to value education. My father was the school librarian and I used to steal the keys to the library at every chance I could get. I found great joy in discovering precious jewels of knowledge thru reading books. Later on, this proved to be a part of God's plan for my life. In fact I can see now that every event in my life was part of God's preparation for me for my present ministry.
     After high school I went to the University of the Philippines to study Engineering but had to drop out because my parents did not have enough money to send all 9 of us school. But that was ok. The Lord showed me that Engineering was not what I would always want to do with my life. In my short stay in college the Lord let me taste life in a boarding house away from my family. This experience boosted my self-confidence tremendously.
     In my thirst for knowledge I worked part-time as an electronics technician to be able to go a technical school in Manila. God was gradually teaching me to support myself and to live independently, something that Asians learn later in life because of our close-knit family relationships.
     I became a Christian in 1980. My prayer at the very first Christian prayer group that I ever attended was that God would give me a stable job. Sometime after I came home, the director of the school where I studied electronics came to our house and offered me a job as a teacher. I had not seen him for a long time but he was God's answer to my prayer! It was at this job that I discovered my gift and passion for teaching. I also learned about cults, the occult and worldly pleasures at this time because of the people that I associated with in my work. I praise God for preserving me thru these times of experimentation and discovery.
     Later in 1981, the school closed down and I moved to Angeles City to work at the Bank of the Philippine Islands as a radio operator. God was giving me exposure to office procedures, bundy clocks and managers. He was also exposing me to the dialect and culture of another province. This would prove invaluable in my later dealings with people from various backgrounds.
     Cora and I got married in 1983 and a year later we decided to settle down in Baliwag. The Lord gave me a job at a language school for foreign missionaries. He also gradually introduced me to ministry. My mentor pushed and pulled me into church leadership, something that I resisted at first but which became enjoyable as time went by.
     When my wife and I heard that our church had abandoned the church planting effort in another province, we decided to visit the place to see what needed to be done. We saw that the work could still be saved. We put together a team and went back to start a church there. Our experience there would help us to understand the work of pastors whom we are training today.
     In the year 2000 my wife, my son Ezy, my brother-in-law and I started going to a BTCP class in San Fernando, Pampanga. I enjoyed BTCP so much that I gradually became involved in this ministry until I decided to pass the church planting work to somebody else and work for the ministry of BTCP for the rest of my life.
     As I look back at my life, I realize that yes; the Lord has been preparing me specifically for this ministry. And I could not help but ask Him, "Lord, is all this just a part of Your preparation for me for something even better? Here I am Lord. Use me." Praise the Lord!

Max Caindoy, Visayas Director, is married to Teresa and they reside in Loon, Bohol (about 400 miles south of Manila). Max and Teresa have four children.

Max’s Personal Testimony:

     During my high school years, I lived an empty life, with no direction and meaning in life. I was involved in drinking and the party life. However, a friend invited me to an evangelistic crusade. Afterwards, I began reading the Bible and attending a Bible study led by a local pastor. It was during that time that I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. Afterwards, my life changed and started going in the right direction. My relationship with God motivated me during difficult times. Later, I went to Bible school where I was prepared for the ministry. I now have a close relationship with Christ and desire to share the Gospel with the world. This has become a wonderful adventure.

Jun Tabada, Mindanao Director is a widower and resides in Iligan City, Mindanao (about 500 miles south of Manila). He has four children: Timothy (16), Phoebe (14), Daniel (12) and Joshua (10). Jun is a graduate of Doane Seminary in Iloilo City (BRE, 1991) and Cornerstone University (MRE, 2001). Jun has had sixteen years of pastoral ministry, has served as an elder of Grace Church for five years, and has served as an instructor at the Life Resource Foundation in Iligan City, Mindanao.

Jun’s Personal Testimony:

     From a devout Roman Catholic family, I was converted to Christ at the age of 18 while attending a campus Bible study in 1980. After finishing my Electronics Technology course, I went to work in a telephone company for 8 years. It was while attending a missions conference in 1985 that I gave my life to full time ministry and went to Seminary. While in Seminary, I met my wife and later we worked together in a training school, in pastoral ministry and now I serve as the Mindanao Coordinator. In May 2007, my wife of 18 years passed away after suffering with cancer for 4 years.