Look What One Association Can Do!

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!

Borbon Team

Jetter

"Early in the morning when we were sharing the Gospel house to house, we saw five men in the billiards and we tried to approach them – but we did not recognize that they were involved in drugs at the moment. Three of the men were interested and stayed to listen, but one left thinking we were government officials. One of those men accepted Christ and wants to have a Bible Study at his house the next day.
 The people of Borbon are very hospitable they are willing to accept the team members and will invite them into the house, but the actual Gospel is often rejected.
 Another time as we went around the mountain we met a woman who had been reading the Bible who had been waiting for someone to tell her about Jesus. She asked us about Acts 15:15 – as we talked she realized she needed and wanted to know more. She asked that the team will set up times to to have Bible Studies with her.
 The place there is ready for harvest but the workers are only four. Will you join us next and share the truth of God’s salvation in Borbon?"

Jetter Sarino, South Cotabato Franchise Leader

Please join us in praising the Father for the souls saved and continue to pray for the Borbon team to have opportunities to share with people who are ready to accept the the truth of God's Word.

Please pray for the Luzon Franchise.

Batangas- Steeped in religious tradition and idolatry, many Batangueños have been resistant to Bible study, but that is slowly changing, especially amongst the younger generation. The more exposure they have to truth, the more barriers will continue to fall. Please pray for the Batanga team as they build a wall of truth around the province!

-Please pray for open hearts amongst the Batangueños, that hear God’s Word and believe in the name of Jesus!
-Please pray for the Batangas Team to be bold in sharing the truth of God’s Word.

Quezon
Trapped in superstitious beliefs and false religious teaching, Quezon remains less than 2% evangelical. Still there are areas where the Gospel has not yet been taken. In these places, people continue to live their lives in bondage. They long for a freedom that they think would only come when this life ends. Please pray that they accept the truth that will set them free!
-Please pray for the strongholds of superstitious beliefs to be broken and God’s truth to be revealed.

-Please pray that they people of Quezon understand the freedom that comes with a relationship with Christ.
-Pray that the Quezon Team be persistent in sharing the Gospel.

Agta/Bicolano, Without a grave, without proper burial ceremonies, the soul of the one who had died cannot enter heaven – this very popular belief has trapped many of the people of this region. They cannot leave their religion for a personal relationship with Christ because Christians have not a graveyard of their own. How long should they continue to live in this fear? Please pray for the Bicol Team as they share the truth about God ‘s redeeming love with the Bicolanos.

-Please pray for the fear to be broken and the power of the one true God to be revealed.
-Pray for the unity of the Bicol Team, that God be glorified by their actions and honored in the presentation of Him.

Please Pray for the Iloilo Franchise!

Batbatan is an island of Culasi, province of Antique. It is home to the people group called the TANGAYS. The island has only one barangay with 9 sitios, and has a population of around 2500 people and without any existing evangelical church. By the grace of the Lord, we will plant the first church! Please partner with these two teams, as they preach the name of Jesus Christ among the Tangays!

-Please pray for team unity as they work together to share God’s love to the Tangays.
-Pray for the safety of the team.
-Please pray for the people they will be ministering to, that they have ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts that are ready to confess Jesus as Saviod and Lord.

Jayson, Camotes Team

What excites me the most about being here in Camotes is that Jetter [the franchise leader] had told us that there were many people there that did not know about Christ. I realized that this was the time to spread the Gospel and seek out lost people.
 My vision for Camotes is to make the name of God well known in Camotes Island. And for the people to have a church to gather in and worship God with their families. 

Naomi, Camotes Island

Omai, Camotes Team 2012

"Since I met Kuya  Jetter  in Marbel through my Uncle and Uncle I have been interested and excited about joining  Nehemiah Teams - what God can do through me. I'm so excited to preach the Gospel at Camotes Island. It is very challenging to my life.

I am 17 and it is my first time going NT. I really love Jesus- and want to share what He has done for me! I am like a blooming flow -spreading wonderful  and beautiful things that Jesus has given me. [That is why it is my desire] To honor God and be a missionary.

My vision for Camotes Island -with my team- is that all the people here will kneel down unto the Lord, to be discipled, and to build a church. 

When people reject the Gospel it makes me want to continue on in sharing because I know their need for Jesus - and I want to be bold in sharing His our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!" 

5 ways to pray for NT particapants.

1. FOCUS ON GOD. Pray that the summer missionaries will remain focused on his/her relationship with God. That the NT participants’ relationship with Jesus Christ be their first priority and their motivation for sharing the saving gospel message.

2. TEAM UNITY. The testimony of the team as a whole is an illustration of the how the Body of Christ works and cooperates together- please ask God for team unity in the NT. Pray that as the team works together that the glorify their Father in Heaven.

3. HUMILITY. Please pray that as they minister to the lost that they follow the example of Jesus Christ. In humility and love that they are able to demonstrate the gospel to the communities they are serving in.

4. BOLDNESS. Please pray for the NT participants that they will boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel.

5. LISTEN TO GOD. Please ask God that the participants have ears to hear God, and that they remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s moving.