THEY DO IT ALL, TO REACH THEM ALL
I praise God personally for the people I know who are very faithful in sharing the Word of God, in season or out of season. Individuals or church planting teams who were doing all things just to reach the lost…
Here’s what I have seen they were doing… for they will do it all to reach them all.
ONE ON ONE AND DOOR KNOCKING
This style of soul winning is maybe “old” enough. But we cannot hide the fact, that in some areas, especially in the provinces here in the Philippines, door knocking is still effective. There were experiences shared to us about door knocking such as… there were people who will close their doors as they see the minister or the church workers approach in their house which only means they don’t want to talk with you, especially when they see you carrying a Bible. So, the next time our brethren go house to house, they have just brought pocket Bibles so that the people whom they will approach will not think that they will be offered a Bible study. But again, others also said, “Carrying pocket Bibles is not that effective also, because the people know us, that we are Christians and our belief is different from them, so they will actually leave or evade from talking with us. So we thought of another strategy, we invited some workers from other places because the people in our place do not know them, therefore they will not suspect that we are going to offer them a Bible study.” “That was clever,” I said. “But how about if these people know our styles and strategies? How about if in spite of bringing pocket Bibles, and inviting workers from other church they will still refuse from talking with you… what can you say about this?”, I continued. “At least, we have done our part. After all, they are not the only people in our place. There are also people who were ready to welcome us, and not only us, but the Word of God especially. When we found people like these, we praise God the more. If ever we were not able to win souls in spite of house to house and door knocking style of evangelism, we still praise God because at least we were able to do what Jesus told us to do, to go and preach the Word of God. Workers are just so affected and discouraged when they were not able to win souls because they thought that for them, it is only in winning souls they are successful. It is only by the time they see people coming to Christ and baptized that they will consider themselves successful. So, even if they were able to share the Word of God to the people, if those people did not accept Jesus, they thought that they were failure. We believe that we were not told by Jesus to win souls, only to bring the Good News to them. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the sinner and it is the Holy Spirit who shall win them. We are only called to be faithful in what ever task we are asked to do … we reach people, the Lord will win them according to His will…”
FAMILY EVANGELISM APPROACH
This style of evangelism will always be good to be used in any place in the Philippines. We know how close we are as families. We give importance into it. We can see that in some houses, there are more than 10 people who live there. One reason maybe is that, because the parents have 8 or more children. That’s why we see more than 10 people living in a house. But we also know that other houses have 10 or more people because we care so much of our family. Sometimes, very typical Filipino parents hate to see their children leave their home even though they are already married and have their own family. Sometimes also it’s the children who do no want to leave their parents… or they are comfortable being with them for ever in their lives. Parents also sometimes, would rather ask their children to stay in their home even though they will be living there like a “sardine”. Anyway, their reason will be, “Mas masaya pag marami… Kahit naghihirap basta’t sama-sama okey na yun!” Sounds familiar, “Di ba?” In these kind of family the “family evangelism approach” is very useful.
You know what? We have preachers here, especially CCMP recipients who are very successful in reaching family by family for Christ. Bro. Bartolome Bernardo, Dante Lumbao and Glen Pintuan are examples of those ministers whom I believe do this style of evangelism. I remember Bro. Glen sharing to us that he even goes and visits each family every morning to teach them to have their own family morning or night devotions. Well, I hope that each minister would be able to do that. I hope too that Bro. Glen continues to do that… I also consider Bro. Bartolome as one of the most industrious minister of the Lord. I remember him sharing with his co-recipients how thankful he is that he is now a recipient of CCMP. Although he did not go to seminary, he is very determined to learn more about the Word of God through seminars he attended and constant reading of the Word of God, Christian reading articles and books and prayers. I can see from Bro. Bartolome’s reports that the names of the people baptized have the same last or surname but with different first names. This tells me that “they are family”. If only every member would think and do this style of evangelism. At least, they can help their minister to find a prospect. At least, they will not say that their minister is doing nothing in the church. If only they will reach their immediate family, then, there will be lesser problem in reaching people for the Lord.
