Friday, December 30, 2005

"IGLAP" Tsapter Wan

Iglap!
"
At Biglang Dumating Ang Bukas!"
Ni Rev. Gamaliel B. Filio
Unang Kabanata Ng Isang Serye

PROLOGUE
Matagal
ko nang binalak na sumulat ng isang aklat. Ito para sa akin ay isang bagay na tiyak. Ang nasa balag ng alanganin lamang ay kung kelan. Pero nawala na ang alinlangan. Ngayon na.
Ang unang dalawa at kalahating tsapter ng librong ito ay isinulat namin nuong 1999. Ipinakita namin ito sa aming lektura ukol sa Pastoral Leadership sa harap ng mga laykong nag-aaral sa Lay Leaders institute bilang pagpapakilala sa sarili at sa aming pananaw ukol sa iglesia at sa bagong mundo.
Naging napakabilis ng pagbabago ng mundo. Bigla. Iglap. Naganap ng halos hindi mo napuna. Nagising tayo isang umaga na ang iglesia, at ang lahat ng mga institusyon, at ang lahat ng tao ay nasa harap na ng isang BAGONG MUNDO. Ano ang gagawin ng Iglesia? Ito ang papaksain ng libro sa isang kakaibang paraan ng pagsasalaysay.
Ito sabi ang ko nuong 1999 sabay lagay sa mesa ng manuskrito. Nanatili ito duon. Hanggang nuong 2001 ay itanong sa akin ng isang layko kung nasaan na ang aklat na ipinangako kong tatapusin ko nuong 1999. Lumipas pa ang dalawang taon bago ko muling dinampot ang manuskrito at eto na nga. Tikman ninyo.
Ang tanong e me karapatan ba naman akong sumulat? S’yanga naman. Sino ba iyong nagsabing ang isang manunulat ay isinisilang, hindi ginagawa. Paano ito malalaman ng isang tao? Madali para sa akin. Ganito ‘yun! Ang sukatan ay kung ma-publish ang akda mo ng mga nangungunang publikasyon. Ang una kong short story ay nalathala sa Liwayway. Marami pang sumunod sa Bulaklak, Pilipino Free Press, Tagumpay, atbp. Nagwagi na rin ako ng Gantimpalang Liwayway sa pagsulat ng nobela na may pamagat na “Sigwa.” Sa lahat ng mga akdang ito ay binayaran ako. Biruin mo, inilathala na ang akda mo binayaran ka pa! Nang tanggapin ko ang isang libong pisong gantimpala mula sa Liwayway Publications nuong 1966, sinabi ko sa sarili, manunulat na nga ako.
Iisa ang una kong nakilalang evangelista o tagapangaral. Malakas ang kaniyang tinig, mahusay magsermon, at sa tingin namin nuon ay memorize yata niya ang buong Bibliya, pati ang kilalagyan ng bawa’t aklat, kapitolo, at versiculo. Mahusay siyang magturo at nuong kaniyang kapanahunan ay hindi natatakot sa patalim o baril sa kaniyang pangangaral ng tamang aral sa mga tribunang pampubliko. Hanggang sa siya ay pumanaw ay siya pa rin ang nag-iisang evangelista para sa amin. “Kasi tatay mo siya,” ang itutudyo sa akin ng iba. At isasagot ko, “Tama, ang nag-iisang dahilan ay sapagkat tatay namin siya.”
Ang aklat na ito kung gayon ay binanghay namin sa alaala ng aming ama, Ob. Eugenio R. Filio, Sr…. At sa aming inang si Aling Delay, ang aking unang guro, bago pa dumating ang aking mga guro sa paaralan. At sa huli, sa asawa ng pastor na ayaw patawag ng pastora, si Lucy Mariano Filio, retired principal ng Baclaran Elementary School.

Iglap!
Tsapter Wan
“Iglap! Minsan, Isang Araw….”

Nagising ako isang madaling araw. Bumalikwas.

Susulat ako ng isang libro! Malakas na wika ko.

Bumungkalit ako ng tawa. Sino naman ang me sabi sa’yo na me karapatan kang sumulat ng isang banal na aklat? Nanununya. Nang-iinsulto.

Hindi banal na aklat ang isusulat ko. Nag-iisa lamang ang Banal na Aklat. Ang Biblia. Ang lahat ng iba ay nagpapanggap lamang. Tanong ko. Sagot ko.

Ang taray mo naman!

Taroy! Hindi taray. Lalaki ako.

Nagpapatawa ka ba o ano? Hindi ako natatawa! E, ano kung gayon ang isusulat mo?

Tungkol sa paksang alam na alam ko. Ako…. At aking iglesia. Ang Unida.

Ha!!!! Sino naman ang babasa ng tungkol sa iyo? Ano naman ang tingin mo sa sarili mo? Si Og Mandino? Si Max Locado? Si John Maxwell? Si Charles Swindoll? Si Billy Graham?

Oo nga ano? Alisin na natin ako. Ang Unida. Iyan ang isusulat ko.

O, di ang aklat ay pang-Unida lamang?

Ang aklat ay para sa lahat sapagkat ang manunulat ay para sa lahat.

At ipamimigay mo ng walang bayad!

At ibibigay ko sa mga magbabayad.

Nahihibang ka! Nasisira ang ulo!. Nababaliw! Kahit ipagbili mo iyan ng mura ay walang tatangko sa iyo.

Hindi ko ipagbibili ng mura. Mahal! Iyong kapag pinakawalan mo ang pera ay pahahalagahan mo ang binili mo. Ang nagbibigay ng kahalagahan sa isang bagay ay ang halagang ipinapalit natin upang ito ay maging atin.

Saan mo naman natutunan iyan?

Sa Dios!

Sa Dios?

Oo, nagkaroon ka lamang ng malaking kahalagahan sa harap ng tao at sa harap ng demonyo nang bayaran mismo ng Dios sa pamamagitan ng buhay ni Kristo ang buhay mo. Kaya’t pati demonyo ay alanganin sa’yo, kasi alam niya kung gaano ka kahalaga sa Dios. Hindi basta-basta Niya pababayaang mapasa-demonyo ang isang binayaran Niya ng sariling buhay.

Tingnan mo! Tingnan mo kung paano kang magsalita. Salitang kalye.

Sa kalye ako nagmula. Ito ang aking wika.

