Welcome to Training Evangelistic Leadership

TEL-Philippines: New Era, Same Vision

Years ago, TEL founder Roy Robertson had a simple vision: to raise up Asian evangelists and disciple-makers to reach Asia's millions. Today, TEL-Philippines carries on that same vision, often seeing common men moved by God in uncommon ways.

Vic Arajan, a 38-year-old father of 3 from Lipa City, met Christ through a Bible study led by TEL national evangelist Dale Macabale. Vic grew in his hunger for the Word of God and began to want to share his faith with others. In May, Dale invited him and friend Norvin to join with the TEL Mobile Gospel team on a 2-week outreach trip in Iloilo province, Eastern Panay island. After a 24-hour trip over land and sea to reach the region, they then traveled over rough mountain roads to work with four different churches, training counselors, conducting open-air evangelistic meetings, and visiting house-to-house with those who responded. The people of the region were just as eager to hear the Gospel as the team was to preach it. Many walked long distances to attend the meetings, even staying through the rain in the community of Banate just to hear the Gospel. In the community of Mapili, the basketball court filled with people when the invitation to receive Christ was given (see the picture above, where TEL national evangelist Marlon Derige calls for decisions). In all, over 200 people responded to the Gospel in 5 meetings over these two weeks.

Dale used the trip to spend extra time with Vic and Norvin for Bible study and quiet times to build them up. Each of the men had opportunity to share the Gospel and their testimonies, and to experience trusting God in new ways during the trip. While away from his family, Vic received messages that two of his daughters were sick with dengue fever at home in Lipa. Unable to be with them, Vic prayed and trusted God to protect and comfort his family in his absence. He soon received word of his daughters' recovery. His faith and confidence in God were so strengthened through this experience that once home, Vic made plans to share the Gospel with relatives during an upcoming family reunion.

Other churches in surrounding areas have asked our Mobile Gospel team to return next year. God willing, our team will not only preach the gospel again, but also help these churches develop their own evangelistic teams. Perhaps Vic will join the team again at that time--and bring a disciple of his own as well!

UPDATE: The recent Typhoon Fengshen battered Iloilo so severely last week that the region has been declared a disaster area. We have lost contact with our friends there, and it will be a while before we know how bad the damage is or how seriously our friends were impacted. We rejoice over the effective outreach there last month, and pray that God will comfort all who are affected and supply every need.