FR NTIERS PHILIPPINE
NEWS & INFORMATION FROM PHILIPPINE FRONTIER MISSIONS • VOLUME 31 • NO. 4
“THE GOSPEL TO EVERY NATION, TRIBE, TONGUE, AND PEOPLE...” OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2023 ISSUE
philippine frontiers is a quarterly publication by Philippine Frontier Missions and is sent free
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Philippine Frontier Missions, Inc. is a non-profit religious organization established in 1993 by Filipino SDA pastors and laymen, working in cooperation with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. MISSION STATEMENT: Philippine Frontier Missions establishes indigenous Seventh-day Adventist church planting movements among unreached people groups.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS Zenaida Willison Chairwoman John Holbrook President
VISION STATEMENT: A Seventh-day Adventist church planting movement in every unreached people group, beginning in the Philippines and expanding to the ends of the earth, resulting in every individual hearing the everlasting gospel.
Mary Rose Fabrero Corporate Secretary & Treasurer
HOW TO DONATE
Cornelio Aba Bayani Agnazata Yoanes Sinaga Robin Willison Edwin Balila Board Members
PHILIPPINE FRONTIER MISSIONS-USA
Moises de Ocampo Internal Auditor
P.O. Box 42, Eton, GA 30724 Make checks payable to Philippine Frontier Missions USA. Write "PFM-Phils." on the memo.
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Native leaders from the Alangan tribe train other members to be missionaries to other factions.
John Holbrook Editor
GCASH Aleni F. Cornejo 0917-603-1658
Esther Fabrero Layout Artist
PAYMAYA 0939-908-6496
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The Shaman’s Dream EDITORIAL
“That’s the place that I saw in my dream last night!” Barillion almost shouted. “The real thing is so much better than the picture, though. You have to tell me how to get there!” Barillion was the grand old man of the village, and a powerful shaman. I still remember that day when, as a kid, I overheard him talking to my Dad. He had come to our hut where we held church services every Sabbath. He wanted to know what these strange new missionaries were teaching his people. To his shock, however, the first thing that he saw was a picture roll hanging on the wall showing a painting of heaven, the very place that God had shown him the night before. That day he began studying the Bible and soon was baptized along with many of his family members. It was only about a week after the baptism when we heard a gentle cough at our back door. It was Barillion. “Pastor,” he said. “For many years two bright white spirits came to me and gave me good advice and warned of dangers to come. They never did or said anything bad like the other spirits that I worked with as a shaman. I wasn’t sure if they were demons or if maybe they were actually angels. After my baptism, though, they came back one more time. “You have to choose between us and the God that the missionaries teach about,” they said. I told them that I chose God, and they left.” And the spirits never came back again. Today, almost 30 years later, Barillion still loves Jesus. He doesn’t understand the subtleties of theology, but he knows that God loves him and so he waits patiently until the day that Jesus will take him to the heaven that God showed him in that dream so many years ago. John Holbrook President PAGE 3 | PHILIPPINE FRONTIERS
Sowing Gospel Seeds james patrick tianzon • kankanaey bakun project
I had just dropped my daughter, Shaliah, off at the local daycare and preschool that morning when I started feeling thirsty. I was on my way to visit a Bible interest nearby, but I decided to stop by a little shop along the road and buy a bottle of water. The storekeeper was sitting in front of her shop, apparently deep in thought. “Penny for your thoughts, Auntie?” I said in greeting. “Oh, hello, Pastor!” she replied, waking from her reverie. “I was just thinking about a video I watched about Muslims. Let me tell you about it over a hot drink! Come on in!” Accepting the hot drink and snacks that she handed to me I asked what had fascinated her about the video. “I discovered that Abraham had two sons,” replied Auntie. “I didn’t know this before!” PAGE 4 | PHILIPPINE FRONTIERS
That was my cue to share with her what the Scriptures say about Abraham’s two sons and the nations that descended from each. “Auntie, this is the reason we all need to share the Gospel with them,” I concluded. Looking for a way to turn the conversation toward other spiritual topics, I asked Auntie if she was familiar with the story of creation. To my delight, not only did Auntie know about the Sabbath but she was willing to obey what the Scripture says. “Why don’t you come to our weekly church service on Sabbath?” I asked. “We can teach you more about the Bible during the program.” Since then, Auntie and I have met regularly and she has been delighted to learn the truths that I have shared with her from the Bible. That day a sudden thirst for the water of this world became a way to share the even more satisfying Water of Life with one who was thirsty for Jesus. How important it is for every Christian to be ready to use every opportunity possible to share Jesus’ love and faith.
