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At the Dumpsite
By Robin Robinson Bohlin
The children pictured here are from a dumpsite in Iligan City. Without our help they are destined to live a life of thievery, prostitution, begging and drugs/alcoholism. They have no hope for a good future. Pastor Rudy Esic, pastor of Throne of Grace International Fellowship has a heart for the poorest of the poor.
His church is now filled with 119 sponsored students and many graduates from high school and college. He has 20 feeding centers all over the city in the poorest of poor areas.
People who have no land or home are called “squatters”. These people erect a shack made of whatever materials they can find and live on any piece of vacant land they find. Some squatters live at the dumpsites, filled with rats and roaches and they scavenge for “sellable” items. Pastor Rudy ministers to the squatters and in the dumpsite areas with feedings in each area. His church has EXPLODED in growth.
Pastor Rudy has trained sponsored students who go into each of these areas and evangelize. The people are encouraged to attend church and there is most always food to draw the multitudes. In five poor areas, Pastor Rudy has erected buildings to have pioneer churches/feeding centers in their local area. We jokingly call Pastor Rudy an Architect Pastor. He has caught the vision.
My father’s vision of breaking the cycle of poverty included church growth. He instinctively knew that if you minister to the children, the adults would eventually get saved and fill the churches. This actually happened when I was in San Simon, Mindanao. Four parents came to church for the first time to meet the “visitors” from America. When they came, they accepted Christ and will now be discipled.
We are thankful for Pastors like Rudy Esic who give their lives to the poor. Jesus tells us to preach the gospel (the good news) to the poor. That good news is the adundant life in Christ. Ephesians 3:20 says that He will give us far more than we can ask or imagine. Jesus died so that we ALL would have success.
Thank you for your prayers for our health and safety as we travel from place to place. Thank you for your support that makes this life-changing ministry possible. We are expecting miracles everywhere we go! Will you join us in prayer for that?
If God puts it on your heart to help with the cost of the trip and/or ministry, we can surely use it and will be thankful. This is an expensive trip. To give online, click on the "Give" link below and select "Philippines Mission Trip" in the drop down menu. If you prefer to send a check, make it to "FCM" and mail it to Fullness in Christ Ministries, PO Box 136117, Fort Worth, TX 76136. Please indicate on the check where you would like us to designate your giving.
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