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
