Completing the Circle of Missions

By Elaine J. Kennedy

Before Roberto Gequillana was saved in 1946, he regularly disrupted church services by throwing stones onto the galvanized roof of the building. After his salvation during an evangelistic meeting, he attended Doane Baptist Bible College. As a young pastor, Roberto Gequillana dreamed of organizing a Philippine mission board to send missionaries to foreign lands.

A missionary friend gave him Oswald J. Smith's book, Passion for Souls. After devouring the book, he said, "A heavenly desire gripped my heart and I wanted to be the Lord's missionary." Roberto began fervently preaching about missions and said, "We Filipinos cannot be selfish with the gospel. Someone brought it to us; now it is our responsibility to take it to others."

When the Philippine churches agreed to organize an independent mission board for foreign missions in 1959, many Filipino Christians said, "This is not the right time." The national churches were struggling, and the cost of foreign missionary work was staggering. PABWE (the Philippine Association of Baptists for World Evangelism) was born amid skepticism and outright ridicule.

Yet poor tribal churches desired to help, so the churches in the mountains collected an offering. One of the pastors took it to a central church. Reaching into his shirt, he drew out a knotted handkerchief and unwrapped a small handful of coins. That sacrificial offering for missions was a beautiful example of giving from those who had so little.

For seven years the Gequillanas challenged Filipino churches for lost souls in Thailand. That's a long pre-field ministry! Roberto and Barbara and family arrived in Bangkok in May 1964. Their first rented home was one room for them and their five boys (aged five months to 12 years old).

After only six months studying the Thai language, Roberto began preaching. For three years, there were no results. Then the first two converts were saved at the same service at a young people's camp. One, Kiatisak Sirapanadorn, studied at Doane Baptist Bible seminary in Iloilo, Philippines and returned to pastor Grace Baptist Church in Bangkok.

Today, some 600 Philippine churches pray for and support PABWE's missionaries in Thailand. Their prayers and gifts help change lives. Thai believer, Surachai Ratanaaporn testifies,

"Before I became a Christian-as a Buddhist-I was taught that if I do good, I will be in paradise in the next life. I wondered what the next life meant, but no one could give me an answer. After I accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, my life was changed and my heart was full of joy. My questions were answered as I searched and studied the Word of God. Yes, Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation."

Elaine and Craig Kennedy have served in the Philippines since 1977. They now are part of HARA (Helping Asians Reach Asians), challenging and training Filipinos for missions.