A Blog for the leaders at Calvary McAllen

This blog is a place for Lead Pastor Julio to share updates on leadership ideas and developments at Calvary. I encourage feedback and comments as we together seek God's leadership for our church and for His mission.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

A Summary of our Mission Trip to the Philippines


(traveling from Manila to La Union)

         Our 2015 mission trip to the Philippines has concluded.  I am typing this brief summary on the flight from Manila to Tokyo.  It is noon on Wednesday, June 17, 2015, Manila time.   


I am extremely grateful for the opportunity the Lord gave me to travel with a fine team from CBC to the Philippines on a mission trip.  Such a rich experience is difficult to relate with any kind of thoroughness.  Suffice it to say that God showed himself faithful to us in our ministry to others, in our individual discipleship, and in the growing together as a team.  The prayers of our families and church back home were evident every step of the way.

        

(Mikee Gatan and Jose Luis Jimenez sharing the gospel on campus)
Numerical statistics never tell the whole story.  We did not set numerical goals.  However, when so much is accomplished in one trip, numbers help to give a starting point for telling the story.  With that in mind, I offer a few numbers below:


  27 from CBC ministered in La Union

  17 from CBC ministered in Iloilo

200 people were seen in the medical missions

600 students at the High School assembly

100 youth with whom we played basketball

170 individuals prayed to trust Christ as Savior

150 Filipino church youth encouraged by our youth

130 Filipino pastors addressed by Pastors Julio & Marcus

    3 yards of concrete laid! :)


         Allow me to unpack these a little.  The nature of our trip was both exploratory and service to the people and churches of the Philippines.  Having some contacts in the La Union and Iloilo Provinces with Baptist churches and organizations, we came to learn what they are doing and see how we might pray, support, or perhaps even partner with what they are doing.  We also came prepared to do medical missions, personal evangelism, discipleship conferences for youth, discipleship & missions conferences for pastors, children’s ministry and sports evangelism.


(moms and children waiting for medical mission in Aringay)

         The first leg of our trip was in the La Union Province.  With First Baptist Church, San Fernando leading, we came alongside and did medical missions in two under-served communities (Aringay and San Gabriel).  During the medical missions, some of our team ministered to children and others went to do evangelistic home visits with the local leaders.  Additionally, our students did basketball evangelism in several places.  They played basketball and as youth gathered they shared the gospel with them.  Through one of the local pastors, Marcus and our students had access to a public High School where they addressed students in an assembly and presented the gospel to them.  Pastor Ray Semilla convened pastors from three different provinces for a conference, which I had the privilege to lead.  I had the opportunity of encouraging these dear pastors and of challenging them to join the global mission of God through discipleship and mobilization.  During our time in San Fernando, our youth had an opportunity to have guided interaction and fellowship with the youth of FBC, San Fernando.  They established new relationships and encouraged one another.  Finally, some of our key leaders met with key leaders from FBC, San Fernando to hear a presentation about a holistic community development program that is working across the Philippines.


         The day before we flew out to the Iloilo Province we had the opportunity of visiting the Philippine Baptist Seminary in Baguio City.  This seminary was founded by the International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and provides pastoral education to most of the pastors in that area of the Philippines and to some who come from other surrounding countries.  The seminary is now under Filipino leadership and funding.  Nevertheless, it was humbling to see how our mission funds have provided such key institutions for the advancement of the gospel in South Asia and beyond.

(the group on the campus of the Philippine Baptist Seminary)

         The second leg of our trip was to the Iloilo Province.  Although English is spoken throughout the Philippines and the national language is Tagalog, each province has its own language also.  Everyone is bilingual, and many are trilingual.  While in the part of the country we visited a church plant in a remote rural area that is building a structure where the church can meet.  We helped mix concrete and pour it while some of our team ministered to children.  Most importantly we enjoyed great fellowship with the congregation and the pastor who supports himself by growing pineapples, rice and bananas.  We then visited the church where Kiril Brana and his family attended when he was a child.  Kiril and Wendy sponsor their Awana program.  So the children made a presentation to our group and extended a time of fellowship as well.  Our first day ended when Pastor Marcus, our students and other members of our team ministered to youth from various churches in the area who gathered for a regional conference on youth discipleship and evangelism.


         We stayed at the Philippine Christian University, a large university founded by the American Baptist Convention, which provides various majors and also educates pastors at the graduate level through their school of Theology.  (Most of the Baptist pastors in that area of the country graduate from this institution).  Sunday we attended the oldest Baptist church in the Philippines (est 1900) and I had the honor of bringing the message in their mid-morning service, which is in English.  (The early service is in the local language).  That afternoon I preached at the University Church, which is in the middle of the University campus.  Many students and young people attend there.  Services at both churches were very well attended.  In the afternoon our students and other members of the team did personal & basketball evangelism around the campus.  (Although it is a Christian University, there are many students who attend that do not have a personal relationship with Christ, much like our Baptist/Christian universities in the U.S.).
 (our students help lay a concrete floor for a church in Ayuya)


         The Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches convened a seminar for pastors which Pastor Marcus and I were privileged to facilitate.  We offered encouragement, the mobilization challenge, a vision for discipleship, and help in youth ministry.  While we did this, our students and evangelism team continued to do evangelism on campus.
(the convention posted a banner for our conference outside of the university campus)

To God be the glory, great things he has done.  He used every member of our team according to his/her gifts.  He taught us much.  The opportunities for follow-up and potential partnership are latent.


         I am thankful to Calvary, the Pearl ABF, the missions committee, Pastors Chad, Marcus and Paulo, and each member of our team (see the list below).  Thanks for your prayers, your financial contributions, your support, and the investment of your lives.  I am blessed!


1.   Paulo Gatan

2.   Marcus Rodriguez

3.   Jose Luis Jimenez

4.   Amin Calvo

5.   Deborah Jimenez

6.   Rita Fuentes

7.   Rachel Guarneri

8.   Josh Reinha

9.   Carlos Robles

10.        Israel Quiroga

11.        Marcus Rodriguez

12.        Hannah Rodriguez

13.        Bethany Rodriguez

14.        Lydia Rodriguez

15.        Mikee Gatan

16.        Wendy Brana

17.        Chris Brana

18.        Sam Brana

19.        Virley Fortner

20.        Jay Corona

21.        Justin Corona

22.        Jaque Sienes

23.        Nile Sienes

24.        Cecille Gatan

25.        Ken Munn

26.        Melinda Munn

27.        Julio Guarneri

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