Footsoldier Ministries was founded in 1999. The mission at that time was to reach the homeless and the very poor. We set up our portable equipment under the overpass or wherever we could set up, preached, sung the gospel and fed the hungry in the Tampa Florida area. In the year of 2011 after some ten years of ministering to the homeless we were barred from under the overpass at 19th St. and Adamo Dr. and moved to the downtown area. After about eight months there the 2012 Republican Convention was heading for Tampa. We then got the news that our tent had to be moved and we were on the move again. With the authorities pushing us out of the downtown area we headed for the outskirts of the city to the Clair Mel area. This put us out of touch with most of the homeless and very poor.
As you well know, when doors start closing it isn’t wise to go hunting for a crowbar; but you do look for another door to open…and this happened. In 2012 I visited the Philippines and got connected with some of the most wonderful hard working ministers on earth. Cooperating with these pastors, we started our feeding there just like in the US, but what a difference. If we could feed 300, we gave out 300 tickets, then we had 300 there, if we could feed 500, we gave out 500 tickets, then we fed and preached to 500, They were happy and coming to Jesus, we were happy and the community leaders were very grateful because we were concerned for, and feeding, their people.
2012 trip to the Philippines
Things have not changed. Our mission has not changed but the borders have increased. At his writing I have made some seven trips to the Philippines. Last year (2015) in the months of August and Sept. we preached to some 1,500 souls and about seven hundred souls came forward to pray for salvation. Right now we are planning a meeting in Asturias, Cebu for March 11, 2016 and we plan to feed and to preach to some 3,000 souls. Your prayers are much needed!
Well we went to Asturias and the meeting was great. When I first arrived in Toledo City in 2012, I told the pastors there that hopefully one day we would have a five thousand soul feeding and preaching service…..and some continued to remind me of this statement. So we made our next step from 1,000 which we did several times to plan a 3,000 soul feeding. With God’s help and much work by the Fellowship Voice of Zion ministers on March 11, 2016 we had well over 3,000 in attendance and an estimated 1,100 to 1,200 souls raised their hands and prayed the sinner’s prayer.
We also had another crusade in the Dumaguete, Negros area with Pastor Mark Orot where a 1,000 plus were fed with music and preaching. Anestimated 400 or so souls came forward…what blessings!
This year, 2017 on March 25, we fed and preached to well over 5,000 souls at the Ace Binghay Soccer Field in Balamban, Cebu. It was our 5th anniversary celebration and an estimated 2,500 plus came forward to open their hearts and pray the sinners prayer.
From there we went back to mountains in Southern Negros, with pastor Crestina Bourgh where in two services we reached approximately 600 to 800 souls, with 200 or more praying the sinners prayer.
I have now made more than a dozen trips to that nation and together with the hard praying, fasting and working pastors we have seen some 7,000 souls come to the Lord….so blessed!
Be Blessed!
Bro Jim