Category: Discipleship

We are thankful for the many ministry opportunities God made way for through the summer. We prayed, prepared and in faith believed God to lead and use us for His glory and Kingdom purposes.

With kids and youth out of school for their break we made every effort to connect frequently and intentionally with them. It was our goal to further encourage them in God’s word so their faith would be strengthened as young disciples.

Camps are a great way to invite those actively involved and many others into a fun, faith-filled environment for consecutive days. The kid’s camps were highly anticipated thus the big turnout. The kids love it when we gather all the kids from surrounding towns for an event. They came eager to have fun, but also to learn more from God’s word.  I am always encouraged by the child like faith displayed and a sincere love for God and His word.  They diligently open the bible and memorize scripture. They are learning to apply God’s truth in the context of home and community. So thankful to see the impact their faithfulness has had on many despite their age and supposed lack of voice and influence.

The 3-day youth camp we organized was postponed to a later date than initially scheduled.  We did so at Gods prompting, so that we would come even better prepared and readied with humble, united hearts before the Lord to serve the youth God would bring us. The theme of the camp was Lost & Found with teaching sessions centered on the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Prodigal Son and the Lost Coin.

Jesus did come to this world to seek and save the lost and He promises that His sheep will hear and respond to His voice. We were amazed that most of those attending were all new youth and quite a few from our old batch of youth that are now married with kids. They deeply desired to be part of one of our camps after all the years despite not being youth age.  God had His purpose and drew many of those attending to respond to Jesus’s call to repent and turn in faith to Him!!  Just as sinners drew near to Christ as He communicated the demands for discipleship, many youths came ready with ears to hear and moved by His compassion and salvation! Thanks to all who prayed specifically for this camp.  God answered our prayers and now the work of discipleship continues 🙂

Summer also provided an opportunity for us to receive foreign mission teams and mission equip participants. Each one who came did so eager to jump in a serve and learn in the process. Three returning visitors came to help us launch a new Hope for the Island ministry called Abilities Club.

This is a club that celebrates the neurodiverse and physically challenged in our community. We couldn’t have imagined a better response from participants and their caregivers.  All were deeply touched and full of joy. We provided a safe focused environment with specialized activities and new tools for families.  We so look forward to continuing this much needed program monthly to help nurture these kids in the Lord and provide educational opportunities that would be new to provincial areas.

Lastly, we are so pleased to provide an update on the incredible construction progress for Kalinga House.  The structure and roof are near done! Workers have started to focus on the furnishings and finishing touches.  We are thrilled to create a warm, loving and safe home to receive kids needing rescued from unsafe environments.

We are so thankful for the way God provided for this critical housing need. We will also trust the Lord to provide the manpower and means to operate this home.  Please pray for this new ministry and God’s blessing on the home and those who will fill it.  Please also continue to pray for all ongoing ministries at HOPE and our team who faithfully serve in obedience to Christ!

We continue to thank you for all ypur prayer and financial support.

Derek and Jenn Van Ryckeghem

Hope For The Island, Philippines

Greetings in the Lord dear friends!

We are thrilled to announce our HOPE family has grown! Jerbie and Irene have been blessed with a beautiful daughter Seraphim. She is dearly loved and already drawn to worship the Lord! 

By God’s grace we have made great strides forward with Kalinga house. Our presentation to local officials was well received and we are now well under way with construction! The posts and beams have been poured and preparation to pour concrete second floor slab is next!! We have an old contractor friend who came in to oversee the work. The ground breaking on April 29 was a beautiful time to give thanks to God together. God faithfully led and provided for us to respond to this need. We opened Gods word and prayed with all those involved including those who would be daily labouring to build in the heat of the summer sun. We thanked them for their part and reminded them to work heartily unto the Lord. Weekly we open scripture with the construction crew. They enjoy and anticipate that time together before the week starts. 

We currently have a young group of 7 aspiring missionaries serving with us from YWAM Maui. They have been learning, growing and serving well during their time with us. After weeks of sleeping on floors they have moved into the newly finished team housing constructed on the 3rd floor of HOPE mission house. 

We were blessed at the same time with more visitors. We had 4 readied servants come join our mission equip program this April. Richard and Carrie from our Canadian home church in Canada hit the ground running. As did two young adults connected with YWAM that were seeking more mission exposure. Noa and Carrie share their experience here with us below. 

We praise God for the many way He is drawing people to Himself. Last month we saw some long prayed for salvation’s come to pass and more disciples being added and growing in Gods word and in obedience to Christ. 

We ask that you be praying with us for our upcoming summer youth camp. We are expecting anywhere from 250-400 youth attend from our local town and surrounding villages. The teaching for camp will be centred on the powerful 3 parables shared by Christ when challenged why He receives sinners. Pray God use His word  to bring many to repentance and faith. God is glorified and received such great joy in redeeming souls! 

In Christ, 

Derek

Mission equip program Testimony from Noa:

If I could describe my time in the Philippines with one word, it would be ‘Blessed’. The Lord brought me here without me knowing that it would be such a sweet season for me. I prepared myself more for the opposite. I knew beforehand that the lifestyle here in Burgos is much more simple than what I‘m used to from my western home. I was ready to give up a lot of comforts and go through it. The Lord taught me in this time that life is not about the things we wear or the food we eat. He provides for us what we need but he cares about the condition of our hearts so much more. He is the living water, his word our daily bread.

He is what my soul needs most.

