By God's grace Darryl Anderson, God's servant in communicating His Word at the Mindanao Metanoia Ministries Biblical Training Center, came to the Philippines for the first time in 1992, accompanying his spiritual mentor Rev. Dr. James A. Brettell as he came to offer a 5-day bible seminar for Filipino communicators in Manila. Following that first visit Darryl continued to come twice a year on short-term teaching visits until he moved to Davao City in February 1998 to serve God full-time in a ministry which came to be known as "By His Grace Ministries."
Darryl grew up in North Dakota and after two years of college enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, retiring after 20 years, 4 months and 9 days of continuous, active service. During the last 9 years of his USAF career he also worked part-time with Continental Airlines. Upon retirement from the USAF in 1986 he continued to work with Continental Airlines until he retired with 20 years, 8 months and 15 days of continuous employment with them in January 1998. On February 6th, 1998 Darryl's passport was stamped with a Philippine entry visa as he began his full-time ministry in the Philippines.
Darryl grew up in North Dakota and after two years of college enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, retiring after 20 years, 4 months and 9 days of continuous, active service. During the last 9 years of his USAF career he also worked part-time with Continental Airlines. Upon retirement from the USAF in 1986 he continued to work with Continental Airlines until he retired with 20 years, 8 months and 15 days of continuous employment with them in January 1998. On February 6th, 1998 Darryl's passport was stamped with a Philippine entry visa as he began his full-time ministry in the Philippines.
Darryl married Nenita Nemis Dela Cruz on January 24th, 1999 which established a partnership under the authority of Jesus Christ in each of their lives that has been the foundation of this teaching ministry until today. In the years that followed any and all Filipino men and women involved in the communication of the Word of God were welcomed into Darryl and Nita's home that those men and women might benefit from the teaching of sound, biblical truth.
In August 2000 the office and classroom was bedroom number 2 in the 3-bedroom house they were renting in Central Park, Bangkal, Davao City. That room could accommodate 10 students with chairs and small, individual tables. If there were more than 10 students the tables were removed which meant 22 students with chairs could fit into the classroom.
The number of students exceeded 22 for a 5-day communicator's seminar in the summer of 2002, so since their landlord lived just next door Darryl and Nita asked permission of them to use their carport as the venue for the seminar. That prompted them to advise their landlord of their need to relocate that they might accommodate larger numbers of students.
The number of students exceeded 22 for a 5-day communicator's seminar in the summer of 2002, so since their landlord lived just next door Darryl and Nita asked permission of them to use their carport as the venue for the seminar. That prompted them to advise their landlord of their need to relocate that they might accommodate larger numbers of students.
This was the landlord's home, and since their children were grown and out of the house, and since in their later years they were having difficulty navigating the stairs in this multi-level home, and since they really did not want Darryl and Nita to relocate, they offered to transfer into the smaller house, allowing them and their ministry to move into this house. The house had a half-basement which became Darryl's office and classroom. They could now accommodate up to 40 students. Just one of many examples of the Lord's provision in the lives of Christians at the precise time that the need arises.
The ministry continued to grow as more and more Filipino communicators not only in the Davao area, but throughout the Philippine Islands from Baguio City, Luzon to General Santos City, South Cotabato, Mindanao began to hear of this free ministry. On one such teaching opportunity outside of Davao City Darryl and Nita had been invited to travel to Malita, Davao del Sur. It was December 21, 2005. Darryl had been invited to be the guest speaker at a thanksgiving celebration for a number of individual ministries in the Davao del Sur region. One of the pastors present at that celebration was Rev. Daniel Hiquiana. As a result of that meeting Pastor Dan began to come to the classroom in Davao City to study with Darryl. That marked the beginning of a relationship with the Hiquiana family that continues today. The Lord took Dan home in December 2006 with cancer, but in the twelve months before his death Dan and Darryl spent hundreds of hours together in God's Word, and Dan made it clear before his death that his desire was that Darryl and Nita move their training ministry to Sta. Maria, Davao del Sur.
The ministry continued to grow as more and more Filipino communicators not only in the Davao area, but throughout the Philippine Islands from Baguio City, Luzon to General Santos City, South Cotabato, Mindanao began to hear of this free ministry. On one such teaching opportunity outside of Davao City Darryl and Nita had been invited to travel to Malita, Davao del Sur. It was December 21, 2005. Darryl had been invited to be the guest speaker at a thanksgiving celebration for a number of individual ministries in the Davao del Sur region. One of the pastors present at that celebration was Rev. Daniel Hiquiana. As a result of that meeting Pastor Dan began to come to the classroom in Davao City to study with Darryl. That marked the beginning of a relationship with the Hiquiana family that continues today. The Lord took Dan home in December 2006 with cancer, but in the twelve months before his death Dan and Darryl spent hundreds of hours together in God's Word, and Dan made it clear before his death that his desire was that Darryl and Nita move their training ministry to Sta. Maria, Davao del Sur.
The number of students attending the classes continued to increase. It was sometime in 2008 that Mrs. Hiquiana reminded Darryl and Nita about moving their training ministry to Sta. Maria. The Hiquiana family owned 12 hectares of land near the beach a few kilometers outside of the center of Sta. Maria and told them they could choose any place in that 12 hectare area on which to build a training center. Knowing these things from eternity past the Lord had already made the provision for the answer to their prayers. A building site was chosen, the construction funds were provided and construction began in January 2010. The first "Feeding the Shepherds" class began in January 2011. This gathering in the training center classroom pictured above occurred on Resurrection Sunday, April 24, 2011 when friends of the ministry from five different churches gathered to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Classes sizes have varied from 1 to 30 with students from numerous locations throughout the Philippines. Besides being available to teach in the training center Monday through Friday most weeks of the year, Darryl and Nita are often asked to travel to other parts of the Philippines to participate in youth camps and to conduct 1 and 2 week bible seminars for Filipino communicators.
Classes sizes have varied from 1 to 30 with students from numerous locations throughout the Philippines. Besides being available to teach in the training center Monday through Friday most weeks of the year, Darryl and Nita are often asked to travel to other parts of the Philippines to participate in youth camps and to conduct 1 and 2 week bible seminars for Filipino communicators.