Former boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has one message for Christians: to set a goal to win souls for Christ.
While at the Arise Asia 2026 Conference in Manila, Philippines, the former eight-division boxing world champion challenged Christians to set specific goals.
“With the time I accept Jesus Christ in my life — but before that, people know my old life,” he shared at the event, according to The Christian Post. “A lot of vices in life, drunkenness, gambling, everything like that. I had that. But when God changed my heart and gave me conviction, and I surrendered my life to Jesus and accepted him as my Lord and Savior, then I obeyed.”
Per the Christian Post, Pacquiao shared his testimony with over 4,000 participants from more than 50 countries.
He focused on the Arise Asia 2026 Conference’s theme, “For the Joy,” which is based on Hebrews 12:2.
The verse reads, “…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
“We should set a goal in our day-to-day life: how many souls that you can target in one year to bring to the kingdom of God,” Pacquiao encouraged the crowd. And that goal doesn’t have to be something crazy: “My target this year is to bring two souls to the kingdom of God. Just two. And then next year, maybe I can make five souls. So that’s my goal in life. I encourage you to do the same.”
He explained that life is “like a morning fog that we appear and disappears. How many souls you bring to the kingdom of God in your lifetime in this earth? That’s the question, being a Christian.”
Pacquiao believes that pride is one of the biggest hindrances to many believers.
“The greatest hindrance for a person to be saved is to assume that you are good enough to go to heaven,” he shared. He connected that pride to a failure to read Scripture and pray consistently, which he argued leaves believers unable to resist temptation or remain faithful.
“There are so many Christians right now in the world that we call it backsliding, turning and compromising their faith,” he continued. “They’re not reading the Bible day and night. They’re not praying continually. That’s the most important. That’s the problem for all of us.”
Pacquiao urged everyone in attendance to read Scripture.
“I encourage you to read the Bible day and night, memorizing the Scriptures — that’s how to make you strong. Because when the day of trial comes in our lives, we cannot stand using our physical body,” he said.
For Pacquiao, the message to the thousands gathered in Manila was clear: a transformed life means little without the deliberate, daily pursuit of Scripture, prayer and the goal of leading others to faith.
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