June 12, 2010

We are back in Bacolod City at a hotel with internet access after our first three day pastors’ conference at a rustic rural camp run by Humayan ministries. Seventy pastors attended from the island of Panay, coming from the areas around the city of Iloilo. Most were quite young and prepared for ministry with either a bachelors in theology or a diploma from a Bible school. There were perhaps eight or nine woman pastors among them. The purpose of these pastors’ conferences is to provide continuing education so they are further equipped to serve their people, as well as provide them opportunity to strengthen connections with one another and be renewed through worshiping together in this peaceful place. The vision for these conferences began with Morna Wood several years ago after getting to know a young rural woman pastor who was eager for such an opportunity. Morna and Paul have provided able leadership and elicited the needed support from family and friends in ministry here in the Philippines.
The music that is part of each worship service has been energetically sung. Surprisingly, it is the same kind of contemporary music that is sung in many of our churches in the United States. Pastor Jack Francia is a wonderful musician and worship leader. A number of us on the US team have had the opportunity to preach. I (Ruth) spoke on the subject of building up the body of Christ through nurturing unity, based on Ephesians 4:1-6. Our unity as Christians, whether in congregations or as the worldwide church of Christ, is of critical importance both for accomplishing Jesus’ mission of extending God’s compassionate reign in our world and for being a demonstration of the unity and peace God intends for all of humanity and creation. Although I prepared this message before arriving here, I am learning that it is needed as much by Baptists in the Philippines as those in the United States. However, these days together of worship, learning, eating and talking with one another as Christians from opposite sides of the globe but sharing our common commitment and love for Jesus Christ has been, at least in part, an experience of the harmony, that God intends for all.
Terry introduced the Taize service as a new form of worship and a number were quite interested in using this contemplative approach in their churches. That same evening there was opportunity for pastors to give voice to their own stories of waiting amidst difficulties with hope, and many shared about God’s work in their lives. Although we Americans can only understand part of what was said, as the language reverts away from English to their mother tongue and heart language quite often, we could still see the depth of experience being shared.
Through the course of the pastors’ conference there is also the opportunity of pastors to attend four different two hour workshops. Derek Varney, Pastor of First Baptist of Olathe and a CBTS graduate, is leading one on church administration, in partnership with Joniel Gico of the Philipino Baptist Convention. Terry has partnered with F. Neil Jalando-on, professor at the School of Theology at the Central Philippines University, to address biblical and theological foundations for discipleship, and specifically the ethical issues involved. He also is teaching family systems thinking as a resource for ministry. Pastor Jack Francia and Morna Wood are leading a workshop on worship and music. Pastor Billy Reyes, founder of Humayan ministries, has made a presentation to the whole group followed up by a workshop on the model of ministry he is using in the nontraditional church and ministry he is leading.
I (Ruth) have partnered with Dr. Chit Francia, who is a psychiatrist and pastor’s wife of Jack Francia, to address the issue of depression and hope. I am presenting material similar to that I have been using in many presentations for the Sabbaths of Hope project in the United States, in which we are attempting to raise awareness of depression and educate pastors and congregations to recognize and know how to respond helpfully to one who is depressed. Depression rates are not as high in the Philippines as in the United States, probably due to the more active, healthy lifestyle and close family relationships. However, as throughout the world, depression is on the rise here, but there is even greater stigma and fewer resources than in the United States. As the Philippines continues to develop, urbanize, and be influenced by the American lifestyle, it is likely depression will become an increasing problem. Pastors are on the frontlines and may be the only ones available to help. So we are teaching them to recognize depression. We’re looking at examples in the Scriptures and church history of great people of faith who struggled with depression, and we’re teaching that depression is not an indication of lack of faith or moral failing. We’re teaching a little about the disease process involved. And we’re discussing with pastors the many things they can be doing to help people with depression. A major problem with mental health care, as well as health care generally, is that people do not have financial resources enough to utilize them, even when they are available. In the whole island of Negros, there are only seven psychiatrists and, according to Dr. Chit Francia, there are not counselors here as there are in the United States, so that psychiatrists are the professionals that can provide treatment for depression. However, probably the majority of people cannot afford the psychiatrist’s fees or the antidepressant medications prescribed. Therefore, whatever pastors can do to support and encourage people is very needed. I’m particularly glad that the research of Dr. Steve Ilardi, professor at KU, indicates therapeutic lifestyle changes can often be as effective as medications. Pastors and congregations can teach these and thus be of significant help.
Terry and I continue to be deeply appreciative of Pastor Billy and Janice Reyes, who founded Humayan ministries. In the workshop for pastors that he led, Pastor Billy said that the vision for this ministry and each step of what they have done has emerged out of the daily devotion of attentive listening to God through reading the Scriptures and prayer. His deep spirituality and close relationship with God is very much evident as he speaks. He also has taught us that the success of Humayan ministry is its unhurried lifestyle that allows for such listening to God and daily devotion, its simplicity, and its organic, balanced, holistic and nontraditional approach to life and ministry. There is much here that is both challenging to our faith and attractive as well, as this community lives out its life of faithfully following Jesus’ words and for these few days provides hospitality to us.