Philippines Teaching Ministry

Greetings from the Philippines! (click on link for full article)

My first visit here was in 2005. Since then, I have travelled here eight times, most often with FBC members on work teams. The experiences of teaching, working and ministering to local pastors has given me a great love for the Philippine people. The Lord has used Faith Bible Church to have a very important partnership in spreading the gospel and strengthening the body of Christ in the Philippines. 

This trip has me on a whirlwind teaching schedule. I arrived at Word of Life camp and Bible Institute at 1 AM on Wednesday, January 18, after 30 hours of travel. At 9:30 AM I began three hours of teaching for first year Bible Institute students on the Gospel of John. On Wednesday night, I preached the opening session for 400 high school seniors on their senior trip from Grace Christian High School in Manila. I preached on being a clean vessel, ready for the Master’s use, from 2 Timothy 2:21-23.

On Friday a team of 8 men left the Bible Institute in Laguna and traveled 8 hours east to the region of Bicol. We held an all day pastors conference on Saturday. 118 pastors and church leaders attended, some traveling 2 hours each way to participate. Over 40 churches were represented. These pastors and Christian leaders were hungry for biblical teaching, and did not leave until the closing remarks were made at around 4:30 PM. Dave James taught for 2 hours on The Sufficiency of Scripture. I taught another 2 hours on helping guide people through conflict in a biblical way. After lunch, John Fogle taught for 2 hours on biblical prophesy. The pastors showed their appreciation for us with a brief ceremony and the awarding of a framed certificate honoring the three teachers. This kind of ceremony for formality is customary in the Philippines and is a way to honor those who teach the Word.

Dave and I preached in local churches on Sunday. I preached on the legacy that we will leave behind, based on Paul’s testimony of 7 individuals he mentions in the closing words of Colossians. Immediately following the services, we headed back to Word of Life, hoping to arrive before dark. By God’s grace, we pulled in at 7 PM, with only our final 30 minutes of driving in the dark, but on familiar roads.

This week I am finishing my two courses on John and Resolving Conflict Biblically. On Friday, Dave and I will travel to Manila to teach a world-view seminar for Grace Christian College faculty, students and staff. Then, on Saturday, we will conduct a pastors conference in Manila similar to the one we held in Bicol. Currently, 100 pastors are registered to attend.

The Bible Institute students and faculty begin a one week evangelism effort in Manila on Friday. Pray for "Eternity Week." This annual ministry has reached thousands with the gospel. Pray for many opportunities to share the gospel in the crowded city.

Here are more specific prayer requests:

Pray for Eternity Week in Manila, which begins on Friday, Jan 27.

Pray for the camp cook, Bot, who is recovering from 2^nd degree burns on his leg from boiling water.

Pray for strength, energy and clarity as I finish teaching my courses on John and Conflict Resolution at the Bible Institute

Pray for safety for students in witnessing

Pray for safe travel for me, Dave James and John Fogle, all returning to the U.S. within the next week.

Pray for the construction plans and funding needs for Bible Institute housing. Right now, students must move out of their dorms every weekend to allow for campers to sleep.

Pray for Saturday’s Pastors Conference in Manila.

I share this information so that you can pray more effectively for your pastor and for the ongoing work here in the Philippines. Faith Bible Church has been a vital part of the ministry here. We have built buildings, but more importantly, we have touched many lives, some of whom are known and many who are known only to the Lord.

All of our friends here in the Philippines send you their greetings!

In His Service,

Pastor Paul