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JECPP SOCCSARGEN Section conducts Revival Meeting
Every Christian and church need a check-up occasionally. There are times when we get off the course.
History
HISTORY OF JECPP
JECPP is an acronym for Jireh Evangel Church Planting Philippines, Inc. It encapsulates the commitment to proclaim the Good News (Evangel) with God’s provision (Jireh) through the planting of local churches in the nation of the Philippines. JECPP’s motto is Proclaim His Praise In The Islands (Isaiah 42:12). It is a non-stock religious organization duly registered with the Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission in November 1993. But its origin dates back to an earlier day.
JECPP is an outgrowth of the missions program of Evangel Family Church, Singapore in the Philippines. Under the inspiration of Rev Dr Robert Lim’s dynamic leadership, Evangel Family Church launched its missions involvement in the Philippines in 1985. A four-member team was first dispatched to test the ground and gain exposure in foreign missions. The following year then saw the sending of Evangel’s first career missionaries to the Philippines – to pioneer Evangel’s first missions church in Iloilo City. This modest beginning proved to be the commencement of a church planting movement that would culminate in the formation of JECPP.
JECPP is an enlargement of the burden and vision that God had birthed in Dr Robert Lim’s heart since the mid eighties. Dr Lim had an intense desire to win the Philippines for Christ. His zeal was further fueled by the recurrent, tumultuous events and calamities that had wrecked the Philippines since the ouster of the late President Marcos. With single-mindedness, Dr Lim committed himself and applied all the influence and resources under his leadership to spread the Gospel in the Philippines. His oft-quoted statement was: “The Philippines will not last” – a Spirit-inspired challenge to seize every opportunity to evangelize the Philippines before it was too late. He was given a goal of planting 100 churches in the Philippines by the year 2000. Thus, JECPP was born in November 1993 with 6 local churches after eight years of missionary work in the Philippines by Evangel Family Church, Singapore. Exactly 6 years later, in a JECPP-sponsored leaders’ conference in November 1999 attended by 2000 delegates in Davao City, the announcement was made to the glory of God that JECPP had exactly 106 churches. 100 churches were planted in 6 years in addition to the original 6 churches! This marked the fulfillment of the initial phase of the vision to see the multiplication of churches in the land of many islands.
THE EXPANSION
JECPP came into existence to fulfill the vision of planting 100 churches in the Philippines before 2000. God has so wondrously favored this faith enterprise and marvelously enlarged the vision to embrace various ministry components.
The number of churches planted, as of 2023, is 319 scattered across the Philippine archipelago. In recent years, the focus has been on gearing the organization toward planting CPM (church planting movement) churches. The intent is to see movements of rapidly reproducing churches taking place all over the country. This is crucial in penetrating vast areas of unreached people groups and accelerating the spread of the Gospel. Essential to the emergence of these movements are the raising of local financial resources and the releasing of volunteer workers for church planting.
Confronted with diverse needs and human sufferings in the nation, JECPP has taken a number of ministry initiatives to respond to the challenges.
The tribal ministry in Southern Mindanao was launched in response to the needs of the indigenous peoples in the tribal hinterlands of Davao. This entailed specialized training to equip workers for the task. It led to the purchase of a sizable mountain land to set up the Evangel Tribal Training Centre (ETTC). Incorporated into the tribal ministry was the annual medical mission aimed at bringing free medical consultation and medicines. Inaugurated in 2004 medical mission has brought together medical volunteers from Singapore and local medical personnel. It has also been replicated in squatter communities and disaster relief centers in other places.
Answering the cries of victims of man-made disasters and natural calamities such as fires, rice shortages, earthquakes, typhoons and floods, has become another feature of JECPP’s ministry. Its churches would pool together financial resources and send volunteers to bring relief and restoration to families and communities in dire needs even in far-flung areas. This is in keeping with Jesus’ injunction to “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
JECPP is more than an organization that plants churches. It is committed to plant the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the hearts of men and women, old and young, high and low, in the Philippines so as to truly PROCLAIM HIS PRAISE IN THE ISLANDS.
Vision
When you think of planting a rice or wheat field, it always involves a team of people. The church planting efforts of Jireh Evangel Church Planting Inc (JECPP) were never a one-man show. God gave the vision, a group of willing men and women saw and believed in the vision and carried it out. The laborers worked to see that vision came to fruition. Whenever God speaks to a man or a woman, obedience is the key factor, for without a willing heart, nothing can be accomplished.
The call to plant 100 churches within 6 years (1994-2000) involved men and women with willing hearts who said ‘yes’ to changes and much more. It might not be comfortable at first but when followed through, the results were indeed rewarding. God gave me the vision in 1993 which required me to first step down as Senior Pastor of Evangel Assembly of God (now Evangel Family Church) after serving in that capacity for 25 years, and then to relinquish the posts of Assistant General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God of Singapore and the National Missions Director. Not only my life and positions were disrupted, but my wife was greatly affected too. She was asked to take over as Senior Pastor of the church, which she accepted reluctantly at first.
