She saw the gate she already knew.

When Haggai Leader Gigi Azarcon closed her eyes to pray at the Haggai Leader Experience, she asked God to reveal where he wanted her ministry to take root. What came to her mind was the main gate of the condominium community she already called home in Manila.

She had arrived home honored and joyful, trusting she had received that vision for a reason. In the days that followed, that reason actually found her. The people of the community didn’t know the Lord and longed for a relationship with him, but didn’t know where to start. She sensed God asking her to reach the people on the other side of the gate and that there was no time to waste. 

Manila did not make it simple, however. Intense traffic stole the hours between the desire to get involved and the ability to do so. Even a simple prayer meeting asked for time the city rarely gave. Still, as Gigi watched her neighbors, she sensed a hunger for something more. 

Months later, she carried the vision of evangelism and fellowship in the condo community to her leaders. She started small: sponsor Masses, remain afterward to fellowship, and invite people into prayer. With the approval of her leaders, a gathering began that November near the community God had laid on her heart at the Haggai Leader Experience.

By the following June, 13 neighbors started attending regularly. Thirty-one people volunteered to speak, sing, pray, and welcome whoever came. “By his grace, they served as they were able, whenever they were asked.”

Gigi moved to Baguio City, but the vision God gave her traveled with her. She found the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals and immediately began to serve in music and prayer. The hurdles there were different and quieter than traffic in Manila, but still impactful. On weekdays, people went home early and weekends were kept sacred for family. 

She felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit to invite her brother and sister-in-law to come, but they refused at first. Not giving up right away, she asked again. By God’s grace, they accepted the invitation and found a nourishment they had not expected. They decided to make it a regular occurrence and kept coming back every week. Eight other people found community within the group and started returning regularly. 

The call was God’s, Gigi was the instrument used to carry it out.

In Manila, other hands have taken over the ministry, and the Monday gatherings continued. And Gigi remains faithful where she’s planted and has open hands and an open heart for wherever God is going to call her next. 

written by Leah Spivak