author
The way Janet (Philippines) began running Discovery Bible Studies (DBSs) in the southern Philippines was very spontaneous. “It started with just casual conversations,” she shared. When a person in the community came to her with a problem, Janet would earnestly listen, refrain from giving her own advice and then ask the person if they would like to learn about God through a story from the Bible that reminded Janet of their problem. “I will tell you now about someone who loves you best,” Janet tells them. People were usually very open to hearing a story and how it applies to them.
“Then after that, we prayed, and I invited them, [asking]: ‘Would you like to have a more in-depth study of who God is?’” she said. Sometimes, people say no or that they are too busy, but other times they say yes.
Janet and her husband first travelled to the southern part of the Philippines for a short visit but quickly felt that they should return to the island to stay more permanently. The couple served the area in various ways, such as teaching at the university and starting a basketball club before being introduced to a fishing community. Soon, Janet began to teach the children and get to know people better.
The fishing village belongs to a tribe that is looked down upon by others in the area who consider the people uneducated and dirty, said Janet. Many children in the community had never been to school, and their peers teased and ostracised those who had gone.
Less than a year after starting to teach in the community, one of Janet’s most eager students stopped attending class. Janet went to the girl’s mother to ask what had happened and discovered that she had been so encouraged by Janet that she had started going to the nearby school. Since then, more children have followed suit, and Janet has heard that they are some of the best students in their grades.
Teaching the children helped Janet build relationships with their mothers and other women in the community, and she regularly does DBS with three women.
One of the ladies in the DBS groups is Angela*. Angela and her husband were both out of work, and she was worried about providing food for her children. Desperate, she prayed for provision from a God she had heard about before but did not really know. Soon after, someone knocked on the door and gave the family some food. “And so she said, ‘God is love because He has seen my needs,’” Janet recalled. Janet met Angela a while after that and shared with her about Jesus. Angela said that the whole time Janet was speaking about Christ all the hair on her arms stood up — she had seen the man Janet spoke about in a dream before with a bright light obscuring His face. Also in the dream was a big book with many names written in it. Angela said she wanted to know more about the God who is love, and she joined Janet’s DBS.
The three women in the DBS continue to develop their faith amidst challenges from their community, which is traditionally Islamic with strong animistic practices. Janet trusts that “the Lord will take care of them”, and they will continue to grow. During many DBS visits, a problem or topic will arise based on something the women heard or experienced. These questions give Janet the opportunity to point the women back to the Bible. Janet shared, “I will always talk to them about the Word of God because I believe that the Word of God is living and active.”
*name changed
Share On Your Socials
A Filipino worker serves in her home country, alongside her husband, to disciple and equip tribal people in Palawan, Philippines.
“We should not get ahead of what God is doing...But actually, God is already doing something there. We will just join him in what He is doing,” shares Jonah as she reflects on how the Lord has directed her path.
By giving young people a chance to continue their education, Jo explains: “we become God’s instruments in transforming their lives, opening the doors into the lives of both the students and even their families."
Growing up, Heart saw her parent's faith in action. Their example sparked her decision to commit her life to Christ.
Subic Bay, The Philippines :: Crew from Doulos Hope visit a marginalized community of mothers and their children.
A musician shares how traditional music is building bridges to tribal villages in the Philippines.
The OM team in Palawan welcomes anyone who cares about the environment, sustainable agriculture, arts and culture and the preservation of a precious Indigenous people group.
Philippines :: Doulos Hope crew, volunteers and partners give thanks during her visit to the Philippines.
After being an OM scholarship recipient and graduating from college, Margie Oralde joined OM as a social worker to give back the blessing she received.
Geneva and Jessa were OM scholarship recipients and are now teachers at their former school. They share how OM impacted their lives, not just financially but holistically, challenging them to get to know “the real Saviour.”
“Before MDT I had all my ideas of ‘this is what my missions life is going to look like,’” laughed Lina. Soon she realised that what she had envisioned was not in God’s immediate plan for her.
Jacob and Rachel pray for the Lord to lead them to encounter people He is working in.
In their mid-sixties, Kiwis Pam and Alan retired. Sort of. “You don’t retire and suddenly that’s it,” Alan explained. “You just continue on involved in the Kingdom but with some changes.”
As David learnt about countries in northern Africa, his interest piqued while his classmates focussed on other areas of the world. “I love challenges,” said David, “And that’s why I find myself here in central North Africa when no one else wanted to go.”
To be working in the country of his birth is coming “full circle” for George. “I want to help people who are suffering,” he explained. “I want to do my best in helping them to know about Jesus.”
“I know that when we go out for God, God will provide. And God has been providing, sometimes it can be more or less, but God provides it all,” Rosea remarked.
After Bible School David and Adèle understood God tell them to wait, and so, they actively waited as they sought His direction.
Seeing people put into practice what they’ve learnt to start their own businesses and then “at the end of the day, they’re actually able to be self-sustainable and provide for their families” is one of Jacob’s favourite aspects of the training.
When Ukrainians began pouring into neighbouring Romania the first to respond were the churches.
Hasan's method to live out Christ’s love on the football field in southern Africa is simple: ‘pray, play and say.’