127 saved in the Philippines!

A group photo with the 5th Infantry Battalion in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

I won't bury the lead to this blog. This week we have seen 127 people in the Philippines accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and we have seen pastors, missionaries and their wives encouraged. This trip has been the most incredible, beautiful and awesome experience of our lives.

Today will be my last day of preaching on this trip as we visit Punta, Philippines, to preach at Pastor Mario Montero's church. It will be my 13th sermon in five days. I've never preached that much, but I have loved every moment of it. I can't wait to do it again.

The people here are so hungry for and open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have even seen seven Muslims accept Jesus. Do you realize how huge that is? That is an incredible decision on their part, and we praise God. We have seen 93 Philippine soldiers accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, including a colonel. God has given us great favor with the Philippine Army as we have preached at four different Army camps.

It was so cool how we did it. Pastor Jun Begafria is a pastor of Shiloh Bible Baptist Church in Ozamiz City, and he is very well respected by the military as he has led Bible studies and been a counselor for them. We drove up to the Army camps, he showed them his ID and they let us in. Then Martha and Mama shared their testimonies. The soldiers were amazed at the joy they had, and couldn't believe Mama was 76 years old traveling all the way to the Philippines to tell them about Jesus. People don't live that long over here.

I preached, and then Pastor Jun would recap and share some more and then lead the soldiers in a prayer of repentance.

Martha said something that caused a high-ranking military official to accept Christ. She said, "If you have never accepted Jesus, give him a try." Those words "give Jesus a try" is what touched his heart. Pastor Jun received a text later in the day that the high-ranking official called his wife and told her that he gave Jesus a try and it works! He noticed a peace He never felt before. Praise God! Imagine how many people God will use that man to reach. To God be all the glory!

Then we did the same format in Ozamiz City at a restaurant where students from the university met us. The place was packed. A couple of the professors go to Pastor Jun's church and they invited the students to come here the Americans.

Glory be to God, 31 young people gave their lives to Jesus! Praise God! The students who were already Christians immediately sat down with the new believers to share scripture and answer questions. Discipleship began immediately.

We saw that Monday night as well at the evangelistic service at Shiloh Bible Baptist Church in Sindangan. I was excited Pastor Greg Begafria asked me to preach that service. It was a great time with beautiful singing from the church choir and the congregation. Ten people gave their hearts to Jesus that night, and immediately people sat down with the new believers to share scripture and answer questions.

Pastor Greg and his precious wife Lilia were so excited that the next door neighbor to the church accepted Jesus that night. They had invited her to church a number of times, but that was the first service she attended. To God be the glory.

The Pastors/Missionary Workers conference was wonderful. The theme was John 4:35, "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." I shared on that topic and on the topic of discipleship. But the biggest message I wanted to get across to them was encouragement, to lift them up and show them the great men and women of faith they are. And they are amazing as they live day-by-day with no assurance of any provision of any kind - food, money, clothing, etc. - except what God provides on a daily basis. That's faith.

I give God all the praise as I've already heard about two pastors who were on the verge of quitting because of frustration, burdens of financial, physical, and mental stress that depleted them spiritually as well. But at the end of the conference they were refreshed, refocused and excited to be in the ministry. Praise God!

Martha and Mama, or as they call her here, "Mama Susie," taught the women at the conference and did a great job. The women were really encouraged and inspired. One of the young women told Mama that she really inspires the young people.

God is doing a great work here in the Philippines. It's an amazing work as the people are hungry for and open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ like I've never seen before. The pastors and indigenous missionaries are doing a great work, and we are gong to continue to support them and be involved.