Posted on the Facebook Samson Missions Page on July 23:
So a pretty incredible outreach happened.
Before we moved to Manila three years ago I put together a feasibility study for our prospective ministry to Muslims. Though we felt the unshakeable draw to Filipino Muslim ministry and we had already been exposed to it even while still serving in Catanduanes, I didn't quite know what direction to take. In that report, I was able to determine the particular groups I believed our ministry should focus on. The Maranao Tribe residing in Quiapo, The Sama Tribe of the Sulu Archipelago, The tribal Muslim migrants and converts of Antipolo, and the Badjao Tribe dispersed in the southern part of Luzon.
I admit that it seemed (still seems) like a tall order. But our ministry strategy is to open the doors and shine the light of Christ to people groups where the church does not yet exist because they are difficult to access. We go in first, serve with all of our might, build the relationships, and then make the need known to churches, giving them the opportunity to reach out to Muslims through the same love we'd been extending. We build bridges. It's up to the churches themselves to decide whether or not they want to take that opportunity. So until a church adopts that community, our unconditional service as children of God does not cease.
I have an excellent track record with fulfilling whatever vision I'm pushing our team to reach. But this last community on my radar was so elusive, that it became somewhat of a discouragement to me. The failure that hung over me. I implemented all the steps, including the building of our dive ministry in order to make it happen. And what I thought would be the first community we would enter into in this new ministry of ours became a closed door... until a couple of days ago.
Would you believe that I needed to build the ministries in the other locations in order for this last goal to be reached? Our ministry in Quiapo, in Tawi-Tawi, and in Antipolo...they were all needed for the door to open among the Badjao sea gypsies, like some sort of puzzle scheme to decode in one of Josiah's video games.
That outreach required mobilizing some relevant partners. The principal of the Islamic school we've been teaching computer courses was key. He endorsed us and set up the outreach while his non-profit organization provided cows to give away. Our partners at the local dive shop that hosts our Muslim outreaches for introductory scuba dives or reef awareness excursions were needed because they live close to this sea gypsy community. They did all the hard work of buying relief goods and repackaging them for distribution. Additionally, the fact that we had done work in the South among their people group already helped us gain access to the leader and made discussions for continued work there possible. And our community medical work among the Muslims in Antipolo through Hope Rescue was allowed to be replicated at the outreach. It is in the wellness checks that we are literally able to touch the people we're reaching and gain intimate access into their lives within their own homes.
So we gained access with spectacular fashion! I have to tell you, this community is a very difficult and challenging one to serve. The two tribes share common lineage, but there is still some conflict between them. They are utterly poor as well. You've probably seen documentaries or video clips of their people group in other areas. They live in stilt homes because they can't part from the sea. That's why they're called Sea Gypsies. Their sewage and garbage system exists below them, in the very ocean they fish from and the waters we wade through to get to the mosque. They do not have an educational or healthcare system set in place. Most don't speak the national language of Tagalog and the majority cannot read or write. So our computer training program, supplemental educational tutorials, health and wellness offerings, and plainly, our presence was well received.
We even connected with the SWAT team who provided security for us. Unnecessary I would say especially that one guy carrying the grenade launcher, but the city insisted. And get this, those police officers all want to scuba and free-dive. Naturally I referred them to our partner dive shop since both entities will be joining us regularly as we plan our future at this location.
Answers to prayer! God is good! I haven't been as patient as I should be, but I think I know better now that God's timing is best. He moves all the pieces of the puzzle to make it all work out for His glory. Pray for these Muslim tribes. Pray that our team would be Jesus to them and that they would experience a relationship with the Father. And thank you all for always supporting the ministry!
