Operation Jabez (OJ) is more than a mission trip. It is a model of love, unity, synergy, and collaboration, where believers from different backgrounds come together to partner with local churches and saturate communities with the Gospel.

For Atty. Clem Fajardo, a Board Member of Cru Philippines and pioneer of the first OJ in 1980, Operation Jabez remains close to his heart. “It’s life-defining,” he shared. “My involvement allowed me to see the hunger of people in the provinces to know God. Even today, I still meet people whom OJ impacted. It taught me the importance of sharing the Gospel—and in doing so, it encourages you to live a life worthy of your calling.”

OJ was inspired by the prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:10 and began with evangelistic efforts, such as Jesus Film showings, house-to-house visits, and sowing seeds broadly across various communities. Over time, a significant shift occurred: the focus shifted toward training churches to carry out the work of evangelism and discipleship. With limited time in each community, sustainability became crucial. Who would follow up? The answer: equip the churches to do the ministry themselves.

A significant turning point occurred when OJ teams began to intentionally align their initiatives with the National Strategic Thrust, focusing on saturating nations and bridging missional gaps. National efforts in centralizing management, logistics, resources, and promotions began to serve OJ teams better. In 2013, OJ teams assisted Global Church Movements (GCM) in establishing a ministry in the Bicol region. Then in 2017, the efforts focused on Region 8, one of the least evangelized regions in the country. This resulted in a widespread presence of OJ in the country.

Staff teams are also intentional in focusing their strengths and passions—whether in campus ministry, community, church planting, or digital strategies—to serve local churches in their contexts. A key takeaway was that not all churches are mission-minded, and even those that are, often struggle to know how to begin. OJ became a way to mobilize and train the Body of Christ to step into the harvest field with confidence and clarity.

One unforgettable story happened in 2018. A four-person OJ team partnered with a local church, and after just a few days, a new faith community was planted. One of the first believers, Kuya Atan, had spent years avoiding church—until it was planted right in front of his house. “It felt like God was pursuing me,” he said. And that’s what OJ does—bring the Gospel where people are.

Today, OJ is being led not only by full-time Cru staff but by volunteers, student disciples, professionals, and church partners. The national OJ team now helps consolidate efforts and set direction. One key thrust is encouraging churches not only to host but also to send their own OJ teams.

As GCM National Leader Olin Galan put it, “I could say that OJ is one of Cru’s flagship ministries. Its impact is wide, deep, and growing. God uses—and will use—OJ to mobilize more believers and help reduce the missional gaps.”

There is still room for more. Churches, small groups, and even individuals can now initiate their own OJ. The field is vast. The workers are rising. 

*Hazel Rose Yamson is the Executive Secretary of the National Director