It Only Took One Minute
Randolf Bayo was nervous as he sat in the waiting room of the mayor’s office in Medellin, Philippines. But he knew God had led him to come, and to be patient. Haggai leaders Andrew and Josephine Ching invited Randolf to a Haggai national seminar in Cebu City in 2016. For Randolf — a Filipino native, seasoned church planter, and senior pastor — it was a life-changing experience that sharpened and reshaped his leadership skills. Randolf returned home, “rejoicing and recharged,” with one clear goal in mind: to reach the municipal mayor of Medellin, Cebu, Philippines, the highest position in the municipality.
Randolf calls this his “Big, Hairy, Audacious, God-Given Goal.” He planned to ask the mayor to spend one minute in prayer with him, thinking, “Who could say no to giving just one minute of their time?” There was one problem: No one in the mayor’s office knew Randolf. Yet, week after week, Randolf patiently visited the mayor’s office and asked for a meeting. Finally, at the end of one workday, the office granted Randolf’s request. The mayor was curious at Randolf’s persistence and touched that Randolf would care that much; he agreed to let Randolf pray with him for one minute a week.
Randolf returned the next week and the next, praying over the mayor for 60 seconds, until one day the mayor asked, “Pastor, why only one minute? I can give you more time to pray with me.” Those minute prayers became unlimited. Then, Randolf was invited to share God’s Word during a weekly flag ceremony. Randolf continues to share the Gospel with government staff in this flag ceremony every Monday morning with three other pastors.
During the mayor’s State of the Municipal Address, he recognized Pastor Randolf as the municipal spiritual adviser. At the same event, the Medellin police chief and fire chief introduced Pastor Randolf to a military officer, who invited him to a newly activated training camp. The two became good friends and established Bible studies and values formation instruction at the camp. Earlier this year, the military officer was baptized with his son and eight others. This official is now actively ministering to his fellow soldiers and those under his care, and he has shared the Gospel with his whole family. Randolf’s “Big, Hairy, Audacious, God-Given Goal.” continues to impact more and more high-ranking officials. He is involved in the center of the municipality’s activities and councils, which gives him the influence to speak into how the municipality operates.
Watch Pastor Randolf Bayo:
Recently, he was invited to talk about “Righteous Leadership” at a meeting with newly elected government officials and staff. He also teaches a credited theology course, equipping pastors and church leaders who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend a Bible college. After their Haggai Leader Experience, Haggai leaders Andrew and Josephine Ching committed to equipping others in their spheres of influence. Now, through national ministry and God’s work in Randolf, heads of government and military in the Philippines are coming to Christ, impacting an entire municipality.
“God has enlarged our territory,” Randolf says. And it took only one minute.
Written by Bethan Mingle
It Only Took One Minute
Randolf Bayo was nervous as he sat in the waiting room of the mayor’s office in Medellin, Philippines. But he knew God had led him to come, and to be patient. Haggai leaders Andrew and Josephine Ching invited Randolf to a Haggai national seminar in Cebu City in 2016. For Randolf — a Filipino native, seasoned church planter, and senior pastor — it was a life-changing experience that sharpened and reshaped his leadership skills. Randolf returned home, “rejoicing and recharged,” with one clear goal in mind: to reach the municipal mayor of Medellin, Cebu, Philippines, the highest position in the municipality.
Randolf calls this his “Big, Hairy, Audacious, God-Given Goal.” He planned to ask the mayor to spend one minute in prayer with him, thinking, “Who could say no to giving just one minute of their time?” There was one problem: No one in the mayor’s office knew Randolf. Yet, week after week, Randolf patiently visited the mayor’s office and asked for a meeting. Finally, at the end of one workday, the office granted Randolf’s request. The mayor was curious at Randolf’s persistence and touched that Randolf would care that much; he agreed to let Randolf pray with him for one minute a week.
Randolf returned the next week and the next, praying over the mayor for 60 seconds, until one day the mayor asked, “Pastor, why only one minute? I can give you more time to pray with me.” Those minute prayers became unlimited. Then, Randolf was invited to share God’s Word during a weekly flag ceremony. Randolf continues to share the Gospel with government staff in this flag ceremony every Monday morning with three other pastors.
