this one can't be described...just had to be here
In fact, I was here and I still can't process everything I saw and experienced at the "Family Circus" ministry in Davao City, Philippines! Patterned after Bill Wilson's "Metro Ministries" in New York City, this small team of dedicated volunteers and their American Assembly of God missionary director are reaching over 3,000 kids every weekend for Christ!
Our team gathered at their small center in downtown Davao City about 7am in order to assist with distributing bread & juice (the only breakfast most of these kids will receive) before the opening service at 8am. I watched (and took some great pictures that I hope to have posted here by next week) as over 600 kids filed in very orderly to take their seats in anticipation of the service - and as soon as the service began, I was overwhelmed!
What amazed me was seeing these little children, raised in dire poverty and almost all of them from non-Christian families, sang boisterously and joyously song after song from the Scripture! It was incredible - not only to hear them singing God's word as worship, but then to enter into a series of games and competitions in which little bitty kids were able to QUOTE God's Word, again, in many cases because it had been set to music for them and they sang it back. I've seen a lot of things in children's ministry through the years, and of course, children are a major priority at CLC, but I was blown away by this group.
Then came the most exhausting part, as our team of 8 CLCers inflated over 600 balloons and fashioned them into different kinds of balloon animals or hats and then stood in the heat & humidity as we distributed the balloons and a little candy to each child as they exited the service. The line seemed to stretch forever, single-file, until each child had been touched and our whole team had melted into a happy but exhausted puddle of tears and sweat. This much is for sure, you would have been proud to be identified with our group of ladies. Even the team of 4 from Texas who came for the Global Advance conference said they had never seen anything like our team and how everyone worked together in love and joy. Kudos, CLC!
It's simply one of the greatest privileges in my life to be able to serve you as pastor. Can't wait to see you all again!
Our team gathered at their small center in downtown Davao City about 7am in order to assist with distributing bread & juice (the only breakfast most of these kids will receive) before the opening service at 8am. I watched (and took some great pictures that I hope to have posted here by next week) as over 600 kids filed in very orderly to take their seats in anticipation of the service - and as soon as the service began, I was overwhelmed!
What amazed me was seeing these little children, raised in dire poverty and almost all of them from non-Christian families, sang boisterously and joyously song after song from the Scripture! It was incredible - not only to hear them singing God's word as worship, but then to enter into a series of games and competitions in which little bitty kids were able to QUOTE God's Word, again, in many cases because it had been set to music for them and they sang it back. I've seen a lot of things in children's ministry through the years, and of course, children are a major priority at CLC, but I was blown away by this group.
Then came the most exhausting part, as our team of 8 CLCers inflated over 600 balloons and fashioned them into different kinds of balloon animals or hats and then stood in the heat & humidity as we distributed the balloons and a little candy to each child as they exited the service. The line seemed to stretch forever, single-file, until each child had been touched and our whole team had melted into a happy but exhausted puddle of tears and sweat. This much is for sure, you would have been proud to be identified with our group of ladies. Even the team of 4 from Texas who came for the Global Advance conference said they had never seen anything like our team and how everyone worked together in love and joy. Kudos, CLC!
It's simply one of the greatest privileges in my life to be able to serve you as pastor. Can't wait to see you all again!
posted by Pastor Jerry McQuay at 7:27 AM
1 Comments:
Pastor Jerry, my name is Ferdi, and I work in NY with the sunday school of Metro Ministries. I was amazed about your story, and wanted to say thank you for posting it. Do you know if the people of FAMILY CIRCUS know that we have an office in the PHILIPPINES, and are reaching even more kids there, than here in NYC? let me know!
www.ferdiandtatiana.blogspot.com
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