Other changes began to take place, the key assistant pastors who were then with me became missionaries and the new Senior Pastor had to raise new assistance.
When God moves, calls, directs and leads us to new things, sometimes it is like whirlwind that sweeps in and rearrange everything around us. It may seem in disarray, but God knows what to do if He is the one that is uprooting and replanting.
The families of our missionaries were uprooted from Singapore to the Philippines. Their children are now living in another culture, speaking another language and sometimes even eating another kind of food. The church planters have to be uprooted from cities to towns or even to the barrios. For some, it means no more rides on buses, jeepneys or tricycles, but to go on horsebacks they are working among the mountains tribes. The beautiful part of God’s rearrangement is that the right people were placed in the right places. As a result of their obedience, we now have 590 churches that we can call ‘Evangel Family Church’ all over the Philippines.
I take this opportunity to thank my beloved wife, Marion for her willingness to carry the burden as the Senior Pastor of Evangel Family Church, Singapore; my children and their spouses for their understanding and support; the congregation at Evangel Family Church Singapore who for years, consistently and faithfully, gave millions of dollars to missions so that the vision could be fulfilled; two churches, Calvary Charismatic Center (now Victory Family Center) and Calvary Church, KL, for believing in our vision, and standing behind us time and again; the missionaries from Singapore (together with their children) for their willingness to leave home to serve in a foreign land; the Mission Churches that have raised millions of pesos to support the 200 pastors and families in the 590 churches; the faithful missions school lecturers who have helped to train the church planters in the Missions School (ECME), as well as Evangel Tribal Training Center (ETTC) and the prayers and tears of many who have interceded on our behalf.
Without all these, without the team, the vision would never have come to past too soon.
Beliefs
TENETS OF FAITH
The Bible is our all sufficient rule for faith and practice. Hence this statement of fundamental truths is intended as basis of fellowship among us (i.e. that we will speak the same thing. I Cor. 1:10; Acts 2:42). The human phraseology employed in such statement is not inspired or contended for, but for the truth set forth is held to be essential to a full Gospel ministry. No claim is made that it contains all truth in the Bible, only that it covers our present needs as to these fundamental matters.
1. THE SCRIPTURE INSPIRED
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to man, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and is superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason. II Tim. 3:16, 17; I Peter 2:2.
2. THE ONE TRUE GOD
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self existent, self revealed “I AM”; and has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association, i.e. as Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29; Isa. 43:10; Matt. 28:19; Luke 3:22.
THE ADORABLE GODHEAD:
(a) Terms Defined:
The terms “Trinity” and “persons”, as related to the Godhead, while not found in the Scriptures, are words in harmony with Scripture, whereby we may convey to others our immediate understanding of the doctrine of Christ respecting the Being of God, as distinguished from “gods many and lords many”. We therefore may speak with propriety of the Lord our God, who is One Lord, as a Trinity or as One Being of three persons, and still be absolutely Scriptural (examples Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14; John 14:16, 17).
(b) Distinction and Relationship in the Godhead:
Christ taught a distinction of Persons in the Godhead which He expressed in specific terms of relationship, as Father, Son and Holy Ghost, but that this distinction and relationship, as to its mode is inscrutable and incomprehensible, because unexplained. Luke 1:35; I Cor. 1:24; Matt. 11:25-27; 28:19; II Cor. 13:14; I John 1:3, 4.
(c) Unity of the One Being of Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Accordingly, therefore, there is that in Son which constitutes Him the Son and not the Father; and there is that in the Holy Ghost which constitutes Him the Holy Ghost and not either the Father or the Son. Wherefore, the Father is the Begetter, the Son is the Begotten and the Holy Ghost is the one proceeding from the Father and the Son. Therefore, because these three persons in the Godhead are in a state of unity, there is but one Lord God Almighty and His name one. John 1:18; 15:26; 17:11, 21; Zech. 14:9.
(d) Identity and Cooperation in the Godhead:
The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are never identical as to Person; nor confused as to relation; nor divided in respect to the Godhead; nor opposed as to cooperation. The Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son as to relationship. The Son is with the Father and the Father is not from the Son, but the Son is from the Father as to authority. The Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son proceeding, as to nature, cooperation, relationship and authority. Hence, neither Person in the Godhead either exists or works separately or independently of the others. John 5:17-30, 32, 37; John 8:17, 18.
(e) The Title, Lord Jesus Christ:
The appellation, “Lord Jesus Christ”, is a proper name. It is never applied in the New Testament either to the Father or to the Holy Ghost. It therefore belongs exclusively to the Son of God. Romans 1:1-3, 7; II John 3.
(f) The Lord Jesus Christ, God with us:
The Lord Jesus Christ, as to His divine and eternal nature is the proper and only begotten of the Father, but as to His human nature, He is the proper Son of Man. He is, therefore, acknowledged to be both God and man, who because He is God and man, is “Immanuel”, God with us. Matt. 1:23; I John 4:2, 10, 14; Rev. 1:13, 17.
