Mega Manila Churches Unite ‘As One’ for 12-Hour Vigil for Worship, Prayer, and Fasting
Deaconess Phoebe Dayao, chair of the Prayer Committee under P.O.W.E.R. ministries, leads a heartfelt prayer for the Philippines as participants reach out their hands toward the national flag at New Life Church in Arayat, Pampanga. (Photo by Missy Balingit)
ARAYAT, PHILIPPINES — A wave of united prayer swept across continents from October 31 to November 1, 2025, as churches under the Mega Manila Annual Conference of the Global Methodist Church (GMC) gathered for a 12-hour vigil of worship, prayer, and fasting themed “As One.” From Nueva Ecija to Tarlac and Pampanga, Metro Manila to Rizal, Aklan to Davao del Sur, and as far as the United Arab Emirates and Western Europe, Filipino Global Methodists came together from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to seek God’s righteousness and deliverance for the Philippines.
Crying out against corruption and moral decay, and lamenting the unrelenting series of natural disasters—typhoons, floods, and earthquakes—that have recently struck the country, participants echoed the Psalmist’s cry, “where does my help come from?” and declared in faith, “My help comes from the Lord” (Psalm 121:1-2, NIV). Across time zones and continents, the faithful worshiped, interceded, and poured out both anguish and hope before the God they believe is powerful, sovereign, and good.
Led by the Holy Spirit
“The Holy Spirit suddenly moved among us, unannounced. We had an agenda planned that evening, but the Spirit stopped us in our tracks and led us instead to weep and intercede for our nation.”
The vision for the vigil was conceived five weeks earlier during a Connectional Council meeting of the Mega Manila Annual Conference held via Zoom. The Holy Spirit moved powerfully during the opening devotion led by Pastor Luther Oconer, Conference Superintendent, as he reflected on the memorial service of Christian conservative leader Charlie Kirk, who had been assassinated just days earlier. Oconer explained that, even in the midst of tragedy, Kirk’s death was igniting a revival across the United States—an awakening, he said, that was transforming the nation. He emphasized that this is the kind of revival—one born out of love for country and self-sacrifice—that the Philippines urgently needs, especially in light of the recently exposed large-scale corruption scandals involving government flood control projects.
As they transitioned to pray to begin with the business part of the meeting, “The Holy Spirit suddenly moved among us, unannounced. We had an agenda planned that evening, but the Spirit stopped us in our tracks and led us instead to weep and intercede for our nation,” said Oconer.
What was meant to be a routine meeting turned into a spontaneous prayer gathering as one person after another began to pray and prophesy for the nation. Out of that holy moment emerged the vision for a united prayer vigil—an idea first proposed by Pastor David Sablan Jr., Conference Evangelist and Chair of the Board of Ministries. The council unanimously agreed to organize what would become a historic, Spirit-led event for the entire conference, scheduling it on the eve of All Saints’ Day, a national holiday in the Philippines.
The council tasked P.O.W.E.R. Ministries, through its Prayer Committee chaired by Deaconess Phoebe Dayao, to coordinate the effort. The team mobilized churches across the conference through daily online devotions and prayer reflections shared by various leaders on Facebook. These daily moments of intercession built spiritual momentum and unity that culminated in the 12-hour worship, prayer, and fasting vigil.
Pastor Joanne Valenzuela, pastor of Cansinala Christian Community Church, leads the assembly to a time of deep repentance at New Life Church in Arayat, Pampanga. (Photo by Missy Balingit)
A United Vigil
“It was a time when, as a church, we repented for having forgotten to weep for our nation and for simply accepting our situation as part of reality.... It was truly a moment of self-denial as we persisted in prayer throughout the night just to seek God—and He did not fail us.”
At Palmera Grace of God Church in Taytay, Rizal, forty-one members from mission churches gathered “As One” to proclaim recovery and healing for the nation. Prophetic declarations of freedom from spiritual, emotional, and physical bondage were released, accompanied by testimonies of miraculous healing.
