A World MAP Seminar Report by Frank R. Parrish
I stepped off the plane in Manila, after a grueling 14-hour journey, to a wall of scorching, sodden air. Yes, I was back in southeast Asia!
My spirits would not be dampened, however, by either my sleep deprivation or the wet-blanket conditions. I was anticipating the great things God would do to meet and bless His front-line servants!
I was joyfully greeted by the rest of our team who had been assembled by the hand of the Lord for this trip: Owen Chamberlin, founder of Healing Winds ministry; Jan Bosman, retired pastor from Holland; Edwin Richards and Carlo Socobo, pastors in Malaysia; and Peter De Jesus from the Philippines.
Some of us had met before, but all of us discovered a ready fellowship and a willingness to serve one another and the pastors we would soon be with.
THE PHILIPPINES
Strong Move Of The Spirit
Our first stop was the World MAP office in the Philippines. We were graciously hosted by Frank Billones and his staff, who do a very capable and effective job running the office and carrying out the task of distributing The Shepherd’s Staff and ACTS throughout the Philippines. Brother Billones carries a burden for the work of the Lord, and has faithfully volunteered to serve World MAP and the Filipino Church for many years.
While there, we picked up boxes of Shepherd’s Staffs for the registered pastors of our Philippine conferences. We then made our way to the airport for the flight to Davao, and rode in vans to a small hotel outside Asuncion, where our first conference would be held.
The next morning the team gathered for a powerful prayer time. We felt a strong moving of the Spirit and an increased sense of God’s heart for this part of the world. His desire was – and is – to do even greater works! (John 14:12)
Amazing Response
Early that afternoon, we headed for Asuncion (25 miles away). As we drove, I got a good opportunity to see the countryside of southern Philippines, where a great deal of unrest and tension exists. Three radical elements currently oppose the legitimate government: the National People’s Army (often hired by the communists in the Philippines); a radical Muslim group; and a large group of bandits. Many people live in constant fear, never knowing when an outbreak of violence might occur.
Our pastors’ conference in Asuncion was the first in a very long time and created a great deal of excitement and anticipation in the local churches. There were over 160 registered pastors from many different groups, plus many of their spouses. We also had a large contingent from a local Bible school. This brought the group to over 250 in attendance. This was the largest church leaders’ conference ever held in this area.
Most leadership events are held in larger population centers. So the pastors and their spouses were so grateful that we had come all the way to Asuncion!
The conference was entitled “Enhancing Relationship and Leadership”. This was a bold step for the planning committee. The church in the southern area is splintered into many small and often competing groups, each jealous and proud of its distinctive differences. Needless to say, this does not enhance biblical unity or the increased effectiveness that comes from cooperative relationships. So this theme was well chosen for this area.
On the opening night of the conference we had speeches from the mayor, vice mayor and district congressman of the city. This was followed by more worship, and finally a message on the need for love and unity among the leaders from the Book of Philemon. This made for a long evening, but the conference got off to a strong start.
I spoke the following morning on the power of forgiveness.
Many relationships between estranged leaders and whole groups were healed that day. Their enthusiastic response caused me momentary doubt as to whether they really understood the implications of what I shared. However, a Filipino pastor on our team felt assured that their response and understanding were indeed genuine.
Seeds Of Change
God was faithful to pour out blessing, and each conference session built one upon the next into a strong presentation of God’s heart toward the leaders. I ended up being given all three sessions on the final day, and that evening’s closing-night session.
I spoke in the morning on the anointing of the Holy Spirit, in preparation for an evening “impartation” service where the whole team would pray for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit for each person there. In the afternoon session, I fielded some tough but important questions from these precious leaders. Thank God for His wisdom!
At the end of the final afternoon session, we presented each pastor with his/her very own Shepherd’s Staff. What excitement and joy as they received their free copy! I was told numerous times, along with heartfelt thanks, that World MAP’s Shepherd’s Staff is still one of the most sought-after ministry training tools in the Philippines.
A Fresh Impartation
The evening meeting was set aside as a time for pastors and church leaders to receive a fresh impartation of anointing from the Holy Spirit. I taught them how to receive from the Holy Spirit. The pastors and leaders were eager for a fresh touch, and I invited the team to join with me as we laid hands on each leader to pray with them.
Several leaders received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues for the very first time! All of those prayed for were powerfully touched, with most going down as the power of the Holy Spirit swept over them. God knows how much these leaders need the Holy Spirit – His anointing, refreshing and empowering – to survive and overcome in such difficult ministry circumstances. God is anxious to touch them, and fill the hunger of their hearts. What a glorious time and powerful conclusion to this fruitful conference!
