On the last day of the 2nd SFC Global Leaders Summit in Thailand last October 2011, Michael “Shok” Ariola, SFC International Coordinator, announced that the Backpackers Great Adventure Tour in the Greater Mekong Area is just the start of bigger missions as SFC takes its vision to a higher level.
“Next year we will send out 200 mission teams that will go around the world and let every single man and woman experience Christ.” This bold proclamation inspired by the SFC expanded vision (Singles for Christ is the next generation of Couples for Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to journey and witness with single men and women in their discovery and pursuit of vocations and the fullness of the mission towards building a Christ-centered society.) turned out to be a prophetic statement as the CBCP declared 2012 as the Year of Mission.
With this affirmation, Ariola, amid the blazing heat of the sun, rallied everyone who attended the 19th SFC International Conference in Bohol to form teams and go on mission. “If you feel the heat, it only means that you are on fire!” This proclamation moved the delegates and encouraged them to commit themselves to go out and share the good news. Soon enough, the drop boxes placed around the conference venue were filled with sheets of paper containing the names of empowered SFCs who bravely responded to the challenge.
Starting April until the 3rd Global Leaders Summit in Brazil next year, 200 (and probably more) mission teams from the different parts of the globe will be sent on a great adventure. Composed of at least five members who have experienced God’s abundant blessings and are ready to share His greatness to the world, each team will spend a week in their chosen mission area conducting activities which are relevant to the spiritual formation and growth of the community there.
To date, more than eighty areas in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and all over the world have signified interest and have already opened their doors for mission exchanges. Paris, Milan, Malta, Greece, and Switzerland are now getting ready for the great adventure to happen there in July. USA and Australia are also set to welcome backpackers in August and September respectively.
What happened during the Backpackers Adventure in Chiang Mai, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar last year was just a glimpse of what will take place in the next eleven months. Blessed SFCs who are more than willing to pay for their own fares, sacrifice their time, leave their families and career, get out of their comfort zones and actively do something to contribute to the realization of the SFC vision; SFCs who are blessed to bless, who will abandon everything for the sake of the call; SFCs who are not just experiencing the love of a great God but are determined to share their encounter with the Lord and make others experience His greatness as well.
Having the full armor of God, packed with overflowing passion and love for the mission, SFC is ablaze and is set to proclaim the greatness of the Lord and conquer the world for Christ.
To know more about this great adventure, send an email to sfcbackpackers@sfcglobal.org.