SOMERVILLE—A team of four mission volunteers serving on the Cross Partners Ministry team returned last month from two weeks in the Republic of the Philippines. They served with over 10 churches in two different Baptist associations and participated in over 40 evangelistic crusades with the Filipino Baptists on Luzon Island.
Led by Dr. Charles Pratt, president and founder of the Cross Partners Ministry, Inc., the team saw 2,897 professions of faith and over 100 other decisions for the Lord Jesus. Pratt is retired with the Fayette Baptist Association and is the former mission’s director and a member of FBC of Somerville. He has been leading volunteer mission teams on five continents for over 36 years to serve on short time mission trips.
“Not only did thousands of lives get put on the road to Heaven, but the volunteers won personal victories of confidence in sharing their faith with the Filipino people. It is without question that the kind hospitality of the people aided our volunteers in boldly witnessing for Jesus,” Pratt said.
The first stop in the Philippines was with a Baptist Association of Churches in Tarlac Association in the center of main island about 200 miles north of Manila. The Tennessee volunteers served with a Baptist Association of churches in the Pangasinan Province, the largest province in the nation, located about 100 miles north of Tarlac Province. The team witnessed the transformation of thousands of lives through their ministry work.
The Philippines is a nation of 7,100 islands with a land mass equivalent to the state of Arizona. The population of the Philippines is estimated now far over 117 million people, which is predominantly Roman Catholic. However, the Muslim religion is growing very fast in this nation and is threatening to change the culture in some places even on Luzon Island. The partnership mission work was developed in 1990 by the Tennessee Baptist Convention and has been continued through the efforts of CPM, Inc.
The volunteers raised their own support, as well as money for Bibles. The team gave away over 3,000 Bibles and over 6,000 Gospel tracts and shared their faith openly in public high schools, town squares, prisons, and street crusades. They baptized about 20 Filipinos in various locations, including several in a swimming pool on the last Saturday before returning home. The CPM volunteers assisted the Filipino pastors in the baptism of candidates that had been waiting for that special day.
Baptist layman Johnny Johnson on his 5th journey into the Philippines preached the Word of Jesus in a bold manner every day. Johnson is a retired military serviceman and later a Postmaster in Somerville and other positions.
Abandoned castle in Tarlac, Philippines. Getty Images.
“There were people getting saved in all the places where I was able to share the Gospel message. I was able to see over 400 high school students, as well as teachers/faculty members receive Jesus as their Savior, where I shared,” he said.
“It was a great day to return to the Philippines for my 29th trip, after two years of not being able to go again,” said Pastor Mike Hopper, Pastor of Mount Pleasant Community Church, who has served on many trips to the Philippines.
“I had thought that I might never get to return there, but the Lord gave me the funds for the trip and money for the Bibles. God moved in a mighty way, especially in the schools, house to house visitation, the churches and the crusades each night. Since my wife and daughter are school teachers, it was a joy to go into the schools where they needed a Savior. Hundreds of students asked Jesus into their hearts, and I was so blessed to be there.”
Mike is very grateful for the many supporters who made his trip possible and funded the 550 Bibles he gave to people who could not afford them.
Pastor Randy Boals from Hopewell Baptist Church in Lavina praised the Lord and said, “It was great to be back preaching the Gospel to the Filipino people. God gave us favor with the public school leaders who asked the churches to provide future Bible studies to all students. My faith was certainly strengthened as I watched Jesus do only what He can do.” Boals has been on over a dozen trips into the Philippines.
Pratt explained that one of the greatest memories came on the final Sunday at the 8 a.m. service in the first church he visited.
“The Spirit of the Lord fell upon the Church Family, as well as myself in the most unusual manner where the Lord was fully in control and the people were audibly responding to my message. When all was said and done at least 20 adults asked Jesus to come into their lives as their Savior and Lord. It was obvious to me from the onset that the Lord had divine control of those people and my tongue with all Glory to Him.”
As a finale, a Celebration Rally with church workers was hosted on the last Sunday afternoon in Villasis, a city of over 100,000 people. The church leaders gave thanks to God for the volunteers who helped to evangelize their countrymen to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Pratt was also asked to share a message of encouragement to those in attendance. Awards were presented afterwards to each volunteer missionary and testimonies were shared by each of the volunteers.
