VM Members Into Enemy Territory!

             by Pastor Rick Ives

July 2003

I recently helped lead a mission’s team of 13 people from Fellowship Christian Church in Springfield, Ohio to the Philippines. Pastor Grant Edwards and I, (both Covenant Members of VM) led this team to the town of Cebu and then onto the island of Mindanao and General Santos City (GenSan) to provide training to local church leaders. In GenSan we conducted a DISCIPLING ANOTHER TO LOVE JESUS (DA2LJ) conference for over 600 pastors and church leaders.

This was a very interesting trip since we were in an area of the Philippines where terrorists are attempting to overthrow the government and establish a militant Islamic government in its place. While we were in GenSan, 30 soldiers were killed in nearby areas by terrorists. In order to be safe, we were guarded at all times by armed and uniformed members of the Philippine National Police who are basically soldiers who fight the terrorists. Everywhere we went we had 6 soldiers with M-16’s with us and we were basically confined to our hotel and the conference sight since going out in public would have been dangerous. During our five days in GenSan terrorists infiltrated our conference posing as Christian pastors, entered our hotel, and were spotted in areas all around our conference venue.

I am glad to say that he Lord watched over us, and the soldiers watched over us, and the conference went forward and was a great success. Today, over 600 leaders in that troubled area of the world are much better equipped to disciple young believers to grow into the faith before the evil one can snatch them away from the faith. Jesus never said we would always be safe, He just promised to always be with us, if we would be faithful!