Big Dreams in Bago City, Philippines
I first encountered Jesus Christ in Abu Dhabi in 2016. Because of my desire to learn more about God, I studied and earned a Certificate in Christian Ministry from Tribes and Nations Outreach Missions Academy in Qatar in 2017. In December of the same year, I came back to the Philippines to fulfill God’s direction for me to serve in ministry.
By God’s grace, I was invited by Pastor Jun Perater to the NewThing Catalyst with Frontline Ministries in December 2018. He introduced me to Pastor Max Beloso and his team, and I witnessed their big dream of God for his kingdom. By faith, I laid everything down at the feet of Jesus, believing that He would be able to make my big dream of planting 20 churches happen. It seemed impossible at that time, but I was excited that soon it would come to pass in God’s perfect time.
Dreaming Big Dreams
On February 5, 2019, I dreamed of maps of barangays that God would reach in my hometown in Bago City, Negros Occidental. I woke up and immediately drew the blueprint that God showed me in my dream. Finally, the Lord confirmed His word on March 25, 2019, when CGFM sent me out for church planting in Bago City, my hometown.
I started going out every day and sharing the good news with people to which God led me to minister. God was faithful in bringing people from Bago to help me as I began my journey as a Church Planter. An average of 50 people began attending the Sunday Worship gatherings.
As months passed, I realized that church planting was not that easy. I experienced brokenness, pain, discouragement, and persecution. I sacrificed precious time away from my family, spent my own resources, and experienced being physically drained. I cried a lot to God and came to the point of almost giving up. But in those crucial moments, God taught me what dying to oneself really meant.
At the next NewThing Catalyst, I brought leaders along with me. This time, I was no longer alone in dreaming and pursuing God’s big dream that he planted in our hearts.
Shifting to Rabbits & Elephants
Then the pandemic came, and we were not spared from every church's struggles. If our church members and attenders could not go to church, we would bring the church to their homes. So I shared the word of the Lord to our leaders in their homes, and we realized that it was more effective and much easier to do.
Soon after, I came across Pastor Max’s Facebook post about rabbit and elephant churches. I meditated on it and confirmed with the Lord that it was exactly what we were doing at that time and are still doing now.
Today we have 1 elephant (large) church, 5 Networks, 30 rabbits (house) churches, and 7 core leaders…and we’re multiplying! We continue to pray because the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
We thank the Lord for the NewThing Catalyst, for the wisdom and knowledge that they have powerfully imparted to us. Many lives are changed because God is limitless, and only He can turn our big dreams into reality.
Blessings and favor to all the leaders and members of NewThing. Thank you for not giving up on your big dream.
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” -Ephesians 3:20”
-Written by Cherrie Ann “Che” Cabiloque, Bago City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
At NewThing, we know that we are better together. We strive to create spaces where leaders can bring others along with them through our Movement System. Our Movement System comprises five different Catalysts: Reproducing Disciples Catalyst, Reproducing Leaders Catalyst, Reproducing Churches Catalyst, Reproducing Network Catalyst, and Reproducing Movement Catalyst.
By the grace of God, we have been able to provide these trainings at no cost to leaders around the world because of people who have invested in our mission to catalyze movements of reproducing churches.
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