An insider movement is a way of reaching people where they currently are
in society. Our town is almost 100% animistic Roman Catholic, meaning
they mix spritism and other traditional beliefs with the Catholicism
that was brought to them by the Spanish hundreds of years ago. There
have been evangelistic attempts in the past in this region of the
Philippines, but most of these efforts were confrontational of the
existing beliefs of the people. While this method of evangelism was
successful in other parts of the Philippines, it has not proven to be
effective in this area. An insider movement does not focus on what is
WRONG with the peoples existing beliefs, but focuses on what is RIGHT
about the Bible. As we have seen people develop a love for God's Word
and doing what it says, they have in the process discovered some of the
traditions and beliefs they hold are against what God says in the
Bible. At this point, they have a choice - they can continue studying
the Bible and not obeying it, continuing in their religious practices
that are against God, or they can choose to be obedient to what God has
called all of us to in His Word. This kind of change does not happen in
a two day evangelistic "crusade", or a 1 week vacation Bible school, or
a short term visit and presentation of the Gospel. Strongholds that
have been in place for centuries do not fall in one day. The question
is: are we willing to take the time to walk with people through the
process of breaking down the strongholds of lies told to them their
whole life, and see them put their faith in Christ alone?
One such family recently decided to end a decades old tradition in their
family - their participation in one of the religious processions that
involve worshiping idols that are paraded through the streets. When
their family members came to them to tell them that is was their turn to
host the preparations and lead the idols through the streets, they had
to make a decision. Would they do what was expected by many of the
people they care about, or would they decline and follow God's Word?
The pressure was intense, but after praying together the couple decided
they had to break ties with the traditions that God hates and end the
decades of idol worship in their family.
We are thankful to God for the faithfulness of people to stand up and
obey God rather than men, in spite of the consequences that will
undoubtedly come. We are also thankful to have the opportunity of
walking with them through their journey. Pray for the believers here as
they are constantly faced with these trials and temptations.
New Bible Studies
We are thanking God for a number of new Bible studies that have started
over the past month. One Bible study has been started in a very poor
community, where we are still assessing the amount of literacy and
adjusting the method of Bible study accordingly. This Bible study is
being started by a team of leaders we are mentoring and taking through
the process of MAWL: Model, Assist, Watch and Leave. We have modeled
Bible study to them, and now we are assisting them to start one of their
own. Next, we will step back and watch them as they do it on their own,
and finally we will leave and give complete responsibility and oversight
to them. Another Bible study was started with a group of professionals
including a husband and wife who are dentists. This group is being
started by another group of professionals who have been meeting for a
year now, which include a doctor and a former vice-mayor. It gives us
great joy to see the excitement they show when they are the ones leading
the group. I can't help but wonder about the countless Christians back
home who have yet to experience the joy of being used by God to bring
others closer to Him. If anyone is bored in their spiritual life,
encourage them to step out and share their faith with a non-believer -
an instant cure to boredom!
Authentic Christianity
One of our main goals for the Bible studies that are started is to move
them into genuine Christian communities of believers. What does that
look like? When people get together and discover God's truth in His
Word, there is a bond that begins to form. It is not so much a bond of
"knowing" things together, like one would in a classroom at school. The
bond that forms when people study God's Word is formed as the Holy
Spirit moves in each person to apply the truth to their lives. It
becomes less an academic exercise and more a shared experience. As
believers journey through their lives together, being aided and guided
by the Holy Spirit and God's Word, they begin to bond with each other in
ways that are different from any other group they have been a part of in
the past. This bond further serves to encourage and disciple one
another as "discipleship in community" happens. Here's what I mean:
One woman shared her burden with her Bible study group one night when
she asked the group to pray for her and her husband as she had
discovered him having an affair with another woman. In a culture that
loves to gossip, it was a brave thing to confess, and only a loving
community like she had with this group could be trusted with such a
prayer request. She was judged by no one, and was offered advice,
support and prayer. Another time a family lost their son in a
motorcycle accident, and the community they were involved in gathered
around them and gave them support and prayer through their grief. Of
course, these dramatic events don't happen every week. The regular life
of these communities are filled with laughter, joy and the strength that
comes when they learn God's Word together, find ways to live it out in
their daily lives, and hold one another accountable. This is one of the
ways that a Bible study becomes a house church - a living, changing,
real community of believers who are lights to all those around them.
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