Mission Update: A Call to Abra - Revival of YWAM Abra

Short YWAM Abra History

In 1990, my parents, Santi and Luz Tabilla, together with me (then a few-month-old baby) and my older sister Kristin, went to Abra to pioneer YWAM Abra. It was a season of revival among young students and among the tribal communities, particularly the Mabaka and Adasen tribes. We remained in Abra for 17 years.

In 2007, after successfully helping plant churches among the Mabaka tribe in Buneg, Lacub and Adasen tribe in Paganao, my parents felt led to move to Mindanao to begin work among a tribal community there.

YWAM Abra eventually closed around 2017, when the base leader, Lorenzo Masigman, had to focus on strengthening churches across the Cordillera region.

YWAM Abra staffs, 1991 (I was the 1-year-old boy)

God’s Call and Vision for YWAM Abra

After I became engaged (Oct 2025) to Meriam, who is from the Maeng tribe of Abra, the Lord began to clearly speak to me about restarting the work in Abra.

While being commissioned by the YWAM Northern Luzon leaders in Kalinga (May 2026), the Lord gave me clear direction to focus on SPIRITUAL WARFARE:

(1) prayer and fasting,

(2) worship,

and (3) the Word of God (study and teaching).

During a recent trip to Abra in June 2026, the Lord gave me a vision of a base situated in a quiet area away from town noise, surrounded by nature—a spiritual refuge where people can grow in prayer and fasting, worship, and the study and teaching of God’s Word.

Future Plans

I will be leaving YWAM Baguio in November of this year (2026). I began staffing in Baguio on November 7, 2016, marking ten years of service this coming November 7. I will be going to Abra.

Dec 29, 2026 will be our wedding. All are automatically invited (tribal wedding style). It will be in Sabnangan, Luba, Abra (2 hours from downtown Bangued).

We have already found a suitable place for Meriam and me after our wedding. It's few meters from the school she's teaching in. I will go ahead to help prepare the location and support preparations for our wedding.

In 2027, I will focus on building our marriage and spending intentional time as a couple. I will continue to serve in the YWAM Northern Luzon Regional Leadership Team and the YWAM Philippines Media Team (website) but will be stepping into a lower level of involvement for that year.

After this one year of semi-furlough, I plan to focus on restarting YWAM Abra based on the vision the Lord has given me, with a potential timeline of 5 to 7 years.

I am grateful that the staff and leaders in Baguio have responded with peace, affirmation, and support regarding these plans.

James and Meriam Engagement, Oct 2025

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14 New International Version

Prayer Request on Some Needs:

• Wisdom: I will be teaching on the topic of worship to the Pongian church. I have the impression that it will be a vital time in their spiritual growth. I will also teach at the Discipleship Bible School in Vietnam, covering 1–2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs, focusing on godly leadership. Please pray for supernatural wisdom as I study and as I teach.

• Prescription Eyeglasses: I broke my glasses last January during a leadership meeting in Palawan. Thankfully, I can still use my old glasses, but they sometimes cause migraines. (50 USD) (God provided on the day this was posted)

• Laptop: My 9-year-old laptop died last May 2026. Thankfully, with God’s wisdom, I was able to repair Meriam’s broken 6-year-old laptop. I have no idea how long this laptop will last, but I certainly need a new one. (Second-hand units range up to 400 USD, and brand-new ones range up to 1,000 USD.)

• Travel Ground Fees: God has faithfully provided for my round-trip tickets to Vietnam and Mindanao, but I still need ground fees for those trips.

• Wedding: God has faithfully provided over 1,000 USD for the wedding. Praying for more to be able to feed all those who will be coming.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Psalm 23:1 New International Version