Pastor Gary Visitacion is no stranger to starting something.
He founded FCA ministry in the Philippines in 2010, developing leaders, volunteers and relationships in the sports world. The Philippines ministry is thriving, staff has grown and God’s been moving.
But God also began moving in the hearts of Gary and his wife, Grace, stirring them toward another island in the South Pacific: New Zealand, a country comprising two main islands, North Island and South Island, and a number of smaller islands scattered along the Pacific Ocean. Its geography is as diverse as its people.
In February 2020, after the FCA International Directors Development conference in Dubai, Gary flew home via Australia to visit his son, with plans to see New Zealand, as he and his wife knew God was shifting and directing them to move. But at that time, the country shut down all travel as COVID-19 descended.
Gary was in Australia for seven months, unable to get home. When he finally reached the Philippines, he met with his team via Zoom and continued their ministry as best they could. As opportunities for in-person activities increased, Gary began taking cultural lessons to learn more about New Zealand’s history. He focused on Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington – three of the largest cities in the country – and prayed for God to raise up people who could come join him and help him get a foot in the door.
When borders opened in 2022, Gary and Grace moved from the Philippines to New Zealand. Soon, God began opening doors in multiple cities. Gary connected with a prominent former rugby player-turned-pastor in Auckland who saw the influence of FCA and opened doors for Gary in schools and with other high-profile athletes in New Zealand.
One day, Gary received a phone call from an unlisted number. On the other end was Derek, a young man from Idaho who had just moved to New Zealand. Derek had been involved with FCA while attending Liberty University in Virginia, and upon arriving in New Zealand, he immediately sought out FCA while helping run camps at a sports center in Christchurch. Gary met with Derek and his boss, a man from South Dakota who was familiar with FCA from his college years. The meeting began a budding relationship, and in 2024, they collaborated to run a sports camp.
God also began to open doors in Wellington, where the national teams train. “I have a volunteer there who’s reaching out to them,” said Gary. “So, basically in two years alone, God opened doors for three cities right away,” said Gary.
Gary’s been amazed at how quickly he has made connections.
“I did not expect that this would be what would happen because of the pandemic, and then the world is starting all over again. But God really put the puzzle together and I could see how He got me connected to the right people.
“It's been a game changer, because the approach has totally changed from what I did in the Philippines for 15 years,” he added. “The Philippines is a religious country. When you talk about God, they're going to listen to you. The very first thing I saw was that New Zealand is very secular. There's not so much opportunity that you can just share the Gospel.
What keeps the people of New Zealand’s attention? Vacations, work, sports. If there’s faith, they keep it private. So, Gary’s been learning how to operate in this new environment, being flexible and prioritizing relationships.
New Zealand is a multicultural mix, comprised of groups of people native to the country and groups who have settled from other islands and Europe.
“You have to plan multiple strategies,” said Gary. “When you deal with Europeans, it’s one way. With Polynesians, it’s another. I’ve learned to balance a lot over the years; in the Philippines, I’d work with U.S. teams, and I’d find myself having a U.S. mindset, then flipping over to work with the Filipinos. I have to balance everything, so ministry is successful.”
Things are unfolding in God’s perfect timing.
When Jim Dayhew became Australia’s Leader with FCA, Gary flew over for his commissioning, building a relationship with him and sharing a growing vision on his heart for the 22 islands in the South Pacific.
Something God had been teaching Gary this last year was perseverance.
“There was a break for two years [with COVID-19], I’m used to running every day with FCA, and all of a sudden, you have to stop. I wonder, am I getting rusty? But I believe development with leadership should never stop. I’m a learner; that’s why I enrolled to learn about New Zealand’s culture.”
Gary’s a builder and pioneer, venturing out into new lands, but knows it’s going to take more workers to cover ground in the country. “I need to raise young blood, young leaders,” he said.
Looking back at where God has taken him, God will continue to use Gary’s pioneering spirit for sports ministry as he continues to settle and be rooted in New Zealand.
Please pray for more leaders to come alongside Gary for the mission in New Zealand, for continued relationship-building and for wisdom for Gary as he leads.
To learn more about what Gary and Grace are doing in New Zealand, visit https://www.fcanewzealand.org/.
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