GOD OPENED THE DOORS SO WIDE
Pastor Rogelio Ibacarra didn’t think that his life would be entirely different when he joined the International Teams Philippines family. He thought it was just another invitation to go to other countries and nothing else. But God surprised him when he joined an international conference of ITP held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
God used Pastor Rogelio’s friend to invite him to join the conference. He and his wife decided to join and on the day of their flight, they arrived at one in the morning in a foreign land. It was an unfamiliar feeling to be in a different place, but they believed in their hearts that something great was going to happen there. There was another couple who was with them whom they spent time with during their first few days in Indonesia. They were a bit timid at first to mingle with others, so they just observed but they were glad to have met people who have the same faith as they do at the conference. After a few days, they became more comfortable mingling with others and truly enjoyed the conference.
After the conference, they got the chance to meet some locals. They were led by the Lord to some Indonesian people, and they were able to share the Gospel with them. It was truly amazing how God gave them wisdom and knowledge which enabled them to share God’s Word in another country.
After their successful trip to Indonesia, Pastor Rogelio decided to join the IT family officially. He attended the Access Mission Training and that was one of the best decisions he ever made. God started leading him to places that he never thought he would be able to go to. The following month after his training, he joined a conference in Malaysia with his wife. It was another spectacular experience for him because apart from learning about Malaysian culture, he also got the chance to learn more about missions during the conference. He was getting more and more passionate about God’s calling in his life and he was anticipating how he could be used by God for His greater glory. After the conference in Malaysia, he and his wife flew back to the Philippines and continued to do God’s work in the church.
After four months, he went to South Korea despite being broke at that time. But that’s when he saw how God provided for him. God used people to pay for his ticket and when he arrived in South Korea, he was welcomed by several churches, and he had a place to stay! His worries were gone when he saw that even in a foreign land, God would take care of him, especially in the financial aspects. His journey didn’t stop there, he was able to return to South Korea a few more times and he has gone to Singapore and Taiwan.
From being ordinary, he experienced the extraordinary and it was evident that God can do more in his life. However, God’s assignment for him doesn’t end there. Pastor Gani Sison, IT Executive Director, would often visit Cagayan De Oro to conduct some training and Pastor Rogelio was kind enough to drive him around. Then on one of Pastor Gani’s visits, he asked Pastor Rogelio to be one of the IT Trainers in Cagayan De Oro. Pastor Rogelio was honored to do more for the expansion of God’s Kingdom, so he took on the job.
And in 2019, he started a new organization affiliated with ITP in Cagayan De Oro which is the Full Gospel International Ministry. He stated, “Before I was just looking at the four corners of the church, but God opened the doors so wide that the blessings and miracles were outpourings”. It was God indeed who made all these things possible. He is the God of possibilities. Don’t hold back on the things God can do in your life and He can show you things beyond your imagination. Get ready, so that you may be touched by His inward earnestness, so that you may see the power of possibility in an impossible place. He will show Himself strong on your behalf. He loves to answer impossible prayers of faith. Let us exalt our Awesome God! The God who is all-powerful! Our Elohim!
Jeremiah 32:17
‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.
(Written by: Venus Jablo)