The Challenge

“There’s a lot of need in the world. Let’s respond to the need that God has put at our door.” Pastor Ancho gave the final challenge to his congregation after Bob Creson, president of Wycliffe USA, and Pastor Lloyd Estrada, director of Sa Bawat Wika, addressed the crowd about the work of Bible translation. When Pastor Ancho first let the words issue forth, I thought, “yes, that’s right.” A few minutes later, as one young woman sang beautiful praises to God, I realized I was still letting the words roll around in my head. I thought, “yes, that’s so right. He’s got it. This is the challenge. This is how God moves. There are always going to be needs - the poor will always be with us. But, Jesus did not expect us to sit back, overwhelmed. He asked us to pick up just that one starfish out of hundreds lying beached on the sand. Because for that one, getting thrown back into the ocean did matter!”

The Philippines is a unique country; God has created it with multiple cultures, 171 language communities, many lives. In addition, He’s given this country a remarkable spirit of hospitality; the kind were you walk away thinking, “Wow, that’s the easiest lunch with ‘strangers’ I’ve had in awhile.” Filipinos let you feel comfortable, they value your presence. I may even go so far as to say that Filipino Christians make you feel loved, right from the moment they look at you. And, chances are they are catching your eye, grabbing your hand, smiling your way, before you’ve even had a chance to think to do the same!

So, since God has created and developed these people in such a way, they are well-suited for sharing Christ’s love. It has been said that many Filipinos pick up languages incredibly quickly (one friend I met today told me that fellow classmates started speaking Mandarin after just one month of studying). Filipino communities are popping up all over the world. These people are ready, willing, and equipped to go. And, God is sending the workers.

When Pastor Ancho instructed his flock, he did so with an apparent sense of love and faith in his people. To him, it was no accident that even the guests at church that day had heard this message about Bible translation. I believe that God is moving, calling, prompting His Filipino children to respond. And, like Pastor Lloyd said, the Filipino church will receive a wonderful “well-done” from our God in heaven when the time comes for every nation, tribe, people and tongue to stand before the throne.

Erica