“A City Filled with the Gospel”

An Interview with Church Planter Kim Adrian Pancobilla, Metro Manila

In the heart of Metro Manila, one of the busiest and most vibrant cities in Asia, a young church planter named Adrian has just launched a new gospel-centred congregation. Having gone through the City to City Intensive and Incubator training, Adrian has carried a dream in his heart for nearly a decade to see his city transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In this conversation, Adrian shares how God called him to church planting, the joys and challenges of ministry in his context, and his vision for Parañaque City, that it might one day be filled with churches proclaiming Christ.

–

A Calling Planted Early

Q: Could you tell us a little about yourself, your family, and how your journey toward church planting began?

Adrian: Of course. My name is Kim Adrian Pancobilla. The Lord first put the desire to plant a church in my heart about eight years ago, when I was still studying for my bachelor’s degree. At that time, I was just a young man, and honestly, I didn’t fully understand it. But that desire stayed with me through the years, and the Lord has sustained it.

Now, I’m actively pursuing a church planting ministry, and we just launched our first church plant, Christ Presbyterian Church, on 26 October this year.

My wife, Charlet, has really embraced this calling alongside me. Church planting often means opening our home, welcoming people in, filling our living room, and showing hospitality, and she’s fully on board with that. Our daughter, Aurea (which means “golden”), is part of this journey too. I’m very thankful that both of them support what God has called me to do.

Called to Plant the Gospel in the Philippines

Q: You originally planned to pursue a PhD in New Testament studies. How did that calling shift toward pastoral ministry and church planting?

Adrian: I’ve always loved theology, and the desire to pursue the PhD is still there, but during Bible school, especially in courses like Pastoral Epistles, God began to redirect me. Theology isn’t just for study; it’s meant to serve the church.

Today, the Philippines is often called the only Christian nation in Asia, but most people here are Catholic, and the gospel of grace isn’t always clearly preached. Many churches emphasise tradition and salvation through works rather than Christ’s grace. So even though it’s considered a Christian country, there’s a big need for gospel-centred churches.

Q: Was there a moment or experience that stirred your heart toward church planting?

I grew up in a church that didn’t clearly preach Christ. It was more about moral talks than the gospel. When I looked around Metro Manila, I saw many churches but only a few that faithfully preached on grace regularly. Knowing that about 78% of the population is Catholic and only around 2% Protestant, and that even fewer preach the gospel clearly, really burdened me and made me dream of planting a gospel-centred church.

Attending the Asia Intensive

Q: You attended CTCAP’s Asia Intensive for church planters. How did that experience shape your journey?

Adrian: The Asia Intensive was fast-paced but incredibly eye-opening. It helped me connect theology to practical ministry in an entirely new way. I can’t imagine myself continuing in church planting without going through the Intensive. It also complemented the Incubator programme really well, which is slower-paced and gave me time to reflect deeply on my city and ministry context.

Q: Were there any particular sessions that had the most impact?

Adrian: Definitely! The Gospel Renewal modules were powerful. They helped me understand how the gospel applies to the specific struggles and idols in my city. These modules weren’t about “how to do church planting” but about understanding what the gospel truly is. The gospel isn’t just about sin and redemption; it’s the full story of creation, fall, redemption, renewal, and restoration that speaks to every part of life.

Another module that really touched me was on Sonship and Adoption. I knew about justification and being declared righteous by faith, but this showed me that God also welcomes us into His family as His children. It’s not just a legal standing but a personal relationship. That changed how I saw my identity in Christ and how I wanted to invite others into that relationship.

The Preaching modules, particularly Preaching to the Heart, were really special. They also sharpened my understanding of how to communicate the gospel clearly and faithfully, which is essential for planting a church that truly proclaims grace.

Challenges Along the Way

Q: What are some challenges that you’ve faced as you prepared to plant this church?

Adrian: One of the biggest challenges has been raising funds, as I am still learning how to connect with new people and expand the network for this movement.

Another challenge is engaging the culture of the city where we’ve planted the church. In Metro Manila, the majority of people are quite indifferent towards faith. They’re not hostile to Christianity, but they don’t really care about it either. Most people here may have very comfortable lives, but in reality, true comfort and peace in life and in death are only found in Christ. That’s why I want them to know the gospel.

Helpful Resources and Training

Q: Besides City to City’s church planting training, were there other resources that helped you prepare for this journey?

Adrian: City to City’s Intensive and Incubator training were both incredibly helpful. But outside of that, Tim Keller’s Center Church has been a big influence.

It really helped me think deeply about the gospel and my context at the same time, and to develop a theological vision for my city. I also listen to Keller’s talks and sermons on YouTube; they’ve been a great encouragement.

A Dream for the City

Q: As you look ahead, what is your dream for your city?

Adrian: My dream for Parañaque City, here in Metro Manila, is that it would be filled with congregations where Christ is proclaimed and where His gospel is preached every Sunday.

Christ is our greatest need, and I long to see this city filled with gospel-centred churches and communities in every corner.

Prayer Requests

Q: How can we pray for you and your church plant?

Adrian: Our church plant was just launched in October, so please pray that it may continue to remain gospel-centred and grow healthily for God’s glory.

Pray for me as I continue preaching and evangelising over the next several months while also preparing for my ordination exams in June 2026.

Another prayer request is for fundraising and partnerships. We’re meeting with churches, organisations, and individuals who might partner with us, but we’re still trusting God to provide more supporters for this work.

And finally, pray for greater unity and collaboration among gospel-centred churches here in the Philippines.

–

As Adrian and Charlet open their home and hearts to a new congregation in Parañaque City, their prayer is simple yet powerful: that every neighbourhood in Metro Manila would one day echo with the good news of Jesus Christ.

“Christ is our greatest need, and my dream is to see this city filled with churches that proclaim Him.”

Please join us in praying for Adrian, Charlet, and Aurea as they take this bold step of faith to plant Christ Presbyterian Church in Metro Manila, trusting God to bring lasting gospel renewal to their city and beyond.