by Matt Messner
"God's people in Seattle and Manila have united to plant 300 new churches among 'the poorest of the poor' in the sprawling Philippines city."
The east side of Seattle is known for its affluence. Microsoft Corp., pricey SUVs, nice homes, designer clothes, good schools and big churches characterize this part of our highly secular and liberal city. During its first 15 years, Eastside Foursquare Church struggled to shake people from this comfortable reality and impart to them a vision for underdeveloped countries. Then, in 2001, a transformation began.
For years, Eastside's senior pastor, Dr. Jim Hayford, had traveled to Manila to participate in leadership-training events at the invitation of Dr. Felipe (Jun) Ferrez, who was serving as the president of Foursquare Philippines. But by 2001, major social and spiritual forces were coming together in Manila--urbanization, the increased plight of the urban poor, a ripe harvest and a vision for ministry among local churches brought about by strategic prayer.
Through these strategic components, God forged relationships and a unified purpose among His people that would reshape the Foursquare churches of Metro Manila and transform Eastside Foursquare Church.
Urbanization
God cares about cities, and Metro Manila is an exploding hub of humanity. It is the political, economic, social and cultural center of the Philippines and includes Manila as well as 16 surrounding cities and municipalities.
It is also a case study for the modern phenomenon of urbanization. Growing at a rate of 5,000 people each week, according to a 1994 report by the Philippines National Statistics Office, the city is filled with the starkest contrasts between wealth and poverty. Beautiful malls and high-rise buildings stand adjacent to slums of squalor filled with people suffering from all the effects of poverty. Within this center of human migration people are searching for answers and crying out for help.
The Plight of the Urban Poor
God's Word makes it clear that He cares for the poor and the disenfranchised. He states these priorities clearly in Isaiah 58:6-12 and 59:9-17. His heart breaks over the suffering that comes from injustice, disease, exploitation and sin. He invites His people to gain His heart and respond to these issues. In Manila, the plight of the urban poor is inescapable.
A Ripe Harvest
Manila is a ripe harvest field of souls. Human needs coupled with a predominant Roman Catholic view of God create an openness to the ministry of Jesus Christ. We have found that people in Manila are responsive to us--eager to receive prayer, practical help and the gospel.
A Vision Forged From Strategic Prayer
In 2001--confronted with the reality of the relatively slow growth of Foursquare in Manila that contrasted with the city's rapid urban growth and ripe harvest field--leaders and congregants met to seek the Lord for vision and direction. The Urban Church Planting Project (UCPP) strategy commenced that year with a prayer conference involving the then 48 Foursquare churches of Metro Manila.
From these meetings, the churches embraced God's call to reach out aggressively and strategically into the most difficult neighborhoods surrounding them. Numerous leaders felt called to "go" into the expansive city, and existing pastors committed themselves to a strategy of rapid church multiplication.
Vision Implemented
Birthed in prayer, a vision emerged to see 300 new churches planted among the poor of Manila. These churches would be holistic--meeting natural as well as spiritual needs. More than 40 church-planting teams supported this aggressive vision and started the first group of new churches. An ongoing training structure was put in place to help equip these emerging leaders.
Strategic Partnership
A key word in successful missions is partnership. The leadership, strategy and vision of the UCPP come from the Foursquare leaders and pastors of Metro Manila. Eastside Foursquare Church provides support and service to the project through prayer, financial resources, short-term teams, and leadership training and consultation.
Because of this partnership, long-term relationships are being built between the leaders and congregants of our church and the ones in Manila. This allows for greater accountability and effectiveness in our mutual mission.
Each year Eastside sends four to six teams to Manila. We now support full-time project missionaries Pete and Tina Forras, who are there to serve the project leaders and facilitate teams. Our church is grateful that other churches have come alongside this project to support it financially and send teams of their own.
Today, five years after the "transformation" began at Eastside, hundreds of people have been part of one of our short-term teams. We have sent out a variety of teams--from medical, teacher training and evangelism teams to sports, construction and music teams.
Team members are firsthand contributors to what they call the "Miracle in Manila." Every one of them has come home with a more accurate view of the world as God sees it. As Jim Hayford states, "I am a better pastor because I have the mud of Manila on my shoes."
Our congregation has given almost $1 million to support and facilitate this project. Thousands of Filipinos have received Christ, and a movement has begun there. We praise God for allowing us to be part of this amazing process, and we are continuing to press forward toward the goal of planting 300 new churches among the poorest of the poor in this city that God loves.
Eastside Outreach
In addition to adopting the city of Manila, Eastside maintains a multi-faceted approach to missions. This includes reaching out to our own "Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and uttermost parts of the earth."
We believe every Christian is called to discover their personal and appropriate response to the Great Commission. Eastside Foursquare Church feels a tremendous sense of obligation to do its part to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, for "to whom much has been given, much more will be required," Jesus said (Luke 12:48). The world is getting more accessible every day, and the opportunities are numerous as we consider new ways to "go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" (Mark 16:15).
