Editor’s note—This month’s column reports from the frontlines of mission work in the Philippines. The author co-founded Gospel Outreach 20 years ago and remains an active worker in the field. We continue to work hard for the advancement of the ministry in our territories. This summer we coordinated an educational mission in Camachille and Nabuclod. My son, Ton-ton, led office workers to donate study materials to all grade-one pupils in these schools. In June, the San Nicolas … [Read more...]
‘I’m sorry, Mama!’
Tears kept flowing and my heart was overflowing with joy as Jeff Jordan, a pastor from Tennessee, baptized the first of nine precious souls at Mountain View College in the Philippines. One of the nine was 15-year-old Lloyd. After we had congratulated the newly baptized, I saw Lloyd and Mama in teary embrace. Papa was standing by, also wiping his tears. Every now and then Lloyd would break off from his embrace, pound his chest and sign, “I’m sorry, Mama. I’m sorry!” I met Lloyd and his … [Read more...]
More than 6,000 baptized in Mindanao
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines—From the start of our partnership in this area of evangelism, we’ve been doing the best we can. During the first three quarters of 2011, 6,536 people have been baptized in Southern Mindanao Mission. Just recently, Pastor Abner Roque and his wife, Eleanor, both retired North Philippine Union Conference workers, concluded evangelistic meetings in Kidapawan City with 357 baptisms and more to follow. As of this writing, evangelistic meetings are underway in … [Read more...]
I was once blind
Jose Galleto, 54 years old, is a resident in the village of Alcala, which is in La Union, Philippines. Jose was the eldest of eight children, and at the age of 18 was diagnosed with typhus. It had been his ambition to attend a military academy, but the disease hindered him. At the age of 20, he was diagnosed with glaucoma and a cataract, and he lost sight in his left eye. That was the beginning of his miserable life. He developed many vices. He smoked and drank liquor. His life had no … [Read more...]
Baptisms, building project mark progress
MARABUT, Philippines—We are maintaining small-group ministries in Veloso, Tag-alag, Sirum and Binongtuan. These ministries led to five baptisms with many others considering a decision to accept Christ as their personal Saviour. We recently purchased property that will be the future site of the Marabut Seventh-day Adventist Church. This is an answer to our prayers. We’ll start by building a temporary house of worship in the lot so we can begin worshipping together until a permanent … [Read more...]
GO Beginnings
Gospel Outreach became operational May 1, 1993, with the sponsorship of Edgar Navalles among the Ifugaos in the territory of the Mountain Provinces Mission in the Philippines. That represented the genius of GO. It sponsors native workers who present the gospel to their own people. It is very effective because people hear the message in words they can understand, and spoken by someone of their own ethnicity. From that humble beginning in the mountainous region of the Philippines, GO was next … [Read more...]
Property found for new school for deaf students
I arrived on the campus of Mountain View College on February 10 at about 4 p.m. We went straight to the Sulads training center where Sarah Famisaran was teaching deaf students. Ten of her 16 students were present. Those absent had gone home to look for food, as the school cannot provide meals for the students. Sarah and Bem Bem led the students in signing a song of welcome for me. The students range in age from quite young to middle age. All are in the first stages of learning sign language. … [Read more...]
School for deaf
Gospel Outreach worker Sarah Famisaran is married to Daryl, the Sulads director. He not only is working with the deaf ministry in general, but is also integral to the new deaf school. Daryl tells us of the new developments: More deaf children are coming to our classes here at the Sulads campus in Mountain View College, and we are having a problem of accommodation. We have a very small campus inside the larger campus of Mountain View College. Our temporary school of 10 students seems to … [Read more...]
New school for the deaf in Philippines
At this time, we know of only two Adventist schools for the deaf. Through the years, there have been attempts to start an Adventist deaf school in British Columbia, Oregon, Arkansas, Utah, Nebraska, Ethiopia and possibly Kenya. None of those schools lasted for more than a few years. Currently there is an excellent missionary school for the deaf in India under Asian Aid, and a school has just started in the Philippines. You see pictures from that school below. Though Gospel Outreach’s … [Read more...]
God brings end to bloodshed
Chief Ondog was one of the most feared bloody warriors among the Higaonons in Esperanza. His fame reached far to other provinces and different tribes. Young and old warriors came to him for power. Chief Ondog was Grand Master of all the warriors because he had seven abyans (spirit friends from the woods). He knew when an enemy was coming so that he could hide or prepare. One abyan protected him when in battle. Another made him so small that he could hide in a mouse hole. Many wounded warriors … [Read more...]