Ow? Hindi ako naniniwala. English. Bakit hindi English ang gamitin mong wika. Mahilig ka du’n di ba? Ang yabang-yabang mo pa nga, inglis ka nang inglis sa mga sermon mo. Sa tingin ko nga, gusto mo buong sermon mo inglis. Why don’t you use English in your book?

Ano ang silbi ng paggamit ng isang wika na hindi naman naiintindihan ng lahat! Ang isang wika ay ginagamit upang maunawaan ka. Kung hindi ka nauunawaan ng lahat ay ano ang silbi nito? Para ka lamang nagbato ng salita sa hangin.

Ang ganda naman ng sinabi mo. Orihinal ba iyan?

Hindi.

Saan mo kinuha?

Sa Biblia.

Saan duon?

Sa kaniyang kabuuan.

Ang ibig mong sabihin ay kailangang basahin ko ang buong Biblia?

Oo. Upang maunawaan mo ang sinasabi nito.

Nakakatuwa ka.

Nakakatuwa o nakakatawa?

May pagkakaiba ba?

Ang nakakatawa ay nakakasakit ng damdamin. Ang nakakatuwa ay nakakaintriga.

Kung magsalita ka ay parang hindi ka pastor…parang karaniwang tao lang.

Karaniwang tao lang ako bago ako naging pastor. Karaniwang tao pa rin ako ngayon.
(Sundan ang kasunod na kabanata…..)

"IGLAP!" Tsapter Tu

Iglap!
Tsapter Tu
“Pen de Serapen, de kutsilyo, de almasen..”

Anong klaseng aklat ba ito? Seryoso o nagpapatawa? Malalim o mababaw? Pangmasa o pangmayaman? Mamili ka….sige… “penpen de serapen de kutsilyo…” Teka isang tanong pa, English ba o wikang Filipino. Jack en Poy na lang kaya?

Ang buhay ay pamimili. Bago ka pa isilang pamimili na agad.

“Ang gusto ko,” sabi ng nanay mo, “kung babae Consuelo at kung lalaki ay Segismundo.”

“Matanda pa sa humukay ng ilog ang mga pangalang iyan,” sansala ng tatay. “Dapat modern tulad ng Edward o Catherine, me arrive.”

Pero siyempre hindi magpapatalbog si Lola. “Hindi maaari. Ang magiging pangalan niya ay Telesforo kung lalaki at kung babae Brigida.”

“Hep-hep! Tekamuna! Susundin natin ang kalendaryo ni Honorio Lopez,” sabad ni Lolo Bonifacio, “Maria o di kaya ay Jose. Iyan ang magiging pangalan ng unang apo ko.”

Kamukat-mukat, ang naging pangalan ng apo? Segismundo Edward Telesforo Jose Bonifacio M. Dimaculangan. At ang sumunod na babae naman ay naging Consuelo Catherine Brigida Maria Lagrimas M. Dimaculangan.

Ang siste ay ito, nang magsimula nang mag-iskul ang dalawang apo ay galit na galit sa kanila ang dalawang apo sapagkat hirap na hirap pag-aralan ang pagsulat ng kanilang mga pangalan.

Kamukat-mukat uli, ang lalaki ay naging Edward na lamang at ang babae ay, nahulaan ninyo, Catherine. PAMIMIILI. Sila rin ang nasunod sa huli sa legal names nila.
]
Maraming mga Dios sa “Pamilihan” ng mga relihiyon at pananampalataya. Singluma na ito ng “Lumang Tipan” o Old Testament. Nguni’t iisa lamang ang tunay na Dios.

There is only ONE God.
There is only One Lord.
There is only Saviour.
There is only Name given for our Salvation.
JESUS.

Ang buhay ay isang paglalakbay sa pakikipatagpo sa tunay na Dios at sa tunay na tagapagligtas. Natagpuan mo na ba siya?

Biglang naging seryoso, no? Pero lutasin natin ang tanong ko sa simula, anong uring aklat? Seryoso o nagpapatawa? Malalim o mababaw? Pangmasa o pangmayaman? English o wikang Filipino? Kung IISA lamang ang Dios ay kabaligtaran ang dami ng klase ng aklat. Ano ang aklat na itong sinulat namin?

Inimbento ng mga kano ang ice cream at ang iba’t ibang sundaes at malalamig na sweets. Pero wala silang HALO-HALO. Pinoy ito. May labing-dalawang halong minatamis at sa ispesyal na halo-halo ay mayroon pang dalawang scoop na sorbetes sa ibabaw ng kinaskas na yelo na hinaluan ng gatas.

Ang lahat ng ito ay hahaluin mo sa isang mataas na baso hanggang hindi mo na mapansin ang kaskas na yelo at ang mga minatamis ay magkakahalo na. Malamig, masarap, matamis at pinoy na pinoy.

Ang aklat na ito kung gayon ay parang halo-halo. Minsan ay nagpapatawa at minsan ay seryoso. Kadalasan ay mababaw nguni’t may pagkakataon din namang malalim. Pero minsan naman ay hindi mo mawari kung malalim o mababaw. Minsan English, minsan Filipino. Pangmasa ito kung gusto mo at pangyaman kung pagiging-dapatin mo. Nasa iyo, hindi ka pipilitin. Sapagkat ikaw naman ang kakain…upsss…babasa pala.

Kung ang aklat na ito ay magiging kasing-sarap ng Halo-Halong Pinoy, ewan namin. Pero sana…..sana…
(Sundan sa susunod na kabanata…)

"IGLAP" Tsapter Tri

IGLAP!
Tsapter Tri
“Kung mangarap ka’t magising…”

MULA sa pagkaidlip ay napamulagat ako. Saan ako naroon? Anong araw ngayon? Anong oras na? Umaga, tanghali, o gabi? Sa loob ng maraming sandali nangapa ako sa mga sulok ng utak ko. Kinakabahan ako. Ba’t wala akong maalala? Bigla, lumilanga-linga ako. Nasaan ang librong “The Story of Rip Van Winkle” na binabasa ko? Wala! At nuon ko napansin ang kapaligiran ko. Hindi ko kilala ang mga furnitures at appliances na nakikita ko. Hindi ko bahay ito. O, hindi nga ba!?

