BRIEF HISTORY OF ARISE CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES, INC.

The Ministry was founded/organized by a handful of believers based in MSU, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Nasipit, Cotabato and other areas of Mindanao, Philippines. These Christians were formerly members of campus-based Christian organizations. Through the years, these campus-based Christians after graduating from college went to other places for employment. With the desire to be used by God, they reproduced their lives and commitments by sharing the Gospel to their officemates and friends in places God brought them. In obedience to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), they helped these young Christians grow in their faith and become committed disciples of the Lord Jesus. Later, as the number of Christians attending Bible study increased, they saw the need to establish a local fellowship.

In 19 June, 1999, this group of Christians started to seek God’s will regarding the establishment of an indigenous Christian Organization. After much prayer and meditation on God’s words, they founded a Christian organization and named it Arise Christian Ministries, Inc. (ACMI) in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. This place is more or less centrally located and the gateway to Mindanao. It was later registered with the government on 23 June, 1999. Again after four months of prayer and meditation on the word of God, the organizers conducted a general conference for them and their bible study contacts. On 30 October, 1999, the founders and their bible study contacts formally organized/established the Arise Christian Ministries, Inc. (ACMI). The word Arise was coined from Isaiah 60:1-2. With a vision of: “Communities of Christ’s Disciples, glorifying god, equipping themselves, ministering to each other, and sending missionaries to other people groups”, the ministry started with twelve ministry areas and outreaches all over Mindanao. To accomplish this vision, the ministry has the following as its mission: “To be an instrument of GOD the FATHER, through the promptings of the HOLY SPIRIT, in bringing people to JESUS, and developing them to CHRIST-like maturity”. Very recently, a ministry tagline which states: “Bringing Christ’s Light to the Nations”, was developed and adopted by the brethren. The tagline acts as a slogan, catchphrase, motto or watchword for the ministry.

From the original twelve ministry areas that composed an umbrella organization in 1999, in 2019, the ministry, by the grace of God, had spread to more than 65 places in Mindanao. Five new ministry outreaches were also established in the Visayas. Very recently, a new outreach was started in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Indeed, the power of the Gospel, shared by men and women from all walks of life produced spiritual fruits in the lives of others. New believers were followed up until they became disciples, and in turn trained other believers and form new fellowship groups all over the country. In line with the ministry’s vision of reaching out to people groups, some of our leaders are presently involved in reaching out to the tribes in Mindanao, Philippines.

The Cebu Arise Christian Ministries, Inc. (ACMI) Outreach:

The ACMI Cebu ministry/outreach started in August, 2016. Contacts from Cagayan de Oro, Marawi and other areas in Mindanao decided to meet for fellowship, Bible study and encouragement. Initially, they conducted their bible study and fellowship in parks (sometimes in restaurants). By God’s grace, as they shared the Gospel and more brethren from Mindanao sojourned to Cebu, the number of attendance to their fellowship and bible study increased. To resolve the increasing number of brethren attending the bible study, they decided to look for a place where they could hold their fellowship. In April 1, 2018, God gave them their fellowship center in Urgello, Cebu City.

Almost simultaneous with the start of the Cebu ACMI, God also opened works in Negros Oriental. At present, there are 5 outreaches in the provinces of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental. The Cebu ACMI brethren oversee the works in the two provinces of Negros. As overseer, it serves as the Regional center of the ACMI work in the Visayas.