Tag Archives: Philippines

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December 4, 2014

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Christian Life, International Missions

Grace and Acceptance

By Phil Warren

A few weeks ago, I took my wife Cindy on a tour of the General Baptist Bible College in Davao.Phil and Cindy  As we walked around the beautiful campus I became aware of a spy following us.  She watched us from behind the green shrubbery in her pink dress. She could not have been more than five, and wherever we went she followed, scurrying from bush to bush watching our every move.  My wife began to giggle and said, “Have you noticed we have an escort?”  We found out later she had left her room to use the bathroom, but in the process her curiosity had gotten the better of her.  After a little while my wife and I sat down, and she slowly inched closer to us.  Her dark, mahogany-brown eyes twinkled with mischief and her long black hair danced in the slight breeze.

Finally, her curiosity pushed her beyond the safety of her self-imposed boundaries and she came over to me and began to rub the hair on my arm.  I smiled; this was a first for me.  She had touched me with grace and acceptance and I gently reached over and rubbed her arm as well.  Grace and acceptance: the heart of missions.

Whenever you leave home and enter another country, you do not attempt to impose your cultural values upon them.  Rather, you hold loosely your values and integrate as best you can into your new surroundings.  You eat different foods.  You travel in different modes of transportation.  You experience different forms of worship.  You don’t worry as much about time, and value relationships instead. However, there are two values you must always give and receive: grace and acceptance.

Jesus said if you give it will be given back to you in disproportionate amounts. Give grace and receive grace. Give acceptance and gain acceptance.

This is not only true in international missions but in the local church as well.

Our spy took a big risk to approach these people who looked different from her. I saw her the other day at the college and she ran over to me and gave me a high five. Once fear is broken by little acts of grace and acceptance, a whole new world can open up for you.

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November 20, 2014

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Christian Life, Executive Office, General Baptists, International Missions

I’ll Do My Best

By Clint Cook

A few weeks ago I joined six other General Baptist pastors on a journey to the Philippine Islands. I had the privilege of leading this team of pastors in the important task of teaching and challenging our Filipino brothers and sisters in leadership and spiritual growth. The team consisted of Chad Hensley, John Brumfiel, Dr. Jim Pratt, Barry Cullen, Jim Rudolph, Clint Pagan and myself. It was a hectic but life-changing trip. Each member of our team had the privilege of preaching in one of our local General Baptist churches during Sunday morning worship and visiting with the members. We traveled to the Matigsalog area to view the General Baptist work there to encourage our teachers and leaders hard at work in this important region at the Matigsalog Bible Institute. We also held a conference at the General Baptist Bible College called the 360º Leadership Forum where we met, taught, trained and encouraged young students determined to win the Philippines for Christ. How uplifting it was to see how God is using them!

While in Davao City we also hosted the first ever American-Filipino Minister’s Retreat. It was a wonderful time of worship and training with our Filipino counterparts. We shared meals with these ministers, listened to the triumphs and struggles of their ministries, and cried and rejoiced with them as they told us stories of rebuilding after Typhoon Pablo in December 2012, a project made possible by the generosity of General Baptists. What a solemn sight it was to see Ground Zero for Typhoon Pablo, a pile of rubble where a thriving community once stood, and where over 1,000 people lost their lives.

It was an awe-inspiring experience to see our work on the island of Mindanao. A special note of thanks and appreciation goes out to Joyce Porcadilla and all of her staff at the General Baptist Bible College and the Matigsalug Bible Institute for making the 360º Leadership Forum and first ever Minister’s Retreat a definite success. Out of the 120 college students that attended the 360º Forum, 90% of them are General Baptist students, and nearly 80% anticipate continuing in ministry as Christian leaders, preachers, and pastors. How bright the future of General Baptists is in the Philippines! How blessed we are to have this Gospel-proclaiming, gates-of-hell-storming work thriving on the other side of the world!

Although the seven members of our team were sent to train and encourage these Filipino students and ministers, each of us left with hearts full of thankfulness, humbleness and excitement for the General Baptist work in the Philippines. The students at the General Baptist Bible College repeatedly displayed their burning desire and passion to serve the local church as Christian leaders. Prepare to be blessed as you watch this short video of 3rd and 4th year students at GBBC telling, through song, their General Baptist brothers and sisters in the U.S. that they will do their best!

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November 13, 2014

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General Baptists, International Missions

Where in the World are the Warrens?

By Cindy Warren

A family steps off an airplane and is greeted by the Bowers family (Keith, Carrie, Jason, and Lucas), General Baptist Bible College president Joyce Porcadilla, and many other sweet, welcoming faces.  Who are these new arrivals?  Aren’t they General Baptist missionaries to the tropical island of Saipan?  Not anymore?  The Warren’s mission trip has turned into two destinations instead of one.

The Philippine countryside

The Philippine countryside

My husband Phil and I are now living in Davao City, Philippines, along with our two youngest sons, Oliver and Harley.  There are a few things we have to to adjust to here.  The money system is different than on Saipan, and the language is sometimes a barrier.  I exchanged my first US currency for Philippine pisos at the information desk at the mall!  Other major differences are the congested traffic, the many open air markets, and the fact that some of the mall include grocery stores.

Our two youngest sons are now attending a Christian school with the Bowers’ sons just four blocks from our home called Faith Academy International.  They have a great school and they enjoy being close enough to walk over to shoot hoops and play on the new soccer field with the other students.

We have been trying to build relationships with our pastors here in the Philippines.  So far we have visited the Matigsalug Bible Institute and the General Baptist Bible College and met with the staff, have attended a baby dedication, attended a Sunday morning service at First General Baptist of Davao City, and attended both the Pastor’s Conference and the 360 Conference.

The Warrens are now serving General Baptist work in the Philippine islands.  We pray that they will adjust seamlessly to this new assignment, and facilitate General Baptist work there in a way that allows us to do together what cannot be done alone.