“But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” (I Thessalonians 2:4)
Here at the International Baptist Church of Dumaguete, the autumn season has quickly found us again busy about our Father’s business. Even though the temperature is hot year around here, we are still reminded of the thrill of the Christmas season, since most of the stores follow the same marketing tradition used in the States and are already playing the seasonal Christmas music.
In September, we had a great Missions Conference with the theme “Shine Brighter.” Four missionary families were with us for the five-day emphasis on missions. Two of the visiting families were missionaries our church already supports; the two other families were new missionaries, whom we as a church are excited about helping to send to their mission fields. It is exciting to be used by God to share the Gospel here in the Philippines; however, I am more excited and encouraged to meet other families who are being used by the same God and are taking the responsibility to leave the mission field where we are to take the Gospel to the regions beyond.
On Saturday mornings now, there is a Children’s Club. This club meets at the same time as our soul-winning and visitation ministries. One of our college graduates, Emirson Ubas, has taken the responsibility of making sure the children are cared for and have educational activities while the teens and adults make visits.
At the International Baptist Church of Dumaguete, a church member who begins soul winning is encouraged to attend the church-wide soul-winning meeting on Saturday mornings. This meeting teaches them how to share the Gospel, effectively and clearly, with the people they meet when they go soul winning. Once they are confident in their ability to share the Gospel and have been faithful to the Saturday meetings, they may be asked to become a worker on one of our organized routes. Two church members, Jonna Hayson and Jeno Villamor, have recently taken on the responsibility of working on the routes. They will be missed at our weekly soul-winning meeting, but I am encouraged to have people growing in their confidence and responsibility of sharing the Gospel!
As Christians, we are all responsible to share the Gospel we have been given, whether it is sharing it with others in our hometown or sharing it across the world. The magnitude of the Gospel is directly proportionate to the willingness of those who possess it to fulfill their responsibility to preach it.
Serving the Lord with gladness,
The Lawrenson Family
(on the field)
Stan, Kim, Bethany, Josiah, Chloe Anna, Stephen, & Luke