Ministries International Missions The Consequence of Silence
Written by Becky Stevenson Thursday, August 21, 2008
On July 21st a group of 14 from Community, left the every day comforts of their lives and traveled over 8,000 miles to visit the Philippines Frontline Ministry. What we saw there, the breathtakingly beautiful countryside, the chaotic rush of trikes and jeepneys through the streets, the voices of men, women and children joined in praise and celebration – it engulfed our senses and filled us with praise and awestruck wonder.
I have seen the best of humanity in this far away place. I have seen people who don’t have anything by the standards of which we live but they want for nothing. Here I sit in my beautiful home; I sit typing on my laptop while my children play video games in the next room. It makes me wonder. So many of us turn to outside things to fill the voids in our lives – yet, we give to our Church and we donate old toys and clothing, we all have our favorite, very worthy charities that we support financially. We are generally good people. Aren’t we?
What if we went to the local prison and decided to invite inmates to learn to play instruments and handed them the microphone in order to sing and praise God – would it even be possible? What if we all took in abused or neglected children – not just one or two – but almost 30 children and welcomed them into our families - what would our neighbors say? What if we gathered in groups of 50 or more and sat out in our backyards and raised our hands and voices in song so loud that the neighbors for blocks could hear – we would probably be arrested.
We stood along our friends from Frontline and gave food and drink to children on the streets. We brought clothes and backpacks (generously donated by our Community families) to children at the Refuge and the dumpsite. We prayed and our hearts broke for the men, women and children in the city hospital as we held their hands and prayed. We visited the men and women in the prison – we sang with them and celebrated the freedom that they had found through their belief in Jesus Christ.
“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”We witnessed the Holy Spirit moving through the men and women at Frontline. No one on this trip could deny that. The 14 men, women and children who made that trek with me are no longer strangers but family who shared in some of the most amazing moments of my life. But as I looked at all of those familiar faces at our “reunion” pizza party last night, beyond the smiles and hugs, tears and laughter, I think we are all wondering – What now?
What would the consequence of our silence be? If we simply bottled up what we witnessed in the Philippines and neatly tucked it away in a special place inside of our hearts – what would happen? I have a feeling that, while our mission trip has come to an end, our journey has just begun. If we are silent, we are allowing children to continue to live on the streets and that is unacceptable.
Despite the warmth we felt while we visited, there is still a darkness that surrounds this country – a real desperation. If we don’t continue to share with you – here a month later – what we know to be true there – then we have failed on what God is asking us to do. There are babies being born in the dumpsite – surely one of the most unclean environments on the planet. Can you help them?
There is a Refuge for the children of FACE the Children – a home where the street children are safe. The definition of refuge is, “shelter or protection from danger or distress. Syn: Sanctuary.” But I ask you – is it truly a sanctuary for these children who have experienced the worst form of neglect, if they could have to move at any time because they don’t own the property? Can you help them? There are so many stories that I could share, so many photos of their faces. . . You have seen the sad eyes and heard the sad stories a million times on TV or in an advertisement in your mailbox. But I have seen them. I know their names. Jesus is at your doorstep and he is asking you for food and drink, clothing and a warm place to lay down his head. Will you help him?
Pray for the people of the Philippines, for the people of Frontline who live with such grace every day. Pray for the Barangay Team as they continue to support this ministry so far away. And I am praying that He breaks your heart for these people, my new friends half way around the world.
Frontline is a partner church in our NewThing Network and one of the Four Teams that were apart of Celebration Generosity earlier this year in which our attenders raised more than $250,000. If you are interested in joining the Barangauy team to receive on-going updates from the Philippines or would like to travel to the Philippines, please send an email to Tim Bakker.
