As we celebrate this holiday season, it is good for us to take time to look at all the wonderful gifts that God has given us. When we think of all he has done for us, it is easy to lift our hearts to Him in praise and thanksgiving.
Our hearts are overflowing with thanks to God for all that we see Him doing in the Philippines this past year. In our last newsletter, we asked for your help in buying a truck to haul produce down from tribal areas in the mountains to the markets. We expected the truck to cost $10,000. But God moved on the heart of a businessman on Mindanao who sold us just the truck we needed for only $3,500! God met this important need through your prayers, and your sacrificial giving.
We also told you about the 30 tribal chieftains who have opened their areas for the Gospel to come in for the first time. That number has continued to grow. In November, 60 tribal chieftains representing the Ata, Mandaya, Mangungan, Manobo, Didbabawon, and Omayamnon tribes entered into a formal covenant and established a co-operative to develop the natural resources of their tribal homelands for the benefit of their people. Profits from the sale of lumber and other natural products will be used to build churches, schools, and a medical clinic. It will also be used to develop agricultural programs to take advantage of the rich soil and cottage industries such as handcrafts that can provide an income without polluting the land or water. Our workers will be planting churches where the people will be led to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and be taught basic Bible doctrines. They will also be taught hygiene, literacy, farming techniques, and job skills so they can support their families and become productive members of society.
There is no doubt that this is God’s will for every people group – that they develop the natural resources He has given them so that they can live in peace and harmony with all their needs met. But that doesn’t happen without a battle because the powers of darkness also have a plan for every people group. Their goal is to steal, to kill, and to destroy. So it isn’t enough to praise God for the start of this new co-op even though that is an important step in the right direction. We must also cover this effort with much prayer and stand ready to support the work financially while it is getting established.
This important principle is easy to illustrate. While we were praying for the funds to buy a truck to transport the rice harvest to market, we neglected to pray for the harvest itself because everything looked fine on the surface. Our workers who were overseeing the crop were expecting 200-300 large sacks of rice. One week before the harvest was ready, a flock of thousands of birds came out of nowhere. When they moved on three days later, there were only five sacks worth of rice left! The enemy is a thief who knows that literally thousands of souls are escaping his control. He won’t give up without a fight. But because of God’s indescribable gift of His only begotten Son, this enemy is a defeated foe. His authority over these people has been broken by the blood that was shed on the cross by the One whose birthday we celebrate. Just knowing the ultimate victory has been won doesn’t mean the fight is over. That victory needs to be enforced through intercessory prayer.
We thank God that He has given us the privilege of being co-laborers with Him in this great harvest of souls that is happening on Mindanao. We thank you that you have joined us through your prayers and sacrificial giving to make these spiritual breakthroughs possible. God so loved the world that He gave us an indescribable gift. When you give in His name out of a heart of love for the lost, you are acting just like God. How His heart must rejoice as He sees His children reflecting His image. What a wonderful gift to give our loving heavenly Father this Christmas.
As you go about shopping for Christmas gifts for your loved ones, consider giving a special gift as well to the One whose birthday we celebrate. How can we give a birthday gift to Jesus Christ? He said, "…inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me." (Matt.25:40) What better gift to give to Jesus Christ than making it possible for thousands to hear the Christmas story for the very first time. This Christmas there will be more than 3,000 tribal Believers in the mountains of Mindanao who didn’t even know Jesus existed just two years ago. Help us bring the Good News of salvation to at least 3,000 more in 2003. God bless you this Christmas and throughout the coming year.