This has been one of my hardest trips by far. I got detained in Hong Kong and had to spend two nights at the International Airport. The Lord, by His mercy, came through for me. This trip has been a challenging one, from fundraising to transiting.
I am sharing this so that you will know that when faced with opposition, we are never to give up nor retreat but to look ahead and fix our eyes upon Him, Jesus Christ, the Author and finisher of our faith. This is especially true in matters we know the Lord Jesus has assigned to us!
Life in Tacloban
Tacloban ranks as the fifth most competitive city in the Philippines, and second in the emerging cities category. On November 8, 2013, the city was largely destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan, and twelve years later the people of Tacloban still have the trauma and although the region is used to typhoons, the people regard themselves as resilient.
However, because of lots of casualties, people are discouraged and many wonder whether God is truly for them. Others are longing for the Lord’s intervention in their lives. These are the ones we found ready to receive Jesus.
Right from the Jesus Camp, it was evident that this region of Tacloban in the Leyte Island is a peculiar place. We had 47 delegates altogether. Many had mixed feelings with the teachings since all they ever knew was getting involved within the church’s walls. Others, however, were challenged and surrendered their hearts to the Lord to be trained and to learn so that they could get involved in the fieldwork.
The purpose of Jesus Camp is to hold a four-day program to train the church in a region and raise local evangelists. We had delegates coming from other nations like India.
Many of the delegates had never been out to preach the gospel, yet we could see the burning desire in them. We had practical sessions in small groups to coach them individually. My team was open and willing to learn. We had an exhibition that was greatly done, and from there, we went to the streets for live practical’s, and they did very well.
One of the delegates in my team, shared a testimony that, after she had preached in the marketplace, the fear that she felt, dissipated. Glory be to God.
Jesus at the Door
Two of the sessions that I participated in apart from coaching the delegates were a teaching on sharing the gospel One-on-One basis by using a tool called Jesus at the door. This is a tool that helps to break the ice and approach people in everyday walk of life. The delegates could be seen in the streets being able to speak to people and many never thought that it could be possible for them to do such. Another session that I participated in, was a Q & A and various delegates could openly ask questions relating to evangelism. Many times, when the church gets comfortable in a system, evangelism can be misunderstood and we had questions that were asked which revealed the heart of some of the local leaders. And Holy Spirit gave wisdom to each one of us, to respond and answer questions raised.
Graduation Night
On the last day of Jesus Camp, we saw even those whose hearts were indifferent and hardened being softened before the Lord. We were expected to hold one last outreach before the graduation ceremony in the evening. We had indicators showing that a typhoon was headed to Tacloban, which meant that we couldn’t go out to the streets. We still had delegates to graduate, and while the leaders were in a meeting to see how best to get the last training exercise done, we went into intercession and prayed. We asked the Lord for His divine intervention because people still die while it’s raining, and if we do not go and preach the gospel, who will!
Our schedule was altered as a result of the predicted typhoon, and what seemed to be a storm coming to hit the city was met with God’s divine intervention and was diverted! We went out to the streets to have our final outreach. In my team, we met a young man who was discouraged. His wife left him and took their child with! While one of the delegates preached the gospel, his neighbour was listening attentively also and couldn’t wait to be approached and given a chance to receive the Lord Jesus. Both the individuals were prayed for, and the gentleman could be seen leaving to go to his house, with peace in his heart and trusting the Lord to restore his family.
We had a powerful time of praise and worship in the presence of the Lord, and delegates were awarded a certificate of completion. What joy was seen in each person in attendance. The people in this region are hungry for Jesus, and the religious spirit has kept them bound for too long in a cage, and the Lord Jesus is here to set the captives free.
Preaching in Women’s Prison
Matthew 25:36 NIV
“I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.“
We visited a women’s prison to minister. This door of opportunity was opened wide to us by the Lord Jesus. We had a full service where we preached the gospel, prayed for the sick, and taught on the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The women and their warden who joined us were deeply touched by the Holy Spirit.
Four of the women shared that they had been healed by the Lord Jesus. Chains were broken, and the captives were set free. We worshipped the Lord together and closed with a powerful prayer, blessing them and praying for their families outside the prison walls. What a glorious moment this was, and we thank the Lord for His presence.
Preaching at a Christmas Celebration
I was invited to preach at a village where the youth struggles with identity, addiction and some are deep in crime activities, many are from homes that struggle to make ends meet because of joblessness. The service was held in the evening as per the norm. Yet, this time around, we had a true crusade! Some of the children already recognised me from their local school. Those in attendance heard the message of the birth of Jesus and why He came. We prayed for the infilling of the Holy Spirit after a teaching and, together with the leaders who invited me, laid hands on each child present.
Youth Crusades
We started the Youth Crusades the day after our visit to the prison. We have seen the Lord come to schools where we prayed for Him to give the people a glimpse of hope, that they are known by God, and He hasn’t forgotten them. While I was on the field together with other leaders, we continued to be shadowed by the Jesus Camp graduates who were recommended for the Youth Crusades. We walked the journey with them.
Testimonies
A girl testified that she’s had a fever since she was young and Jesus healed her.
Another boy shared that he’s had asthma since he was young. He could be seen taking deep breaths and said that Jesus had healed him;
At a junior high, during the Holy Spirit teaching, the presence of the Lord was thick in the room, and many students were crying as they waited on the Holy Spirit. It was a beautiful moment in His presence. When we asked for anyone who wants to testify, a young man (confused about his identity) came to the front and shared that, “he is free”.
This wasn’t an act at all. He was still deeply moved, and other students cried with him. We could all see that he had been genuinely touched by the Lord. Our driver who lives in the area has shared that their pastor will follow up with the young man as they know him and his mother.
Teachers and students are impacted by the gospel message and we thank and praise the Lord.
Thank you for sending me to Tacloban City in the Philippines.
What we have witnessed here is truly the work of the Lord. The people are hungry for the gospel. Many have been chained up by the enemy, and Jesus is here to set the captives free through the preaching of the Gospel. We have seen miracles taking place, with prisoners in tears because they are overwhelmed by the presence of the Lord! Witnessing young people crying out to the Lord and a young man confused about his identity testifying because he has seen the light is a blessing.
You are a part of this work, and without your support in prayer and financially, it wouldn’t have been possible to witness these amazing moments. May you encounter the Lord who sees you.
May He bless and prosper the work of your hands.