Gathering Around The Gospel In The Philippines
There are some trips that you go on, that as you sit on the plane to return home you can’t help but smile, and this last trip to the Philippines was one such trip for me.
I have had the privilege of travelling over to the Philippines many times over the last 8 years. When I first went over, Sovereign Grace had two churches that were in partnership with us, and many loose associations. It was clear we had a whole lot of friends, which was wonderful. But there’s a big difference between ‘friends’ and ‘partners’, and so I committed at that point to going over and running two Pastors Conferences a year, to seek to establish who wanted to ‘stay friends’ and who wanted to ‘build partnership’ together. It was a sweet season, as we taught through the seven-shared values and laid out what partnership could look like. Not everyone stayed, for some Sovereign Grace was not for them, but for others, it was home… God was so clearly on the move in the Philippines.
Fast forward then to just a couple of weeks ago on the plane. Having experienced such an incredible week, my heart was full... God has done so much more than I could’ve ever asked or imagined!
The week was full in terms of schedule. Tuesday through Thursday, we led a Pastors Conference for about 200 people, primarily pastors, wives, and key leaders from Sovereign Grace Churches, as well as around 10-12 guests who were invited to join us. These numbers included folks from Pakistan, Nepal, Australia, the Philippines & South Korea, and for three days we focused in on the values of corporate worship. Singing was as loud as ever, God’s Word was freshly built into people’s lives, and friendships were newly strengthened. As we heard testimonies and updates from Pakistan, Australia, the Philippines, and Global, it was a faith-building and strengthening time for everyone involved.
Friday night, Sovereign Grace Music led of night entitled ‘Gathering Around the Gospel in Song, Scripture & Prayer’, for around 3800 people. It was a wonderfully Christ-exalting evening, to be honest, I’ve not seen anything quite like it!! God was so good to us!! Here’s a short video for you.
On Saturday, Sovereign Grace Music then led a day seminar for around 1000 musicians that focused on why Jesus is greater than music, and how to arrange your music to best serve your congregation. Before Bob Kauflin and the team led the music and Bob preached for CCSGM in Manila, Jeffrey Jo’s Church, on the Sunday. It was a very special morning, as the four CCSGM Churches in Manila came together for this.
This week in the Philippines provided a wonderful example of how Sovereign Grace Music is helping to plant and strengthen Sovereign Grace Churches. For so much of the week they were sowing into leaders and potential leaders of Sovereign Grace churches, and having conversations about how they can use music to edify the church, proclaim God’s Word, and exalt Christ. It was a sweet, sweet time!
Big shout out then to Bob Kauflin, Devon Kauflin & Dave Zimmer for serving so tirelessly and excellently throughout the week. Also, to Jeffrey Jo and all of the 80 plus volunteers from CCSGM who helped run all of these events. As well as Riley Spring, our big event MC extraordinaire… All of you served so incredibly well, not only in what you did, but also in the way you did it.
I so love our partnership. How kind of the Lord that we get to do these things together, as we make much of His great Name... Surely lines have fallen for us in pleasant places. Soli Deo Gloria!