If there is one member in a family of 10 becomes a Christian, then it is very clear that every minister’s task is to reach the 9 souls remaining in that family. Let’s do it… Let us take advantage in this!
CRUSADES
They say that crusade is out of style now. Who said? Again, I can say, that things we do in our place may not be suitable in other place. Crusades may not be suitable in the cities, but in the provinces and in the towns, this still works. The proof of this is what Bro. Brigido Geronaga and the Mindoro Evangelistic Team are doing in Mindoro. Just last summer, they had a crusade again and there were souls who accepted the Lord as Bro. Abelardo De Guzman reported. In Pangasinan and Tarlac, Bros. Nestor Toledo and Iking Narag joined effort to conduct a crusade in Mangatarem, Pangasinan. The result…? There were more than 20 souls who accepted the Lord in water baptism…
SPORTS FESTS
Bros. Glen Pintuan and Enrico Puno as sports minded men also tried the sports fests strategy for evangelism. How did they do this? They formed a basketball and baseball team in their respective churches and invited the youths in the barrios to compete with their team… the result? They lost the game but they won the friendship of the neighbors and said this was the start of their constant communication to some youths and were now able to share the Gospel to them. Bro. Enrico said, “I personally told the boys, through our youth minister that winning the game is not our ultimate purpose, but it’s winning their friendship and hopefully and eventually winning their souls.”
Crusades and sports fests … these are also strategies in reaching people for the Lord.
MEDICAL AND DENTAL MISSION AND PHYSICAL THERAPY
Last April 16, 2007, I was able to join and witness the medical and dental mission done by the Cruzada team in partnership with the “Bring the Good News ministry” (through Bro. Gil Lozada) in Legaspi City, province of Albay. (While the medical teams were busy meeting the physical needs of the people, I, Bro. Mel Maldupana and Bro. Ard Cervantes also went together in a supermarket and bought groceries to be given away in the typhoon Reming victims). There were at least more than 200 patients who benefited in that free medical and dental mission where I believe, Bro. Ding Marco got additional prospects for Christ in that activity. The medical and dental mission was held near the chapel building of Legaspi City Church. After the medical and dental mission in Legaspi, the team also went to coastal area of Albay in Piodoran and Oas, Albay. There, they also have served more than 200 patients and have given groceries to the people.
One of the best ways to easily reach people and share to them the Word of God is through Medical and Dental Mission. There are many people in remote areas which can not avail to go to the doctors for check – ups. Bro. Mel Maldupana said, “It was humbling enough that we have reached these people. Actually, we met people who said it was their first time to meet a doctor, especially the dentists.”
The EARM team had also done a free medical and dental mission last May 9, 2007 in a remote area of Calabanga, Camarines Sur. They had to take a motor boat to reach the place. In their report, they had 122 recipients served. In May 11, 2007, they went to Turbura, Ligao City in Albay province. In this area, they had at least 173 recipients served. The EARM team’s Medical and Dental Mission were made possible through the help of Drs. Titus Bantiles and Verna Lusoc Uy. By the way, most of the ministers (if not all) in Bicol, especially members of the EARM team have undergone trainings in Physical Therapy and Reflexology. This physical therapy ministry was instrumental for them why they were able to reach the people in Brgy. Sugsugin in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur and that now, there’s a Church of Christ there, planted by the EARM team way back 2002. “We still do it. Sometimes, people will only listen to you when you are able to give them something or to give a service to them. Well, physical therapy helps us in this way,” says an EARM member.
