During our September 2025 webinar, four presenters shared unique perspectives on church planting movements.
Jojo Manzano offered a global perspective, highlighting the urgent need for rapidly multiplying disciples to reach the unreached.
Todd Kerns from StoryRunners emphasized the crucial role of storytelling in disciple-making movements. He shared an example from rural Africa where people empowered by stories began planting and multiplying churches.
Sonny and Bel Lapada, serving among the Tagbanwa people in the Philippines, demonstrated how Bible Story Dialoguing can establish house church networks. They have been applying oral methods and principles since the late 1970s, even before they knew the term.
Neil and Doreen Benavidez recounted their experience in Mindoro, Philippines, where they started a Bible school among the Mangyan. They train church planters, most without a high school degree, and require each graduate to have planted at least one church.
AGST Program Director, Doctor of Intercultural Studies.
ATS Adjunct Professor, Intercultural and Urban Studies Department.
Formerly a missionary of OMF International (1989-2005) and International Nepal Fellowship (1981-1989).
Todd Kerns gives direction to the international strategies of StoryRunners. Since joining Cru in 1987, he has served in the campus ministry, at New Life Bible College of Moscow, Russia, and as director of New Staff Orientation. Todd has spent more than 365 nights sleeping in a tent; he and his three children are all Eagle Scouts.
Engaged in translation, language and community development, scripture engagement, training & equipping Calamian-Tagbanwa & Church Leaders in Orality Bible Storying and Dialoguing (OBSD).
Dr. Edwardneil Alvarez Benavidez — a leader, educator, and a practitioner in ministry and missions. He holds a PhD in Religion and Development Studies from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. Dr. Benavidez is the President of MMT Saleng Ministries and Director of the Saleng Leadership Institute, as well as an adjunct faculty at several theological institutions. He is a facilitator of Global Associates for Transformational Education (GATE) and a committee member of the PhD in Intercultural Studies Program of Asia Graduate School of Theology (AGST). With over three decades of ministry and leadership experience — from church planting since 1991 at the age of 15, to grassroots missions among the Mangyan Tribes to academic leadership in Seminaries and Bible colleges — he is also a published author and conference presenter on topics ranging from Biblical studies, Orality Strategies, Transformational Education, Integral Mission, to leadership and resilience.
Prof. Doreen Benavidez is a minister, missionary, educator, and development practitioner. She earned her Master in Divinity and Master in Theology and a PhD student in New Testament Studies. She is the Academic Dean of the Saleng Leadership Institute. She has over three decades of ministry and leadership experience — from grassroots missions among the Mangyan Tribes to academic leadership in Bible colleges. Seminaries and Bible colleges — she is also a published author and conference presenter on topics ranging from Biblical studies, Women in Ministry, to Transformational Education.
Leave a Reply