Kalinga is in the Northern Luzon, in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). It is a landlocked province bordered by Apayao, Cagayan, Isabela, Mountain Province, and Abra. The terrain in the west is mountainous, while in the east there are rolling hills, river valleys, and lowlands. It has eight municipalities/towns namely: Tinglayan, Lubuagan, Balbalan, Pasil, Tabuk, Tanudan, Pinukpuk, and Rizal. Tabuk City is the capital of Kalinga province. Agriculture is the main source of living. Kalinga is home to different indigenous ethnic groups: Balbalan, Bangad, Basao, Butbut, Dananao, Guinaang, Limos, Lobo, Lubuagan, Naneng, Mabaka, Malango, Sumadel, Tanudan, Tobog, Tinglayan, and Tulgao. Most of the tribal people are strong and fearless. They have peace pacts with one another to preserve their relationships. They also love to sing and dance as part of their cultural gatherings and preservation.

The Butbut people are one of the ethnic groups of Kalinga, living both in the upland and lowlands. They are situated in five barangays of Tinglayan municipality, in three barangays of Tabuk City, and in three barangays of Rizal town. In the past, the Butbuts were animists: they trusted their ancestors and were afraid of the various spirits they believed must be appeased with offerings and rituals. Because God loved the Butbut people, He sent NTM (expat) missionaries in 1974 – Charlie and Janice Breithaupt, Thomas and Rondy Yoakum, and the Reagans, to preach the Gospel to them. There were about 20 believers in the Lord Jesus when their ministry was hindered, and missionaries had to leave the station in 1981. Emiliano Macad became the leader of the fledging church until 1986. A strong earthquake eroded the rice fields and as a result, the believers went to the lowlands and were separated from each other. By God’s mercy, He raised Johnny Macad to study at NTSM in 1994 and brought him back to Butbut Proper together with his wife, and children, as NTMPI missionaries. The ministry among the Butbut people was reopened in May 2001 when the Macads began the Chronological Bible Teaching. After a year of listening to God’s Words, many people put their trust in the Lord Jesus when they understood that He alone is the Son of God who paid for their sins on the cross. The Church known as the Body of Jesus Christ in Butbut continued to grow in faith.

Praise God for He also sent other evangelical workers to other barangays where the Butbut people are. In 2008, the Annual Butbut Evangelical Churches’ Conference was held, spearheaded by pastor Johnny. Since then, the fellowship among evangelical churches has become very strong and has been a great help in their faith journey. It was only during the pandemic that the conference was stopped and held again last 4-7, 2022. When the Macads moved out from Butbut Proper in 2010, to revive the ministry among the Banao tribe, God raised a young people to pastor the Butbut Church. From that time up to the present, Pastor Salem Yac-ao did a wonderful job of shepherding God’s flock in Butbut. This year, 2022, they celebrated their 20th anniversary as a showcase of God’s amazing Faithfulness. When Johnny went home to be with the Lord in 2020, Orpha with her two kids went back to Kalinga province the following year 2021, and lived among Johnny’s family and fellow Butbuts in the lowland, in Rizal. God gave her the opportunity to teach young people and some women in the village. Last August, co-missionaries Gideon and Winnie Pasigian with their daughter moved to Rizal, Kalinga to help Orpha reach out to the men and couples, disciple them, and train them to serve God. The team’s ministry will include the Student Ministry in Tabuk City, which is a “catch basin” for all people groups in Kalinga province. Many young people from different tribes are studying in Tabuk City, where several Universities and colleges are located. For the first year, the team will focus on discipling the Butbut young people and then train them to reach out to their fellow students.