Missions

MISSIONS

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28: 19-20

Discipleship continues in homes and classrooms throughout the world, resulting in believers being obediant to the Gospel. Would you like to support our Philppine Mission? If so, please contact one of the Elders or the Evangelist.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ

Mark 16:16 " He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved;

History of the Harrisonburg Church of Christ and the Philppine Ministry in Samara

Photos from the Philippine Church

In 1987 Wayne Martin, former minister at the Harrisonburg Church, made this first trip to the Philipines. While there, he met and spent a lot of time with Epie Gerez, a young preacher on the Island of Samar. All preachers and missionaries had been chased off the island or killed in the mid 1980's by the New People's Army and the island had just recently be reopended for ministry. Wayne was scheduled to spend a week with Epie but due to travel problems, was unable to do so.

However, upon his return, Brother Wayne held a missions weekend and introduced the work of Christ to the Nations Ministry overall and the specific work of Epie in Samar. The Church at that time decided to commit financially with the work. In 1989 Dan Turner made a trip with Wayne and CTN and spent a week with Epie. He was very impressed by the work. Epie had started eight (8) churches in the area but had difficulty visiting and teaching in all of them. To help meet this need, the church bought a motorcycle so Epie could effectively evangelize in the surrounding villages.

In 1992 Epie has started a few more congregations and the work was progressing. Tragically, a few years later, while on their way to a meeting, Epie and his wife were killed in an automoble accident, leaving behind six (6) children. Epie's brother Margarito, who was preaching about 60 miles from Epie, came and assumed the ministry and care of three (3) of Epie's children. The remaining three (3) children were cared for by members of Epie's wife's family.

Over the years the work has grown. There are now more congreations and many of the small village congregations have grown as well.

The Harrisonburg Church continues to support this work and receives regular updates on the church's progress. Just recently, Margarito reported eight (8) decisions for the Lord from the congregations there.

Brother Wayne recently returned from the Phillipines and reports one of the highlights of his latest trip was meeting Kathy Gerez, the oldest daughter of Epie and his wife. She is a senior at Cebu Bible Seminary and will be graduating in April of 2008. She is planning to enter the field of Christian service, probably through music and teaching.

The Harrisonburg Church of Christ