Ano ito? Sulat. “Daddy,” ang nabasa ko, “nasa kapilya na kami.” Pero hindi iyon ang tumawag ng pansin ko, kundi ang petsa. Dec. 25, 2015. Teka, teka, ang alam ko, ang kasalukuyang taon ay 2005 pa lang. Huwag mong sabihing….

Marahas kong binuksan ang pinto at lumabas. Lalong lumalim ang pagtataka. Iba na ang lahat. Ibang-iba ang paligid. Bumalik ako sa loob. Nag-isip. Bumalik ang tingin sa sulat.
Pagkatapos ay binuksan ko ang pinto at tumingin sa labas. Lumabas at mabilis na lumakad. Ang kapilya, nasaan ang kapilya? Dito lang ‘yun. Dito lang, Ahhhhh ayun!

Malayo pa ay dinig ko na ang masayang awitan. Ang electric guitar, drums, keyboard at iba pang instrumentong kumakalansing! Kumakalansing?! Nagmadali ako.

Bumulaga sa akin ang buong kongregasyon na nag-aawitan, nagsasayawan. Masaya. Bigay na bigay ang pag-awit at bigay na bigay ang pagsasayaw. Ibang sayaw, o iba nga ba? Pareho din pero….pero, iba ang indayog. Iba ang dating. Iba ang ibig sabihin? Praise & Worship? Biglang rumagasa ang kaba sa dibdib ko. Iba na ang gawaing ito, isang hakbang na higit sa inisip ko. Dios ko! Ako, ang nagdala, nagpasok ng gawaing ito sa kapilyang ito. Ako! Ganito ba katindi ang intensiyon ko?

Tumignin ako sa paligid. Wala akong makitang kakilala. Hindi ko makita ang pamilya ko. Nasaan sila sa gitna ang nag-iindayugang mga katawan sa harap ko?

Nag-iba ang tugtog ng banda. Tugtog na nagbababala na mayroong darating. Sa kanang bahagi ng pulpito lumabas ang isang lalaki. Putting-putting ang suot. Nagsasayaw, umaawit. Pumapagitna habang malanding umiindak sa saliw ng tugtog at awit. At nagsimulang magsalita, mangaral sa ritmo ng tugtog. Ang tinig ay nanunuot, tumatawag ng damdamin. Ang lahat ng mata ay tumutok sa kaniya. Umugong ang paligid. May tumili. At naghari ang sigaw ng pagpupuri! Pagpupuri? Para kangino?

Bigla nag-iba ang pagsasalita, kangina nauunawaan ko. Ngayon gibberish ang salita. Paulit-ulit. Sumunod ang mga tao. Sabay-sabay. Umugong. Mga salitang hindi ko maunawaan. Dios ko, ako lang ba sa lipunpung ito ang hindi nakakaintindi sa ugong na ito?

Isa-isang naglapitan ang mga tao sa lalaking nagsasalita ng hindi ko maintindihan. Naghihiyawan. Naghahalakhakan. Walang patumanggang awitan, tugtugan at sayawan at halakhakan! Nakakapanindig balahibong halakhakan. Pagpupuri? Para kangino? Isa-isa dinunggol sila ng nakabukas na palad ng nakaputing lalaki. Isa-isa paatras silang bumagsak. At sa tuwing may bumabagsak lumalakas ang hiyawan, laong tumtindi ang awitan laluna ang sayawan. Sino ang pinupuri, hindi ko makita. Ako lang kaya ang hindi nakakakita? Nakakadama?

Sumigaw ako ng malakas. Nguni’t hindi ko narinig ang sarili ko. Nalunod ito ng lalong lumakas pang ugong ng kawan sa harap ko.
Hindi na ako nakatiis. Mabilis akong lumabas, nakatakip ang dalawang kamay sa ulo. Sa labas, tumakbo akong walang direksiyon. Nang biglang nanuot ang tinig ng isang dalagita.

“Lolo! Lolo!” Hindi ko agad nakilala ang mukha na dalagita na nakalabas ang ulo sa isang bagong modelong kotse na minamaneho. Pero saglit lang, kagyat namukhaan ko. Si Bebel, dalagita na ang apo ko? “Lolo, hinihintay ka na naming sa Grand Unida Temple.”

Sumakay ako at nakita kong ibang lugar ang pinupuntahan namin. At bumukana kami sa isang malawak na lugar. Maganda ang landscaping at kalagitnaan ay naruon ang isang napakaganda at napakalaking templo na mayroong video wall sa harapan na nagsasabing THE GRAND UNIDA TEMPLE! WELCOME TO THE HOME CHURCH OF FIVE BISHOPS!
Luminga-linga ako. Wala akong makitang lugar na paparadahan. Ang nakita sa aming harapan ay ang makapal na dingding ng templo. Nagtatanong ang mata ko kay Bebel pero ngumiti lamang siya sabay turo sa dingding ng hawak niyang bagay na singliit ng kalahating ballpen. Biglang nawala ang dingding. At pumasok kami at tumambad sa akin ang isang malawak na basement parking na puno ng mga sasakyan. Bigla ay nakaparada na kami. Pagkababa ay itinuro ako ni Bebel sa escalator. Ilang saglit pa ay nasa bukana na kami ng sambahan.
Pagpasok ko, nanduoon silang lahat. Ang buong pamilya ko at ang mga mukhang pamilyar sa akin. Umaawit ang kapulungan. “Patunguot Ko Ay Si Jesus.” Ang paborito kong Himno. Hinugot ko sa dibdib ang isang malalim na buntung-hininga. Pero biglang umikot ang paligid.

Nagulantang ako at nagising. Tulala, pero natuwa. Kilala ko ang paligid. Tiningnan ko ang kalendaryo, 2005. Ayos!

Ano ang ibig sabihin ng panaginip. Tumayo ako at pumikit. At sa aking balintataw ay nakito ko ang Unida, ang aking iglesia, sa harap ng isang magkasangang landas. Sa kaliwa ang pagbabago at sa kanan ang babala ng pananatili. Quo Vadis? Saan dapat magtungo?
(Sundan sa susunod na kabanata….)

"IGLAP!" Tsapter Por

Iglap!
Tsapter Por
“Sino ka? Ano ka?”

AYAW mo ng pagbabago.

Marahan akong umiling.

Gusto mo ng pagbabago.

Iling uli.

Hindi mo alam kung gusto mo o ayaw.

Bumunghalit ako ng tawa.

Ano na nga?

