Manny Pacquiao's Former PA begins a Church Plant in a Cemetery

Manny Pacquiao's Former PA opens a church plant in a graveyard

 

 



Leanne, until formerly, was Personal Assistant to Boxer, Businessman & Congressman Manny Pacquiao. She left to develop her own successful event organisation business. She’s smart, a business woman in her own right, wife to a great guy and a mother of two fine children.

Leanne is a close friend of Jo & I and visited us for coffee today and told us the most amazing outreach story.

Seems we both attended different funerals on the same day, same time and same cemetery. But here's where you can "Look but not see" as I certainly missed the opportunity that our friend saw.

 

The cemetery is vast and immaculate with fresh cut grass and all wreaths are removed after two days so that decaying leaves and petals do not litter the place.

 

As Leanne waited for the graveside committal she was attending to begin she strolled slowly along the neat pathways anticipating the soon arrival of the main body of mourners. As she walked she observed that the female park sweeper close to her seemed burdened as she brushed away under the blazing sun. Further ahead were a few children collecting litter. Leanne asked the sweeper why there were children working in the grounds? The woman's explanation was heart breaking.

 

She explained it like this "The children that you see come from the squatter camp behind the cemetery. In fact, all the workers here are from the squatter camp. And sometimes there is food left over, (it’s the custom to eat graveside right after the photographs). I can confirm that almost any and every gathering here will include food. Well ma'am, she continued the children are hungry and can share any food that may be left, in return they help us out with the work".

 

As it happens Leanne's husband Andy had just returned from an outreach with us the day before and had come back a witnessing machine. Within 45 min’s of dropping him and his back pack off, he texted to say he had all ready witnessed to three people, prayed for their infirmities and the Lord had healed them all and they were weeping. This fresh wind, fresh fire seemed to have stirred up his wife Leanne's gift of evangelism even further and she was not prepared to pass up this opportunity to share about the love of God in Christ Jesus

right there to this to sweeper woman. The woman listened intently explaining how depressed she had felt lately. (Depressed working in a cemetery?)

 

She was so well received and the sweeper delighted that Leanne returned the following week with some small food. She called all the workers together from that sweepers section, which were six adults and two eight year olds. After sharing the food out and offering a short prayer she respectfully asked if they would like to listen for a few minutes as she spoke of Christ's saving grace. They all seemed to enjoy the short message and appeared genuine in their desire that she would return again the following week.

 

Saturday past, Leanne was there again with a small bag of local food. And again the attendees appeared keen to learn more. The original sweeper woman said how thankful  the graveyard workers in here section were as no one had ever bothered with them before and they all appreciated someone coming to explain these things about God.

 

Following the short prayer and brief teaching she felt it was time to ask if anyone would like to repent of their sin and receive Christ as Lord of their lives. The six grownups and the two children responded and so were led in a sinner’s prayer for them to follow.

 

About this time the supervisor appeared on the scene. Rightfully, she wanted to know what was going on. Leanne explained she was sharing some food and the message of Jesus with her new found friends “Ah! Said the supervisor; well actually right now is their work time”. Sounds like an efficient supervisor eh! “But” she continued “if you’d like to return next week and can come at 11am that is their official break and more including myself would like to join also”.

 

We sat in disbelief, amazed at Leanne’s creativity and willingness to visit the highways, the byways and the cemeteries and compel them to come in. So, now she has officially started the first Graveyard church plant that I’ve ever heard of.

 

Could be argued Leanne has better things to do on a Saturday morning. But, no she and her family love Jesus and place Christ and the great commission first in their lives. The children attend the outreach with their mom whilst dad works overseas. We have agreed next week them and visit with her new graveyard congregation - Amen