Christ to the Philippines, Inc. (CTTP) held its 46th National Convention on 22 May 2025 via Zoom and Facebook Live. Pastors and leaders from 67 local CTTP churches participated during this year’s National Convention. As aligned with the church’s direction, this year’s theme focused on “Disciple Shift: Culture Shift in CTTP Discipleship Journey.”

Opening Charge: Building One Another Up

Rev. David Camiwet, CTTP Chairman of the Board, officially opened the national convention by reaffirming the church’s mission to reach the lost, both locally and globally. Quoting the Apostle Paul, he urged everyone to encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:15). To do this, he shared five (5) practical actions abbreviated in the acronym BUILD: believe, uphold, influence, love, and disciple. Through these actions, he encouraged the church to not only grow in faith but to strengthen each other in the journey.

Rev. David also recognized four (4) newly licensed ministers of the gospel:

• Ptr. Russel Arjay Cruzin – CTTP Nagcarlan

• Ptra. Jay Ann de Villa – CTTP Caloocan

• Ptr. Geco Pamplona – CTTP Katuparan

• Ptr. Norden Guevara – CTTP Signal Village Church

CTTP also welcomed a new affiliate church — the Master’s Harvest Community Church at Balayan, Batangas — led by Rev. Miguelito “Miguel” Pabilonia, Jr.

Resetting Culture, Reviving Discipleship

At the heart of this year’s convention was a powerful and urgent message from Rev. Miguel Pabilonia, Jr., CTTP Discipleship Head — a call not just to reform programs or refine methods, but to wholly reimagine the culture of discipleship within the church.

Drawing from Acts 6–7, Rev. Miguel discussed the rapid growth and transformation of the early church, which is something he envisions to be a reality within CTTP.

“Ang sarap naman pong pangarapin — o kaya isang araw ay makita na po natin na totoo na rin sa Christ to the Philippines ang ganitong pangyayari — na rapidly ay nag-i-increase ang mga disciples sa ating organisasyon and, of course, sa atin pong mga local church,” he shared.

(“What a beautiful thing to dream about — or better yet, to one day see it become a reality in Christ to the Philippines as well — that disciples in our organization, and of course in our local churches, are rapidly increasing.”)

A Movement Already Underway

Rev. Miguel highlighted how CTTP has long been ahead of the curve in its commitment to what many are only beginning to recognize: the necessity of “disciple shift.” He recounted conversations with national and global leaders in the evangelical community, noting with gratitude that CTTP is not only aligned with this growing emphasis on discipleship but has also been modeling it.

Key initiatives include the formation of a Discipleship Department, the release of foundational discipleship materials, such as the Christ Discipleship Roadmap (CDR) and the D-Group Manual; and the launch of retreats and resets across local churches to assess and renew their discipleship practices.

Yet, Rev. Miguel was clear: programs alone are not enough. What CTTP needs is a “full system reset.”

Resetting the Culture of Discipleship

Discipleship, he argued, cannot thrive in a church culture that treats it as optional, purely instructional, or devoid of accountability.

“Discipleship won’t work if we remain in the old paradigm or the old culture… Well-intentioned, but not deliberate,” he said.

Rev. Miguel challenged the prevailing attitudes and mindset that isolate faith from correction and community, such as “Live your own life, I’ll live mine,” or “You don’t have authority over me.” These, he pointed out, are foreign to the biblical model of discipleship as lived out by Christ and the apostles.

The HALO Framework and the Deeper Shift

CTTP’s discipleship journey is anchored in the HALO framework: Holiness, Accountability, Love, and Obedience — a core emphasis recently preached in churches throughout the denomination. However, Rev. Miguel stressed that HALO is just the beginning and that a deeper shift must happen: a transformation of culture rooted in the denomination’s core values.

This deeper shift is summarized in the acronym DISCIPLES, which stands for: Discipline, Integrity, Submission, Commitment, Initiative, Partnerships, Loyalty, Excellence, and Stewardship. Similar to the HALO framework, these values were also unpacked during preachings, not as abstract ideals but as concrete ways of living expected from every CTTP member.

Shaping Culture with Intention

“Culture is what people experience when they enter your church,” Rev. Miguel explained. “It is shaped by what we believe, value, and how we behave.”