The east side of Seattle is known for its affluence. Microsoft Corp., pricey SUVs, nice homes, designer clothes, good schools and big churches characterize this part of our highly secular and liberal city. During its first 15 years, Eastside Foursquare Church struggled to shake people from this comfortable reality and impart to them a vision for underdeveloped countries. Then, in 2001, a transformation began.
For years, Eastside's senior pastor, Dr. Jim Hayford, had traveled to Manila to participate in leadership-training events at the invitation of Dr. Felipe (Jun) Ferrez, who was serving as the president of Foursquare Philippines. But by 2001, major social and spiritual forces were coming together in Manila--urbanization, the increased plight of the urban poor, a ripe harvest and a vision for ministry among local churches brought about by strategic prayer.
Through these strategic components, God forged relationships and a unified purpose among His people that would reshape the Foursquare churches of Metro Manila and transform Eastside Foursquare Church.
Urbanization
God cares about cities, and Metro Manila is an exploding hub of humanity. It is the political, economic, social and cultural center of the Philippines and includes Manila as well as 16 surrounding cities and municipalities.
It is also a case study for the modern phenomenon of urbanization. Growing at a rate of 5,000 people each week, according to a 1994 report by the Philippines National Statistics Office, the city is filled with the starkest contrasts between wealth and poverty. Beautiful malls and high-rise buildings stand adjacent to slums of squalor filled with people suffering from all the effects of poverty. Within this center of human migration people are searching for answers and crying out for help.
The Plight of the Urban Poor
God's Word makes it clear that He cares for the poor and the disenfranchised. He states these priorities clearly in Isaiah 58:6-12 and 59:9-17. His heart breaks over the suffering that comes from injustice, disease, exploitation and sin. He invites His people to gain His heart and respond to these issues. In Manila, the plight of the urban poor is inescapable.
A Ripe Harvest
Manila is a ripe harvest field of souls. Human needs coupled with a predominant Roman Catholic view of God create an openness to the ministry of Jesus Christ. We have found that people in Manila are responsive to us--eager to receive prayer, practical help and the gospel.
A Vision Forged From Strategic Prayer
In 2001--confronted with the reality of the relatively slow growth of Foursquare in Manila that contrasted with the city's rapid urban growth and ripe harvest field--leaders and congregants met to seek the Lord for vision and direction. The Urban Church Planting Project (UCPP) strategy commenced that year with a prayer conference involving the then 48 Foursquare churches of Metro Manila.
From these meetings, the churches embraced God's call to reach out aggressively and strategically into the most difficult neighborhoods surrounding them. Numerous leaders felt called to "go" into the expansive city, and existing pastors committed themselves to a strategy of rapid church multiplication.
Vision Implemented
Birthed in prayer, a vision emerged to see 300 new churches planted among the poor of Manila. These churches would be holistic--meeting natural as well as spiritual needs. More than 40 church-planting teams supported this aggressive vision and started the first group of new churches. An ongoing training structure was put in place to help equip these emerging leaders.
Strategic Partnership
A key word in successful missions is partnership. The leadership, strategy and vision of the UCPP come from the Foursquare leaders and pastors of Metro Manila. Eastside Foursquare Church provides support and service to the project through prayer, financial resources, short-term teams, and leadership training and consultation.
Because of this partnership, long-term relationships are being built between the leaders and congregants of our church and the ones in Manila. This allows for greater accountability and effectiveness in our mutual mission.
Each year Eastside sends four to six teams to Manila. We now support full-time project missionaries Pete and Tina Forras, who are there to serve the project leaders and facilitate teams. Our church is grateful that other churches have come alongside this project to support it financially and send teams of their own.
Today, five years after the "transformation" began at Eastside, hundreds of people have been part of one of our short-term teams. We have sent out a variety of teams--from medical, teacher training and evangelism teams to sports, construction and music teams.
Team members are firsthand contributors to what they call the "Miracle in Manila." Every one of them has come home with a more accurate view of the world as God sees it. As Jim Hayford states, "I am a better pastor because I have the mud of Manila on my shoes."
Our congregation has given almost $1 million to support and facilitate this project. Thousands of Filipinos have received Christ, and a movement has begun there. We praise God for allowing us to be part of this amazing process, and we are continuing to press forward toward the goal of planting 300 new churches among the poorest of the poor in this city that God loves.
Eastside Outreach
In addition to adopting the city of Manila, Eastside maintains a multi-faceted approach to missions. This includes reaching out to our own "Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and uttermost parts of the earth."
We believe every Christian is called to discover their personal and appropriate response to the Great Commission. Eastside Foursquare Church feels a tremendous sense of obligation to do its part to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, for "to whom much has been given, much more will be required," Jesus said (Luke 12:48). The world is getting more accessible every day, and the opportunities are numerous as we consider new ways to "go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" (Mark 16:15).
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