From One Torn Piece of Paper to 10 Nations

by PTR. DANIEL RODRIGUEZ

He was jobless. He did not have any savings. He did not even know why he was asked to get a passport. All he knew was that God had spoken one sentence to him—that sentence would carry him across 10 countries without him asking a single person for money.

A Detour and a Forgotten Prayer

Stepping out in faith often begins with unanswered questions. As a full-time church worker and worship leader from the Church of Jesus Christ the Heart of Worship International Ministry under Senior Pastor Mariano Sadogio, my journey did not start with a clear roadmap.

I have also been a member of Global Intercessors, the prayer arm of International Teams Philippines under Ptra. Rossana Sadogio, since 2014. As a prayer warrior and worship leader, I have faithfully led the congregation in lifting up different nations every Tuesday. But I often wondered, could there be a deeper purpose for me in the ministry?

The turning point came when a fellow member of Global Intercessors persuaded me to get a passport. That time, the team had been planning to go on a prayer journey to Israel and they wanted to include me in the trip. The member even generously shouldered all the expenses just so I could get a passport. Still, I wondered, with my measly allowance, how could I ever afford international travel when I could not even buy a new pair of shoes?

Just as departure day approached, the sponsor’s promised funding did not materialize, and I was left behind. Confused and heartbroken, I asked God why He allowed me to get a passport in the first place. I did not receive an immediate answer, so I just comforted myself by saying maybe the passport could just serve as my valid ID. I continued serving in the church and with the Global Intercessors.

God Never Forgot: A Prayer on a Torn Piece of Paper

It turned out that the passport meant for Israel was never a mistake. It was a preparation for an answer to a prayer that I had almost forgotten.

A year later, Global Intercessors organized another prayer journey, this time to three other countries: Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. It was my first time flying internationally, and I did not spend a single peso. God provided everything.

It was then that the Lord reminded me of a prayer I wrote on a torn piece of paper at the end of 2012: “Lord, bring me to at least three countries. I do not know how You will do it, but I will trust You.”

I had completely forgotten about it. But God had not.

Harana: The Covenant of Worship

Realizing that God was opening international doors, I made a bold deal with Him. As a full-time church worker with no external financial support, I committed to two strict rules. “If You’re really sending me to the nations, here’s our agreement: I will never ask people for money, and I will never borrow.”

God’s response was simple yet unforgettable: “Anak, haranahin mo lang Ako, Ako ang bahala sa `yo.” (My child, just serenade Me, and I will take care of you.)

Finally, I understood my distinct role as a worship leader and intercessor: to worship the Lord in every nation I prayed for. Since 2014, true to His Word, God has brought me to 10 nations: Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Dubai, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau―all without asking anyone for funds or taking out a single loan. Whenever a new mission arose, God would prompt people to step in and provide.

Continuing My Serenade in Every Nation and Raising Up the Next Generation of Worshippers and Intercessors

Since 2014, I have kept my end of the deal, and God has kept His. Every single time, God moved people’s hearts and provided a way. I never once asked for money. I have never once gone into debt.

I continued to travel for mission work, but something felt unfinished. As a Youth Pastor and Worship Leader, I began to notice a gap. I went to different countries with fellow intercessors but never with the young people I was raising up; so, starting 2017, I began declaring something at the airport of every country I entered: “Lord, on behalf of every young person in my care, I will bring them with me to the nations.”

God answered that declaration with a promise from Isaiah 60:4-5, which speaks of sons and daughters gathering from afar.

“Lift up your eyes round about and see;They all gather together, they come to you.Your sons will come from afar,And your daughters will be carried in the arms.“Then you will see and be radiant,And your heart will thrill and rejoice;Because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you,The wealth of the nations will come to you.

I received this as a clear word from the Lord that the young people I was discipling would one day travel the nations, too.

By 2025, I saw those exact words come to life. I was able to bring the youth and worship team to Hong Kong and Macau, while Global Intercessors were able to attend International Teams Conferences in Vietnam and Taiwan. To top it all off, one of the young people I personally disciples, Val Richard, is now serving as a missionary in Cambodia.

My journey serves as a power reminder that God has a specific purpose and timing for each one of us. When we step out in obedience an offer true, unreserved worship, He opens doors and lets us encounter Him deeply so we can experience His miraculous hand in every step.

An Invitation to Join the Journey

My story did not begin with money, connections, or clear plans. It began with a torn scrap of paper, a whispered prayer, a passport I thought I did not need, and a willingness to obey without knowing the outcome.

God is asking you now, will you also worship Him wherever He sends you? Will you trust that as you obey, provisions will follow?

That same invitation is open to you. Partner with International Teams Philippines and Global Intercessors today. That single step of obedience might be getting a passport for a journey you cannot see yet or simply offering a prayer or a song of worship for the nations. But, like me, 10 nations later and more to come, He is assuring you that your waiting, your step of obedience, your trust in Him will all be worth it.