Ending with both urgency and encouragement, Rev. Miguel proposed five (5) Ts as key steps to help inculcate these values into the hearts and lives of members, patterned after God’s instructions to Israel (Deuteronomy 11:18–20):

1. Treasure the core values (i.e., memorizing them)

2. Teach the core values so that members would understand them

3. Train members to apply core values

4. Testify about the blessings of the discipleship culture

5. Track progress towards the target culture

These 5Ts, he elaborated, are essential practices to form and reset the culture within the church.

A Culture That Drives the Vision

CTTP’s vision is bold: To be a growing, multiplying, disciple-making church reaching out to the Philippines and to the nations for God’s glory. But, as Rev. Miguel reminded everyone, that vision can only be realized through a culture reset — one that aligns the church’s life with the heart of Jesus and the framework He laid down for making disciples.

“We need a culture that is faithful to Scripture and reflective of the distinctives of Christ to the Philippines,” he said.

The National Director’s Challenge

To capture what healthy discipleship looks like, National Director, Rev. Voltaire Pablo P. Pablo III used an image of a tree. 

D.I.S.C.I.P.L.E.S., he emphasized, are the visible fruits of the tree.  These are overt behaviors that all CTTP members should demonstrate to create a biblical culture that would fast track the attainment of the CTTP vision, giving glory to God. Just as how fruits carry and protect the seeds, so should CTTP members preserve the seeds of faith and testimonies to raise more disciples.  However, without the branches represented by a life anchored on Holiness, Accountability, Love, and Obedience (HALO),  there will be no strong support to hold the fruits.  Branches are important because it is through these that spiritual nourishment is being channeled to bring out the visible fruits of the Christian walk.

Rev. Voltaire also stressed that while everyone may appear fruitful through righteous works, the trunk, represented by His grace, flows righteous faith in Christ alone. For discipleship to have eternal value, righteousness by faith should precede righteous works.

Lastly, the roots — which are often hidden, are the main anchor. Healthy roots are the source of real nourishment. Rev. Voltaire warned against the dangers of doing ministry without intimacy with God, serving without embracing identity in Christ, and multiplying without intentionality through the Holy Spirit. These root-level issues can produce fruit that appears spiritual but is ultimately hollow and temporal.  “Take care of the root, and the fruit will follow,” he powerfully concluded.

Rev. Voltaire also challenged everyone to raise up new leaders, especially young adults already thriving in their careers or callings. He urged current church leaders  to help these emerging leaders journey through the discipleship roadmap. Looking toward the 2026 National Convention, CTTP hopes to welcome about 300 delegates, representing the fruit of a growing and multiplying church.

Business Meeting Recap

The official business meeting was held from 2:30 to 4:00 PM, with 120 out of 126 licensed leaders present, confirming a valid quorum.

Key agenda items included:

• Review of the 45th National Convention minutes led by Rev. David Camiwet

• National Director’s Report by Rev. Voltaire Pablo III, highlighting organizational milestones, leadership development, and discipleship progress

• Financial Reports and Audited Financial Statements presented by Rev. Johnny Espejo, affirming CTTP’s commitment to transparency and wise stewardship

• Confirmation of the 2025 National Board of Trustees and officers, as approved by the body

• Leadership succession announcement of the current Deputy National Director, Rev. Johnny Espejo, as the next National Director in 2026

The program also featured video presentations on CDR Cascades and the ongoing Ministry Reset Workshops and Discipleship Retreats, which included testimonies from participating churches and members, as well as small group discussions and activities, praise & worship sessions, and raffle draws. The theme for 2026 National Convention was also announced: “Future Forward: Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders.”

As emphasized throughout the convention, CTTP’s journey is not just about structural reform — it is, above all, about heart transformation. Through this deep inner work, the hope is that disciples, churches, and communities will thrive in ways that clearly reflect the hand of God.

With Grateful Hearts

CTTP extends heartfelt gratitude to the National Convention Team, whose dedication, excellence, and service made this year’s gathering impactful and meaningful. From planning to execution, your faithfulness has blessed leaders and churches across the nation.

May the Lord richly reward your labor as CTTP continues to build a growing, multiplying, and disciple-making church — all for His glory.

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