(a recent prayer letter received from Paul and Ellen Byars, Philippines)

2025 marks 50 years since we were first accepted as missionaries using the BBFI clearinghouse. It really doesn’t seem that long ago. But looking in the mirror tells a different story. 53 years of marriage, 4 daughters, 13 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, 2 countries, 8 organized churches, 2 current mission works, 6 missionary families on the foreign field and the work continues.

Although I lost the ability to see a few years ago and now I’m blind, my vision for missions is still clear. Ellen and I love serving the Lord and our prayer is to be steadfast until Jesus comes.

Last January we went to a Pastors and Men’s Retreat in the mountains of Baguio. We had 60 men of the church with us and they all returned to their homes with a desire to live for Christ in Integrity. Each first Saturday of the month, the men of BBCTanza meet together for bread and coffee and a challenge from God’s word. Our men are called ‘Gideon’s Men – Men of Ministry’. After our morning fellowship, the men move out to pass out tracts and witness in the community.

In February, it was time again for the Missionary Training Seminar 2025. This is the annual event of the Asian Baptist Clearinghouse. For Batch 2025, there were 20 families undergoing training and preparing for the ABC Board interview to accept these new missionaries to use the services of the Clearinghouse. The training is on a duel track, so Batch 2024 and Batch 2025 are both being trained at the same time. So we had a total of 48 missionary families going to 26 different countries.

It is an honor to work with these anxious families preparing to go to the harvest field. The Philippines is now sending out 294 families from these islands. More are preparing to go. Batch 2026 is now shaping up with 12 families already making application for next year. God is so great and the fields are so white.

March saw another anniversary for BBCTanza. 27 years as the center hub for launching missions in our province of Cavite and other regions in the islands.

We celebrated the anniversary with over 400 in attendance. We had over 20 first time visitors and 12 that desired to accept Christ as their Saviour. Also, there was 30 church members who came forward to dedicate themselves to serve the Lord together in BBCT.

This first quarter had 59 first time visitors, 8 transfers, 7 baptisms, 63 saved in the Jail Ministry, 46 in Youth Evangelism, 137 saved on soul winning and 29 saved in the preaching services.

Without your faithful prayer support, none of this would be humanly possible, but with your help and the Spirit of God, the work goes forward. Ellen and I are so thankful for all you do and give.

May the Lord reward and bless you all.