Discipling Our Nation

photo source

Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

- Psalm 2:8

Here I am, one day after returning from the Clark Freeport Zone, and still trying to relive the awesome experience I had in that place the past four days.

On Tuesday morning, William, Ruby, Moses and I left Manila and headed for the city of Angeles in Pampanga province to attend the 29th Biennial National Assembly of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC).

PCEC is the largest network of evangelical denominations, local churches and Christian organizations in the Philippines.

What I thought would be a mere perfunctory attendance at a biennial conference turned out to be totally different from my expectations.

Hotel Vida, the venue, was a five-star facility at the Clark Freeport Zone. We were accommodated in mini suites, complete with living and dining areas and verandas overlooking the pool. Although I shared the room with two other ladies, we were very comfortable and there was more than enough space for the three of us.

The breakfast buffet, with its wide assortment of Filipino, Korean, and American food, was something everyone looked forward to each morning.

Meals were served in the hotel dining room which had a tasteful and elegant air, and exuded a warm ambience.


Bishop Reniel Nebab gave the keynote message, Churches Transforming Communities, on Tuesday afternoon. It was a call to view church from a kingdom perspective. His simple but powerful words stirred our hearts as he set the tone for the rest of the conference.

Each of the plenary and workshop speakers during the four-day conference focused on one main concern: individually and corporately we are called to make a difference in our communities.

Our roles may differ, but our task remains the same.

"Incarnational" discipleship is going beyond mere intentions, but living out in our own lives the message of the Great Commission.

Kuya Herman Moldez was right in saying that discipleship these days is fast becoming a watered-down concept. Indeed many church leaders are guilty of worshiping the golden calf of success and personal kingdom building, instead of the One True God.

Pastor Ancho Buenaventura from Palawan urged us to weep for the fatherless of our nation.

Aren't you tired of going through the motions? he asked.

Let our hearts be broken, let our lives have an impact for the communities we are in!

Pastor Ancho has been successful in mobilizing the youth of his province to walk for 75 kilometers 4 days a year, reaching out to their countrymen along the way. This year, thousands of young people have responded to the challenge, and they are making a difference in the way they do church.

The only platform you and I have is the small sphere of influence available to us, but with each of us faithfully doing our part, we can leave an indelible mark and create the impact needed to transform our nation.

Pastor Manny Carlos of Victory Christian Fellowship called it "discipling our nation." Let us go beyond mere theology, doctrine, and beautiful formulas, he said.

Let me roll up my sleeves,
go down on my knees,
and be willing to become a foot-washer to one another.

This was the message that I heard Jesus speaking clearly to my heart again and again.

Determine to know what God has called you to do, and do it!

We are in a war, and each one of us is called to live a war-time lifestyle!

Whether we are aware of it or not, willing to admit it or not, the sin of idolatry has invaded our lives and loves... and we have all turned away from our First Love.

As as result, our message carries no authenticity to a watching world.

Every speaker urged us to return to an intimate relationship with God, that we may reflect His heart and be true ambassadors of His kingdom.

The common message in each of the teaching presented throughout the four days of the conference was threefold:

Walk in humility - rejecting the idolatry of power;
walk in integrity - rejecting the idolatry of success;
walk in simplicity - rejecting the idolatry of greed.

These were timely reminders, taken from the Lausanne Capetown Commitment, but applicable to us, regardless of the context that we find ourselves in.

One particular workshop I attended that served as an eyeopener for me was handled by Pastor Daniel Pantoja of Peacebuilders Community Incorporated during which he shared about his life as a Christian pastor promoting peace and reconciliation among the Muslims of Maguindanao.

As leaders of evangelical churches and Christian organizations, we could not help but be moved by the passion and the anointing of God upon each of the conference speakers.

The word they spoke was timely and relevant, borne out of personal experience.

Let us be people who are not merely stirred by truth, rather let us allow the truth to galvanize us into action, Pastor Manny Carlos said.

If you have a passion for Jesus, it is but inevitable for you to look at your city with compassion, not judgment. These words spoken by Pastor Ancho are highlighted in my conference notes.

Passion for Jesus will also inevitably result in a hunger for true worship, one area mentioned by Bishop Nebab as a crucial ingredient for transforming our nation!

An important event worth mentioning is that President Benigno Aquino graced our gathering with his presence on Thursday afternoon. We had an opportunity to pray for him, and pledge our support of him in his fight against corruption and injustice.

On the last day of the conference, all delegates signed the 2011 PCEC National Assembly declaration whereby we promised to be agents of transformation to our communities towards peace, justice, and righteousness by walking in Christ-like humility, integrity, and simplicity.

The celebration of the Lord's Supper was a fitting ending to it all.



In just a few days my time in Manila will come to an end, and I will return to my home city of Bacolod. It has been a wonderful six weeks, indeed!

God has spoken to me in many ways the past weeks, and I am thanking Him for the new strength, and fresh encouragement that He has poured into me while I was here.

I am also thanking Him in advance for the victory that has already been won by His Son Jesus on the cross at Calvary.

A portion of Hotel Vida where we stayed.
Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Pampanga

Bishop Efraim Tendero, National Director of PCEC during the Opening Session

Pastor Ef Tendero, his wife Sherry, and me

Lucy Aquilino, Coordinator of Prayer Shield Network (PSN)

Bishop Fred Magbanua, head of Christ Jesus our Life Ministries and

Bishop Jonel Milan, chairman of Philippine Ministerial Fellowship Network

Sessions were held at the Terra Tent

Rev. Daniel Pantoja, founding president of Peacebuilders Community Incorporated.

Pastor Herman Moldez, director of MentorLink Philippines

Dr. Philip Flores, National Director
Trainers of Pastors International Coalition, Philippines

Dr. Andrew Liuson, Chairman of PCEC Board
Vice President of City Land Development Corporation

His passion for Jesus was contagious!

Bishop Manny Carlos of Victory Christian Fellowship

Rommel and Susan Guevarra, worship leaders for the conference

Small group discussions at the end of every session

Leaders pray before the arrival of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.

President Aquino receives a Bible from Bishop Ef Tendero.

http://balita.ph/2011/07/15/president-aquino-receives-a-bible-from-bishop-efraim-tendero/




Dr. Liuson presents plaque to President Aquino signifying full support of PCEC for him.

http://balita.ph/2011/07/15/president-aquino-gets-full-support-of-philippine-council-of-evangelical-churches/

Dr. Andrew Liuson leads the congregation in praying for our president

President Aquino with PCEC Board of Directors

Ruby and me before breakfast

Moses, Ruby, William, and me during breakfast yesterday



Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.

- Psalm 33:12