Where are these Philippine Islands?

On April 30, 1898, Commodore George Dewey entered Manila Bay and opened fire on the Spanish fleet. By noon Dewey cabled President McKinley, "Spanish fleet defeated. What shall I do with the Philippines?"

This was a difficult question. The United States had no desire to colonize. The issue was hotly debated. One senator is said to have asked, "Where are these Philippine Islands anyway?" A colleague replied, "They must be somewhere near the Holy Land because the Apostle Paul visited there."

President McKinley reported, "I walked the floor of the White House night after night. I'm not ashamed to tell you I went down on my knees to ask for guidance. Late one night the answer came. There was nothing for United States to do but take these islands, educate the people, uplift them, and Christianize them, our fellow men for whom Christ died." [Excerpt from No Greater Joy by ABWE missionary Ruth Woodworth.]

Why do you STILL need missionaries in the Philippines?

While it is significant that the national church fellowship now numbers well over 1,000 independent fundamental Baptist churches, the main reason ABWE missionaries still work in the Philippines is because Filipino believers asked us to stay.

ABWE missionaries are still involved in evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. Along with national leaders, we have developed a three-pronged strategy to help the Filipino church:

1. Church-strengthening ministries-helping established churches become stronger through seminars, literature, and partnership programs.
2. Leadership education and development including lay training, Theological Education by Extension, teaching in Bible schools, offering graduate studies through the Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary Extension Program, refresher courses for pastors, and other educational helps.
3. Cross-cultural missions-creating missions awareness, enlistment, and training for Filipino missionaries primarily serving in Asia.

Key Events In The Philippines

• 1950s-Following World War II, ABWE found that although believers had suffered, the church was stronger and purer. This era marked the end of generous subsidies from the USA and the beginning of a strict indigenous financial policy.
• 1960-70s-Expansion into many different provinces, and establishment of four medical mission hospitals
• 1974-When the Laurel-Langley Act expired, foreigners were no longer able to own property. All ABWE properties were placed under Filipino corporations.
• 1980s-An urban church-planting thrust resulted in 12 new city churches.
• 1990s-ABWE's strategy shifted to church-strengthening ministries, leadership education and development, and cross-cultural missions.
• 2000-"Helping Asians Reach Asia" thrust for more Filipino missionaries.

[Material supplied by ABWE missionary Dr. James Langston]

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