Tuesday, June 24, 2014

A Ministry within a Ministry - June 24, 2014



Our lives both as humans and as Christians are always in a state of fluidity.  We have certain anchors that moor us to pilings that do not move, yet although as believers we have a firm foundation the superstructure above is continually being altered.  Having Christ in our lives and having the Holy Spirit as a constant in our lives produces changes for the glory of our Savior as we learn to yield to His work in our lives.

I have often told my children as they were growing up that “You can never go home”, in the sense that when you return to that which in your memory has been classified and codified as “home” will not be the same when you return after many years.  The people in the neighborhood will have moved on, the school will be filled with students you do not know.  The buildings, roads and stores you once frequented will be different.  For better or for worse you simply cannot expect things to remain the same.

I am one personally who does not like change.  I want things to always remain the way they once were, except for in my personal walk with the Lord.

My thoughts this morning have been on a place called Faith Academy in Manila Philippines.  It was for so very long a central part of our lives.  My wife graduated from there, all of our children attended school there.  We knew all the people up there.  We knew all the teachers by name, all the staff members both Filipino and expatriate.  When we go up to Faith Academy these days there is that strange feeling of not knowing anyone. I wander around the campus from time to time and I remember.  I can hear my daughters cheerleading in the gym.  I can see them on the playground. I can see teachers and staff members that I grew to love.  I can see my daughters getting off the buses from Outdoor Ed. completely exhausted from a long week of adventures.  But things change.

Faith Academy has always been a ministry within a ministry.  There was the overall ministry of working with the national work, seeing men and women coming to know Christ and growing in their lives for Him. Seeing new churches established, orphanages built and schools organized.  But within that ongoing national work there was a sub-culture, if you will, a ministry within a ministry always going on up on that hill.  It was a school which was started for the education of the children of missionaries who were serving the Lord both in the Philippines and throughout the Pacific Rim or in all surrounding the Republic.  Here our children were given a world class education all the while being cared for and nurtured by a dedicated faculty and staff.

But things do not stay stagnant.  Over the years Faith Academy has grown.  Not only has the campus expanded and the staff requirements enlarged, but its ministry has expanded along with it.  It is more than ever a ministry within a ministry.  It has been transformed into a world class international school.  And in the transformation has become an opportunity to see the word of God be planted in the hearts of those beyond the missionary’s child’s hearts.   It is an opportunity to share the love of Christ and the wonderful salvation that He has provided to a new and growing group of individuals. Our eyes must be open to the wonder of the opportunity that the Lord is bringing in this new stage of life, for the school.

Some things however have not and will not change. One is the dedication of the teachers and staff who still come to Faith Academy short term or long term to serve the Lord.  They still come as those looking to the Lord alone to provide their needs.  No salaries are paid to faculty or staff, they trust the Lord to provide their month to month needs. And as costs rise in the Manila area and the availability of housing shrinks significantly we need to keep these dear servants of the Lord in our prayers.  Some are looking for affordable housing and are finding none.  Some are often forced to be in competition with other brothers and sisters in the Lord for the same housing as it comes available.  Pray for them as they look to the Lord for His provision and direction for their lives and ministry. Gone are the days when there seemed to be many homes available for rent at 300-400 dollars a month.  Time and demand have driven the prices to double that over the last several years.  Pray.

For those of you reading this who pray for those in the CMML handbook, remember those at Faith Academy.  A wonderful opportunity to serve the Lord is present at this school in the Hills of Valley Golf and as this ministry continues to grow and expand in many different directions, the Lord is using special men and women to bring His gospel to many and to help shape the lives of multitudes of future leaders in our local churches.  Uphold them in your prayers, support them in their efforts.  Call them, encourage them. At times they feel alone and vulnerable and a word of encouragement will go a long way.

I am so very thankful to the Lord for the ministry of Faith Academy.