Hindi naman sa ayaw. Ang hindi ko matanggap ay ang pagbabago dahil gusto lamang ng pagbabago. Hindi ko rin gusto ang pagbabagong pumapalit ng kung ano ang mayroon na sapagkat hindi magtatagal ang mga ito ang magpapabago ng kung ano ang Unida. Hanggang sa hindi mo na ito makilala. Sapagkat ito ay kopya lamang ng mga ginaya sa iba.

A second-rate, trying hard copycat!

Ikaw ang nagsabi, hindi ako.

Ipaliwanag mo pa.

Kunin nating halimbawa ang dalawang anak ko. Si Grace at si Lady. Si Grace ay mahabang magpalda, si Lady ay mag-igsi. Si Lady ay nagso-shorts ng maigsi, si Grace kung magshorts man ay mahaba rin. Si Grace ay hindi mahilig sa make-up, si Lady ay mahilig. Si Grace ay agresibo, mahirap paiyakin, si Lady ay deliberate at madaling paiyakin. Si Lady ay kayumangging kaligatan, si Grace ay mapusyaw ng kaunti. Kung babaguhin mo ang mga kaangkinan nila, hindi na sila iyon. Hindi mo na maituturo na ito si Grace at ito si Lady.

Pero walang mali at walang tama. Basta iyon lang ang personalidad nila. Magkaiba. Duon mo sila makikilala. Nguni’t pareho ko silang anak. Parehong mahal at hindi itatatwa.

Iba ang Unida sa iba. Pero si Kristo pa rin ang ulo niya. Tulad din ng ibang iglesia na hindi niya kaparis kumilos, si Kristo rin ang ulo nila. Kailangan bang magkapare-pareho, kailangan bang manggaya?

Ano ang Unida? Ano ang personalidad niya? Marami na ang hindi nakakaalam, alam mo ba?

Ang unang halo ay ang nakaraan…
Mabilis ang bugso ng mga alaala. Parang marahas na agos ng tubig sa isang nabiyak na tubo ng MWSS. Hindi mapigilan. Nangungulit. Pabalik duun sa simula ng pagkakamalay.

Ang buhay, a ang buhay ay nagsimula nang unang mabuksan ang malay. Pagkaalam mo kung sino ka at kung ano ka.

Siyam ang mga batang nakaupo sa mga mahahabang bangko sa ilalim ng lilim ng mga mayayabong na mga punong kamatsile. Ang tatlo ay walang kakilos-kilos sa kinauupan nguni’t ang iba ay hindi mapakali sa kinalalagyan. Nagbabatukan, nagkukurutan, nagsasalyahan. Nguni’t lahat ay nagkakantahan sa kumpas ng aming guro sa escuela dominical na si Tita Tibang.
“Maliliit nating paa ipaglingkod sa kanya, kamay may kailangan n’ya sa gawang magaganda, lagi nawang maglingkod kami sa iyo Jesus…lalalalalalala…”

Nalimutan ko na ang letra pero ang dibdib ko ay puno ng ligaya dahil sa hugos ng alaala. Parang buhay na buhay ang tagpo at gusto-gusto kong magbalik sa panahon. At sa sulok ng isipan ay kinapa ko ang alaala. At natagpuan.

“Paaralang lingguhan ngayo’y winakasan. Paalam, paalam kami’y magbabait.”
Tapos na ang escuela. Nguni’t biglang may isang batang tumili at nagtatatarang, kinakamot ang batok. “Higad!” ang sigaw. At bigla napalis ang mga tao sa gitna.
“Huwag mong kakamutin, babaon ang bulo.” Malumanay na wika ni Tita Tibang. “Dali, kumuha kayo ng suka.” At kinarga niya ang bata.
Nakapaligid sa malayo ang mga bata at mga magulang at sa gitna ay naruon si Tita Tibang at pinapahiran ng bimpong may suka ang batok ng maliit na bata upang alisin ang makating bulo. At unti-unti ang palahaw ng iyak nito ay humupa hanggang sa maging hikbi na lamang at tuluyang mawala.
At ang tagpo sa muni-muni ko ay hindi makatkat ang mapagpalang kamay ng Dios sa lahat ng panahon sapagkat ako iyong bata, si Galying.

Ang lahat ay mayroong simula at mayroong wakas. Maliban sa Dios na naroon na bago magsimula at sa pagwawakas ng lahat ng bagay ay naruruon pa rin. Ang tao ay wala pa nang magsimula, nilikha siya pagkatapos na likhain ng Dios ang buong sangsinukob at ipinagkatiwala sa kaniya. Pero ang tao bagama’t wawakasan ng kamatayan ay hahakbangan ito patungo sa walang hanggang kung kasama niya ang Dios. Kung siya ay mananampalataya. Sapagkat nilikha siyang kamukha ng Dios upang maging walang hanggang kaakbay ng Anak ng Dios.
(Sundan sa susunod na kabanata….)

"IGLAP!" Tsapter Payb

Iglap!
TRAPTER PAYB
“At ang mundo ay libong ulit na tumabalelong…”

At ang mga dahon ay mabilis na napigtal sa tangkay ng panahon at ang mundo ay mabilis na uminog at libong ulit na tumatambalelong.
Sa paglipas ng panahon ang palda ng babae ay umigsi ng umigsi, humabang muli at nang muling umigsi ay umabot na hangang sa hindi dapat abutin. Ang beywang ng pantalon ng mga lalake ay naging high waist pagkatapos ay nakakaintrigang low waist kasabay ng paglapad at pagkipot ng laylayan. Pero sino naman ang mag-aakala na pagbabalik ng low waist ang gagawa naman nito ay ang mga kababaihan kasabay ng pag-igsi ng blusa nila upang ibandera naman ang pusod at ang tiyan.
(Abangan ang karugtong ng kabanatang ito…)

Saturday, December 24, 2005

A GIFT FOR THE KING of kings AND LORD of lords!

Every Christmas we search from our gift bags a perfect gift for God. This year my gift to Him is a BLOG. It is not perfect, but for me it is a place to publish all my writings for God and for the Unida Church. This is the latest interactive and proactive site in the Web. Please do not hesitate to comment constructively for the good of the BODY OF CHRIST – THE CHURCH. Start blogging!
WELCOME UNIDA WEB TRAVELLERS!

