Pastor Reuben Jasper Aloyon’s Testimony:
The pastor, before I became a pastor, had the vision to start a campus ministry, and I was one of his prospects. I was hesitant at that time to commit to this vision since I was a music teacher with tons of students. Then I was assigned to teach at one of the cities in Mindanao for two years, and while there, I experienced campus ministries. I was mentored and grew in my faith. My heart opened with the desire to reach the younger generation as I saw many souls that needed Jesus Christ. I became a volunteer campus worker for one and a half years. I came back to Cebu city with the burden to reach as many young teens as possible. During this time, I met Pastor Cris Pano. I had never mentioned my desire to reach the campus students, but Pastor Cris shared his desire to reach the campuses in Cebu. I believe that God brought us together to fulfill this mission.
Recent Ministry:
The Minefield Series
Every generation has its struggles. However, it can be challenging for one generation to relate to another. Understanding the anxieties and concerns of young people in 2024 is a minefield like no other. Social media, vanity, peer pressure, and the list goes on. In this series, we will cross the minefield and identify each landmine that lurks beneath and aims to destroy us. We will use the word of God as the detector for the landmines. This series aims to help students and teens walk wisely as they journey with God. At the end of the series, students will be more careful in how they live their lives—a life that will be pleasing to God. Students will be able to recognize the distractions and dangers of what the world is teaching, especially through the internet. Students will draw near to Jesus and start a relationship with Him.
I praise God for the lives of BTC students assigned to our church for their fieldwork. BTC is a Bible school located in Mandaue City. They will be with us for their fieldwork, and at the same time, they will be trained by our church through the ministries they will be part of. They also help in discipling students every Saturday, imparting their lives to the teens and students with us.
Icebreakers are critical to starting our youth services and in my small groups. They tend to loosen the teens up and create a bond with other students. Our services every Saturday are both fun and full of learning.
Pray for the lives of the teens being discipled through AMPLIFIED ministry. Pray for a transformation of the heart. Pray that many more will come to know Jesus through these students.
Previous Ministry:
Emulate the examples of Andrew.
As I delved into the life of Jesus in the book of John, specifically the chapters where He chose His twelve disciples, Andrew stood out. Observing Jasper, I’m reminded of Andrew, who brought Peter and other fishermen to Jesus. Witnessing Jesus transform him, and he, in turn, brought people to encounter Christ. Over the past year, I’ve seen God change Jasper’s life—from a struggling teen uncertain of his identity to someone wholly surrendered to Jesus, now actively bringing souls to Him. Currently a senior high student at ACT, Jasper understands the importance of sharing God’s love with everyone he meets.
Prayer requests:
Pray for Jasper’s studies, as his family faces financial struggles due to high tuition payments. Pray for his desire to start a small group at ACT. Praise be to God!
First Youth Service of the Year
In our first youth service of the year, held at the Whitefield’s office, known as the “HUB,” we focused on prayer. I was privileged to deliver the message, guided by Luke 11, where Jesus teaches His disciples to pray. Since Cebu City recently concluded the SINULOG festival, and many attending were Catholic teens familiar with memorized prayers, around 20 high school and college teens joined the service. I’m excited about what God will do in the lives of these teens entrusted to us.
Below are some photo snippets of our kick-off youth service.
Prayer requests:
Pray for more souls to come to the feet of Jesus. Pray for Jasper, who desires to reach out and impart Jesus in the lives of the students here in Cebu. Indeed, Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”
KC’s Exploration of Baptism and Faith
Jasper warmly invited KC to participate in our small group gathering. A senior high student enrolled in a local K to 12 school, KC, who has actively engaged in Amplified Youth Services, opted to join our discussion centered around baptism.
Her thoughtful inquiries regarding the true essence of being a follower of Jesus revealed a sincere interest in the topic. Amid the dialogue, she contemplated, “Is it possible to follow Jesus without baptism?” We clarified that baptism is a public proclamation of faith and a deliberate choice to align oneself as a follower of Christ. I emphasized that should KC decide to undergo baptism, it would symbolize her complete surrender and obedience to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. As she navigates this spiritual journey, please keep KC in your prayers, especially considering the challenge posed by her family’s deeply rooted religious beliefs with historical significance.
Pray for KC to be bold in showing her family the truth about following Jesus, not just the traditions of religion. Pray for Jasper as he is battling with gender identity. Pray that God will be the center of his life.
Christmas Joy: Amplified’s Festive Celebration
The afternoon resonated with joy and lively games, culminating in a pizza party! Amidst the cheerful atmosphere, our weekly youth service welcomed high school and college students, where the speaker taught the profound significance of the Virgin’s birth in Jesus’ earthly arrival. We express gratitude for God’s transformative work among the students at Amplified, addressing various challenges, including those related to gender identity. Looking back on 2023, we praise Jesus, acknowledging Him as our source of strength. This Christmas celebration centered on Jesus, transcending mere festivities or material gifts. We emphasized to the students that He is the true reason for the season – born of a virgin, the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Our gratitude and praise find their focus in Jesus and His abundant blessings.
Please continue to pray for the lives of these teens as they journey with us to be more like Jesus. Pray for their studies, that they will do their best in school, and that they will not be distracted in any form of distractions in school.
Reaching Cebu
I thank God for all the favor He has given in our ministry to reach the students here in Cebu for Jesus. Three years ago, we were praying for the start of a ministry designed to reach the students and to start a youth service. Now, we have three small groups of college students that meet regularly in the White Fields office as its location is ideally located at the center of the University belt in the city. We also have two small groups of high school students with both Junior and Senior high. I can proclaim confidently that God answers our prayers.
The Friday small groups are composed of college students who are enrolled in three different universities in Cebu, namely the University of Visayas, South Western University, and Cebu Eastern College. God has also opened doors for us at Cebu Institute of Technology—University. We regularly meet there for a small group. I am praying since other para-churches are already inside some universities, that our next step will be to bring the Amplified ministry into the campus as an organization in the accessible universities.
We praise God. He has opened the doors to a new university, and we have already started our first meeting there this week. Daniel, one of the students who really captured and understood our vision to reach the students at CTU brought three of his classmates for a small group. I have shared the gospel with these classmates, and they have agreed to bring more of their peers to Jesus. We will be having a regular small group meeting every Monday night after their class. I thank God for all the good things He has done in our campus ministry.
- Pray for me to reach more students and that God will open more doors both in high school and college.
- Pray that God will prepare the hearts of the students and the teachers for the gospel.