Gospel Flourishing in Mindanao, Philippines

An update from Jeffrey Jo, Lead Pastor of CCSGM in Cavite, Manila, and Key Leader for Sovereign Grace Churches in the Philippines...

It was the third week of November last year, when the Philippine government decided to ease back and place the whole country into level 2 restrictions when it comes to the pandemic situation. This meant that they eased up travel requirements, and so that was when we grabbed the opportunity to visit our nine churches In Surigao del Sur. It is a place that is part of Mindanao, south of the Philippines. The Mindanao island group is home to the majority of the Filipino Muslims. Of Mindanao's 24,135,775 population, Muslims make up about 23.39% of the island's entire population, and so some 93% of the entire Islamic population of our country resides in these islands. 

In spite of the insurgencies in the area, God has made it possible for us to plant 9 churches in that region in the past 15 years. These churches birthed other churches in their localities and are still doing church planting activities even as I write today. In the midst of these two years of pandemic, God, in His providence, causes His churches to grow with new converts publicly declaring their faith expressed through water baptism. And this was the reason why we visited them last November 23, that we may encourage them in their young faith in Christ and teach them the great significance of being part of a local church.

Along with my fellow elders, we divided ourselves so that we can visit all nine churches, proclaiming the gospel of Christ and taking the time to talk to our fellow elders on their biblical leadership both in their family and in the local church. On the last day of our stay with them, we gathered all the elders and key church leaders for a conference designed to help them see how God values discipleship in His church. We were only expecting about 90 to attend, but there were over 160 people on the day that arrived hungry to hear His word. It was such a wonderful time of learning, serving and praying for our co-laborers in God’s vineyard in that area. 

My fellow elders Rey, Francis and I were humbled to minister to these brothers, and also to learn from them. Moreover, a pastor from a nearby province attended the said conference and he spoke to me. Amazed by the gospel-centered preaching, he asked me if we may meet again in their region, Agusan del Sur, and minister to his pastor friends and churches as well, even just for a day. And I assured him that as God permits, we will!

We are planning to go back next by the third week of March so that we may do a follow through on what we have taught them. This time we will be bringing our wives with us with a hope to have a small conference on the importance of biblical marriage in the ministry. Moreover, since a lot of young people and adults wanted to seriously study the bible and be equipped for service so as to reach the whole of Mindanao with the gospel of Christ, we are looking forward to establishing a gospel-centered, church-planting Bible school in that region. 

Please pray for us as we continue to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more workers on this field ripe for harvest, for the gospel’s sake and for His glory. May His wonderful will be done. 

Please click below for a short video on the trip…