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GOD S
permissive will jesie lyn sacay • kankanaey sagada PROJECT
“Jess, please don’t do that again!” Manang said to me one evening while we were visiting. I wrinkled my forehead in confusion. “What do you mean, Manang?” “You having an accident,” she answered, shaking her head. “Never do that again!” A smile broke out on my face as I realized how much she cared for me. “Don’t worry, Manang. I won’t do it on purpose. I got into that little accident because the motorcycle’s brakes weren’t working. But it’s fixed now.” “When I heard about the accident from my son, I was worried sick!” Manang said, shaking her head. “I began praying immediately. I said, ‘Lord, I know You are the Living God, You can see the situation clearly. You alone are able to save them from harm. You are powerful, Lord. Please don’t abandon them!’ I’m telling you, Jess, God is real because here you are, very much alive and well!”
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HOW TO DONATE PHILIPPINE FRONTIER MISSIONS-USA P.O. Box 42, Eton, GA 30724 Make checks payable to Philippine Frontier Missions USA. Write "PFM-Phils." on the memo. Contact: Tim Holbrook Phone: 1-423-596-9202 Email: pfm-usa@phil-frontier.org Website: www.pfm-usa.org
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rheamae alalid • bontoc project
Uncle Abel is one of our believers here in Mountain Province. He has always been eager to join in our bible studies. After seeing how much he enjoyed the studies, and how actively he participated, we asked him if he would start leading out. At first, Uncle Abel hesitated to lead our study saying he didn’t know how to lead. We encouraged him, though, that everyone can lead a Bible study, and we taught him the simple strategies of Discovery Bible Studies. This is a system which allows anyone to lead bible studies in a simple and reproducible way. We, as missionaries, try our best not to spoon-feed the meaning of the texts to the participants. Instead we facilitate the study and let the Bible through the Holy Spirit explain itself. With a little practice, Uncle Abel learned how to facilitate a Discovery Bible Study. It wasn’t long until he was leading out in our regular studies, the ones that he had always enjoyed so much. PAGE 8 | PHILIPPINE FRONTIERS
I still remember with joy one particular evening. “What topic do you want us to study tonight?” I asked as we all sat down. “I would like for us to study the parable of the lost sheep,” he replied. The study began and Uncle Abel skillfully led a discussion of what the story means to us and how we should apply the story in our lives here in Bontoc. “That one lost sheep was so precious to the Shepherd,” Uncle Abel concluded at the end. “There were ninety nine safe sheep, representing saved people. They appreciated the comfort and safety of the sheepfold and stayed inside, like they should. But the shepherd didn’t rest inside the fence with his sheep while there was one still lost outside. “If each person who has already accepted Jesus as their personal Savior were trained to find one lost sheep, not only one hundred sheep would have been saved, but there would be countless more!” Please pray with us for Uncle Abel that just like king David was once a shepherd in Israel, Uncle Abel will also be a wise and effective shepherd to his own tribe here in Bontoc.
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Rejoicing in Witnessing analine marcial • agta project
“Good morning!” I greeted Analyn. “Why do I spy a frown on your face?” Analyn gestured toward the ground. “Am I doing this right?” She pointed to a sketch. I peered down to see what she had drawn. It was a simple diagram telling the story of Jesus. She was using the ground as a sketch pad that would be available anywhere she went in the mountains. “I want to share this story with my uncle,” she continued.” “I’m not sure I have it memorized correctly, though.” “Wonderful!” I exclaimed. “I’m so happy you are sharing what you’ve learned! Make sure to pray for God to guide you as you share. Also ask the Holy Spirit to open your uncle’s heart to God.” The next morning, she came over to our hut bursting with excitement. “Ate Bhing, I did it! I shared Jesus’ story with my uncle. At first, I was so nervous I had a hard time talking. But as I continued, I felt the Holy Spirit guiding me. It felt wonderful!” she said excitedly. PAGE 10 | PHILIPPINE FRONTIERS
“My uncle was very interested in the story! He said, ‘I never knew how much God loves me. I know I’m a sinner, but I thought God hated me because of my sins. Now I know that He loves me and He sent Jesus to save me.’ He’s eager to hear more stories. Will you please teach me more of them,” she asked eagerly. “Of course, I will,” I replied. “Come over any time you’re free and we can learn some more!” It is exciting to see our little group of believers beginning to share their faith! We long and pray for the day that these believers will train other believers who will train others until the good news spreads throughout the mountains.
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MISSIONS REACHING REACHING THE THE UNREACHED UNREACHED IGNITING IGNITING CHURCH CHURCH PLANTING PLANTING MOVEMENTS MOVEMENTS ACROSS ACROSS GENERATIONS... GENERATIONS...
AETA AGTA BANGON BONTOC BUHID KALANGUYA KANKANAEY SAGADA TAGBANUA
PHILIPPINE FRONTIER MISSIONS, TAGAYTAY STA. ROSA ROAD, TARTARIA, SILANG, CAVITE 4118 PHILIPPINES
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