When Bernabe Boi Manuel, founders of Armlynk International, joined a small Bible study group in Camp Crame in 1994 they knew they were on to something.
At that time, the Bible study group, which will eventually become the CORPS Movement, was established as a refuge for those who were lonely, depressed and disillusioned with the police service. It was a safe haven wherein attendees could share their frustration and share their dreams to one another without any humiliation or reprimand. The two military missionaries witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of then PSI Cesar Binag, PSI MaO Aplasca, PSI Lyndon Cubos, PSI Bong Durana, PSI Tony Mendoza, PI Eric Noble and PI Bernie Banac in this bible study group. They knew that someday these young Christian police officers would definitely shape up the Philippine National Police and would someday touch the world.
Time came and went and these young officers indeed had an impact in the PNP. In 2011, God again used the ministry of the CORPS Movement to touch the world.
As all missionaries, Ron and Boi continues to desire the fulfillment of the great commission and they knew that if they share the collective experience of the CORPS Movement to other military personnel and missionaries they too would be inspired and would have ideas on how to develop their own platforms in ministry.
Last February 21, Mladen Bochukov, CCC Director and former Airforce commissioned officer and Captain Yasen Zhekov, an active police officer from Bulgaria; Major Lay “Savorn” Leav, a commissioned officer Cambonian Army Tank Division and Sareth Duong, missionary and an Evangelical Representative to the Cambodian Senate Committee on Religious Affairs from Cambodia; Col. Surasak Banjukeaw, a retired colonel for the Thai Royal Army and now a director for the Military Police Christian Fellowship of Thailand Foundation and Capt. Teerpong Tassabootr from the Thai Royal Navy of Thailand, Pastor Tinuyangba Imchen, Principal of the New Life Bible Training Institute of India and Major Uk Chong a retired US Airforce and a staff of Cadence International in Thailand visited the Philippines to see how the CORPS Movement is ministering in the Philippines National Police.
They were first given a ministry orientation and a dinner fellowship by their host at the Summer Institute of Linguistic where they were also billeted. The following day they were received by Elder Mike Aspirin and the rest of the Joshua Ministry of the Greenhills Christian Fellowship and Federation of Christians in Government (FOCIG) wherein they were introduced to the importance of building a Christian Coalition for the Armed Services. Boi Manuel talked of the various platforms that are being utilized by the CORPS movement as part of its ministry like the hospital ministry, PNPA ministry, the Bless Our Cops program, My Brother’s Keeper program.
After their stint with the Coalition, they went to Camp Crame to visit the Project Management Office to witness how the CORPS Movement was also able to influence the PNP and its Transformation agenda. They meet with PSSUPT Jess Gatchalian and PSUPT Fred Obar who explained to them the Integrated Transformation Program of the PNP. They ended the day with the historical and memorial tour at the Camp Crame grounds.
The next day the foreign contingent was divided into two and visited the various outreaches of the CORPS Movement Foundation. Mladen, Yassen, Tinu and Uk were with Boi , Jojo and Ptr. Dan Afuang (JOSHUA) in Tuguegarao, Cagayan to visit PSSUPT Ma.O Aplasca while the group of Surasak, Savorn, Teerpong and Sareth went with Ron, Belle and Ptr. Jimmy delos Santos to visit PSSUPT Alfred Corpuz who was Provincial Director of Tarlac.
The Cagayan group visited the province of Apayao to have a courtesy call to PSSUPT Nestor Bergonia of Apayao with the pastors of the Independent Baptist Missions for Asians in Apayao under Ptr. Paul Tagoc. They also got involved in a blood letting exercise and had a chance to pray for Luna, Apayao Mayor Betty Verzola. That night they were treated by Mayor Aaron Sampaga who hosted the group at his resort, of Pamplona, Cagayan to various seafoods and delicacies of the Cagayan Province.
The Tarlac group on the otherhand witnessed a BOC visitation program in Tarlac City with the CORPS volunteers: Ptr Julius, Ptr Deo and Ptr Cris . They also went to Camp O’Donnel in Palayan City to visit Lt. Col. Dennis Pacis and see how he is involved in the Military ministry.
The next day, the Cagayan group conducted a Bless Our Cops Program in Apayao with the IBMA leadership under Dr. Richard Bitun, Ptr. Remigio Requizo (Police Ministry Coordinator), Ptr. Paul Tagoc and Ptr. Remigio Gonzales. In the program the different Chief of Police of Apayao meet with their local counterparts from IBMA.
The Tarlac Group on the other hand, witnessed the Compassion Ministry of the CORPS Movement at the PNP General Hospital lead by PNP-HS Comptroller PSUPT Bernie Banac. The missionaries were moved at the point of tears when they saw how pastor volunteers were praying over policemen.
The following day, the Tarlac Group visited the Light Armor Division of the Philippine Army under Col Essel Soriano. They saw firsthand how God was moving in the Philippine Army. The Cagayan Group flew back to Manila following a visit to the Callao caves and rafting at the Cagayan River.
The contigent was then again re-united at the Greenhills Christian Fellowship wherein they conducted a leadership interaction seminar wherein they discussed methods, materials and strategies for the Armed Services. Pastors from the Bless Our Cops program of the CORPS Movement also shared their valuable experience in dealing with the PNP.
The Next day, they were invited to the Philippine National Police Academy to be a part of the Sunday Worship service of the Cadet Christian Fellowship. Ptr. Raymund Go warmly received the group and even let the visitors lead cell group activities among the cadets. The PNPA leadership on the otherhand gave the visitors a silent drill as a gesture of thanks.
Prior to going back to their respective countries, the group wrapped up the trip with a visit to the Rizal Provincial Police Station to witness a flag-raising ceremony and Purpose Driven Life Seminar which is in partnership with the JOSHUA Ministry.
The CORPS Movement together with Ron and Boi Manuel of Armlynk hopes that visit here in the Philippines will be productive as these Christians are now empowered replicate what a simple Bible Study group did 16 years ago.
How a Bible Study Group Touched the World (2): Jesus Solutions and Initiative in Harvard
There’s also a Bible Study group in Harvard, Massachusetts which is also in part started by the same guy that started the Bible study group in Camp Crame mentioned above. Harvard which was founded by American Christian patriarchs to search for truth in light of Biblical principle has long strayed from its own ideals in favor of a secular one.
A group of students, including our very own PSSUPT Cesar Binag, gathered believers from different countries to look upon Christ as model of leadership, good governance and policy making. They started what it is to be known as the Jesus Solutions and Initiative which was recently been acknowledge as a student group in the campus and has recently meet for the first general assembly.
The group aims to introduce teachings of Christ as reform initiative that is still relevant and revolutionary in policy making in all countries around the world and in-trust each member to carry on the teachings of Christ to his or her own country.
The group is also looking forward for the next batch of incoming Christian students, which includes PSSUPT Bong Durana, to carry on what has been set.
Col. Binag has more stories once he comes back…
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