Rev. Gamaliel B. Filio

Friday, December 23, 2005

"ESTABLISHING A SPIRIT-POWERED CHURCH

By Rev. Gamaliel B. Filio
General Evangelist

LIVE POWER

The CHURCH OF CHRIST has POWER. Not ordinary power. But power that comes from on high. This is power that does not merely come from God but is OF GOD. This is power that is found in every individual church but, ironically in some, remains LATENT power. It must not continue to be so, but must be developed and used. It must translate into ACTIVE Power.

POWER FROM ON HIGH
The Church can only function and overcome the world when it is powered by nothing else but the Holy Spirit.
It should not be man-driven for the power of man cannot overcome the forces of evil. Rather, it should be God-powered through the power that Jesus promised His disciples. “…..but tarry ye in the city of Jeruzalem, until you be endued with the power from on high.” Luke 24:49
Neither should it be concept-driven because concepts change as time goes by. Concept refers to the ways we use to accomplish a plan, project, or endeavor. There are old concepts and there are new concepts. But we all know that what is new now will be old ten years after because new concepts will surely come that will be replaced also years later.
There are people and concepts that are right and there are those that are wrong and misleading. The big number of people following a person and his concept is not a gauge of right or wrong. Because wide is the road towards perdition. One should not do something just because it is the “in thing” at a particular time and conversely one should not be so fanatical about traditional things.
The Church holds onto something that never changes – THE WORD OF GOD. 1 Peter 1:24-25
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
KJV

THE POWER TO DISCERN
The power to discern and to understand comes from the Holy Spirit that must be endued in every Church and in every Christian.
1 Cor 2:9-10
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
KJV

ENDUING THE CHURCH WITH POWER
When Jesus left the church his disciples lacked knowledge, capability, courage, finances, personality and leadership. They had no power to accomplish the Great Commission that Jesus commanded them. But he promised them power from on high.
God fulfilled His promise on Pentecost Day. On that blessed day, the Holy Spirit was manifested by “a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind” and “cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,” and the Church was endued with Power. This is the beginning of the SPIRIT-POWERED CHURCH. Acts 2:1-3
Today, the Church will almost always lack knowledge, capability, courage, finances, personality and leadership. But it has overcome these because it has power that comes from on high to enable it to accomplish the Great Commission. A promise was given and the promise was fulfilled by God on Pentecost Day. The Church must run and yes fly by this power source.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

"KAISA!" The Power That Moves Unida Church

“KAISA!”
The Power That Moves UNIDA Church



The Meaning of Kaisa
THERE are words that you cannot translate to English lest you mess it up. “Kaisa” is one such word. You can try to search for a synonym, a homonym or even an antonym, but it will be futile. There is no English word that fits. But there is a Spanish word that does. UNIDA.

Unida is Kaisa
Our “Kaisa” must emanate from your heart and from your very soul in order to enable you to understand its true worth and meaning. It is spiritual. Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Cristo. An Evangelical Church united in Christ. In a word, KAISA!

The Power of ONE
It defines how ONE can acquire the power of a MULTITUDE! The Kaisa Spirit comes from the prayer of Jesus and this is where its power comes from.
John 17: 11b “Holy Father, protect them by the Power of Your Name – the Name you gave me – so that they may be ONE as we are ONE.”
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be ONE, Father, just as You are in me and I am in you.”

What difference can ONE make?
Last May 21, 2005, at Cuneta Astrodome, the UNIDA CHURCH unfolded one big moment when it launched NC2W or NATIONAL CALL TO WORSHIP. 6,000 people came and praised and worshipped GOD. All the serving and caring Ones of Unida were there. If you were not, “Sayang!” You’ve lost an AMAZING MOMENT.
The Unida shout of Kaisa is a response to the prayer of Jesus and a commitment to obey his command - To be ONE with Him, the Father, and with each other. Yes, with all those that believed the message: “There is only One Lord, there is only One God, there is only One Name given by which man shall be saved – JESUS!”

THE POWER THAT MOVES
NOTHING moves without something or somebody powering it. The scientific theory of Kinetic Energy says that a ball will remain immobile on the table until a force pushes it to move. And it will remain moving until a force stops it.
For the last 73 years, where does the power of the UNIDA Church come from? It came from without and from within. The moving spirit that binded Unida together from the original 25 churches to the 85 churches and 50 mission points today is the Prayer of Jesus coined into one word, KAISA!

Forged in Hardship & Sacrifice
NOTHING of great value comes without hardship and sacrifice.

In NCR alone, with an estimated population of almost 10M last 2000, the church to population ratio is 4,279 people for a single church. The 2,391 churches, with an average attendance of 126 members, in NCR is less than 10% Evangelical or Full Gospel. More than 70% barangays in NCR has no church. One of the cities which badly need a church is Pasay City (church to population ratio: 8,066).

We do not have a church in Pasay City. And oddly enough, we also do not have a single church in Makati City. But prophetically enough, our Metro Manila Tri-Districts surrounds the two central cities in an average radius of 6 kilometers with Baclaran and Tipas as the closest. Is God telling something to the you? What is the Metro Manila Tri-Districts plan to do about it?

The Metro Manila Tri-District are composed of Gagalangin, Kalookan, Marulas, Matang-Tubig, Roasario T. de Leon, Novaliches, Palatiw, San Juan, Taytay, Tipas, Bagong-Ilog, Bumbong, Baclaran, San Dionisio, and Almanza.

Is God telling us to start an Urban Mission in these two cities? Is God telling us that Urban means Urban-rich?


VISION STATEMENT
A serving and caring church faithfully proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and commissioning every believer to make disciples of all nations.

Isang naglilingkod at nagmamalasakit na iglesia na matapat na nagpapahayag na si Jesu-Cristo ang Panginoon at Tagapagligtas at nagsusugo sa bawat mananampalataya na gawing alagad ang lahat ng mga bansa.


MISSION STATEMENT
Glorify God by equipping the church in reaching and serving people with the love of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Luwalhatiin ang Diyos sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay sa Iglesia ng kakayahang abutin at paglingkuran ang lahat ng tao sa pag-ibig ni Cristo sa kapangyarihan ng Espiritu Santo.


OUR TARGET:
ONE FOR ONE: EACH ONE, REACH ONE

Isang Distrito Magtatayo ng Isang Malusog na Iglesia at Isang Kristiyano Gagawa ng isang Disipulo sa loob ng Isang Termino.