In Pampanga, five congregations—New Life Church, Cansinala Christian Community, Keilah Christian Community, Jesus Reigns Forever Church, and Angeles City Central Church—came together at New Life Church in the town of Arayat. The evening overflowed with repentance as participants experienced a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Among them was Isaiah Salas, a candidate for the ministry from Keilah Christian Community, who remarked, “It was a time when, as a church, we repented for having forgotten to weep for our nation and for simply accepting our situation as part of reality. We humbled ourselves before God as we interceded for the Philippines. It was truly a moment of self-denial as we persisted in prayer throughout the night just to seek God—and He did not fail us.”
At New Horizons GMC in Cabanatuan City, the vigil featured the anointing of oil upon all attendees—a powerful act symbolizing unity and consecration. The active participation of its entire Church Council reflected a deepening spirit of shared leadership and faith.
Hybrid Gatherings
Several congregations adopted hybrid formats to broaden participation. At St. John Methodist Church in Cubao, members gathered both onsite and online via Zoom, with rotating prayer leaders guiding the intercessions throughout the night. Church leaders testified to the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit and expressed hope for more such vigils in the future.
One of the prayer stations at Rock of the Nations Gospel Fellowship in Manila. (Photo from Rock of the Nations Gospel Fellowship/Facebook)
At Rock of the Nations Gospel Fellowship in Manila, worshipers gathered both onsite and online for a powerful time of spiritual warfare and prophetic intercession. Prayer stations were set up throughout the sanctuary, each inviting participants to engage in specific prayer activities. Most of the attendees—many of them young people—wrote down visions, words, and promises from God directly onto the sanctuary floor, a symbolic act of claiming His promises for their lives and for the nation. Anton de Leon, one of the youth leaders, testified, “We believe that during those twelve hours of prayer and worship, God released people from bondage, restored relationships, brought healing, and heard the cries of His people as they lifted up the Philippines for His glory.”
Among Generations
In Davao del Sur, the gathering at New Corella Methodist Church became a touching testimony of how God moves even among children. The youngest participant was just three months old. “Her mother led the congregation in prayer while carrying her,” wrote their pastor, Queenie Balingit, who also serves as Presiding Elder of the Visayas-Mindanao District. She added, “Then a seven-year-old boy named Nugget prayed for a deeper hunger and thirst for God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Three little girls—so adorable and full of faith—joined in declaring the authority of the Holy Spirit upon everyone.”
In Pililla, Rizal, the faithful at Overflow Church continued in worship despite heavy rain. Encouraged by Isaiah 41:10—“Do not be dismayed, for I am with you”—families gathered to pray over simple rice porridge meals, while the youth carried on in praise and worship until dawn, declaring prophetic words over their lives and the nation.
“Then a seven-year-old boy named Nugget prayed for a deeper hunger and thirst for God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Three little girls—so adorable and full of faith—joined in declaring the authority of the Holy Spirit upon everyone.”
Global Unity in Prayer
Meanwhile, participants joining via Zoom from different time zones experienced a simultaneous outpouring of the Holy Spirit. At exactly 3:47 a.m. (Philippine time), Pastor Girlie Bangunan of Encounter Church reported in the Facebook group chats to announce that a powerful breakthrough has been reached, “The prayer sessions in the Zoom room were overflowing with passion—with cries and fire—an atmosphere charged with faith and the presence of the Holy Spirit!” After the initial twelve hours, the vigil continued for another twelve, this time led by members and leaders of the Empowered Methodist Christian Mission in England and Spain. The entire online gathering was facilitated by Vida Mei Rivera, chair of P.O.W.E.R. Ministries, who was in England at the time.
Screenshot from the 3:47 a.m. Zoom session, when Pastor Girlie Bangunan reported a powerful move of the Holy Spirit across Mega Manila group chats as it was happening. (Photo from Girlie Bangunan/Facebook)
The spirit of intercession also carried over to the Middle East, where GMC Qatar held its own vigil a day later, coinciding with the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. The congregation lifted prayers for believers around the world, asking for divine protection, courage, and perseverance in proclaiming the Gospel.
On that sacred night, the churches of the Mega Manila Conference became one body in Christ—worshipping, praying, fasting, and standing in the gap for the nation and the world. Across regions and generations, they encountered the living God who hears, forgives, heals, and restores.
As One, they prayed. As One, they believed. As One, they were filled with the power of the Triune God. Hallelujah! To God be the glory!
