Iloilo Franchise Orientation

Iloilo Franchise

Batbatan Island, Team 2 

Trizha
I am excited to join [the Iloilo Franchise of] Nehemiah Teams because there are many unreached peoples and hard to reach places in Iloilo. I am excited about growing spiritually, going on the mission field and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jung, Team Leader      Hi I’m Jung one of the team leaders [of the first] for the [Iloilo Franchise of] Nehemiah Teams. I am so excited and grateful that I am part of this franchise. I am Antiqueño- so I am one of the people we are trying to reach through this project. I am so very excited because I know more of my  co-tribe have not yet heard the Word of God. I am excited to be apart of the team that is sharing the truth with the Antiqueño people.
     I am also thankful because this outreach is an answer to a prayer we prayed many years ago – that Iloilo would have it’s own Nehemiah Teams Franchise. This is a great opportunity for us to serve the Lord- not only in other areas but in our own place. Thank you so much and God bless!
 

Rofer
    I joined this organization because I wanted to spread the Gospel that God has given us.
   I am excited about [beginning of the] Iloilo  Franchise because I wanted to speak out [about] the truth of God’s plan for people. Thank you for your support, prayers, and for the courage you have given us!
 

JunreyI am excited to have an Iloilo Nehemiah Teams Franchise because so many people do not know about God and I really want many people to know Jesus Christ in all the different parts of Iloilo.
 

JasonExcited is not the right word, but I am ready to go on mission for God- I felt mixed emotions about coming here but with one motive: to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Good News of His love, and about God’s promises.

Pray for Iloilo Franchise, Batbatan Team 2

Rofer

Jason

Iloilo Franchise

Batbatan Island, Team 1

Lorry John
Before we even came here the Lord set the place for us and it is nice. [I was nervous] Because I had heard this place was a stronghold for witchcraft and evil spirits. Please pray for the ministry here that God will set their heart and [they will] hear the Word of God.

Tazha
I am excited about the many people [that are] opening their hearts to God, the Bible Studies that have been implemented in this place, and the many children that we have taught [through VBS].

 Panoy
Here in Batbatan when we have our house to house evangelism- after we shared with the people the good news and we prayed for them (for their sickness). Later when we visited them again she told us God had healed her. We are grateful that God uses us to show His power among the people of Batbatan.

Amic
In two weeks God has done amazing things- we have had opportunity to share the love of God and many people are responsive to His word. We have two house Bible Studies that are willing to learn more about Christ. Please pray that God will continue to work in their lives. Pray also that they will follow in believer’s baptism and that even after we are gone that they will continue to grow in their faith. Through prayer nothing is impossible- God is at work in Batbatan Island!

Tagalog

WHO are they? Also called Filipino, the Tagalog people are the second largest ethnic

people group in the Philippines. Today, they are considered to be one of the most

“Westernized” Filipino ethnic groups. “Westernized” refers to a group that has been

influenced by the modern conveniences and attitudes of a country like America—and it

is not always a good thing! Traditionally, Tagalog people are farmers and fishermen, but

as education becomes more easily attainable, more are entering professional fields. In

their culture, women are trained early on to cook elaborate dishes. That’s why they

often have lavish celebrations during fiestas and holidays.

WHERE do they live? The word Tagalog means “people living along the river,” but

today the Tagalog people live all over the Philippines, and many live in other Southeast

nations as well.

HOW many? There are about 23,678,000 Tagalog people living in the Philippines. 15%

are evangelical Christians.

WHAT do they worship? The vast majority of Tagalog people are Roman Catholic,

and they often mix in some animistic beliefs as well. Like Cebuanos, this means that

while they are familiar with Jesus, they may not have a relationship with Him.

PRAYER needs:

• Ask the Lord of the harvest to send more workers to live and work among the

Tagalog people

• Ask God to soften the hearts and open the eyes of the Tagalog people, so that

they will be receptive to the message of the Gospel.

• Pray that existing Tagalog churches would be blessed with excellent Biblical

teaching and that they would place a major emphasis on evangelism.

Five ways to pray.

1. DEPENDENCE ON GOD. Pray that the team remains dependent on God for their strength and effectiveness. Ask God to remind them of His truth and to encourage them with reminders of His love and presence.

2. RESIST TEMPTATION. Intercede on the behalf of the NT participants- that they can remain strong in resisting temptation that could hurt their witness in the community.

3. PRAISE GOD. Pray that the teams do not get puffed up by the success of their works, rather in humility that they give God the praise that is due Him.

4. OPEN DOORS. Pray and ask God for open doors and opportunities to make friends in the community the NT participants are serving in.

5. OPEN HEARTS. Pray for the listeners who are hearing the Word of God, ask God for open hearts that respond to their need for salvation. 

Cebuano

WHO are they? Cebuano people can trace their ancestry back to many different

cultures—including Spanish and Chinese, as well as other groups within the Philippines.

And even today, many Cebuanos, who are sometimes also called Visayan, speak more

than one language. In addition to their native language of Cebuano, some speak

English quite well, and others can also speak Tagalog, the Filipino national language.

Many Cebuano people live in simple two or three room homes built from bamboo and/or

wood.

WHERE do they live? The Cebuano mainly live on the islands surround the Visayan

sea, but many have migrated to other areas in the Philippines.

HOW many? With around 18,295,000 Cebuano people living in the Philippines, this

group is the second largest ethnic group in the Philippines.

WHAT do they worship? Most Cebuano people are Roman Catholic, and less than 5%

are evangelical Christians. In some areas, their Roman Catholic belief is mixed with

animism (the belief that inanimate objects have spirits) and even witchcraft. Though

they will be quick to tell you that they believe in Jesus and may even be able to tell you

all about His life, many Cebuanos are hoping that their good works and the religious

rituals will get them into heaven. The idea of having a personal relationship with Jesus

and studying the Bible for themselves is often new to them.

PRAYER needs: The Bible and other Christian materials have been translated into their

language, but with a people group so large, there is still much work to be done!

• Ask the Lord to call out people who are willing to go to the Philippines and share

Christ with the Cebuano people.

• Ask God to soften and prepare the hearts of the Cebuano people for the Gospel.

• Pray that the existing Cebuano churches and believers would be encouraged,

strengthened and protected. Pray that God will call out missionaries and pastors

from them as well!