“ K A I S A A K O ”

CHURCH GROWTH AND PLANTING:

16.47% Growth Increase in one term, or
5.49% Growth Increase in one year

THAT IS:
By MAY 2007 99 LOCAL CHURCHES
2008 104
2009 110
2010 116 LOCAL CHURCHES
2011 122
2012 129
2013 136 LOCAL CHURCHES


CHURCH MEMBERSHIP GROWTH:
100% Growth Increase in one term, or
33.33% Growth Increase in one year

THAT IS:
By MAY 2007 8,000 CHURCH MEMBERS
2008 10,640
2009 14,151
2010 18,821 CHURCH MEMBERS
2011 25,032
2012 33,292
2013 44,279 CHURCH MEMBERS

Friday, December 16, 2005

AIMING FOR ROYAL PRIESTHOOD IN FULL ARMOR

Iglesia Evangelica Unida de CristoUNIDA! KAISA!
Aiming For
Royal Priesthood
In Full Armor

REV. GAMALIEL B. FILIO
General Evangelist

The Thesis
OUR age, times, and world demand of us to establish a church that is fully-equipped to meet the challenges brought about by the Great Commission in a world that is constantly being changed by Information and Communication Technology and the advances in science & modes of transportation that are changing the outlook and values of man. The world is continually being compressed into a GLOBAL VILLAGE. How should the Church respond?
Pastor-Shepherd-Leaders (PSL) must be fully equipped in areas of church administration and concerns not traditionally regarded as part of the work of a CHURCH. This will enable them to respond with confidence to what is happening around them. The future is definitely here already and is not something still to be yet anticipated. The PSLs must guard against finding themselves lacking in personal equipment and the whole church membership must likewise be fully equipped for royal priesthood.
The church and the workers in God’s Vineyard today cannot afford to be ONE DIMENSIONAL. They must strive to be MULTI-DIMENSIONAL.
It is our belief that Strategic Planning is Biblical and it is about time, if not yet late, for the Unida Church to do this. We must now AIM FOR ROYAL PRIESTHOOD IN FULL ARMOR. Royal Priesthood refers first to the Pastors, then the Laity-Professionals, the Organizations, and the whole membership of the Unida Church. But a National Church Development Plan must first be formulated, discussed, debated, approved, submitted to God and implemented.
For this purpose a NATIONAL LEADER’S WORKSHOP ON CHURCH DEVELOPMENT will be initiated in four levels before its eventual presentation in the Annual Assembly in May 2006 and ultimately its implementation by the new sets of officers in 2007.

IT’S TIME TO EQUIP
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” KJV

FULLY-ARMORED
Eph 6:13-14 “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” NIV

FOR ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light

WITH THE POWER OF ONE
KAISA defines how ONE can acquire the power of a MULTITUDE! The Kaisa Spirit comes from the prayer of Jesus and this is where its power comes from.
John 17: 11b “Holy Father, protect them by the Power of Your Name – the Name you gave me – so that they may be ONE as we are ONE.”
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be ONE, Father, just as You are in me and I am in you.”

Definition
From the beginning, our definition of Pastoral Leadership has been “the capacity to move people to action.” For many years we tested our leadership using this yardstick. We pointed to a vision with a definite direction; and church people, thank God, followed.
We recently discovered the book of Henry Blackaby and attended his lectures at Cuneta Astrodome on “Spiritual Leadership” and he added the most important aspect to my definition, he said: “Move people on to God’s Agenda.”
This is leadership that is anchored on the agenda of God and one that is based only on the WILL of God and not of ourselves. We are then talking about a leadership that seeks to lead God’s people to follow His commandments and fulfill His Will.
We are talking about PASTORAL LEADERSHIP. And this is leadership that cannot be categorized with other types of leadership in other fields. And while general principles and laws of leadership may apply to pastoral leadership, it cannot succeed unless an Outside Power is applied and incorporated into it. The outside power? THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Pastoral Leadership
When we speak about Pastoral Leadership, we inevitably talk about a SHEPHERD. Simply because the Bible talks about God as the “Shepherd-Leader of Israel.” (Psalms 80:1) And so our Model for Pastoral Leadership is God Himself through the example of His only begotten Son when He became man like us.
The model of shepherding is, as sung by the Psalmist in verse 23:
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD, forever.

Compleat Shepherds
There must be a conscious and deliberate effort to develop a compleat shepherd of the flock of the church of Christ. In order to achieve this, the personal competencies of the Pastors must be enhanced.

PASTOR’S PERSONAL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
“Aiming For A Fully-Equipped Royal Priesthood”

When we talk about fully equipping the Pastor-Shepherd-Leaders we are in fact referring to their Innate qualities and the skills that they must acquire in order to transform them from being one-dimensional to be multi-dimensional.

INNATE QUALITIES - This refers to what all PSLs must possess. From the start or ab initio a pastor must have this. A determining factor of what they are and who they are.
1. God’s Call – This is a must. No one should be a pastor without a sure, manifest, and clear call to the ministry from God. The call, like in the case of the Prophet Samuel, is with you at birth and you will hear it in God’s time (not your own convenience).
2. Spiritual Resource – The PSL must have a vast supply, stock, assets of spiritual strength. Nurture comes in the reading and study of the Word of God. Not only daily Bible reading and meditation but to read and study the Bible from cover to cover on your own. A good and long experience in the ministries at the local church will be a good resource. And the PSL must have someone, ideally an older pastor who have mentored him and to whom he can run to for advice. And of course, a support prayer group.

Suffice it to say that this innate qualities vary from Pastor to Pastor but both must be present.

ACQUIRED SKILLS - This refers to skills and expertise that can be learned or acquired with basic intellectual capacity through formal and/or informal studying.
And when we talk about personal enhancement we are talking about the individual PSL’s efforts to improve themselves. I cannot forget what a Political Science Professor told us when we were freshmen at the University of the Philippines, “The more I know, the more I know that I do not know.”
Life is a continual learning and enhancing of one’s tools and equipment in order to be able to cope with the jobs that will continually challenge you.
But how do we start? By reckoning. •Reckoning means finding out where you are and finding out what you have done to insure where you are going. We must answer the questions: WHO ARE WE? WHERE ARE WE? WHERE ARE WE GOING?


