Discipling the Military, Transforming the Nation

Our Roots and Calling

I am Erwin Luga, an alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and the International Graduate School of Leadership (IGSL), and a Cru Affiliate Staff member. My wife Amelie and I were called to serve in God’s Kingdom work through the PMA Christian Fellowship (PMACF) and the military ministry.

My connection with Cru Philippines started about 40 years ago at the PMA, where Amelie and I surrendered our lives to Christ. We grew in our relationship with God through the "life-on-life" discipleship of a Cru staff — Dr. Tom Roxas. Since then, Amelie and I have been engaged in fulfilling the Great Commission among military personnel and discipling the youth of our local church wherever we have been stationed.

The Ministry Today: Cultivating Multipliers

Presently, I pastor PMACF where our ministry focus is to intentionally disciple participating cadets to become multiplying disciple-makers. We currently have about 200 cadets at PMACF, out of which we have formed 35 discipleship groups. Our goal is for them to influence the AFP and the nation for Christ when they are commissioned as officers, by starting and sustaining intentional disciple-making among their personnel and the local communities where they are deployed.

Likewise, Amelie and I are involved in the Triple M (Military Multipliers Movement). Our vision is to see every believer in the military intentionally discipled into a 2 Timothy 2:2 disciple-making multiplier. Together with other multiplying disciples in the armed forces, we collaborate with civilian disciple-makers and ministry partner agencies to:

• Educate new Christian military personnel and couples about Christ and biblical truths;

• Encourage them to grow in Christlikeness and build their commitment to serve God;

• Equip the growing and committed to evangelize, teach, and mentor others; and then

• Engage them to start and sustain intentional disciple-making movements across the military and the communities where they are stationed.

Witnessing the Fruit: A Story of Impact

We are now seeing the fruits of these ministry endeavors. One powerful example is Major Pada K. Guingar and his wife, Joy, who are currently stationed at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal. Major Guingar was one of the cadets we discipled at PMACF. Today, he and Joy are actively leading discipleship groups among his unit personnel.

They are also an integral part of our military HomeBuilders (HB) couples’ group, which aims to strengthen marriages and families, equipping them to disciple other military couples using the HomeBuilders Couples Series of FamilyLife. Through His providence, God has sustained them and decreed that they continue to progress in their faith to become a true 2 Timothy 2:2 disciple-making multiplier.

A Strategic Vision for the Philippines

Hence, we want to let the Filipino people know that there is hope for our country through an intentionally discipled military. When military personnel are equipped to become 2 Timothy 2:2 disciple-makers, they become God’s catalysts to quickly bring about godly transformation in our society.

Dr. Bill Bright once said, "To truly transform any nation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the seven facets of society must be reached." The military holds either a direct or indirect presence and influence across all seven of these societal sectors. You can find our soldiers all over the country—even in the remotest barangays that are otherwise unreached by government or church ministry services. They wield significant authority in these communities, and the locals listen to them. Because of this, a Christ-transformed military serves as a strategic and highly effective missional springboard to catalyze nation-wide transformation for Christ.

Through all of this, Amelie and I are honored, humbled, and blessed to be God’s appointed servants and witnesses in the military. He chose and enabled us to relentlessly serve Him with vigor despite persecutions and difficulties. We will remain steadfastly faithful to our calling, trusting in Him alone. We will forever thank Him for appointing us as His chosen instruments.

Praise and Prayer Concerns

As we look forward to what God has in store, we invite you to cover this ministry with us in prayer:

• Praise God for the 200 cadets actively participating at PMACF and the 35 growing discipleship groups currently operating.

• Praise God for the continuous multiplication of faithful leaders like Major Guingar and his wife, Joy, who are taking the Gospel into their areas of influences.

• Pray for Spiritual Protection & Endurance: Ask the Lord to guard our hearts, health, and minds as we relentlessly serve Him despite the inherent difficulties and spiritual battles in military ministry.

• Pray for the Cadets: Pray that these young men and women will remain firm in their faith and be thoroughly equipped to be catalysts of godly change when they transition to full-fledged AFP officers.

• Pray for Financial Provision: Pray for God's continuous provision for our personal and ministry operations as we expand our reaches.

Thank you for standing with us on this journey. Your prayers and support allow us to keep serving God through these future leaders of our armed forces and our nation.