(g) The Title, Son of God:
Since the name “Immanuel” embraces both God and man in the one Person, our Lord Jesus Christ, it follows that the title, Son of God, describes His proper deity, and the title Son of Man, His proper humanity. Therefore, the title, Son of God, belongs to the order of eternity, and the title, Son of Man, to the order of time. Matt. 1:21-23; II John 3; I John 3:8; Heb. 7:3, 1:1-13.
(h) Transgression of the Doctrine of Christ:
Wherefore, it is a transgression of the Doctrine of Christ to say that Jesus Christ derived the title, Son of God, solely from the fact of the incarnation, or because of His relation to the economy of redemption. Therefore, to deny that the Father is the real and eternal Father, and that the Son is a real and eternal Son, is a denial of the distinction and relationship in the Being of God; a denial of the Father and the Son; and a displacement of the truth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. II John 9; John 1:1, 2, 14, 18, 29, 49; I John 2:22, 23; 4:1-5; Hebrews 12:2.
(i) Exaltation of Jesus Christ as Lord:
The Son of God, our Jesus Christ, having by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High; angels and principalities and powers having been made subject unto Him. And having been made both Lord and Christ, He sent the Holy Ghost that we, in the name of Jesus, might bow our knees and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God, the Father, until the end when the Son shall become subject to the Father then God may be all in all. Heb. 1:3; 1 Pet. 3:22; Acts 2:32-36; Romans 14:11; I Cor. 15:24-28.
(j) Equal Honour to the Father and the Son:
Wherefore, since the Father has delivered all judgement unto the Son, it is not only the express of duty of all in heaven and on earth to bow the knee, but it is an unspeakable joy in the Holy Ghost to ascribe unto the Son all the attributes of Deity, and to give Him all the honour and the glory contained in all the names and titles of the Godhead (except those which express relationship. See paragraphs b, c and d) and thus honour the Son even as we honour the Father. John 5:22, 23; I Peter 1:8; Rev. 5:6-14; Phil. 2:8, 9; Rev. 7:9, 10; 4:8-11.
3. MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION
Man, was created good and upright; for God said: “Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness”. But man, by voluntary transgression, fell, and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the son of God. Gen. 1:26-31; 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21.
4. SALVATION OF MAN
(a) Conditions to Salvation:
The grace of God, which bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, through the preaching of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ; man is saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost and being justified by grace through faith, he become an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 2: 11; Romans 10: 13-15; Luke 24:47; Titus 3:5-7.
(b) The Evidence of Salvation:
The inward evidence, to the believer of his salvation, is the direct witness of the Spirit. Romans 8:16. The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12.
5. BAPTISM IN WATER
The ordinance of Baptism by burial (immersion) with Christ should be observed, as commanded in the Scriptures, by all who have already repented and in their hearts have truly believed on Christ as Saviour and Lord. In so doing, they have the body washed in pure water as an outward symbol of cleansing, while their hearts have already been sprinkled with the Blood of Christ as an inner cleansing. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47, 48; Romans 6:4; Acts 20:21; Heb. 10:22.
6. THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Lord’s supper, consisting of the elements bread and the fruit of the vine – is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:4), a memorial of His suffering and death (II Cor. 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming ( I Cor. 11:26), and is enjoined on all believers “till He come”.
7. THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. Luke 24:29; Acts 1;4, 8; I Cor. 12:1-31. This wonderful experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. Acts 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9.
8. THE EVIDENCE OF BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST
The baptism of believers in the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance. Acts 2:4. The speaking in tongues is in the instance of the same in essence as the gift of tongues, (I Cor. 12:4-10, 28), but different in purpose and use.
9. ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION
The Scriptures teach a life of holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. By the power of the Holy Ghost, we are able to obey the command, “Be ye holy, for I am holy”. Entire sanctification is the will of God for all believers, and should be earnestly pursued by walking in obedience to God’s Word. Heb. 12:14; I Pet. 1:15, 16; I Thess. 5:23, 24; I John 2:6.
10. THE CHURCH
The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfilment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the First-born, which are written in heaven. Eph. 1:22, 23; 2:22; Heb. 12:23.
11. THE MINISTRY AND EVANGELISM
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a two-fold purpose:
(1) The evangelism of the world, and
(2) The edifying of the Body of Christ.
Mark 16:15-20; Eph. 4:11-13.
12. DIVINE HEALING
Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege for all believers. Isa. 53:4, 5; Matt. 8:16, 17.
13. THE BLESSED HOPE
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church. I Thess. 4:16, 17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; I Cor. 15:51, 52.
14. THE MILLENIAL REIGN OF CHRIST
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5, Matthew 24:27, 30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6). This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezekiel 37:21, 22; Zephaniah 3:19-20; Romans 11:26-27) and the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalm 72:3-8; Micah 4:3,4)
15. THE LAKE OF FIRE
The devil and his angels, the beast, and the false prophet and whatsoever is not found written in the Book of Life shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Rev. 19:20, 20:10-15.
16. THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH
We, “according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness”. II Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:22.