Brief History of YWAM Mountain Province:

The work of Youth With A Mission in Bontoc was started by two foreign missionaries, Jackie Schori (Swiss) and Paulina Brown (Guam). Responding to the suggestion of then YWAM Director Jeff Romack, the two ladies who first worked in Benguet moved to Bontoc in 1986 and quickly established relationship among the Bontoc and nearby Kalinga people. Aside from Jackie and Paulina, the first YWAM Bontoc base staffs included a Filipino couple, an American couple, and three Filipino single guys as staff. The focus of the ministry was on church planting in the villages and mercy ministry. From 1986 to 1990, Bible studies were held weekly in Maligcong and in Dalican, Bontoc. Two churches were planted during that time – one in Anabel, Sadanga and one in Bugnay, Kalinga. In the late eighties, more staff joined the base and the student ministry was added to the existing ministries.

In the 1990s, YWAM church planting extended to Pakak in Rizal, Tabuk; Caneo, Bontoc; Buscalan, Tinglayan and Kadaclan, Barlig. YWAM outreach teams from different nations were a big help. It was also in the 90’s when YWAM leaders with emerging church leaders conceptualized the idea of coming up with an independent organization to manage and supervise the churches planted by YWAM missionaries for sustainability and autonomy. Hence, the Tribal Christian Churches Association was born and most of the YWAM planted churches became members under the umbrella of this newly formed organization. Church planting work continued in the late 90’s to include Ableg, Pasil and outreaches this time included Saclit, Sadanga; Payag-eo, Sagada and Balili & Mainit both in Bontoc municipality.

In 1998, the first Tribal DTS was held in Cada, Mankayan, Benguet directed by Ferdie & Dee Sim. The directorship was eventually turned over to Patrick Fegcan in 1999 and the next TDTS was held in Bontoc, Mountain Province in January 2000. Since then 3 Tribal DTS were conducted until 2002 when most of the staff finished their commitment and left for furlough or further training. Due to health & other reasons of staff concerned, the TDTS stopped for a while. Meanwhile, Discipleship Training Courses, Marriage Enrichment Seminars and Kids & Youth camps were regularly conducted by the remaining staff.

In 2001, the Stairway to Heaven Ministry which is a student sponsorship program supported by a Korean missionary became an attached ministry of the Bontoc Base concurrently handled by Patrick Fegcan. The program became a full YWAM Student Sponsorship Ministry in June 2005 when this was left by the supporter.

At present (2008) the on-going ministries of YWAM Mountain Province include but not limited to church planting & strengthening (Caneo & Payag-eo), student sponsorship ministry, discipleship training courses, family enrichment seminars, summer youth & kid’s camp, missions mobilization, discipleship training school, Nehemiah Network, Moral Recovery Program and the latest addition, the One Story Project.