Training Philippine Leaders

Philippines

In October, our Every Community for Christ church planters in the Philippines held a leadership training seminar for 14 new leaders of house churches. The report I received from our National Coordinator was very encouraging.

In the past year, they have begun over 100 house churches!

One couple attended the training seminar along with their four children. They had left behind occult practices and accepted Jesus. However, during the 5 days of training, many things happened to them to discourage them, but they stood firm and were given victories. Each of their children experienced sudden illnesses at various times, however, after the group prayed, they were suddenly well! They received word that their home was broken into, but they proclaimed, "the theives can take it all, but they can't take Jesus from us!"

I also received several other powerful testimonies from the time of training. There is always opposition when people change their ways and follow Jesus. Lift up in prayer new people in Christ in the Philippines and around the world.

We're RAT's

Recently here at the OMS office, we received training so that we are able to be on a "Risk Assessement Team" (RAT) when the need arises.

The world has become very dangerous for those that are going to the nations with Christ. Therefore, we need to be prepared to meet unsecure situations in many places around the world. RAT's are formed when a situation presents itself in a given country.

We were instructed on methods, policies and procedures in preparation for hostile events such as murder, kidnapping and natural disasters. Then we were placed on a team for a disaster simulation. Even though it was staged, it was an emotional experience for all involved.

Getting missionaries out of a country quickly and well before hand seems like the right thing to do, but it can send an uncaring message to the national church leaders and ministry partners. Leaving the country can also leave the homes and property vulnerable to looting.

Praise be to God for His protection of OMS missionaries and national workers over the years!

Please pray for continued safety for all missionaries and national workers.

"Why did it take so long?"

"Why did it take so long for us to hear of the Good News of Jesus?"

That was the question that some South Pacific tribal people had after they received the Good News of Jesus.

The church we attend here in Greenwood had it's annual missions conference and the main speakers were a missionary couple that had worked on a remote island in the South Pacific. They work with Wycliff Bible translators and told us about their work in developing a written language and then putting the New Testment into the tribal language.

Just eighteen years ago, this tribe thought they and neighboring tribes were the only people in existence. They didn't know of the whole world.

When the missionaries were telling them Bible stories and they heard about Jerusalem, they said, "oh, that must be your village."

When the missionaries told them of the Great Commission, they said, "we must be the ends of the earth."

The people were thankful to learn of Jesus and His shed blood that gives them power and victory over the tormenting demons. They were also thankful to receive some training about medicine, so that simple ailments could be taken care of more easily.

The tribe soon came to realize that they also had a role to play in continuing to spread the Good News and began sharing what they had learned with neighboring tribes.

It is God's plan that all people in all places have a chance to hear about the Son of the one true living God. It is our desire too. It is the desire of OMS International. That's why we say, "Reaching the Nations for Christ".