Every morning we would read the Word together. Without any additional sermon or interpretation just the bare Word and everyone would share what stood out to them. And let me tell you every time I left family devotion with a satisfied soul. Every morning my soul was filled with living water, fed with the living bread. I learned here that the Lord alone is enough. Never in my life was I more content. His presence brings more joy than any good meal could bring and His word is so much better than another pair of jeans. Our flesh always wants more but in him we already have all we need and even more!

Testimony: Carrie and Richard

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”Ecclesiastes 9:10

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

Reflecting on our time at Hope for the Island in April, we see how these two verses framed our experience. It was a gift to join the Hope team and the team from YWAM Maui for three weeks. As with many mission organizations, there is no end to the opportunities to work with all our might in the various ministries. But we were also struck by the Hope team’s example of doing our work unto the Lord in ways that lift Him up.

With their unwavering dedication and faith, the Hope staff team led by Derek and Jenn set a beautiful example for us. From the enthusiastic singing and Scripture memorization in kids’ ministry to the quiet moments spent with widows sharing Scriptures, every action is a testament to their commitment to glorifying God. The phrase ‘Glory to God’ echoes frequently from the lips of the Hope staff as a reminder of the reason they are serving with all their might. “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

One of our favourite experiences at Hope was the morning Bible study for the whole team – worship and working through the Gospel of John was the best way to start each day. We loved the opportunities to participate in the ministries and see how children and youth are loved and encouraged to deepen their understanding of Scripture. On the practical side, Richard helped with many different projects, including rewiring the main electrical service, yard work, and moving a lot of rebar, while Carrie helped with office work.

A powerful moment happened the morning we flew home. The construction team had been assembled to start working on Kalinga House – the building that will become home for abused and vulnerable kids on the island. The prayers for finances, supplies, and the builders had been answered. It was truly beautiful to watch Derek share the vision for Kalinga House with the construction team, dedicate the building to God’s glory, and surround the workers to pray God’s blessing over them as they laboured.

Our experience confirms that God has been at work, is at work, and will continue to work through the Hope for the Island ministry. We certainly look forward to returning to bless and be blessed in our service to the Lord.

My name is Leah and I’m 24 years old and proud to be part of Hope for the Island (HOPE) family. I was one of many kids who were touched by HOPE ministries in the early days. I have been serving full time now almost 9 years. Let me share my testimony how God changed my life 😊

I grew up in a non-Christian family. I lived in fear every time my Dad got drunk which was often. We experienced physical and verbal abuse. It was difficult witnessing my mother being abused. My father has never been a father to me with my siblings and at no time a good husband to my mom. At school I also experienced being bullied because of my height and dark complexion. I grew up desperately longing for love and attention from my parents.

At the age of 10, I met this girl named Makana and learned that both her parents were the missionaries who moved into our village to pioneer Hope for the Island. Makana invited me to join Kids’ Ministry every Saturday. I found it very interesting and fun and was happy they served us snacks. The snack was how I convinced my cousins to join. I really appreciated all the Ates who served us. They took good care of us. I really felt love and attention that I won’t forget. I remember I looked to the HOPE mission house and as a little girl said to myself, “one day I will live in that house and teach the kids also. “I stayed active through the Kids’ Ministries and into youth programs. I knew lots of verses to memorize. I knew how to open the book and chapters in the Bible but was reserved and didn’t come to have faith and know Jesus until later.

When I was in 2nd year high school my family already poor was really struggling financially. I ended up being a working student for a year. I quit because of bad treatment at home and the family I worked for. I was drawn to a group of friends outside Hope for the Island. They accepted me and I felt some relief from all my problems, but I overlooked things because I so longed to be loved. If they skipped classes I would go with them. We started going to other towns that had parties. That led to me being molested and even feeling emptier.

I left that group and was received back with my true friends at HOPE. After graduating High School one of HOPE staff approached me asking if I would be open to be trained in a new junior staff program at Hope. It wasn’t an easy decision because at that time one of my uncles approached me offering to help me study in college. Since I was so young and didn’t feel a peace to leave, I decided to grab the opportunity to be a junior staff. I also felt it important to be able to help support my family financially through the honorarium I was given.

As I obeyed the Lord amazing plans and blessings unfolded in my life. God used people to help me heal and know what true unwavering love is. Staying at Hope I experienced the love and care of family that I always dreamed of. The people I lived and served with were so kind. I committed to follow and serve God. I wanted to help other kids who were like me so they also can have hope in Jesus. I was baptized in the ocean. I was overwhelmed with joy and peace that I never experienced before.

After serving for some time I was chosen by Hope and supported through the Discipleship training school at YWAM. That experience gave me many good tools. God really dealt with me in a deep heart level especially in forgiveness. I developed my gifts, talents and my character towards people. I went out sharing the gospel and thankfully lost my fear of man. Being comforted and led by Holy Spirit was amazing. I was brought back to my words as a kid that, “One day I will live in that house and teach the kids. “ God fulfilled what He put on my heart and my simple words and faith. I am so thankful to God how he chose to use me and HOPE team for His glory.

I love opportunities to teach kids and youth 😇 I have taught in churches, preached to prisoners in jail and have even performed night vigil at a funeral. I have enjoyed growing in music and leading praise and worship. I have disciples and life is good. Many of my family members now go to church. My mom, dad and brother have not responded yet. I do appreciate how my family now respect my faith in Jesus. If I eat with them, they ask me to pray and share testimonies.  I am thankful for real Christian friends who are always there to listen and to pray with me.

This coming Sept I will work part time at Hope for the Island and do online schooling to pursue my dream to teach. I know God can be trusted as I take these new steps to develop myself and be ready for His purposes.