Living in His Faithfulness: Pursuing a Work in Progress
Life is a journey of pursuits—and while we may take our time before pursuing life,
God never delays in pursuing us.
Whether it’s through His faithfulness to us or His faithfulness shown through us, one thing remains true: His love and grace are constant, and His pursuit of us is never just a one-time thing. This truth is beautifully reflected in the story of Ariel and Amor Ladores, and in the journey of ICOC Davao.

God called Ariel into His Kingdom while he was in college, studying nursing and actively serving in another church. At the time,
Ariel was deeply rooted in religious pride, but it was through the pursuit of spiritual knowledge that God captured his attention.
Ariel had a girlfriend then, and one of his classmates invited her to church. Concerned about the church’s potential influence on her beliefs,
Ariel confronted the disciples studying the Bible with her. In turn, they challenged him to study the Bible—an invitation Ariel accepted, not out of a desire to learn,
but because he had something to prove.
Ariel studied the Bible on and off for a year. During that time, he was challenged to change and give up his relationship with his girlfriend, but he continued to live a double life.
Still, God never faltered in pursuing him. He used disciples to hold Ariel accountable. Disciples, who were his neighbors, would regularly visit his home and even wait outside his classrooms to check up on him. Through their persistence, Ariel began to feel the church’s deep concern for him.
Earlier in life, Ariel had experienced abandonment from his family, which left him with insecurities when it came to relationships.
But through the church, he felt genuinely pursued by God, and that encouraged him to begin pursuing God in return.
Through his Bible studies, he knew he couldn’t follow God while living a double life. Eventually, Ariel made the decision to give up his relationship and fully accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
Ariel had to take a break from college for a while to work and he transitioned from the Campus Ministry to the Singles Ministry. There, he led a Bible Talk and also served as an usher during Sunday Services. During one encouragement date, Ariel noticed another disciple who immediately caught his attention. Although he was on a date with another sister, he had the chance to interact with this particular disciple, Amor.
During the date, Ariel managed to get Amor’s contact number and was also able to go on an encouragement date with her. Before long, Ariel found himself looking for ways to catch a glimpse of Amor, even though she was serving in another ministry.
Ariel, determined to pursue Amor, even sought help from their leaders. They went on several encouragement dates, one of which included a ride on a Ferris wheel, despite Ariel’s fear of heights.
After their third date, during their midweek devotional, Ariel finally asked Amor to be his girlfriend, and she said yes. However, Amor later admitted that she still needed time before she could fully reciprocate his love.
So even when they were already dating, Ariel continued to pursue her.
Two months into dating, Ariel and Amor were sent to Davao as two of the 17 disciples who made up the first missionary team. Being able to serve as a missionary was a long-time dream of Ariel’s.
Little did Ariel know that while he and Amor were pursuing God’s Kingdom, God was also using their missionary journey to shape their relationship. In Davao, Ariel and Amor grew closer, which later paved the way for their marriage.
When their leaders moved to another province,
Ariel and Amor stepped up to lead the church in Davao. In 2005, they stepped down from leadership, and Ariel resumed his studies in nursing, later earning his license. Though
Ariel and Amor had plans for their family, God was calling them beyond the Philippines. And so, in faithful pursuit of His will, they left Davao to
plant a church in Chonburi, Thailand. After seven years there, they moved to
Battambang, Cambodia, to help nurture the young church, while Ariel worked as the hospital director of Handa Medical Center.
In 2018, Ariel and Amor returned to the Philippines for their son’s college education. At the time, their stay was only supposed to be temporary, as they were also considering settling down to another country, just the two of them. Their main objective was to find a school for him before they moved abroad. When they couldn’t find one in Manila, they returned to Davao, where they eventually found a suitable school. When they returned, they were asked to help out in the ministry, and they agreed.
Though Ariel and Amor hadn’t planned to stay long-term, their hearts were moved by the state of the church in Davao, the very church they deeply loved. At the time, the church in Davao was experiencing slow growth, possibly due in part to challenges in leadership. Many disciples were also in need of spiritual support, with several facing relational struggles as well.
Ariel and Amor stepped up to lead the church in Davao, though their plan to migrate to another country still lingered in the back of their minds. However, as they became more aware of ICOC Davao’s growing needs, they found it difficult to walk away. In their hearts, God’s calling was stronger. With encouragement from their brothers and sisters in the faith, Ariel and Amor finally decided to remain in Davao.
Indeed,
God used Ariel and Amor’s leadership to further His Kingdom in Davao. They inspired the disciples to embrace a vision for the church and dedicated an entire year to teaching lessons on Treasure Principles, helping cultivate hearts of selflessness. They also met with church leaders to discuss vision and sacrifice, all in the pursuit of expanding God’s Kingdom for His glory. Under their leadership, the church is now developing a continuous curriculum designed to support various ministries, beginning with pre-teens as they transition into the teen ministry, then to campus, and beyond.
It was through God’s grace and His continued pursuit of Davao that Ariel and Amor were able to help
plant three churches in the region over the last six years: ICOC Digos, ICOC Tagum, and ICOC Kidapawan. Today, the ICOC Davao Region has over 200 disciples, with a campus ministry that continues to grow. This growth became a great help in strengthening the faith of the local church—unity began to take root, reigniting their zeal to serve.
Though Ariel still sees ICOC Davao as a work in progress, he rejoices in witnessing God’s many blessings poured out on the church. Ariel and Amor are looking forward to what God will do for Davao. Filled with faith and love for Davao, they
aim to raise up next-generation leaders and to strengthen their Campus Ministry for the next five to seven years. They are also planning to acquire land and establish a church building. Ariel and Amor are also excited to see the fruits of the continuous curriculum
that they are currently working on as a church.
The story of Ariel and Amor Ladores, and of ICOC Davao, is a testament to what God’s pursuit looks like. From one man’s calling to a growing church community, God has been faithful in pursuing His people—never stopping at conversion, but continuing through every season, every challenge, and every calling. And while much has already been done, their story is far from over. As Ariel and Amor continue to lead with vision and humility, and as the church in Davao continues to grow in faith and purpose, one thing remains clear: God’s pursuit of His people is unrelenting, and His plans for Davao are far from finished.
With your support we can help Ariel, Amor, and the rest of Davao Church evangelize their city!
You may be miles away but with your donation, you can be part of God’s mission.
Watch our newest Walking in the Footsteps video below!
