First, we want to pass along the news from Pastor Valentines "JoJo" Begafria in Leon B. Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte. Earlier this month, they had their "kinder's recital," where the children performed. As is the case with these churches for whom God has given us a special burden, they used the service as an opportunity to evangelize the parents and family who would attend.
Pastor Valentines had the following prayer request of us: "I praise God for the victory, to God be the Glory all the parents heard the gospel and heartily followed in the sinner's prayer.Please pray that the holy spirit will continue to work in their heart that the gospel being planted in their heart will grow and will lead them to follow and serve the Lord.Thank you once again for the prayers and please pray that God will continue to use me and my family fruitfully in the ministry that God has entrusted to us, and for my son's study he will be in grade school next school year." Just a note, the conversation was through Facebook message, so we have preserved the spelling and grammar as it was sent to us. (We journalists feel a need to declare all those kinds of things.)
Pastor Valentines reminded us of something else. In America, with computers everywhere, we think people have the same access to technology all over the world. But our ability to contact Pastor Valentines was an exception this week. We were able to contact him this week because he was in a particular place and a friend lent him a computer. He reminded us that "by friday we will go home to postigo and I cannot reply to you those days. computer shops are far distant in our place, we need to go to sindangan for that." Do you catch that? This pastor is laboring where computers are "far distant" from them. How many missionaries around the world, to say nothing of this part of the Philippines, labor anonymously in fields far from the technology we Westerners take for granted? How many labor without any outside help from Western mission agencies? We know of some, but how many more are there?
How do these missionaries reach their people? Again, Pastor Valentines gives us insight. He asks us, "Please pray for our ministries here:house to house soul winning, bible studies,tracts distribution,children's outreach,feeding program and kinder school.Please pray for the victories, genuine salvation of the children and their parents and specially fruits that remain." How can we not join with these men? How do we justify ignoring these men who reach their villages and towns with the Gospel?
Another man who is less forgotten is one we have mentioned before. Pastor Bhoy Baguinda serves in Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay. His two children are in college now in Manila, and even though they are attending a Christian school where they do not have to pay tuition, they need support that Pastor Bhoy has been unable to give them. Manila is a long way from Payao (several islands away), and these two college students have daily needs. Please understand, these pastors often have trouble supporting their families, especially as they start out. Wouldn't it be great if we could help them put their children through school and release a burden from them?
In addition, we learned yesterday that Pastor Bhoy's wife has been confined to the hospital. We don't know anything other than that, but we do ask you to pray for Mrs. Nelly. We don't know what the issue is or the severity of it, but we ask your prayers.
Another prayer request brought to us today is that of Pastor Clemente Gumapit. You may remember many months ago we helped his church buy property. The landlord was trying to sell the property out from under them, and we helped raise the necessary funds. However, because of some property laws and division of lots (stuff we don't really understand), it was not possible for them to purchase the lot they rented. They were able to buy another lot in a better location, and the landlord was willing to let them continue to rent until they could build on the new property.
Pastor Clemente has asked us to pray that the church building might be built soon. The plan is for a church and parsonage. The materials and labor for the entire project is a little more than $34,000, but the parsonage can be built for around $500. Pastor is praying that he can move his family to the property soon, so let's pray for this $500 for the parsonage. Then we can pray for incremental progress to start building the church. As of now, the pastor and his family are growing crops on the future property so that they can make good use of it while they wait on God's provision for the building.
We realize there are many things in this entry, and it may be hard to process them all at once. But if you take only one thing away from this entry, consider this: Let us remember our forgotten brothers and sisters who are reaching the world with the Gospel. Let's pray for them and pray for the needs they have -- property, Bibles, tracts and other tools to reach their world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let's remember them and pray for them and consider if we can give our support for their sakes.
The Bible tells us that every tribe, tongue and nation will be represented in heaven. What tremendous opportunity we have to be a part of fulfilling that promise from our God.
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