During the pastors’ conference we stayed at the home of Robinson Ruiz, the ex-mayor of the city of Asuncion and a wonderful brother in Christ. He and his wife, “Mama Ruiz”, were gracious hosts. They fed us to overflowing at every meal on fish, rice, papaya and a host of other Philippine foods. Their daughter, Mary Joy, was the coordinator for the conference and did a tremendous job.
We were blessed to enjoy this strong time with the church leaders of Asuncion. Many commented that this conference will have far-reaching impact, changing the church of Asuncion, and therefore the community, in a powerful way. Glory to God!
A Glorious Meeting
The next day we took a five-hour “off-road” drive into a mountain region called Ampunan to visit a work called Tribal Movers. The people here live in primitive conditions, without electricity or plumbing.
We enjoyed an evening meal with the dear brothers and sisters there, followed by a time of worship and a brief message from the Word.
We had a glorious meeting with three local tribal elders, called “datus” [pronounced dah-toos], who all gave their hearts to Christ! This is highly significant, as it will profoundly enhance the evangelization of their villages!
We slept that night with a sheet on wood floors; then, amidst heartfelt goodbyes and many smiles, we left the next morning to return to Asuncion.
Going back down the mountain was as difficult as coming up, and our four-wheel-drive van got seriously stuck. In the process of trying to get it out, one of the local pastors traveling with us had a seizure of some sort related to his high blood pressure. There we were, up to our ankles in mud, praying fervently over our fellow brother.
Thankfully, his condition stabilized and we were able to get him to a local hospital. It was “staffed” with only one doctor, who prescribed nitro-glycerine pills and sent the pastor home.
After a night’s rest and a shower (which consisted of a ladle and a bucket full of tepid water), the team dispersed to speak in local churches. We left that afternoon for Davao to catch our flight for the next stop on our ministry journey: Manado, on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia.
INDONESIA
Waves Of Suspicion
Just before we left for the airport in Davao we received some disheartening news. The local Religious Director (a Muslim) had revoked the permit for the pastors’ conference in Manado just days before we were scheduled to start.
In recent months the government has been tightening its grip on Christian activities in Indonesia, primarily as a knee-jerk response to the many Christian organizations that responded with disaster relief after the recent tsunami. This vast outpouring of Christian love has opened the hearts and eyes of a nominally Muslim population, who deeply appreciated the practical help freely given by Christians.
By contrast, Muslim money that came in response to the tsunami was not directed for disaster relief – but instead was used to build more mosques and Muslim training centers, and to launch advertising campaigns warning the population against the Christians!
Indonesia has the largest non-Arabic Muslim population in the world. As a group, Indonesian Muslims tend to be more radical and committed to Islam than many of their Arabic counterparts. Because of this, Christians are in great danger in many parts of this nation of islands. Today, there are several islands where there is no Christian witness of any kind.
Sadly, it was later learned that the Religious Director who revoked the permit was also heavily influenced by a non-Charismatic denominational leader who felt threatened by a Spirit-filled conference. This leader announced the cancellation of the event to the 300 church leaders who had gathered, and sent them away without explanation. It was painful to experience one part of the Body of Christ striking against another! May God have mercy, and do a work of unity!
A Great Outpouring
After much prayer and many, many cell phone calls we moved to another city, Bitung, which was several hours away. Because we had no time to get permits or to notify local pastors, we held meetings in a local Bitung church.
Word quickly spread and almost 200 people gathered for the impromptu conference. The first night I spoke on “The Pathway to Revival” and had a great response! Though the conference held challenges (such as frequent power outages), this did not stop the power of God from touching lives and hearts!
The team continued preaching, even in pitch-black darkness. The heat and humidity were oppressive, without fans or air moving. But the people there are very hungry for the things of God and they press on, even in the threatening shadow of Islam.
I spoke two more evenings on “The Power of Trust” and also on the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Many responded, and received the baptism for the first time. There was very enthusiastic response to the Word and work of the Holy Spirit. We saw salvations and a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the closing night of the conference.
What the enemy meant for evil in canceling the original conference, God used for good and a powerful gathering replaced it – to God be the glory!
Thirsting For The Dew Of Unity
While on Sulawesi I had the privilege of meeting with several pastors. One of them, Joppy [yo-py] Ticoalu, is the pastor of the first native church ever planted on that island, pioneered by his father many decades ago. Pastor Joppy’s six brothers all pastor churches in Indonesia as well.
We talked (through an interpreter) and laughed with one another, and enjoyed a meal that included bat (yes, bat).
