Church Planting up in goddess of evil mountain

This is just one angle - An estimated 40,000 souls

Church Planting

Our goal this trip, as usual, was too reach as many souls as possible but in parallel with that we feel to begin establishing home groups among the communities spread all over that mountain. Here the communities are called “Purocks” and there are 19 in Diwalwal (small communities that make up a Barangay – A town) The estimated population for the barangay in general is 40,000 souls. They tell us that there has been no evangelsim up that mountain for 30 years. I cant see how that is so since there is a Catholic Church and an Assembly of God Church there. All be it we are told there is no pastor and attendence is very few. So, this is now part of the focus of our time there since already there have been many that have made decisions to follow Christ as a result of our outreaches.

We really love to see broken lives respond to the hope Christ offers, and the many miracles He gives to confirm His words of love and forgiveness. Which, healings we see not only daily but many times daily.  Usually occurring so fast and so many that we cannot record them. Many are clearly healed and then disappear into the crowd. But we know the Lords heart regarding this “If you love me feed my sheep”.

What is a “Church Plant”?

Bearing in mind that biblical reference to “a church” is a body of people that love Jesus Christ and not a building, an organisation or a denomination. A church is God’s home, His family, His body and soon to be His bride.

 Jesus said regarding “Church”, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst”.  That makes church planting so much easier, cheaper and immediate as we are only required to gather in His name period!

The freeing joy to experience “church” as Christ intended it. Consider the many benefits

a) We do not require large numbers of people for that,

b) Nor do we require an architect, a builder, carpenters, electrician or a plumber

c)  No building program or building fund

d) Not much money required at all for “church”

In our experience funds are required for outreach but church is almost free when we adopt the New Testament model  “The church that is at “someone’s” house” Rom 16v5, 1 Cor 16v19, Col 4v15, Ph1v2, . Every believers home can be used, it’s already built, already paid for/rented, meeting can commence within the hour. Hallelujah! The simplicity is very freeing. How many pastors have I had asking me for prayer, and money, frantic over the mortgage when the dream building became their primary nightmare. The people come, the people go but the church building mortgage remains.. Wake up church.  Put the money into missions!!

Everything we require for church planting is always available somewhere, if there is not a large enough home we can gather in, then a classroom, a covered community area, under a tree. No time or money is wasted with buildings and the affairs if this life.  When we get too large for one home, good, we split, and then begin a second outreach fellowship in another part of the community through another home. Finding faithful leaders and supporting them is a far higher goal than establishing expensive real estate. And, possibly harder!