The Ministry was organized by a handful of believers based in MSU, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Nasipit, Cotabato and other areas of Mindanao, Philippines. These Christians were formerly members of campus-based Christian organizations. Through the years, these campus-based Christians after graduating from college went to other places for employment. With the desire to be used by God, they reproduced their lives and commitments by sharing the Gospel to their officemates and friends in places God brought them. In obedience to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), they helped these young Christians grow in their faith and become committed disciples of the Lord Jesus. Later, as the number of Christians attending Bible study increased, they saw the need to establish a local fellowship. 

In 19 June, 1999, this group of Christians started to seek God’s will regarding the establishment of an indigenous Christian Organization.  After much prayer and meditation on God’s words, they founded a Christian organization and named it Arise Christian Ministries, Inc. (ACMI) in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. This place is more or less centrally located and the gateway to Mindanao. The ministry started with twelve ministry areas and outreaches all over Mindanao, Philippines. It was later registered with the government on 23 June, 1999. 

Again after four months of prayer and meditation on the word of God, the organizers conducted a general conference for them and their bible study contacts. On 30 October, 1999, the founders and their bible study contacts formally organized/established the Arise Christian Ministries, Inc. (ACMI). The word Arise was coined from Isaiah 60:1-2. With a vision of: “Communities of believers glorifying God, ministering to each other and sending missionaries to other people groups”, the ministry started with twelve ministry areas and outreaches all over Mindanao. To accomplish this vision, the ministry has the following as its mission: “To be an instrument of God the Father, through the promptings of the Holy Spirit, in bringing people to Jesus, developing them to Christ-like maturity-considering the whole person and his needs-and equipping them to be effective in their distinct gifts and calling, with the end view of realizing and using their full potential as self-sustaining, self governing and self-propagating vessels in God's ministry... all for the glory of God”.

The ministry’s focus is fulfilling the Great Commission - TO GO and MAKE DISCIPLES. Basically, brethren from ACMI share the Gospel to all kinds and walks of people who are willing to hear it. This is done on a man-to-man basis, small group witnessing, mass evangelism and/or crusades, in classrooms, during Christmas and Easter, during wakes and during free medical clinics. The ministry’s aim is that evangelism becomes a lifestyle of the members. Those who responded and are available for bible study are trained until they too become committed disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. In ACMI, new believers are followed up in Bible studies, man-to-man, if possible. Later, as they commit themselves to the Lord Jesus, they too can help others grow, and the process continues to other generations of believers. 

The ministry has two structures, namely; the GO structure and the NOURISHMENT structure. In the go structure, the members share the Gospel to people and train them to be Christ’s disciples. On the other hand, in the nourishment structure, believers meet together every week as a church, worship together; hear His Word preached, and fellowship with each other. It also organized cell groups to meet the personal needs of believers for fellowship and encouragement. 

For the ministry’s social concerns, the Arise Foundation, Inc. (AFI) was founded to cater to the social implications of the Gospel, i.e., socio-economic needs of members. The foundation helps farmers to avail of small loans for their farms, come up with livelihood projects, and assists sick brethren all over Mindanao who can not afford medical expenses, especially minor and major operations among poor brethren. The foundation also gives minimal financial support to brethren who are poor for the education of their children. It also works hand-in-hand with other Christian Organizations in the conduct of medical missions in the ministry’s community outreaches (and also other churches). So far, the foundation had conducted free medical-dental-surgical clinics to depressed areas of Mindanao. During these free clinics, patients heard the Gospel shared to them by the members of ACMI.

From the original twelve ministry areas that formed an umbrella organization in 1999, this year 2011, the ministry, by the grace of God, had spread to more than 50 places in Mindanao. Two new ministry outreaches were also established in the Visayas. Very recently, a new outreach was started in Metro Manila. Indeed, the power of the Gospel, shared by men and women from all walks of life produced spiritual fruits in the lives of others. New believers were followed up until they became disciples, and in turn trained other believers and form new fellowship groups all over the country. In line with the ministry’s vision of reaching out to people groups, some of our leaders are presently involved in reaching out to the tribes in Mindanao, Philippines.