1/11/2016 Philippines (Mission News Network) —
Filipino Christians are overcoming persecution,
and pressing on toward the goal of making Christ
known.
Filipino Christians are overcoming persecution,
and pressing on toward the goal of making Christ
known.
Steve Van Valkenburg with Christian Aid Mission
says “during the [Christmas Eve] service, there
was a firecracker thrown on top of the church
building. Of course, it was just material that could
easily be burned…within a short time, the church
was burnt down.”
says “during the [Christmas Eve] service, there
was a firecracker thrown on top of the church
building. Of course, it was just material that could
easily be burned…within a short time, the church
was burnt down.”
More in the full report here.
The people were fine, but everything in the church
was lost. Including the only Bibles the people had —
and shared.
was lost. Including the only Bibles the people had —
and shared.
Despite this persecution, believers aren’t giving up.
Rather, many are choosing to stay, face the
persecution, and share the Gospel.
Rather, many are choosing to stay, face the
persecution, and share the Gospel.
“There are local, indigenous, people, sharing the
Gospel. And they’re sharing the Gospel in some of
the most hard-to-reach, out-of-the-way places — places
where there is potential persecution,“ explains
Van Valkenburg.
Gospel. And they’re sharing the Gospel in some of
the most hard-to-reach, out-of-the-way places — places
where there is potential persecution,“ explains
Van Valkenburg.
“When you reach out with the Gospel, there’s always
push-back [from] people who don’t like that the Christians
are planting churches, and people are becoming
believers in Christ.”
push-back [from] people who don’t like that the Christians
are planting churches, and people are becoming
believers in Christ.”
Established in 2013, in an area with a population
that is about 60-percent Muslim, the church’s short
history has never been without persecution. Why have
these believers chosen to stay in an area where they
are clearly unwelcome? First, it is their home. Secondly,
these Filipino Christians desire to serve the Lord and see
their neighbors come to Christ.
that is about 60-percent Muslim, the church’s short
history has never been without persecution. Why have
these believers chosen to stay in an area where they
are clearly unwelcome? First, it is their home. Secondly,
these Filipino Christians desire to serve the Lord and see
their neighbors come to Christ.
It’s up to the worldwide Body of Christ to help them as
they carry out their mission.
they carry out their mission.
“I think when you ask them, those local native workers,
they would say not to pray that there would be less
persecution,” Van Valkenburg notes.
they would say not to pray that there would be less
persecution,” Van Valkenburg notes.
“[Instead] they would [ask you to] pray that the Gospel
goes out and that they would have the boldness and the
power of the Spirit to present the Gospel in a way that
many of their friends and family become believers in Christ.”
goes out and that they would have the boldness and the
power of the Spirit to present the Gospel in a way that
many of their friends and family become believers in Christ.”
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