The idea of Church Planting Movement (CPM) is as old as the early Church yet it sounds new to our ears. Today, this two-millennium-old strategy of reaching out to the lost for Christ has been revived in various parts of the world and here in the Philippines, JECPP is honored to fulfill this God-mandated task.

In CDO Region, much has happened after the CPM seminar held last August. The CDO delegates who attended the seminar returned to their respective places eager to share to their fellow church planters and members the idea of CPM which calls for a dramatic shift in how we view and carry out church planting.

Every Sunday, after our morning service, we gather the outstation workers, their assistants, interested church members and new prospects for ISOM and CPM training. Learning from CPM is not enough if it is not accompanied by works, so after the evangelism and outreach, the volunteer workers will then go to their respective assigned outstation together with their trainees.  Every worker is also assigned to look out for 2 new prospects to be trained in their respective outstation, training them to plant another church in the nearby barangay within 3-6 months.

By August, CDO region has planted 47 churches with 69 workers; 12 of whom are official workers while 49 are volunteers. In the original target set at the beginning of 2010, CDO region is supposed to plant 4 new churches which if added with the 47 existing churches, sums up to 51 churches by the end of 2010. But with the implementation of CPM, 12 new churches were planted up to last October. An additional of 3 new churches will be planted come December 2010. This means, 66 churches are already planted in CDO region by in the year 2010, exceeding the original target of 51.

Added to that, the number of volunteer workers increased from 49 to 95. 42 of these volunteers are already planting churches while 53 trainees are currently being equipped to plant churches from January to June 2011.

CDO region has been successful in implementing CPM by planting new churches in barangays which are adjacent to the existing churches and by sending trainees to EFC CDO every Sunday to be trained in evangelism and church planting. However, those in remote places are trained in their respective churches.

This progress does not come easily. It is the result of the prayers and the toils of many coupled with the moving of God. In other words, progress comes at a high price. Like farmers, these church planters have toiled all day long to advance God’s Kingdom here on earth believing that “we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9). And truly, God is faithful to respond to the cries of their heart.

Thousands of barangays in the Philippines have no evangelical church. Millions of Filipinos residing in these barangays do not yet know the joy of fellowship with God. The challenge is before us . We strongly believe that God “wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim.2:4). The best way to accomplish this is to multiply churches. God has  given us the tremendous privilege of taking part in this task that is dear to His heart. More churches will bring Him more glory. May He use you and me so that He may be glorified in every city, town, barangay, sittio, etc.

May this trickle of what is to come open the floodgates of heaven to pour out the power of God in these times as we await the coming of the Lord of the Harvest. Hallelujah!