Church Planting Reunion on US Soil

In 1990 a graduating high school student named Melonie (left of Alberta) decided to follow Jesus and joined our fledging church in Gappal in the Philippines. A circuitous path has led her to emigrate to the US, join the US Navy, travel to places like Guam, Italy, Kuwait, Guantanamo and Iraq and ... this past week to our home  with her husband Kenny. 

Meanwhile, Edgar Tapaoan (right of me) was one of the Bible school students (along with Pastor Eddie Longgat) who assumed the responsibilities of the Gappal church plant when Alberta and I were called to lead the Bethany School of Church Planting in 1992. 

What a joy to host this mini-reunion of the Gappal church 'starters' in our home in Tennessee this past week. Pastor Edgar is now the president of Bethany Fellowship Philippines Int. (BFPI) in northern Luzon. In a few days Edgar and his wife, Jean, will fly to Panama for the 2nd GPro Congress for Trainers of Pastors. As Pastor Edgar leads Bethany's 25 churches, his heart's desire is to train the church leaders to better shepherd the flock of God. Pastor Edgar will also have leadership meetings at Bethany's International headquarters in Minnesota in late November. Pray that our relationship with our international partners like BFPI to deepen and flourish. 

Prayer Requests:

1. Pray for Alberta as she leaves tomorrow for one month of ministry in the Philippines. Pray for traveling mercies and a good connection with the ladies of the two locations where she and her co-facilitators will be hosting trainings (Legazpi City and Cauayan City). 

2. Pray for me (Steve) and Bethany's member care team as we prepare an online training for a Nigerian graduate school of missions. We had fairly short notice but we have taught these students before (a year and a half ago) and they are now ready for "Member Care Part 2". Pray we can cross the cultural divide and find common ground on best practices for screening, assessing, sending and supporting new workers for the harvest field.

3. Pray for Heather and Krista as both are looking for new job opportunities (Krista's current job will end in Feb 2024). 

Serving Christ with You, Steve and Alberta