Manila, Philippines
CO Manila was launched in 2015 and serves in partnership with Breadcom QC church to reach students at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. They exist to build laborers in a region (SE Asia) where 39% of the world's unreached people groups are. It is one of the only countries in this region where we can legally and aggressively build Gospel movements on college campuses. Within the Philippines, Manila is known as the "King" of all its cities. As one of the most densely populated cities in the world, it contains the country's top two Universities and is the hub for all political and financial activity in the Philippines. The Filipino people are known as "courageous Asians" because millions leave yearly to live and work abroad. To have an impact in this city among the leaders of the next generation is an opportunity of a lifetime!
Our Team
Jeremy Cabansag
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2020, 88% of the population in the Philippines are Christians, and 79% are Catholic. Under the same census, I am recorded as Catholic because I was born in a Catholic family. As the foundation of my catholic faith was weak, knowing God did not matter much to me. In January 2020, I was invited to attend Campus Outreach Manila’s partner church service, Bread from Heaven Community Church (BreadCom QC). There, the gospel convicted and comforted me. I was completely overwhelmed by the grace of God, and enamored by the Son’s sacrificial love. Since then, I have seen my need for Jesus Christ, which made me hungry for the gospel. BreadCom QC and CO Manila catered to a brave and safe space for me to learn and experience the love of God. Now, I desire to serve with the same church and ministry. I hope to glorify God by building laborers for the lost world.
Steve Discher
Steve and Lindsay were both impacted by the ministry of Campus Outreach during their time at the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. There, they grew into a deeper understanding of their need for God’s grace, and they both gained the conviction of wanting others to know the good news of Jesus Christ. Steve went on staff with Campus Outreach in 2011, and after they married in November 2012, Lindsay joined Steve on staff, where they both ministered to students in Minnesota. During that time, God increased their vision to minister to students in an international context. Steve and Lindsay, along with their four children, are excited to continue to bring the gospel message to university students in the Philippines and see lives transformed through Jesus Christ.
Janae Karr
Janae grew up in a Christian household but didn’t know what it meant or looked like to have a personal relationship with Christ until high school. After understanding God’s desire for a personal relationship and seeing her need for a Savior, she chose to follow Christ in 2019. She was involved with Student Mobilization at Texas Christian University, where she learned how to help others know Jesus, and about God’s heart for all nations to know Him personally. Janae has been committed to growing in relationship with God and making disciples on her college campus. She is excited to continue to do campus ministry in Manila, Philippines and be a part of God’s global mission.
Paola Lavalle
Before I knew Christ, my sense of significance and identity came from what I could do and how I thought I could please the world. As the power of the Gospel weaved into my life, I saw that my value did not come from what I could do, but from what Christ had already accomplished for me on the cross. God allowing me to live in light of His love and grace has changed my life and my vision for how I can use it in service of Him. This was something I deeply wanted to share to others which is why I decided to pour out this year of my lift to the ministry, help lead others to Christ and glorify His name on the campus.
Joe Lesser
Joe came into a real relationship with the Lord during his freshman year at Kansas State University. Through the impact of men and women on his campus, Joe had the opportunity to attend a summer project where God began to draw on his heart. Not only would Joe learn how to share his faith, but he learned that there are nearly 3 billion people who have never heard the Gospel. With the same heart Paul had when writing Romans 10:13-15, Joe decided to use his time after college to be overseas. This led him to faithfully respond to God’s calling by serving in Manila, Philippines.
Kamila Maisa
During college, the Lord used Campus Outreach Manila to draw me closer to Him. Through His grace, I came to see that what I truly needed wasn’t academic success or the approval of others, but Christ Himself. He showed me that only He can truly satisfy. I would never have known this if it weren’t for the people God used who patiently invested in me, those who took the time to show me why Jesus matters in my life. As I grew in knowing Him, so did the desire to make Him known, especially to students who are searching for meaning and hope, like I was. In the same way others poured into me, I want to be that for someone else. “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?” (Romans 10:14.) It’s His work in me that brought me to this point, and I simply want to be part of what He’s doing. I’m grateful to follow where He leads, trusting that He is the one at work in and through me.
Jason Paderna
I came into college knowing who Jesus is but not fully understanding what He did and why He matters. In my junior year, I met one of the student leaders of Campus Outreach Manila and he invited me to Bible studies. As he led me to Christ and helped me grow more in my relationship with Him, I felt God change my perspective, my desires, my goals, my purpose in life. The past year, especially the past semester, I was given the opportunity to be more active in the ministry and was able to lead Bible studies with other students and I was given the privilege to witness other students come to know Christ deeper and grow in their relationship with Him and desire Him more and more in their life. It has been such a joy to witness other students come to know Christ and I have felt God calling me to continue in the ministry and after praying about it for the past year and seeking counsel from my leaders.
Kendall Rintamaki
Kendall grew up in Kansas City, Kansas and went to college at Kansas State University, where she studied Hospitality Management. During her first semester in college, she understood how to have a relationship with God and saw her need for a Lord and Savior in her life. Kendall gave her life to Jesus, and then for the next 3.5 years in college, she was committed to growing her love for God and learning how to make disciples on a university campus. She is so excited to continue doing campus ministry in Manila, Philippines!
Matthew and Taylor Roth
Matthew and Taylor have both been following Christ since high school. Each independently decided to move overseas and join Campus Outreach in Manila, Philippines, where they met. After serving in Manila together from November 2018 through November 2020, they were married and committed to serving with CO Manila for the foreseeable future. Both Matthew and Taylor, along with their son Elliot and their new baby on the way, are so excited for the opportunity to continue serving Him by investing in the lives of college students in the Philippines!
Danielle (Dayne) Salomago
I knew of Christ, but I didn’t commit to having a personal relationship with Him until my first year in college; in growing and learning about Him and my need for Him. I met Katie, who introduced me to a campus ministry present at my university in Cebu, Philippines called StuMo. She started pouring her life into me, and that’s when my life turned 180 degrees. I saw a drastic change in my life and got convicted to share the gospel not only with my family and friends but also with the students. After I graduated, I was introduced to CO and had the privilege of witnessing Campus Outreach staff ministering in Chiang Mai, Thailand. God spoke clearly and led me to serve with CO Manila. It was a journey of tough decision-making, but in a short, intimate time period, God gave me His loudest assurance and showed me His sovereignty. Now, I’m here, called not to perfection but to progression for His glory.
Kylie Simon
Kylie grew up in a Christian household, but she never truly understood what it meant to have a relationship with the Lord until she was in college. Through her involvement in a campus ministry, she made the decision to follow Christ. Throughout college, the Lord continually grew her heart for the world and the need for all nations to know Christ. Because of how God changed Kylie’s life in college, she chose to join Campus Outreach Manila for two and a half years to share the Good News with Filipino college students. The Lord used that time to transform many lives and make a lasting impact on her life as well. As a result, she decided to return to Manila as a long-term staff to continue to invest in students and share the gospel. Kylie is so excited for this opportunity to continue serving the Lord in the Philippines!