CBN Asian Center for Missions Celebrates 30 Years
30 Years of Faith and Fruit: Asian Missionary Training Centre Celebrates Global Impact
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MANILA, Philippines – A vibrant celebration marked three decades of faithful service and exponential growth for the Asian Missionary Training Center (ACM), a leading force in equipping and sending missionaries across the globe. The anniversary event, held in Manila, brought together hundreds of ACM-trained missionaries who have ministered to an remarkable 304 unreached people groups in 77 nations.
From Humble Beginnings to a Global Force
The journey of ACM,as recounted by Gordon Robertson,began with a profound reliance on divine provision. “we did an initial missions trip. One day before our second missions trip to Thailand, I still didn’t have the funds. But all of a sudden here’s this Filipino pastor who paid for everything,” Robertson reminisced. What started as a slow trickle of support quickly transformed into a powerful movement. “It was slow in the first year, and then it just seemed to snowball and god gave us the increase. Fairly quickly, it became the largest missionary training center and sender in the Philippines. And today, we are one of the largest in all of Asia.”
This remarkable growth is a testament to the dedication of the missionaries and the strategic training provided by ACM. The anniversary gathering served as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made and the victories achieved.
Echoes of Sacrifice and a Vision for Multiplication
The emotional weight of the missionaries’ commitment was palpable. Pastor Danny Bayasen, Philippine Director for ACM, shared a poignant moment: “I embraced one worker from India and you can feel the scars on his back, and this guy was persecuted because of his faith yet he continued to serve God.I shook their hands and some of their hands were calloused and it brought back many memories when we were in the field, it’s a sign of hard work. calloused hands is a sign of the sacrifice and the hard work.”
Pastor Bayasen, who along with his wife Ruby, ministered in Burkina Faso, west Africa, for 20 years before leading ACM, spoke of the institution’s future. “Now that ACM is 30 years, we are more mature, more experienced, training we are looking forward to multiply ourselves. We can say ACM is pregnant and is ready to give birth to international training centers. We have a battle cry to mobilize the ACM-trained workers. We will echo what Caleb said in Numbers 13:30, ‘Let us go, let us possess and overcome.'”
Stories of Resilience and Hope
Among the many overcomers present was Rolyn Cadiz, who for 17 years has been instrumental in aiding young refugees fleeing conflict in Myanmar to find safety at the Thailand border. At the Missions Fiesta, she showcased the tangible results of her ministry, displaying soap and tea crafted by the students she supports.
“We have a children’s home and we teach them skills training like computer, baking. This will help them sustain themselves. We teach them English and this is where we share the gospel with them. We like to start a school. Please pray for us,” Cadiz explained, highlighting the practical and spiritual support provided to vulnerable youth.
Gordon Robertson, in response to these heartfelt testimonies, issued a call to action: “Let’s just pray for this troubled region that peace would come and that messengers would be sent from God’s own heart. And the provisions these people need for just the basics of life, food and shelter will be provided for them.”
Gratitude and a Renewed Commission
In a gesture of profound gratitude for their years of selfless service, the missionaries were honored with a day of pampering, including free haircuts, massages, and counseling. Operation Blessing provided essential medical and dental services, a tangible expression of appreciation for the missionaries’ unwavering dedication to ministering in challenging fields.
The 30th-anniversary celebration culminated in a moving parade of nations, a visual depiction of the vast reach and impact of ACM’s ministry. Robertson concluded the event with a powerful reminder of the core motivation behind missions: “You can ask God to fill you with His fantastic gift of His love, and that He will not give you rest, day or night, until either you go or you send.” The celebration served not only as a commemoration of past achievements but also as a renewed commission for the future, inspiring a new generation to carry the torch of faith to the ends of the earth.