The Lasting Legacy of Teamwork

The memory burned into my memory concerning Renato Delos Santos was a 1993 trip to Gappal, the village Alberta and I planted a church in the Philippines.  I had been invited to speak and a typhoon had swelled the Cagayan River and turned every path into slippery mud. I was having trouble maintaining my balance while carrying Heather and a barefoot Renato hoisted her up on one shoulder and took off like she was a bag of cotton balls. I was amazed and grateful!

A week ago this past Sunday, Renato preached a message in Gappal church, prayed to close the service and passed out due to a stroke. The church members rushed him to the hospital but Renato was unresponsive. At 53, he had been promoted to heaven. 

I'm so mindful of the teamwork that made it possible to reach Renato with the Gospel. Alberta and I settled in Gappal for two years and began the work of evangelizing. 

Our co-worker, Paul Hartford started the School of Church Planting (SOCP). Two students from the SOCP, Edgar and Eddie, continued the work we started after we transferred to the SOCP. Renato responded to Edgar and Eddie's ministry and later enrolled in leadership training led by Pastor Emilio Baliton. Renato became an elder in Gappal Church that spanned some 25 years. 

I think the lasting legacy that he would be most proud of, though, was the testimony of his daughter pictured with him above. Rosalie posted "My father was a man full of love and the desire to serve the Lord, "Daddy, as you leave this world, we will absolutely never forget the example you have left for us....we will continue to serve the Lord." 

Alberta and I made a short video for the Gappal church, sending our condolences and challenging them to step up to fill the gap left by Renato. Pray for Sani, Renato's wife, Rosalie and her twin siblings that God would comfort them in their in their sorrow. Pray for the church as they look to God in this time of loss.

Prayer Requests:

1. Pray for me (Steve) as I've recently accepted a position on our church's mission committee. With commitments to 14 entities or missionary units it's a significant responsibility for the mission committee to steward the church's mission budget and care for these overseas workers.

2. Pray for Alberta and her co-facilitators as they continue to lead Equipping Women Int. Chiang Mai Hub online workshop "Facilitating Relational Learning". It will continue into November.

3. Pray for Heather as she makes plans for a holiday visit to Atlanta, GA and Johnson City, TN in the not to distant future. 

Serving Christ with You, Steve and Alberta