Our Mission

by Steve Murrell

Little did I know that after that night, in February of 1994, my life and ministry would never be the same. I expected a good meeting with some old friends. I did not expect God to show up; at least not the way He did. Rice Broocks, the master of nicknames, now calls that night the “Manila Miracle.”Rice and Phil Bonasso were checking out church planting opportunities in Singapore and Malaysia. Since they were in the neighbourhood, they decided to drop by Manila for a quick visit.

Phil and I discussed our common vision for missions and church planting in Asia and the world. We discussed our common passion for campus ministry. We discussed our shared commitments to biblical standards of purity, holiness, and courtship. We discussed our emphasis on discipleship and leadership training. As we talked, we were both amazed at the similarities in our ministries.

Our histories, foundations, core values, and visions were almost mirror images of each other. Plus, there was the “Rice factor.” Rice was an integral part of the foundation and ongoing apostolic leadership in both of our ministries.At some point, Phil asked if there was any way we could work together in Singapore and Malaysia. As we discussed this possibility, we all felt there was much more on the Lord’s agenda than those two nations. As the night progressed, we realized God was merging our ministries into one. Phil and I both looked at Rice and said we would merge our ministries only if Rice would agree to be the leader (president). Rice eventually agreed on Every Nation was born late that night in my home in Manila.

It was as if God stepped into my house that night and said to the three of us: “Your mission,Mr. Broocks, Mr. Bonasso, and Mr. Murrell – should you choose to obey – is to honor God and advance His Kingdom through church planting, campus ministry, and world missions.”The next few years, as we faithfully, made disciples, planted churches, and trained leaders,God joined several other ministers and ministries to us.These three common Every Nation sayings concerning our three top ministry priorities not only explain our past, but also point the way for our future.