Setting TheDirection
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERSHIP IS TO SET DIRECTIONS. It is the rudder that points to where and how fast the church should go. Their task is to make sure that the flock does not lose its SENSE OF DIRECTION. Because it is so easy to get lost in a world that is cluttered with so many ideas, theologies, technologies, media mind-conditioning, enticing seminars and books and so many charismatic but false prophets that mislead and make man lose sight of God and His Great Commission for the Church and its flock. If the leadership has no sense of purpose the flock will just flounder on. However, this sense of purpose should come from within like a geiger counter. From our identity, what and who we are, our heritage from our forefathers who bonded Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Cristo following the tradition set by the original Apostolic Church.

THE UNIDA CHURCH’S REASON FOR BEING
•To develop the ability to forge the unity of the whole church towards expanding the borders of the work of the church. UNIDA IS KAISA!
Upang linangin ang kakayahang pandayin ang pagkakaisa ng buong iglesia patungo sa pagpapalawak ng hanggahan ng Gawain ng iglesia. ANG UNIDA AY KAISA!

We begun as ONE and must continue to act as a church that originated from the first Christian Apostolic Church that was founded by Christ in Caesaria Philippi. We must also value our Presbyterian roots as well as also be responsive to the changes around us. But we must act together and resist the tendency to go in different directions. We must value who we are and what we have that enabled a small and financially poor church called Unida to reach more than seven decades of fruitful existence.
It is right to have a vision and a definite mission. It is proper to have general objectives as well as specific objectives. But it is so hard to remember them after reams and reams of it have been written down and filed in the cabinet and in the Personal Computer (PC). So it must derive from ONE specific statement, a pledge, a solemn promise that is INNATE to the UNIDA CHURCH and derives from them who started the UNIDA CHURCH.

The UNIDA Pledge (Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Cristo)
I am Unida and it is my solemn promise to secure AN EKKLESIA that is ONE and United in Christ in the Worship of ONE God in Spirit and in Truth and in Bringing the Message of the Saving Grace of the Lord to all creatures in every corner of the world and in the Hope that Jesus will be with them to the end of the ages at the coming of the Kingdom of God.
Ang Panatang UNIDA (Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Cristo)
Ako ay Unida at ang aking banal na pangako ay makamit ang ISANG EKKLESIA na IISA at Nagkakaisa kay Kristo sa Pagsamba sa IISANG Dios sa Espiritu at Katotohanan at sa Pagdadala ng Mabuting Balita ng Kaligtasan sa lahat ng kinapal sa lahat ng sulok ng daigdig at sa Pag-asang si Jesus ay sasa-Kaniyang palagi hanggang sa katapusan ng mga panahon sa Pagdatal ng Kaharian ng Dios.

WHO ARE WE?
“An EKKLESIA that is One and United in the Worship of One God in Spirit and in Truth.”
From the beginning up to now, and yes, from our forefathers up to us today - WE ARE ONE. In 1932 our church founders (mga tagapangulong tagapaglingkod ng iglesia) wrote an open letter addressed to us and using a term that is so wonderful & poignant & apt: “sa inyong MGA KAPILAS NG AMING KALULUWA.” Wow, the term in English came to be used only in the 1980’s - SOULMATES. Unida members are all soulmates – ONE. Mula nuong una hanggasng ngayon, sila at tayo ay magkapilas ng kaluluwa. May kabuluhan ang ISA.
The essence of being ONE is as old our Church. It is embodied in that letter when they said: Ang kabuuan ng dakilang layon ng Dios sa ating paglalakip-lakip ay ang tayo na mga tingting na nakasabog sa ating kapuluan..... ay mabigkis ng matibay na TALI NG BANAL NA PAG-IISA sa pananampalataya, pag-asa at pag-big na lalong pinakadakila sa lahat. This is our heritage.

A UNIQUE AND DISTINCT CHURCH - We are the only church in the world that chooses their leaders the Apostolic Way. God chose the name of our church, IGLESIA EVANGELICA UNIDA DE CRISTO and since the inception of our church, God chose the leaders, the Generales who led our church for the last 73 years. By means of pelotilya or drawing of lots that was laid down in the Acts of the Apostles we avoided church politics. We should be proud of this and this should bind us together.
We are also a church that has a distinctive way of praying every time we break bread together – by singing the following:
Pagpalain Mo po, O aming Dios
Ang mga biyayang mong kaloob
Itulot mo nawa na magdulot
Ng kalakasang ipaglilingkod! Amen.
If it pleases everyone I suggest that we do this before every meal in this workshop.
Unida members knows each and greets each other and embrace and beso-beso each other everytime they meet. And during every occasion “hindi matapos-tapos ang kwentuhan at halos ayaw nang maghiwalay.”
And lastly, the Unida Church is indigenous. A Pilipino Church composed of Pilipinos and run by Pilipinos.

OUR WORK
“Bringing the Message of the Saving Grace of the Lord to all creatures in every corner of the world.”
There is ONE Work. To plant and establish churches. And to add to the church daily such as should be saved.
In 1901, an American, Rev . James Rogers, regarded as the first Protestant Evangelist started planting the gospel of the Saving Grace of the Lord in this Roman Catholic Nation. Rev. Tomas Filio picked it up and was followed later by his nephew Rev. Eugenio R. Filio who started what they called then “Propaganda” for the Evangelical Faith in towns and barrios, in the process establishing churches. In 1957 at Unida’s 25th Anniversary there were 25 strong churches namely Central, Matangtubig, Gagalangin, Sociego, Bagong-Ilog, Baclaran, Caloocan, Tipaz, Novaliches, Imus, Medicion, Caridad, Bacoor, Dasmarinas, General Trias, Anabu, Bacao, Salawag, Malabag, Marulas, Panginay, Sipat, Atlag, Mambog, Carolina.
They are still around and are performing quite well. Now, we are 85 churches and 50 mission points. These are products of the pastors and missionaries that followed one by one, planting churches. The legacy goes on.

OUR HOPE
RUNNING TOWARDS THE FINISH LINE
THE BINDING OF THE ONES INTO ONE DYNAMIC BODY
“The Hope that Jesus will be with them to the end of the ages at the coming of the Kingdom of God.”
We are binded together with this HOPE. And with this in us, we serve God. And there is nothing like a common endeavor that can unite us.

