Several years ago, the founder of
Nehemiah Teams, visited Mangagaoy Baptist Church to promote his
new summer mission initiative to send young people to fulfill the Great Commission in this generation. Since that
time individuals from the church have participated in Nehemiah Teams, but in
2012, it seemed the floodgate opened, when 5 young people met together with one
simple prayer, that their number [of Nehemiah participants] be doubled.
God more than answered, and this
year the Bethel Association of Southern Baptist Churches (BASBC) sent 15 young
people, all active in local Filipino churches, to join the Caraga Franchise of
Nehemiah Teams. God tripled the starting number! Those 15 represent four
churches (Mangagoy Baptist Church, Bislig Baptist Church, Hope Baptist Church,
and Calvary Baptist Church.).
“It was all by God’s abundant
grace that we were able to join Nehemiah Teams this year.” says Wesley, who was
instrumental in organizing the young people committed to joining Nehemiah Teams
in 2012. “We then prayed that God would provide for our financial needs.” And
what followed was a testimony to the unity of the Body of Christ.
The committed young people
presented their concerns before the association, who in turn helped them
coordinate with local churches to raise the needed funds. “The association helped
make it possible for many to go.” Wesley explained, “We had the desire but
needed the support of our churches to raise the needed money. It really
encouraged us to know that the local churches would support us. That they
thought what we were doing was important.”
The Nehemiah Teams 2012
participants are both encouraged and challenged by the support given to the youth of the
Bethel Association of Southern Baptist Churches. Encouraged because of the
financial and prayer support given and challenged to take the same vision to their
local churches and associations.
There is a generation of young
Filipino people seeking to fulfill the Great Commission – will their local
churches and associations rise up and support them? Will they encourage the
young people to continue in their obedience- reaching the unreached and
hard to reach in the Philippines – so that every tribe and tongue of the
Philippines can take it’s place around the throne of God?
Be a part of Nehemiah Teams by
supporting the youth of your church and association as they obey God’s calling
in their lives and you will be amazed at what God can do through the lives of
young people surrendered to God’s will!
