Ferdinand Tobias completed his Master of Divinity Program at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary in 2015. Ferdinand’s heart for ministry has always been with children. During his time as a student at APNTS, Ferdinand became involved in compassionate ministries. He led his fellow students in sharing Bible stories and feeding the street children living under the bridge in the Kaytikling area.
Today Ferdinand, and his wife Heather, live in Metro Manila where they serve as missionary teacher trainers in Child Evangelism Fellowship. They conduct seminars at churches and Bible colleges to equip children’s ministry workers to share the Gospel, and teach the Bible to church and unchurched children. Besides conducting training programs, Ferdinand and Heather also work on the field by participating in outreach, and teaching the Gospel and Bible to Values classes in public schools.
Ferdinand and Heather’s lives as missionaries is fulfilling, but at the same time challenging.
Since they do not charge for the training they offer, the couple has to raise funds for their living expenses. The next big challenge for Ferdinand and Heather is finding volunteers to teach weekly Bible clubs for the children in schools and in the community. There are not enough volunteers to reach all the unchurched children. And last but not least, because they are on the field often times, they get sick and infected by contagious diseases. Heather caught dengue in Cebu, and Ferdinand was infected with tuberculosis, among other viral infections, in Benguet. Nonetheless, God’s gracious hand is upon Ferdinand and his wife.
At the present, they are at 74% of their support goal but God helps them through using others to bless them with love gifts. God also helps them by leading them to people and churches that desire training in sharing the Gospel to children. These partnerships are God’s blessings to the couple as it is where they can reach more children and families for Christ. In addition, the Lord blessed them with favor from their organization by allowing them to be on a sabbatical while Ferdinand had to undergo medical treatment for tuberculosis.
In a few months from now, Ferdinand and Heather will be assigned to another area where they will minister to children. When asked what words of encouragement he has for the community, Ferdinand made an appeal to APNTS students. “Students should participate and avail themselves now in the ministry according to areas they are called to even if they are full time in their studies. It will make them more effective both in the present and future because the Lord will grow in them the compassion for the lost.”
Let us keep Ferdinand and Heather Tobias in prayer as they prepare for transition, and as they both continue to heal from illness.
