Jerry Williams is currently representing Grace Church on a short-term mission trip to the Philippines. Below is the latest report he e-mailed from the Philippines to Mike McCracken, who is the leader of our Mission Team here at Grace Church:
You are probably wondering if I am ever going to send an e-mail but life has been pretty hectic. My flight to Hong Kong got in late on Wednesday and I missed my flight to Manila so the airlines put me up in hotel and got us out the next morning at 8:00 am. Christian picked me up and we made it to the condo’s where we are staying about noon.
I know you were aware of the Pastor of the Sumulong Church died the Monday before I left for the trip. So the first call we made after I got in was to the wake for Pastor Nilo. That was also the first contact that I had with Ted and Vivian. Friday morning Wayne, Christian, Jason Weimer and I met with Ted and Vivian to start discussing the Coalition and talk about the agenda for Saturday morning with the Philippine leadership team. In the afternoon we met with the “Woven Joy” women’s group that weaves thread bracelets and headbands to sell and generate some income for themselves. That meeting took place at the Sumulong Church where Pastor Nilo’s body laid at rest so we spent some time with the family again. We then went to the Marikina Grace Brethren Church and met with Pastor Franco. He took us down near the river where some of his Church families lived. During the flood these families lost everything as the water reached the third floor of many of their homes. We heard some incredible stories and saw some very depressing situations.
Saturday we met with the Philippine leadership team for an all day meeting. Each Pastor and every Church planter gave a report of what was going on in their Church or points of light and there was some real encouraging news of growing Churches and groups that were having weekly bible studies and some that were meeting Sundays for Worship service. And through these meetings I am getting to know all the Pastors and Church planters. Saturday afternoon Christian introduced the concept of the coalition and presented the plan that would give the responsibility to the leadership team to oversee the Philippine Churches. An election of officiers was held for the leadership team and the rest of the afternoon was spent working out the details of how the leadership team operate.
Sunday morning we attended Church at the Marakina Grace Brethren Church and met with the leaders of that Church after the service. They have got a strong base of leaders in their Church and have plans to start a couple of Churches in other areas. After lunch we met with Olive, who is the sister of Pastor Nilo, the pastor who died. She is a Church planter and has 4 groups meeting presently. She is not connected to any Church but is doing an excellent job. Her biggest obstacle is that she is not getting any men into her fellowships and she needs leaders in each of the groups. It is hard work and she has to travel to all these places on a motor scooter, even when it rains.
We finished the day at the Greater Manila GBC where they had a 21st anniversary celebration. It was a a well planned program and a big success. There must have been close to 200 people in attendance and it was held in a room that held no more than half that many but they came and they worshiped and they enjoyed. They really know how to worship. They have two young men that are Church planters that are doing a fabulous job. They are not without their challenges as one of the young men has had encounters with men that have been very intimidating to him but he is persistent and is doing well.
I know you were aware of the Pastor of the Sumulong Church died the Monday before I left for the trip. So the first call we made after I got in was to the wake for Pastor Nilo. That was also the first contact that I had with Ted and Vivian. Friday morning Wayne, Christian, Jason Weimer and I met with Ted and Vivian to start discussing the Coalition and talk about the agenda for Saturday morning with the Philippine leadership team. In the afternoon we met with the “Woven Joy” women’s group that weaves thread bracelets and headbands to sell and generate some income for themselves. That meeting took place at the Sumulong Church where Pastor Nilo’s body laid at rest so we spent some time with the family again. We then went to the Marikina Grace Brethren Church and met with Pastor Franco. He took us down near the river where some of his Church families lived. During the flood these families lost everything as the water reached the third floor of many of their homes. We heard some incredible stories and saw some very depressing situations.
Saturday we met with the Philippine leadership team for an all day meeting. Each Pastor and every Church planter gave a report of what was going on in their Church or points of light and there was some real encouraging news of growing Churches and groups that were having weekly bible studies and some that were meeting Sundays for Worship service. And through these meetings I am getting to know all the Pastors and Church planters. Saturday afternoon Christian introduced the concept of the coalition and presented the plan that would give the responsibility to the leadership team to oversee the Philippine Churches. An election of officiers was held for the leadership team and the rest of the afternoon was spent working out the details of how the leadership team operate.
Sunday morning we attended Church at the Marakina Grace Brethren Church and met with the leaders of that Church after the service. They have got a strong base of leaders in their Church and have plans to start a couple of Churches in other areas. After lunch we met with Olive, who is the sister of Pastor Nilo, the pastor who died. She is a Church planter and has 4 groups meeting presently. She is not connected to any Church but is doing an excellent job. Her biggest obstacle is that she is not getting any men into her fellowships and she needs leaders in each of the groups. It is hard work and she has to travel to all these places on a motor scooter, even when it rains.
We finished the day at the Greater Manila GBC where they had a 21st anniversary celebration. It was a a well planned program and a big success. There must have been close to 200 people in attendance and it was held in a room that held no more than half that many but they came and they worshiped and they enjoyed. They really know how to worship. They have two young men that are Church planters that are doing a fabulous job. They are not without their challenges as one of the young men has had encounters with men that have been very intimidating to him but he is persistent and is doing well.
The other young man is meeting with a group of 40+ people on a regular bases and has a place to meet. It is so exciting to see them worship God with such enthusiasm and to fight on against great odds when they have so little. Many have no place to worship and those that do have a place are limited in space and without any luxuries, yet they make it work and without complaint.
Well that brings you up to date so I will sign off as the other men are in bed and asleep as I write. Tomorrow we have a training meeting then we are going up north and will not be back before Wednesday night and we may be without a computer so you will not hear from me for a few days.
God bless,
Jerry
Well that brings you up to date so I will sign off as the other men are in bed and asleep as I write. Tomorrow we have a training meeting then we are going up north and will not be back before Wednesday night and we may be without a computer so you will not hear from me for a few days.
God bless,
Jerry
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