Gymbahan started mobilizing leaders specially in the northern region of Luzon in August 2024. 20 leaders initially received the first level sports leadership training. Philippine Challenge and NCCC (church denomination in the Philippines) are owners of this project. Alex Tan from Taiwan OC field was the initial facilitator and designed the curriculum. However, after receiving the training not much progress were taken until March 2025 that they came for the Second level training.
We found out there were action and outreaches being done but run out of resources and insufficient knowledge of knowhow ie; bible devotion lessons, how to process and design programs. Meanwhile during their second level training a new recruit of 60 leaders from other regions came also. We use some of the first batch of trained leaders to lead some of the sessions. And they did very well. We also learned from the first batch of leaders that they lack equipment and then birth the SA sports kit bag. Which contains number of basketball balls, nets, whistles, cones and a full set of pickleball equipment. The toolkit will be given to leaders who are intentionally going to plant a church. Due to lack of funds we can only created 7 bags and will continue raising funds to supply others.
After a few months had passed we were worried that no updates were coming in as we required each leader need to report on their progress. We (Tata, Benz Cantoria and Alex) decided to visit one of the site. To our surprise they did what is expected of them. One particular trainee (Pastor) mobilize his church to raise leaders to reach 8 barangays (small unit of Government in the Philippines) with different sports as the initial connection. Each week these young leaders were reaching 80 youth participating in the sports activities. Since then we thought this project is a failure yet after that visit brought new life and we started going different regions to meet face to face. I believe in the Philippines culture reporting and updating isn't a norm to do as most westerners expected. There is actual ministry going on with 80 leaders carrying out what they were taught to do.
From Alex Tan - Taiwan