AMG International
(Parent Organization)
The Humble Beginnings
Advancing the Ministries of the Gospel (AMG) is an evangelical mission and relief agency currently ministering in 55 countries of the world. Founded in 1942 by George Georgekis and Nicholas Lambrides, AMG International was originally known as the American Committee for the Evangelization of the Greeks. Initially, the organization sent gospel literature overseas and provided aid for undernourished and homeless children in Greece. In America, it sponsored Greek children in an orphanage and produced a bilingual gospel magazine in Greek and English called “The Voice of the Gospel”.
Spiros Zodhiates joined AMG in 1946 and began his ministry in America as field representative for the American Committee for the Evangelization of the Greeks. Under his leadership, AMG began Greek Gospel broadcasts and published gospel messages in a Greek newspaper in New York City. In 1949, he sailed for Greece with 15 tons of new edition of the Modern Greek New Testament. While distributing these New Testaments on the island of Crete, his perspective on ministry changed forever. He met a barefoot little girl, clothed in rags, asking for bread to give her dying mother and little brother. From that point on, AMG did more than preach the gospel; it also practiced it by feeding the hungry, caring for destitute children, and healing the sick. Later, Zodhiates became president of AMG in 1966.
In 1955, the name of the organization, the American Committee for the Evangelization of the Greeks, was changed to American Mission to the Greeks. As the organization expanded its ministry globally, the name was later changed to Advancing the Ministries of the Gospel International.
The organization has expanded its ministry through various services such as orphanages, hospitals and other medical aid, relief work, child care centers, bible schools, publications of magazines and books and correspondence courses.
AMG Philippines
In the Philippines, AMG began its work in 1979 with two child care centers in Manila and in Bacolod City. The underlying purpose of AMG’s children’s ministry is to reach boys and girls with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Children are tutored, given food, and taught bible stories and songs. In most cases, child care centers are formed when AMG partners with a local church to provide help to the needy people in the community. However, there are instances where churches have been formed as children and parents come to Christ through the outreach of a child care center.
AMG-Philippines also established a training center for vocational courses now known as ASHTEC (AMG Skilled Hands Technological College) located in Bulacan and the Home of Hope (HoH) in Bacolod City, a residential home for orphans, abandoned and neglected children. Aside from these, AMG has provided scholarships for Bible School students and assistance for church planting ministries, and newspaper ads evangelism. As a result of these various ministries, new Christians are being discipled and new churches are planted. Some children who have come to know Christ through the child care centers have grown up, attended Bible school, and are now working as national workers.
AMG’s ministry has extended worldwide but its mission is not yet accomplished, that is “to provide every person on earth with an opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel of Jesus.”
The ANG MANANAMPALATAYANG GUMAGAWA, INC. (a national branch of AMG International) is a non-profit, non-stock and non-denominational Christian mission organization. Ang Mananampalatayang Gumgawa. Inc. is incorporated under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines. In consideration for the non-Filipino speakers, the organization is simply called AMG Philippines, Inc.
The ministries of AMG International began in the Philippines in the late 1970’s when AMG missionaries Harold and Muriel Lovestrand (1979-1987) began work here. Starting as an evangelistic effort through newspapers ads and feeding projects churches were established as a result and church planting endeavor. The ministries expanded to provide care for children who were in need and at risk.
The ministries of AMG Philippines continued under the direction and leadership of Rev. Tim Lovestrand (1986-89) and Rev. William V. Layda (1987-2006). In 1989, an application was submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission to create an independent non-stock, non-profit organization, AMG Philippines, Inc. The application was approved in December 1989 and an independent Board of Trustees was put in place. Subsequently, one of the AMG Philippines ministries that addresses the needs of the youth for training and eventual employment was born into what it is now called AMG Skilled Hands Technological College (ASHTEC) in San Ildefonso, Bulacan.
Although it is now a completely independent Christian mission organization, the mission and purpose of AMG Philippines remains in line with that of AMG International. Funding for the ministries of AMG Philippines comes in from AMG International which retains a place in the Board of Trustees of AMG Philippines. Funding is also provided by Woord en Daad of Netherlands, Hebron Presbyterian Bible Church and other local sources.
The leadership of AMG Philippines from 2007 to 2008 was put under its ExeCom. In January 1, 2009 up until his mandatory retirement in August 9, 2023, AMG Philippines was under the leadership of Rev. Hector U. Araña as Executive Director. It was during this period that the ministry of AMG Philippines transformed from a mission organization to become a developmental one to address the special needs of children, communities, and the environment.
Rev. Nemecio B. Barrameda, who serves as ASHTEC President and CEO, was appointed OIC-Executive Director from August 18 – February 17, 2024 and eventually took on the challenge to formally lead AMG Philippines as its Executive Director from February 18, 2024 onwards.
Today, AMG Philippines’ ministry continues to transform the needy Filipino through its Child Development Program, Church Growth Program and Church Planting Institute, Home of Hope, Community-Based Education, AMG Bahay Silungan, Inc., AMG Skilled Hands Technological College, and Fiber for the Future.