Bro. Glen Pintuan is actually now considered a “doctor” in physical therapy. He took a seminar and an exam last June 2007 and blissfully passed the exam. Bro. Glen shares, “I pursued this one because this also helps me somehow in financial aspects. But this does not mean that I do not do anymore my tasks as a minister. I still do it. Actually I am even busier today because we have a feeding ministry. Everyday, we have at least 30 contact persons for feeding ministry. In this way, we do not only feed them physically but also spiritually. Thru my knowledge now in physical therapy, I can also reach more people for the Lord. It is always my interest that the person whom I am “massaging” will not only be healed physically but also spiritually. I always make it a point that I share to them God’s Words. This also becomes my ministry to the members. As of these days, we have many “quack doctors” in the neighborhood. People tend to trust them because they believe that they have healed them. But now, once they go to me, I always tell them that it’s not me or the “quack doctors” who can make them well, but it’s the Lord! Sometimes, I also explain to them the reason why people are sick and why do we have to die. At this point, they will start to listen to me and that’s where I will start sharing to them the Love of God. I do not actually ask any amount because it’s usually the poor I meet. But whenever I have patients who can afford, if they will give me any amount I am thankful for it, because first, I am able to minister to them and they also have ministered to me.”
Just a thought again… the recipients, especially the church planters are very busy during summer time here in the Philippines. They will try to do anything they can just to reach people and win them for the Lord. Somehow, their only problem is “money”, to be able to reach more people for the Lord. If only there are people who can promise to provide them additional operational expenses during summer, so that they can do more things and reach more people for the Lord…
RADIO MINISTRY
The Samar Christian Mission through the leadership of Bro. Margarito Gerez has this ministry for a long time. As he shared it to the mission administrator, they have now two local radio stations being used to share the Gospel of the Lord through radio. They have one in DYSM 972 KHz- Cawayan, Catarman Northern Samar (Friday 11:30 - 12:00 AM) and also in RADIO NATIN 105.7 FM - Allen N. Samar (Saturday 11:30 - 12:00 AM). Bro. Gerez said, through this program, there are people too who were able to hear the Gospel and some of them have responded to God’s call to salvation.
Others may say that Radio ministry is not advisable now. Again, I will say, “To some areas, Radio ministry is not advisable maybe, but we cannot hide the fact that this is also accepted in other areas. So, still, this is another way to reach people for the Lord.
VBS and SUMMER CAMPS FOR CHILDREN and YOUTH
Every summer vacation many churches in the Philippines provide activities for the children. Some of them are sports clinic, camps and vacation Bible school. In camps, some of the attendees are youths from different churches and other youths also which were invited as prospects. Mostly, those visitors invited to attend camps decide to accept Jesus in their lives. Camp directors encourage the youths in the churches to attend camps because they believe that camps give them the opportunity to meet other Christian youths, but most especially, to meet Jesus as their personal Savior.
Sunday school teachers believe that, when you able to reach the child, you will have the opportunity to reach their parents. That’s why Vacation Bible Schools here are done in most churches. They say, “Through Vacation Bible School we reach more children and their parents for the Lord and we also even learn to know who are gifted in reaching children and who can be used in this ministry?
CELL GROUPING AND DISCIPLESHIP
VCM and SLIM team are doing this style of evangelism. They say that in every cell group, they always make it sure that there is a prospect there. In the cells, they not only meet together to win souls, but they make it sure that everyone’s need is catered in the group. Through the cell groups, everyone learns to accept each other’s strength and weakness/es. That’s why when a prospect in that cell group accepts the Lord, he is almost sure of his decision and he is very determined in living a Christian life. Bro. Bong once said, “Soul winning in the cell groups may really take time because we do not immediately or forcefully ask the prospect to accept Jesus. What we want for them is to know Jesus first, His Words and His people. We set a date of challenging the prospects to accept Jesus. If we have for example 10 cell groups, all of that cell groups will meet one day and worship, fellowship along with the invitation will be done. Soul winning in the cell groups takes time, but those who decide to accept Jesus in those cell groups will stay in Jesus for a long time or all of the time.”
FEEDING MINISTRY
Last August 3 -5, 2007, I went to Lucena City Church of Christ as they invited me to witness their activities being done there. Thanks for the permission granted to me by the Advisory Committee and Bro. Rhodore Geronaga. Here’s my report on what they are doing there. They have there a very interesting and successful ministry to be able to reach more people for the Lord. They call this “milk or food supplement feeding ministry”.
