Philippines Mission | Youth Ministry & the Holy Spirit | Fr Ken Barker MGL

Fr Ken Barker MGL blesses villagers as they bring their gifts to the altar in a bush chapel on the island of Mindoro.

“The MGL mission in the Philippines has been growing ever since its foundation by Fr Steve Tynan in 1996. Last year, I had the privilege of visiting the mission, together with the Disciples School of Mission, young people from Australia seeking to have an immersion in a missionary experience.

A key element of the mission is the various dimensions of youth ministry – school age, post school, and young adults. This offers a pathway for young people to grow into the love of Jesus and desire to share this good news with others. Each level has regular meetings, evangelising weekends including calling on the power of the Spirit, and outreach activities.

During the week we offered a Summer School experience for the teenagers. They responded each day to talks, sharing and activities, and of course plenty of food.

At the end of that week, we gathered at a local retreat centre for a Fire Weekend for older young people and adults, a time of preaching, sharing and group activities, attended by 150 people. This was a very powerful experience. We simply preached the gospel and called upon the power of the Holy Spirit. The Saturday night experience reminded me of the early days in the Renewal when it was simply a matter of lifting your hands and people falling in the Spirit.

The participants were amazed and overwhelmed by the movement of God in their lives.”