The Philippine Mission
Rev. Silveriano “Silver” Lumahan is the General Director of World Missions for the Philippines General Conference of The Wesleyan Church. He gives leadership to the missions engagement of over 700 churches. We asked Rev. Silver to describe how God is raising up global disciple-makers from the Philippines.
Present-Day Diaspora
Stephen’s violent death, as one of the first seven deacons of the early church, initiated a period in Christian history called the Jewish Christian Diaspora (diaspora meaning the “dispersion of people from their homeland”). It was estimated that more than 2,000 Jewish believers went through severe persecution. They fled and scattered in different parts of the world. Christian dispersal still happens today, not in the form of persecution but in the form of migration. According to Joey Umali, a Filipino author, the present-day Christian diaspora occurs through our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).
The Philippine mission abroad was started through Wesleyan members who went out of the country to find work. It began with Bible study and fellowship, then later established churches because of the Filipino Diaspora.
Here are a few of the current ministries we have established around the world.
Hong Kong – Wesleyan Fellowship of Hong Kong (WFHK)
WFHK started with a humble beginning when the first General Director of World Missions gathered all Wesleyan members (OFWs) in a park and encouraged them to rent a small place for worship gatherings. This October, the church’s 30th anniversary will be celebrated with almost 200 members (99% are women).
Italy – Milan International Christian Fellowship & Bologna Wesleyan Church
Milan International Christian Fellowship (MICF) started nine years ago when Rev. Dionisio Datayan Jr., an OFW, arrived from Italy and told me that he wanted to start a Wesleyan church with his family and friends. Today, there is an average attendance of 81 members during worship services.
In 2018, MICF (under the leadership of Rev. Dionisio Datayan Jr.) visited Wesleyan members in Bologňa, beginning the first worship service.
Singapore – Open Doors Christian Fellowship
Open Doors Christian Fellowship started with a gathering in the park for Wesleyan OFWs in 2012. Today, it is a thriving congregation, even though no missionary has been assigned. I give supervision, elders from the group serve as Sunday worship speakers, a former professor of mine speaks once or twice a month, and sometimes video recorded messages are shared from pastors/leaders in the Philippines.
Japan and Cambodia
We sent Rev. Kenji Patacsil (with his family), as a loan missionary to Takamatsu, Japan, in 2019 as a response to the need of Takamatsu Community Church (TCC) for a Filipino pastor to lead the Filipino congregation.
Recently, two young workers were sent to Cambodia as district “tent-maker” missionaries. They will teach in an institution, share the Gospel and then establish a Wesleyan church.
Why is sending missionaries important to The Wesleyan Church of the Philippines?
Because we believe in an unstoppable mission, nothing can stop us from proclaiming the Gospel and reaching people in Asia and beyond.
Earlier this year, at the Asia- Pacific International Conference of the Wesleyan Church, I had the privilege to talk with some Indonesian leaders. They are so thankful for The Wesleyan Church of the Philippines for sending Rev. and Mrs. Daniel Pantangan and their family to Indonesia in 1972 as our first missionaries.
My heart is so blessed to hear them express their gratitude for what our former missionaries have done in their spiritual lives, and this affirmed our vision, which is to be a powerful witness throughout Asia and beyond.