Why milk/food supplement feeding ministry? The SLIM TEAM was able to meet someone in the person of Pastor George Padilla of Mt. Zion Ministry (Church of the Firstborn). The Church of the Firstborn had a ministry which is the milk/food supplement feeding ministry. Their ministry aims to reach people for the Lord through milk feeding. Bro. William once shared this ministry with the recipients, where some of them availed. Some did not want to avail it thinking that this is from another faith. It was only by that time in Lucena City I understood that this ministry only requires reporting of the development of the feeding. Bro. William said, “There’s no string attached here. They will not ask your doctrine, or they will not insist theirs. Their only aim is to distribute the milk or the food supplement to all pastors who want to avail. Actually, they will help you reach more people for the Lord. They can give you as much as you request provided that the milk will be used and distributed properly. If we are to buy the milk, this costs almost P 2, 850.00 per 400 grams. The milk is not actually regular milk we know and we buy in the markets. They call this “food supplement”, that’s why this not only gives the person nourishment but also becomes somehow a vitamin which our body needs. We were thankful in this ministry because in the past, we can say that Lucena City is a very hard place to plant the Word of God. People here will not listen to you or will not give you opportunity to tell them of God’s Love. They are very fanatic in Catholicism. Even the INC (Manalo) found it hard to reach them. We have tried many approaches to reach them but we received very small responses. We tried house to house – but they closed their doors. We tried one on one yet it did not succeed. We offered sports fests to reach the youths but we can still say, “We failed”. But we did not stop praying and looking for ways to reach them until we found this milk feeding ministry. At this time, we can say that it’s the people now who are coming to us, first to avail the milk, but then they have the opportunity to hear God’s Words. They did not only hear God’s Word, but others even responded to God’s call. Nine of them received Jesus as their personally Savior and were baptized last July.”
In the afternoon of August 3, Bro. William brought me to the feeding centers. He has a motor cycle which he said he is still paying it. We visited 5 feeding centers in Lucena City (actually there were six feeding centers but we were not able to meet the last one). In every center or cell group, I was given at least 10 to 12 minutes to share to them the Word of God. According to Bro. William, the good side of that feeding ministry is that they are able to meet at least 60 people everyday and being shared of the goodness of God. In every feeding center, there are at least 10 (the most is 17) persons who meet together everyday. I was able to talk with some of them and they said that they were very thankful of that ministry. I met a mother whom the group said was paralyzed in the past two months because of heart attack, but now, she’s doing well. There was also an old man who approached me and said, he is very thankful to the Lord first and then to the milk they were drinking because before he was so weak and can not even walk or stand for a long time because of his sickness, but now, he is feeling well and getting better. Another lady told me that before, her bones in the hands really hurt (because of bone cancer) and she found it hard to open and stretch her fingers, but now she can “close-open” it. These are only some of the good reports I received from them.
Bro. William had also given a commitment card to them. That commitment card requires all of them to attend the “drinking session” everyday. They have a leader in their group who checks the attendance. They created a saying, “To be absent is a mortal sin”. This somehow challenges and encourages the people to attend everyday the “drinking session” and have the opportunity to hear the Word of God. No wonder, in the afternoon of Saturday, August 4, 2007, during the anniversary celebration of Lucena church, there were at least 15 souls who responded to God’s call when Bro. Mel Maldupana invited them to come and receive Christ after his message (Bro. Mel was the guest speaker in the Anniversary Celebration).
In the morning of August 4, 2007, Bro. William gave me a ride and took me to Sariaya, Quezon, (then left afterwards) where Bro. Jess Tolentino was waiting because he also has two feeding centers in Sariaya. Sariaya church is one of the churches planted by SLIM team. Sariaya church is doing well, except that they still don’t have their own chapel building. As of now they are renting a house which serves as the mission house and the house of worship every Sunday. SLIM is supporting the Sariaya church through the rent of the mission house and part of the minister’s love gift.
