Dear IVCF Family and Friends,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

It is my great privilege to be appointed as the new National Director of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Philippines. This moves me to share with you my IVCF journey. It started in 1987 when I joined ISCF in Baguio City. It was an exciting period for me. I learned Quiet Time, joined Inductive Bible Studies and attended summer camps. In college I was an IVCF student-leader at Saint Louis University. In 1994, I gladly joined the Grad Team ministry in Baguio City.

I became an IVCF staff in June 1998 as the Regional Director of IVCF in Northern Luzon. Then I became an associate pastor in 2006. Another exciting event in my life was when I was blessed to study MBA in Biblical Stewardship and Christian Management at the Asian Theological Seminary in June 2005. I graduated in March 2007.

My journey to be the IVCF National Director started in October 2007. Kuya George Capaque, our current IVCF Board of Trustees Chairman, informed me that I was being considered, among other candidates, to be the next National Director. I admit I said yes passively to this possibility, but in January 2008, as I read Isaiah 6:8 during my Quiet Time, I was personally challenged with the questions, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Following Isaiah’s answer, I prayed, “Here am I. Send me, Lord.” God answered that prayer on February 14, 2008 when our Board of Trustees appointed me to be the IVCF National Director.

With God as my confidence and competence, I have started to lead our movement. My meditations on the book of Nehemiah these past days inspire me to strengthen our movement by improving our people, processes and programs. I will work by building on our IVCF’s valuable trainings, traditions, and treasures, and fortify these with new tools, techniques and technologies. I envision IVCF at the forefront of proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and creating lasting impact to students and graduates in the Philippines and the rest of the world.

This will not be an easy task. I will need help. IVCF will need plenty of support. And so with courage and humility, I invite you, my dear IVCF family and friends, to be our co-laborers, partners, and donors in this God-given task of “equipping servant-leaders for Christ in the new millennium.” Let us work together in IVCF for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ!



Your servant-leader in Christ,


Mr. Erickson M. Velardo
National Director