Our Aims for the Term:
•To fully equip ministers for royal priesthood by means of a PASTORS PERSONAL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. 2
Upang sangkapan ang mga manggagawa sa maharlikang pagpapastol sa pamamagitan ng PASTORS PERSONAL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.
•To develop the ability to mobilize each and every member to a meaningful ministry in the local and national church. 3
Upang linangin ang kakayahang hamigin ang bawa’t isang kaanib upang magamit sa makabuluhang ministeryo sa iglesia lokal at nasyonal.
•To develop the ability to plant and establish local churches that are self-sustaining, self-governing, and self-propagating.
Upang linangin ang kakayahang magtanim at magtayo ng mga iglesiang may kakayahang suportahan ang sarili, may kakayahang pangunahan ang sarili, at may kakayahang paramihin ang sarili.

•To develop the ability to establish a Fully-Resourced Unida Church.
Upang linangin ang kakayahang magtatag ng isang iglesiang sapat sa pananalapi. 5
“Wealth is not what we have,
but what we are.” – Unknown

SHOULD WE GO MICRO OR MACRO?
Aiming is one thing, but achieving is another. Enumerating tasks is one thing, but particularizing is another. Taking care of a particular task requires accomplishing several, if not the whole job.

For example, General Evangelism is the whole job and mission is a particular task. But the latter can only be done if the office of general evangelism achieves the five main aims stated above. The sender is as important if not more important than the bringer of the message of the Saving Grace of God.
Thus Romans 10:13-15 says: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
But where am I coming from? From a single thesis. We must look at the Church as ONE WHOLE. And when we do, we will realize that where it is going and how fast it will go depends on the leaders of the church. The leaders of the church are the Pastor-Shepherd-Leaders. If we have good and dependable PSLs who are visionaries and doers the Unida Church will be able to do the Great Commission given by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us therefore be true to our calling as UNIDA and shout KAISA! Let the Kaisa Spirit bind us together as ONE and let us work as One. We may disagree on some points but let us thresh them out and agree at the end.
At the end of the day, we must have a UNIFIED CHURCH DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE UNIDA CHURCH. WE MUST TURN UP AN UNIDA CHURCH FULLY-EQUIPPED FOR ROYAL PRIESTHOOD.

BRIDGING THE GAP
There are present realities in our church today. Some of them are strengths and opportunities. But unfortunately some of them, if not most, are weaknesses and threats. Let us identify them and then let us formulate remedies, plans, programs and projects to bridge the gap between Reality and Goal.

God has carved our task on stone: Formulate, Discuss, Debate, Approve, Submit to God and IMPLEMENT. Let us Go! KAISA!

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

A Fully-Resourced Unida Church:
The Future of our Financial Destiny


"Wealth is not what we have, but what we are."
~ Unknown


I've been member of our church (Unida) for almost half of my life now and I have yet to see our financial potential realized. Our resources seem to be almost and if not, always below the lid of our member's giving capacity. The glass ceiling effect appears to hinder the growth of our finances wherefore further impairing the ministries of our church. And all my life, I wonder, would this
seemingly impregnable barrier be one day fall just like the walls of Jericho?

Remembering Roger Bannister, a fleet foot physician who has broken the four minute mile barrier at the British Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, I realized that what seemed to be impossible today would one day be possible in the future. But Bannister had not done it without criticism. People had tried to achieve it for centuries but it has become a basic belief that it was physiologically impossible. Some say, the feat was so strenuous that our lung power was simply
not adequate. So what has changed? Did man improved physiologically in training? No! The difference was in attitude. Now everyone knew it was possible and it empowered three hundred additional runners, a year after that, to break the same four minute mile barrier.

During a typical group discussion in church, I've asked the members the reasons why they think Unida, as whole, has been lagging growth compared to other successful churches like JIL, CCF, Victory or Word of the World. One of them answered that it is because, unlike them, we lack the financial resources. It seems to be well perceived by most of the people on our church that our finances are to blame for the current dilemma that we are facing. Most think that the sudden
increase of resources would definitely solve our every ministry problem. Definitely not! Finance is not just about accumulation but proper distribution of it. And, I believe we have more than we think we have.

Wealth is not what we have, but what we are. And these are the ministries of our church that fuel the giving of the members and not the other way around. To motivate the members in giving because of the lack of resources in ministry weaken the giving even further. To lose focus on the ministry would result to poor giving. However, the involvement of everyone in the ministry would definitely guarantee the financial resources to support it. Therefore, to strengthen the ministry would make the Unida one step closer to what Act 2 described the Church of Christ should be.

Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly forsaken, nor seen their children begging for bread. (Psalms 37:25) Is the Lord of Unida church a weak god that he would not honor his promises? Are we children of a lesser god, so to speak? Our Lord has been faithfully providing but are we faithfully equipping. The financial destiny our church's future generation
lies in the giving of our present members but are we, as leaders, equipping them financially?

Hundreds, if not thousands, of fund raising programs had been tried in the past. Some were deemed successful yet many have been left wanting. The "giving-begets-ministry paradigm" has worked for a while but has been poorly sustained. Faith Partner's for example, founded for the sole purpose of generating income that would provide for the needs of our workers and pastors, has been faithfully serving this duty for years but it has appeared to have reached a glass ceiling already. The needs have outgrown the resources. Therefore, something has to change.

The purpose of every ministry is to fuel the giving and not the other way around. The "ministry-begets-giving paradigm" shifts our focus on the importance of the ministry in supporting its finances. Rather than motivating the members to give in order to sustain the ministry of our pastors and workers, the leaders of the church should be equipping the members, through a ministry, to become financially mature and giving Christians. Instead of focusing on the need, whether in teaching or preaching, the members should be encouraged to get involved in a ministry that would not only enhance their spiritual lives but also improve their financial security.

I've encountered one ministry like this in one of our local churches in Unida and it is named "M310". It is a membership club that not only ensures the financial liquidity of their local church or facilitates the tithe giving of the members but also educates the members on money matters and financial security. And, it was all done through teaching biblically sound principles! Now, all it needs is to multiply itself in order to influence every church Unida-wide.

Eleven years in the Unida faith and in spite of its shortcomings, my love for His church has not grown weary. I firmly believe that God's agenda will be revealed and the destiny of His people in Unida will soon be realized. The ever expanding borders of God's Kingdom have been unfolding the midst of our church. So get involved! Be blessed and be united with us in deeds and in prayer! Amen!