“In Sariaya,” Bro. Jess said, “we have won at least 5 souls now for the Lord through this milk feeding ministry. As usual, people here are very hard to be approached when it comes to the Word of God. We are thankful though that we have this milk feeding ministry. At least, most of our contacts here are the parents. We believe that if the parents will accept Jesus as their personal Savior, the children may follow too. So now, we have not less than 10 visitors every Sunday Worship. We hope and pray that all of these people will accept Jesus.” In Sariaya, I also met a mother who has a “goiter”. She said, “Before I met Bro. Jess and availed the milk, my goiter was as big as my neck. But now, since I started taking the “milk – food supplement”, it is slowly going small. Actually, it’s almost half now from its original size last two months.” Bro. Jess said, “We always tell them and let them understand that “IT IS THE LORD WHO HEALS!” which they also accept.” Bro. Jess Tolentino also shared to me that another cell group from Tiaong, Quezon, is ready to start a church. Someone in Tiaong even offers his house to be a mission house. “Lots of works to be done”, said Bro. Jess.
During the anniversary celebration of Lucena City church, I met all the members of the SLIM TEAM. I met Bro. Henry Borja Jr., slim team member who is now taking care of Real church, another church planted also by the SLIM team in Quezon. He said he also availed of the milk feeding ministry. Actually now, he has more than 50 prospects. They will have a closing program in the feeding ministry on August 11, 2007. Bro. Henry said, he is hopeful that the 35 contacts in Infanta, Quezon will accept Jesus during the closing program, and another more than 20 souls from Real also. Bro. Henry is just somehow afraid because if these 35 persons from Infanta will accept Jesus, this means that a church may be started now in Infanta. He is then afraid because this means additional burden for him, aside from Real church. He is only receiving a small amount of love gift from Real Church and so, if Infanta will start now, where is he going to get additional budget to help Infanta, especially now that it is just starting. Bro. William has shared it to me then and that he said, they really have to wait for the right timing because SLIM’S fund is still limited. So, we suggested to Bro. Henry Jr. that we have to learn to wait, but in the meantime, we have to be faithful because God is faithful and He will meet our needs.
Last August 11, 2007, while we were having a prayer meeting in Seminary Hill Church, Bro. Henry called me through a cell phone and said that the closing program of their first batch in milk feeding was done successfully at 2-4 pm on that date. He was very excited although somehow afraid because all of the 35 prospects in Infanta and more than 20 prospects in Real have accepted the Lord! What a great news!
It seems that the most used method in reaching people for the Lord as of these days is through this milk/food supplement feeding program. Several of our recipients have now availed this very unique ministry. Praise the Lord! Let us always pray that more souls will be reached and won for the Glory of God.
The simplest thing I know how to bring more souls to Christ is that, you never stop looking ...
1. Looking for the lost souls. Let us hope and pray that we can feel the hunger and the urgency in sharing the Word of God. I remember someone said, “I always look at the people I meet everyone as prospects for the Lord. Because of this, I say to myself, plenty is the harvest.”
2. Looking for ways to reach them. We have a saying in Filipino, “Kapag gusto may paraan, kapag ayaw maraming dahilan.” “Habang may buhay, may pag-asa.” When we are really determined in winning souls, we will always find ways to reach them. The Good Lord always provides and gives the desire of our hearts. Remember the song, “God Will Make A Way”? If we have run out of ideas in reaching them, let us ask God, he will make a way!
3. Looking up to God to guide you. We sometimes tend to do things on our own. That’s why even in soul winning, we thought it is us who is doing everything. But we know that it’s not true. The Lord is always there to guide us. Everyday in our lives, let it be our prayer, that the Lord will guides us as we share His Words and that He will guide us to the people who are ready to accept His Words.
posted by CCMP at 4:57 PM
<< Home