Worshipping the One True God in Mindanao, Philippines
An update from Jeffrey Jo, Lead Pastor of CCSGM in Manila, and National Leader for SGC Philippines…
"For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God". 1 Thessalonians 1:9
It was more than 15 years ago when the Lord opened the door for us to reach the Manobo tribe on the mountain of Cabangahan, Surigao del Su, Mindanao, Philippines. I can still remember hiking for 7 hours, and crossing through a river. With jungle bolos in our hands, we paved the way in the forest for an easier path to reach this warrior tribe. In a very miraculous way, the tribe welcomed us and welcomed the gospel of Christ that we preached to them. We stayed with them for the next 5 days, patiently teaching them how the resurrected Christ broke the walls of hostility.
“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.” Ephesians 2:14-16.
Such message of love, justice, mercy and reconciliation with God through the finished work of Christ brought peace among the warring tribes in their region.
After a year of monthly visits, we were able to raise up a pastor, Rolando Agyang, and some men who served as elders in the first local church in their tribal community. But as we trained them to do works of the ministry, we were also planting churches among the Manobo tribes in the other mountains, in places like Pantukan, Gacub and Nangka. As our “base church”, we also planted a church in Gamuton, in a downtown area in Carascal, Surigao del Sur, whom the late Oscar Tagyam stood as the lead pastor. He himself was a former Manobo tribal leader in that region.
Rolando Agyang passed away in March 26, 2023 but the work of the Lord continues. God has been so kind to call to ministry one of Rolando’s sons, Lewes. Lewes was a maritime engineer with big dreams for his future, and yet when he heeded God’s call on his life, he gave up his dream and pursued serving the Lord and His church. Lewes is one of the PPI (Philippine Pastors Institute) graduates of our Foundational Theology course, and he is presently one of the PPI students in our Pastoral Theology course.
Today, the church is growing through the kindness of God in Lewes’ leadership. He is now raising 3 more elders as he pursues exercising plurality of leadership, which is one SGC’s seven-shared values. Lewes is also one of 14 candidates who will go through SGC’s ordination process this year.
Every time I think and pray for them, I cannot hold back my joy for God’s kindness and mercy towards them. Formerly these people worshipped stones, trees and stars but now they worship the Creator, the One and only true God as they continue to grow in the faithful teaching of God’s word.
The apostle John saw these things taking place and penned it this way:
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Revelation 7:9-12
May we all say “Amen” as we consider all that the Lord has done.
