Our beginnings… We begin our mission blog with a compilation of stories of our early years as a mission organization. These stories molded us into who we are now as a mission organization. All stories were God focused and actual experiences of our pioneering missionaries on the field. They were firsthand narratives describing how each Filipino missionaries witnessed the mighty works of our living God in full display. They saw and tasted the miracles of God in response to their prayers which provided for their needs. They were supernaturally brought to situations that were beyond comprehension and given amazing opportunities to minister to the lost and needy people of each nation. The stories will best explain how our poor missionaries were able to sustain their stay in the mission field for long periods of time and see their ministries flourish throughout the years that passed. All their testimonies converge to a single truth - God is actively at work in the lives of people who responds in complete faith to His call.
They saw the Mighty hand of God and they could not contain in their hearts the joy it has brought to their lives, In this blog site, you’ll read the exciting God Sighting stories shared from the hearts of missionaries who truly encountered our living God in the mission field.
GOD SIGHTING STORY # 2 (CLASSICS)
The US$1 Mission Story
Posted by itphilip@itphilippines.org on 07/25/2014 (The story happened around Year 2000.)
“Praise the Lord! God gave me the provision to go to Israel. Shalom!”
Ces A. resigned from a long successful career in the House of Representatives. She decided to pursue a better job outside of the power institution that she works in. This time around, she will devote her life entirely to the service of the King Himself. All that she needs was to hear from the Lord.
A few weeks later, she took part in the 1st ever evangelism crusade done inside the Batasan complex where the powerful Congressmen convene. Having signed up as an intercessor, she was in the backroom praying for the whole event. That was when she heard the voice of the speaker, Ptr. Gani Sison and heard the message of hope given to the people. She knew in her heart outright that it will be through that man where she will find her special place in the plan of God.
As soon as her resignation took effect, she went straight to International Teams to apply for missionary work. She eventually became a part of the mission organization and embraced the vision of seeing Filipinos go out to the global mission field. It did not take long for her to clearly see the land of Israel in her heart. The call of God to serve outside the Philippines became an exciting gift from the Lord. However, she realized that being excited for the global ministry is one thing and getting the money to finance that ministry is another thing. They do not come inside the same package. She discovered the sad reality that even after all her efforts in raising support and challenging friends and loved ones alike, she was still staring at a zero-fund balance. It was so discouraging! It was pushing her to doubt her call. A voice inside was telling her that she was better of when she was still working under the government. In her time of immense weakness, she did the best thing that she could do…trust completely in the Lord.
One day she surprised everybody present in the prayer meeting at International Teams. With a loud voice she declared “Praise the Lord! God gave me the provision to go to Israel. Shalom!” All the missionaries present clapped their hands and joined her in praising the Lord. There was much rejoicing that happened that day. After the meeting, Ptr. Gani curiously asked her how much money she has received. He was thinking that she would bring out wads of hundred-dollar bills. He never expected that what Ces was about to show was beyond everybody’s expectation. Before pulling out from her handbag the support money, she gave another round of praises to the Lord. “Praise the Lord! The Lord is so good. Shalom!” She confidently uttered those words with tears flowing from her eyes. Then she brought the money out of her handbag for Ptr. Gani to see. It was enough to bring tears in his eyes as well. Tears of a different kind for what was shown was an ordinary 1 US$ bill. He could not believe what he was seeing. It was only 1 US$ bill or if exchanged to the local currency… only 50 Pesos! “That could not be the only money that we all praised the Lord for!” Those thoughts were running in his mind. “It is only good for a can of coke and a sandwich to go.” But there were really no bills to go with it. It was the only one. Yet, as he looked in her eyes, he could see how real her heart was in thanking the Lord for the one-dollar support. It served as a confirmation of her call to go to Jerusalem. It was at that point when he saw what was there with her all the time. She was seeing through the one dollar bill the future. She was seeing it through her eyes of faith! It was miraculous in a way. It can only be the Lord!!! With that realization, he joined her in praising and thanking the Lord for the one-dollar provision to go to Israel. There was much singing and rejoicing that afternoon for they saw what ordinary eyes would not be able to reveal.
What happened next could only be attributed to an act of God. In her visit to a prayer site in Antipolo, she met several Jews who learned about her burden and intense desire to serve in the holy Land. They were so moved by intensity of her faith that they decided to support her trip to Israel. “If this woman could love us and the Jewish nation that much, we owe it to God to support her.”
A month later, an email came to International Teams with the words…” Shalom! This is your Sis. Ces A. serving in the holy land!!!”
THE LORD IS SO GOOD! HE PROVIDES IN AMAZING WAYS!
*Next posting … THE FAT VIETNAMESE POLICEMAN
HALLELUJAH!!!!