'Look to God, not America'

When I visited the Philippines last May, Pastor Mario Montero in Punta made a point of preaching a sermon with the above title. I was sitting off to his right, and he reminded his congregation that God was the supplier, not the United States, or (by implication) anyone from the United States. 


At one point, he said, "Look to God, not America." When he said, "God," he pointed to the sky. When he said, "America," he pointed off to his left. Then, with a laugh, he pointed to his right, almost directly at me. 


The point was well made. It is tempting for pastors and churches in poorer countries to think Americans can do amazing things. True, God has blessed us greatly, and many of us want to help our brothers and sisters in foreign lands. But even we need to be reminded where our help comes from. It comes from the Lord. We can become so self-satisfied, we think we are the provider instead of God.


That's why we are so excited to share with you a story we just received, where Homegrown Harvesters was unable to provide an answer, but God did.


Our friends at Obadiah Learning and Development, the school and children's ministry outreach of Shiloh Bible Baptist Church in Punta, have had to do a lot to get the church multipurpose building in order for their school to be held every day. The teachers must remove the pews and set up the school many times each week, as the school meets in the same place the church services are held. 


In addition, the church building is too small for the assembled church. Last year, we wrote a story and showed you photos of the discipleship time that could only be held during dry weather. We tried to raise money for a new lot and a new building for this church, but God never provided an answer to this dilemma.


Through us, anyway.


Late Wednesday night, our friends from Obadiah Learning and Development told us about an answer to prayer. The grandparents of one of the children served through the school saw the leaders breaking down and setting up the school. These grandparents own a lot near the current church building. They were moved to pity, and they had a solution. 


These grandparents have agreed to let the Obadiah Learning and Development school host the school in their building. Our excited friends at Obadiah let us know this news late Wednesday night. "The kids have their own home school now!" Bro. Joel told us.


But the blessing goes beyond the school.


"And the more blessing is,we will use this also for the Sunday school for the church every Sunday for the kids, this is our commitment," Bro. Joel said. 

There is more.

"We will use this also for the discipleship,there will be no problem now if it rains!" Joel told us. 

Let's praise God for this answer to prayer. There are still some papers to sign and some more hurdles to leap. And, we should still pray for a new lot and a new building for the church in Punta. But while we pray, we can praise God for answering a prayer.

And we can rejoice that God is still answering prayers. God is capable of using whomever He chooses, whether Amerkano or Filipino. Let this answered prayer remind us, too, to heed Pastor Mario's advice. Let us seek God for the answer to our prayers and reject self-reliance. Indeed, let us look to God, not to America, not to ourselves, for the answer to prayer.