As we fellowshipped together, a picture of the challenges facing the Indonesian church began to emerge:
1) Division in the Church. Pentecostal churches are growing, and non-Pentecostal churches are losing members. So they accuse the Pentecostal churches of heresy and use political and governmental connections to hamper the growth of Pentecostal churches. There exists divisiveness among other churches as well. There is much distrust, jealousy, competition, disunity and backbiting, thus further hampering the Church’s effectiveness and witness in the local community.
2) Animism and radical Islam are widely held and practiced. Christians are threatened at every level with the government’s unspoken support of Muslim violence against Christians.
3) Pentecostals, who make up 25% of all the various religious groups (Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, non-Pentecostals), still do not have any political or governmental representation, thus leaving them more vulnerable.
Please pray for the church of Indonesia! “How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity… It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion” (Ps 133:1-3).
Early Saturday morning (5:30 a.m.) we were invited to the Prayer Breakfast attended by the pastors of Bitung. I was asked to give a devotional and spoke on Proverbs 14:34 (“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people”) to challenge both the pastors and the mayor and local city officials.
Sunday the team split up to speak in a number of local churches. It was my privilege to share in Pastor Joppy Ticoalu’s church in the central highlands of Sulawesi. It was a wonderful time in God’s presence.
The following Monday we took two flights to reach Tarakan, on the neighboring island of Borneo, for our next conference.
A Mighty “Kairos” Moment
The conference was themed “World Mission Breakthrough”. During the first evening, I was speaking on the biblical mandate of missions and the heart of God toward the nations. I was barely through my introduction when I could sense that the Spirit of God was moving and it was time to “put in the sickle” and reap what God had purposed to accomplish that evening.
I made a call for those whom God had been speaking to about giving their lives away to minister in foreign lands. The response was overwhelming! Fully three quarters or more of the 200 or so pastors attending came forward in commitment, many weeping and kneeling before the Lord. The team dispersed to lay hands on them and pray, and many went down under the power of the Spirit. It was a mighty “kairos” moment – and it was just the first night! What a glorious time in the Lord.
“Pujay Tuhan!”
The next several days were filled with sessions and ministry by our team and others. Peter de Jesus spoke on the cost of discipleship, Jan Bosman on worship, Owen Chamberlin on unity and prayer. And for all of us, Pastor Carlos did an excellent job of interpretation.
Pastor Thomas Agung from Jakarta, Indonesia spoke on the necessity of service: to God, the Body of Christ and the world. At the end of the service we prayed for many to be refreshed in their service.
The final night, I brought a message entitled “Destined To Be Overcomers”, aimed more at counting the cost than just simple inspiration. I exhorted from Revelation 12:11 that whatever our ministry or our location, we must be totally committed to give Christ our all for the sake of the Harvest.
We stood as a Body together, to freshly offer ourselves to the Lord of the Harvest to use us as He willed. Again, the response was overwhelming, both from the pastors and the Holy Spirit to them. I was deeply humbled by our Indonesian brothers and sisters – their hunger, commitment, and desire for the Lord and to be of service to Him in these days.
We must pray for the Indonesian church. I believe God has great plans to use them in His end-time harvest worldwide!
The following morning we met with the leaders for a time of laying on of hands for a fresh impartation of the Holy Spirit. Again, there was such a strong sense of the Lord’s presence and touch upon the lives of these precious Indonesian pastors. After the end of the last meeting we heard, over and over, “Tremikasa bańa” (“Thank you so very much”), “Pujay Tuhan!” (“Praise the Lord!”) and “Tuhan memberkati anda” (“God bless you”).
My fumbling attempts at returning these Indonesian greetings were always met with joy and laughter and many handshakes. I will not soon forget their faces, their voices and their love for God. I am glad we will enjoy an eternity together!
MALAYSIA
Lifelong Friends
Our time in Malaysia was short, but full! The night we arrived we ministered in Pastor Edwin Richards’ primary church (he oversees five additional churches). Our service started at 7:00 p.m. and lasted until after midnight! What a wonderful time we enjoyed with these dear saints. It was a very full service with three speakers, punctuated with worship and ministry. We packed a weekend-long conference into that one service!
We left the next day for Mount Kinabalu, the tallest mountain (over 14,000 feet) in Southeast Asia, for a last evening together as a team. We fellowshipped over dinner, and concluded our trip with a time of worship and thanksgiving for all God had done.
We prayed for one another as we prepared to head out for the next step of our various ministry assignments: some to stay in Malaysia for a few days; some to go to the Philippines; and me to continue on to China.
This Southeast Asia ministry journey was a most fruitful trip, as a wind of refreshing lifted the hearts of church leaders. People were saved; many, many pastors were encouraged, freshly empowered and blessed; communities were impacted for the Gospel; and God was glorified!
Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support that made this all possible. Your faithful partnership in the Gospel is humbling and so very deeply appreciated!