We believe that God has given each and every one of us a talent that He intended for us to use as a tool to tell others about Him. For a man named Sam, that talent is riding dirt bikes. A former Philippine National Professional Motocross Champion, Sam uses his love of the sport and his talent as not only a rider, but former champion to share Jesus with others.

Sam will be sharing along with Todd and I (Connie) at the Eastern and Northwest Work & Witness Conferences about how his father, an influential businessman, was impacted by a Work & Witness Team of corporate professionals that came to the Philippines and got down in the dirt and worked to build a church alongside the nationals. This prompted his father to take an inward look and stepping out in faith became a pastor, and eventually a DS as well.

Left for dead alongside the road in 1999 after a fatal accident that took the life of his father (coach/Nazarene Pastor/DS) (bus collided with the Team Yamaha vehicle) Sam committed to living life as a “second lifer” dedicated to being 100% sold out.  God has used him to not only start a race ministry that was just recently featured on the Pilipinas Got Talent Franchise to millions of viewers (no exaggeration here), but also to pioneer an English service and Generation Congregation (GenCon) youth movement of training “Frontliners” to become disciple makers.  He has gone to the skate parks and interacted with the “untouchables” several of whom are now licensed ministers. There are now 4 generations of leaders who are discipling leaders, the group has surpassed 200 youth.

Sam was asked to be a featured speaker for the Asia-Pacific Quadrennial Regional Conference in October of 2015, to share his vision and passion for reaching the lost in non-traditional manners.  He has served on the board of trustees for one of our Nazarene Bible Colleges, has been instrumental in our Lay Ministries Training Programs, and as an ordained elder, is a very well respected member of the clergy here on the Philippine / Micronesia Field and across the Asia-Pacific Region.

Work & Witness Conference Information http://workandwitness.nazarene.org/index08e4.html

Two years ago God prompted our hearts to come alongside Sam and his wife Faith in this unique ministry. Motocross was never our passion, but reaching people for Jesus is! We found that as we looked at what God had placed in our hands, the opportunities through this unique ministry, that God used and blessed our efforts.
Stepping outside of our comfort zone, we saw God step in and provide not only opportunities to share, but the words we needed for each encounter. Since that time, you will find us at the race track on Sunday mornings (motocross has now become our passion), talking with the riders, encouraging them, and true to form Connie will have her camera out taking photos of them practicing and sharing them on social media. As we share with them, we have the opportunity to share the love of Jesus as well.

Around 10:30 we huddle up with whoever is there to practice and we have church. Not your typical worship style, these guys are hot and sweaty and wearing all their gear. But God meets us there and lives are being transformed. Several come just for the Bible study even when they are not practicing, and some go get their wives and kids as well. Although this is not the type of church we grew up with, we wouldn’t want to be any place else!

Our first missionary assignment was in the Pacific Islands of Micronesia where Todd was a pilot for Pacific Missionary Aviation and I was Mom to a very active 2 year old and helped out in the office as needed taking position reports and such. When the Chief Pilot was out of the country and Todd had to make a flight to an outer island, he had engine trouble and ended up taking the engine apart on the coral runway and putting it back together. It was then that I made up my mind that I was going to get my pilots license, so I could at least fly a part to him if needed!

When we returned to the US after our 3 years there, God worked it out for us to join a flying club and get an incredible deal on renting the airplane. I got 42 hours in that month!!!! Had just one night landing and one other item to check off the list in order to take my test to be a private pilot. On my last solo cross country, with forest fires blazing, thunder clouds building and Borade Bombers flying across my windshield, I decided I had reached my goal and did not need the sign off. I was flying solo, but not alone! I was scared, but calm, nervous, but a weird sense of peace filled the plane. I believe God sent an angel to help encourage me. The voice of an older pilot came on my radio – as I was trying desperately to contact flight following, without any luck because I was over a ridge to avoid the heavy metal airplanes that were fighting the fires. He asked me if I knew where I was and I assured him I did. He asked a few other questions and then said he would relay for me. He did so and with a calm reassuring voice coached me along.

Because of the weather, I was hitting up and down drafts that were taking me beyond the 50’ +/- allowed by my husband instructor who insisted I follow airline standards because he did not want me flying if I was not proficient as he did not want to raise our four kids alone!

Solo but not alone…..I think that one of the reasons I didn’t feel alone in that plane was an experience I had while living on the island. When our youngest daughter was about to be born, Todd had to make an emergency medical evacuation of an 18 year old boy who would have died had Todd not been able to get him to the trauma center on Guam. I was solo then, had another missionary wife and a lady lawyer friend I had made, but no husband, mom or sister there….. God helped me through that in a miraculous way. With a smile on my face, and a peace in my heart, God was there in that delivery room as our daughter entered the world. I asked my friend Dawn to take pictures with my camera as I wanted Todd to know that I was OK through it even though he was not able to be there. Not something I could have done on my own, but God gave me the strength when I needed it, to get through what I had to.

When we were stationed in the Ivory Coast and the civil war was really heating up, a decision was made to send the wives and children to South Africa for safety. Three moms and 11 kids got on the plane that night. Flying solo again…..but not alone. Once again, God gave me a peace and although it was not easy for our family, we made it our goal to help the other two families with smaller children make the most of the experience. When we arrived, we were escorted to apartments for each family and I was given the keys to an 18 passenger van and a map book of Johannesburg, South Africa. I was elected to be the chauffeur because I didn’t have any accidents on my record. South African vehicles have the steering wheel on the right side, and one drives on the left side of the road! I took a solo flight before I trusted myself with all those people. One of my sons went with me and one stayed with the girls. Our first trip around the block we got a flat tire!!!! But again, God gave me the peace and assurance that He was with me and we got it fixed and I was able to drive the families all around Johannesburg safely.

Now we are in the Philippines. In the past 21 days I have been Solo 17, and the couple of days Todd was home, were a whirlwind of preparations for the next trip to Indonesia. Solo but not alone…. I am so thankful that God is here with me, giving me that weird peace, blessing me with beautiful sunsets, and good friends to chat with. Even though the monsoon rains, caused by a typhoon sitting offshore, increased the mosquito population. And since we do not have any screens on our house, they swarmed around me eating me alive. After I stopped counting at 44 bites on one leg, I started to get the tale tell symptoms of sickness. I am so thankful that it was not a bad case, headache behind the eyes, fevers and nausea, but not so bad I had to seek medical attention. I had my down days where I didn’t feel good and was frustrated with being solo again. But through it all I am reminded that I am Solo, but not alone!

Gospel music is what fills me back up. Not just listening, but singing along. So the solo times make that a little easier… Poor Todd and our kids have had to put up with this for years! When I have a good internet connection, I can watch You Tube videos of Gaither concerts. But when that is not working, I listen to the few CD’s I have over and over and never get tired of singing to my Lord. I am transported to the presence of the King when I lift my voice in song, and I’m Forever Grateful!