Look what God has done! When we think back to the first years of ministry with the Agta tribes, it is staggering to think of what God has done in this place. The Agta churches all gathered for the first time, and we were so blessed and encouraged by the unity and growth we've seen in them through this.
This was the poster created by our tribal team, representing the different entities involved. A cool thing from our perspective? The foreigners, the "white people" - us - we aren't included in the poster. We LOVE how they've caught the vision of Tribals Reaching Tribals. God is working through them in mighty ways to reach other tribes and the rest of their own tribes. We are secure in the role we know God has called us to in coming alongside and equipping them to walk this journey, and we are so blessed by how well they truly OWN vision.
Also, you can see the theme for the conference: Pagpapalawak ng Kaharian ng Dios Sa Bicol (expanding the kingdom of God in Bicol - the area where the Agta tribes live). So exciting to see unity building around this vision.
This was the poster created by our tribal team, representing the different entities involved. A cool thing from our perspective? The foreigners, the "white people" - us - we aren't included in the poster. We LOVE how they've caught the vision of Tribals Reaching Tribals. God is working through them in mighty ways to reach other tribes and the rest of their own tribes. We are secure in the role we know God has called us to in coming alongside and equipping them to walk this journey, and we are so blessed by how well they truly OWN vision.
Also, you can see the theme for the conference: Pagpapalawak ng Kaharian ng Dios Sa Bicol (expanding the kingdom of God in Bicol - the area where the Agta tribes live). So exciting to see unity building around this vision.
Here's a video
(creds & tnx to Claire & her sister Annie for putting it together!) about the conference so you can peak in the window a little.
(creds & tnx to Claire & her sister Annie for putting it together!) about the conference so you can peak in the window a little.
We don't have access to a place big enough to hold everyone - it ended up being around 375 people total - so the churches worked together to erect a bamboo structure with a tarp, specifically for this conference. One of the nights there was POURING rain, and we sent out urgent requests because we were afraid it would collapse under the weight, but we were so thankful it held.
Quite the job to cook for everyone! These were the cook tents.
Several generous donations & partners made this conference possible, and one of them especially wanted them to be able to play together (we agree; such great bonding/unifying time to play together!). We were able to put gravel down & erect a back board (they LOVE basketball in the Philippines!), as well as volleyball net - both of which we will be able to keep using!
Here's one of the Agta leaders sharing a challenge from the Word with everyone. There's a story from conference that I want to share with you:
A little culture info will make this story more poignant. First, traditionally, the Agta do not have any kind of group meetings. The largest socio-economic group is the nuclear family. So they never gathered as clans or villages for meetings, their kids didn’t go to school, and they didn’t go to any group religious events; all of these are what has made the idea of gathering for a believer’s conference so radical. Additionally, Agta don’t express physical affection or even emotion; the only people they would reach out to touch would be nuclear family. They are also incredibly shy, avoiding interacting with others whenever possible, and leading others is seen as a cultural sin – Agta should never try to lead others to do anything, so leading a conference seems crazy.
A little culture info will make this story more poignant. First, traditionally, the Agta do not have any kind of group meetings. The largest socio-economic group is the nuclear family. So they never gathered as clans or villages for meetings, their kids didn’t go to school, and they didn’t go to any group religious events; all of these are what has made the idea of gathering for a believer’s conference so radical. Additionally, Agta don’t express physical affection or even emotion; the only people they would reach out to touch would be nuclear family. They are also incredibly shy, avoiding interacting with others whenever possible, and leading others is seen as a cultural sin – Agta should never try to lead others to do anything, so leading a conference seems crazy.
Without further ado:
On the opening night of the conference, the chairman of the fledgling Bicol Tribal Church Association (BTCA) got up to welcome everyone. As he faced the crowd of his tribesmen gathered together (unheard of!), he said he was just so overwhelmed with the idea of addressing them as a leader that he just froze. At that moment, the Agta man standing next to him, the vice chairman of BTCA, reached out and took his hand. The chairman said at that moment, he was emboldened as he was reminded that he is not alone in this; the Agta tribes are in this together to glorify God’s name and spread His kingdom across Bicol (the theme for the conference). God has done – and is doing – and amazing thing with the Agta tribes in Bicol!
On the opening night of the conference, the chairman of the fledgling Bicol Tribal Church Association (BTCA) got up to welcome everyone. As he faced the crowd of his tribesmen gathered together (unheard of!), he said he was just so overwhelmed with the idea of addressing them as a leader that he just froze. At that moment, the Agta man standing next to him, the vice chairman of BTCA, reached out and took his hand. The chairman said at that moment, he was emboldened as he was reminded that he is not alone in this; the Agta tribes are in this together to glorify God’s name and spread His kingdom across Bicol (the theme for the conference). God has done – and is doing – and amazing thing with the Agta tribes in Bicol!
Because our normal camping area was re-purposed for conference & on-going construction, they made some new camping areas for our team. One night of heavy rain showed that the new sites weren't draining super well...but quite the commercial for these tents as the people inside stayed mostly dry - this is even after the rain had stopped and water level receded!
Sometimes "our" volcano pops out on a clear day - beautiful!
I hope you are encouraged and blessed by this glimpse of conference! Praise God for all HE has done!
