Ed Lapiz never set out to build one of the Philippines’ largest congregations. In fact, he resisted the role of pastor.
“I never wanted to be a pastor,” he told Financial Adviser PH. “Three times I wanted to resign. I only did that Bible study with two people. What can I do? What will I do? But the group grew and grew and grew. I had no blueprint, no plan—just the need to respond to people.”
That “accidental” beginning would eventually grow into Day by Day Jesus Ministries, which today draws thousands every Sunday and has 70 to 80 daughter churches across the Philippines and abroad.
Starting with nothing but need
It began inside a Saudi Arabian compound, where Lapiz worked as a travel consultant and later as an editor. In his free time, he gathered two friends for a Bible study.
“There is no blueprint,” he said. “I only responded to needs as they come and then try to solve problems or to go several steps ahead of possible problems. That’s how Day by Day grew. Not because I wanted it, but because it had to happen.”
Within two months, that small circle of two people grew to 70. Each week, newcomers showed up—creating a new challenge.
“Every week people were bringing friends. Every week there were new people. Evangelize, salvation, kelangan salvation. And then lingo, lingo, lingo. I could not move on with my curriculum because puro salvation,” he recalled.
Improvised systems
With no formal plan, Lapiz improvised.
“I began to identify people who already absorbed the lesson, who could teach it,” he said. “So among the things, they were in another room. One of the people who had been there with me a few weeks ahead would do the lesson. I had to, because there was no one else.”
But the constant influx meant he had to get creative. “I had to devise 12 salvation classes that people receive—1, 2, 3, 4. So if you arrived here one, next week another person begins lesson one, and then it goes on ferris wheel when you enter.”
The result was a rotating curriculum that allowed new attendees to start anywhere in the cycle, while trained volunteers took on teaching roles.
“To make a long story short, I opened classes,” Lapiz said. “We would rent an entire villa and there would be rooms there for classrooms. I was very, very academic in approach—classroom, quizzes, exams. The honor graduates of a course will teach it next time. So you not only learn to learn, but you learn to retain it and to teach it.”
Scaling without a blueprint
Within two years, the underground church in Saudi Arabia had multiplied into seven congregations, each with its own leaders, choirs, and services.
“How many members in two years’ time? We were running seven churches,” Lapiz said. “Full churches with pastors, with leaders, everything.”
For him, leadership wasn’t about strategy documents or five-year plans—it was about improvisation. “There is no plan,” he admitted. “You just try to solve problems and go several steps ahead of possible problems.”
Lessons for entrepreneurs and managers
While Lapiz’s story comes from ministry, his leadership lessons echo in business and entrepreneurship.
Start with what you have – He began with two people and no plan. Growth followed need.
“I had no blueprint, no plan—just the need to respond to people.”
Train leaders early – He multiplied by teaching others to teach.
“The honor graduates of a course will teach it next time. What I taught you, you have to teach to others who can teach others as well.”
Design systems that scale – His ferris-wheel classes allowed endless new entrants without stalling progress.
“I had to devise 12 salvation classes… ferris wheel when you enter.”
Respond, don’t overplan – His success came from adapting quickly.
“I only responded to needs as they come and then tried to solve problems.”
From reluctant leader to movement builder
By the time Lapiz returned to the Philippines, the network had spread through cassette tapes, OFW families, and grassroots gatherings. Today, the main church alone draws around 6,000 every Sunday.
But he still insists it wasn’t his doing. “I didn’t know I would create a church,” he said. “Not because I wanted it, but because it had to happen.”
