In December 2001, while meditating on Psalm 82:2-5, a passage about defending the cause of the weak and the fatherless, God told DTS Leader Bebing Gurapo to pioneer a YWAM Base in Calbayog, the only city in Samar. However, Bebing insisted on asking Him, "Lord why me? I don’t want to go to Samar. I love Cebu. This is my home. I have been in this place for seven years now and I’m already comfortable here. I don’t want to pioneer in Samar alone. Send someone else. Not me!" And God rebuked her, "You will not be alone! I am with you. " Bebing hesitantly replied, "Okay Lord, this is just between you and me for now. I will not share this to anyone until the right time comes." Yet, Bebing waited for more confirmation and remained wrestling with God for a year.
Slowly, the Lord began to change Bebing’s heart. She became more compassionate for the poor and needy Samareños. Proverbs 21:1 says that "the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases." This was all too true for Bebing.
In May 2002, at the YWAM Regional Staff Conference in Cebu, God revealed to His people that He would raise up forerunners to establish new YWAM bases. With this rhema (a personal revelation from God), Bebing said "yes" to the Lord and committed herself to pioneer a YWAM base in Calbayog City, Samar. Following the conference, Bebing shared her heart at the Cebu Base Leadership meeting. Everybody commended her. Regional Director Douglas Sharpe also shared with Bebing that God impressed upon him she would be sent to a pioneering work somewhere. At the same time, SOIWSW Leader Helen Coromina confirmed her call in a vision where she saw Bebing coming to Samar to establish a YWAM Base. The entire YWAM family supported Bebing’s vision.
In January 2003, an intense battle took place and a major decision had to be made. Bebing faced a crossroads, whether to lead February DTS or to focus on the pioneering work. She considered doing both. Including February DTS students to pioneer a YWAM Base would be great. Unfortunately, only a few students and two staff (Genalyn Cabaron and Marlon Roa) were considered the training and task. Nevertheless, Bebing and her two staff fervently prayed for more students and staff. The following month, the Lord granted their desire.
On February 10, 2003 the DTS finally started with ten students and five staff. God amazingly sent two more staff at the very start of the school, but one student decided to discontinue the training prior to the Midterm Outreach on March 09, 2003. This did not deter the group to go, conquer and possess the Samareños for Jesus Christ.
Indeed, Youth With A Mission Calbayog was a picture of God’s mind long ago. God in His power shall fulfill His ultimate purpose to bring the Samareños into His kingdom. He has already handpicked worshipping warriors, ordered their steps and sent them to conquer the territories of Samar. Where God leads, God provides…the beginning of YWAM Calbayog began with a simple vision and is now continuing to establish connections in the community and love the Samareños… "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us… He is able to finish what He has started" (Ephesians. 3:20, Philippians 1:6).
"God has ordered all things before the pioneering work in Calbayog City, Samar and February DTS started. He showed pictures, impressions, and visions to assure His handpicked servants. He shined their armors and slain dragons…"
Pioneering is an exciting and challenging quest. How glad are we, the pioneers, that God has sent us to cross, conquer and possess the island of Samar. Let us share with you how the Lord brought us to our base.
On May 20, 2003 we arrived from Cebu and for three weeks we temporarily stayed in the Bible school dormitories of the Faith Tabernacle Church. Every day some would go out to find a house while the rest were gone for an outreach. Pastors and church members helped us finding the best house the Lord has promised to us when we were still in Cebu.
God did not yet give us the go signal although we already visited many houses. Weeks after, we were able to rent a two-room apartment in Magsaysay Extension. Sunday afternoon, June 01, we cleaned the apartment and we’re ready to move in on Wednesday. But the following day the owner called up informing us that the apartment would be used for another purpose and that they would return back the money to us. Disheartening was it seem but we kept praying and thanking God for the house He would give us in His time. Meanwhile, the Lord taught us patience and gratefulness.
One Friday afternoon the Calbayog team roamed around Barangay Carmen and found again the same white house they saw last March during the first Midterm Outreach. (At that time it was for rent. But during their second visit in May it was renovated so they could not rent it). Immediately that Friday afternoon Cherril Manguray contacted the owner and the group planned to visit the house the next day. However the group like the house, Bebing was hesitant thinking that they could not afford the rental. In the intervening time, David and Lydia Cha arrived from Cebu and gave money for the house rental. The Lord amazingly provided proving His faithfulness and assurance.
On June 8, 2003, after all the sleepless nights, hard days, long walks under the sun and all the mosquito bites, electricity and water shortages, recurring earthquakes and typhoons and after two months of praying, seeking and waiting for the Lord, He finally gave us a big, beautiful and elegant white house. Sunday afternoon the team transferred to the white house that Bong Posadas saw in a vision during our intercession. When it’s all said and done, we realized that the Lord kept us waiting because He was preparing the house for us during the previous months.
Now, our main YWAM base is here in Calbayog, the only city in Samar. It is not just a base, but a home for all of us and for all the needy people we are ministering to. Indeed the Lord is praiseworthy for He has rewarded our hard work. As of 2010 we have three locations now doing church planting in where there are no Christian churches existing. We have two college students graduated already under our sponsorship program and we have four already graduated in high school.
Presently we have two college students and six high students and four elementary students. They are doing good and thanking God for all the provisions in school.
Our feeding for the children has grown now from one location to four different locations, for mostly malnourished kids.
Please pray for more breakthrough we need to buy a property for YWAM Samar we want to have orphanage and daycare center and staff house. Thanks a lot.