During the mayor’s State of the Municipal Address, he recognized Pastor Randolf as the municipal spiritual adviser. At the same event, the Medellin police chief and fire chief introduced Pastor Randolf to a military officer, who invited him to a newly activated training camp. The two became good friends and established Bible studies and values formation instruction at the camp. Earlier this year, the military officer was baptized with his son and eight others. This official is now actively ministering to his fellow soldiers and those under his care, and he has shared the Gospel with his whole family. Randolf’s “Big, Hairy, Audacious, God-Given Goal.” continues to impact more and more high-ranking officials. He is involved in the center of the municipality’s activities and councils, which gives him the influence to speak into how the municipality operates.
Watch Pastor Randolf Bayo:
Recently, he was invited to talk about “Righteous Leadership” at a meeting with newly elected government officials and staff. He also teaches a credited theology course, equipping pastors and church leaders who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend a Bible college. After their Haggai Leader Experience, Haggai leaders Andrew and Josephine Ching committed to equipping others in their spheres of influence. Now, through national ministry and God’s work in Randolf, heads of government and military in the Philippines are coming to Christ, impacting an entire municipality.
“God has enlarged our territory,” Randolf says. And it took only one minute.
Written by Bethan Mingle
It Only Took One Minute
Randolf Bayo was nervous as he sat in the waiting room of the mayor’s office in Medellin, Philippines. But he knew God had led him to come, and to be patient. Haggai leaders Andrew and Josephine Ching invited Randolf to a Haggai national seminar in Cebu City in 2016. For Randolf — a Filipino native, seasoned church planter, and senior pastor — it was a life-changing experience that sharpened and reshaped his leadership skills. Randolf returned home, “rejoicing and recharged,” with one clear goal in mind: to reach the municipal mayor of Medellin, Cebu, Philippines, the highest position in the municipality.
Randolf calls this his “Big, Hairy, Audacious, God-Given Goal.” He planned to ask the mayor to spend one minute in prayer with him, thinking, “Who could say no to giving just one minute of their time?” There was one problem: No one in the mayor’s office knew Randolf. Yet, week after week, Randolf patiently visited the mayor’s office and asked for a meeting. Finally, at the end of one workday, the office granted Randolf’s request. The mayor was curious at Randolf’s persistence and touched that Randolf would care that much; he agreed to let Randolf pray with him for one minute a week.
Randolf returned the next week and the next, praying over the mayor for 60 seconds, until one day the mayor asked, “Pastor, why only one minute? I can give you more time to pray with me.” Those minute prayers became unlimited. Then, Randolf was invited to share God’s Word during a weekly flag ceremony. Randolf continues to share the Gospel with government staff in this flag ceremony every Monday morning with three other pastors.
During the mayor’s State of the Municipal Address, he recognized Pastor Randolf as the municipal spiritual adviser. At the same event, the Medellin police chief and fire chief introduced Pastor Randolf to a military officer, who invited him to a newly activated training camp. The two became good friends and established Bible studies and values formation instruction at the camp. Earlier this year, the military officer was baptized with his son and eight others. This official is now actively ministering to his fellow soldiers and those under his care, and he has shared the Gospel with his whole family. Randolf’s “Big, Hairy, Audacious, God-Given Goal.” continues to impact more and more high-ranking officials. He is involved in the center of the municipality’s activities and councils, which gives him the influence to speak into how the municipality operates.
Watch Pastor Randolf Bayo:
Recently, he was invited to talk about “Righteous Leadership” at a meeting with newly elected government officials and staff. He also teaches a credited theology course, equipping pastors and church leaders who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend a Bible college. After their Haggai Leader Experience, Haggai leaders Andrew and Josephine Ching committed to equipping others in their spheres of influence. Now, through national ministry and God’s work in Randolf, heads of government and military in the Philippines are coming to Christ, impacting an entire municipality.
“God has enlarged our territory,” Randolf says. And it took only one minute.
Written by Bethan Mingle
