Our Story Thus Far...

An Insight into the Birth of JECPP

It is amazing what a moment can bring forth. It is these singular moments that has defined history and our tomorrow. All of God’s great men and women, have been known to unflinchingly cease moments, and witness God’s magnificence displayed. After all, one can never see the potential hidden in a “moment,” lest one cease it.

Rev. Dr. Robert Lim, was given that moment. It was in the early 80's that God stirred his heart to a noble theme…Foreign Missions. The heart cry of God for the lost would nonetheless challenge this man of faith, to cease this moment, and trumpet God’s Great Commission. By faith, he rallied Evangel Singapore to partner with him in this humble undertaking. And in 1984, the very first Missions Convention was held. With one mind and heart, and in one accord they consecrated themselves to God in the area of foreign missions. From that time on, it has grown to become a strong mission-minded, and mission-giving church.

Shortly thereafter, evangelistic mission trips were conducted to Johore and the Philippines. It was here that God’s very words to him “Philippines will not last,” would summon him to a noble undertaking, that would revolutionize a nation, and a people entrenched in generations of idolatrous worship and false religion. It was not long after, that the world witnessed the February 1986 People’s Revolution that saw the downfall of the Marcos dictatorship and the rise of the Aquino regime. What ensued, was decades long political upheaval and economic instability, which eventually relegated the Philippines into becoming one of the poorest third world nations in Asia.

Sensing the urgency of God’s prompting, and not influenced by logic nor events. In April 29, 1986 Evangel Singapore, commissioned their very first career missionaries namely: Pastor Lim Toh Nee, Lily Ang, Andrew Kwong and Jerry Tan to pioneer their first Mission Church in Iloilo at a 2 star Hotel called the Amigo Terrace Hotel. Though their first service saw a humble attendance of five, undaunted in their determination they pressed on in the call of God…only to witness God sovereignly move upon this nation. And from five souls God would multiply this fledgling commission, giving them cities, barrios, settlements and tribes… a Holy Remnant would arise to indeed, proclaim His praises in this island!

FRESH VISION
The advent of May 1993 saw the dawning of a new phase for this modest mission enterprise. God would envision Rev. Dr. Robert Lim, with planting 100 churches in the Philippines by the year 2000. This divine appointment, would eventually lead him to step down as Senior Pastor of Evangel Family Church Singapore, and bequeath his position to his dear wife Rev. Dr. Marion Lim who relinquished him to wholly fulfill God’s vision.
With an already existing Missions Church In Iloilo City, under the thriving leadership of Pastor Toh Nee and Lily Lim.They would now set their sites on extending their boundaries across the vast Philippine Isles. At this time, additional Singaporean missionaries namely: Pastor Chuck and Jocelyn Chua, Pastor Peter and Christine Wee and Rev. Andrew and Rowena Kwong would be called and commissioned to different strategic locations within the Philippines. Leaving behind homeland and family, they would venture into the unknown. A diverse culture of people and languages that would be their second home. Armed with nothing…only knowing they were called for this particular purpose.

In November of 1993 Jireh Evangel Chruch Planting Phils., Inc. (JECPP) was officially formed, and duly recognized by the Philippine government and registered under the Securities and Exchange Commission. This association would comprise of seven Board of Directors, three of which are Singaporeans and four Filipinos. This joint venture between our Singaporean and Filipino brethren would bring about the dawning of a new era for this mission undertaking. From the four corners of the Philippine islands God’s hope and salvation would be repeatedly declared. And in time he would raise up a massive army of men and women, resolute in being the salt and light of this world.

THE FOUR STRATEGIC REGIONS
Iloilo region is considered the pioneer among all pioneering works. With the strong and dynamic leadership of Rev. Toh Nee and Lily Lim, this once inconspicuous church of five would expand to 1,200 to God’s glory. At the same time aggressive in their missions undertaking, as early as 1991 they would be sending their home-grown missionaries to the field. To date this region has planted a total of 96 churches spread over the areas of Panay, Bacolod, Palawan and Luzon.

Cebu regions comes under the leadership of Rev. Chuck and Jocelyn Chua. This region comprises the whole island of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Eastern Part of the Negros Islands, Bohol, Samar, and Leyte, where less than 5% of the churches are evangelical. To date, they have planted a total of 32 churches. Davao region stretches from Davao City down to Digos and up to Davao del Norte. Pioneered by Rev. Peter and Christine Wee in 1993, so far they have planted 39 churches under JECPP. And it is interesting to note that 9 are tribal churches located in the vast hinterlands of Southern Mindanao.


Cagayan de Oro region, is under the leadership of Rev. Andrew and Rowena Kwong, and is located in the North Central part of Mindanao. Presently they have planted 26 churches in the localities of Tagoloan, Balingasag, Bukidnon, and Lanao del Norte which is known to have a Muslim predominant population.

VISION FULFILLED
By the year 1999, JECPP would have planted a total of 53 churches. And with only a year to go, God would envision Rev. Dr. Marion Lim with the strategy of ‘EACH CHURCH PLANT ONE CHURCH’ indicating her fullest financial support to the implementation of this strategy. In November of 1999, their church planting efforts would indeed double, totaling to 106 churches, to God’s Glory.

Rev. Dr. Robert Lim, having seen God’s vision come to pass, would then step down as JECPP Chairman and officially confer this position to Rev. Toh Nee Lim. As testimony that he was not building his own kingdom. We would witness a bittersweet moment in the history of JECPP, as this Man of God humbly and willingly decreased…that God may be glorified through this victory!

TEN FRUITFUL YEARS
All that has sustained this organization was…FAITH! Faith in a call, and a God who is able! And in the last ten years we have seen God’s approval upon JECPP. At present, this missions endeavor has planted a total of 194 churches within the Philippines alone. And in 2002, the very first foreign mission church under the auspices of JECPP, pioneered by Pas. Manny Esguerra was launched in Manado, Indonesia, having two daughter churches and thus bringing it to a total of 196 churches. And as God continuously resonates the call to a Great Commission. JECPP plods on, to even newer boundaries and territories. Now by faith, setting sites upon distant shores, nations and people, beyond the Philippine Isles…to again resound His trumpet call! And we salute the many men and women who have ceased moments such as these! At the end of it all, our reward is God’s approval…”Well done thou good and faithful servant.” And it is moments such as these that are worth ceasing!

AND BEYOND…
Statistically speaking, this missions endeavor has planted 319 churches, with a total of 231 official workers and 263 volunteer workers, thus a total workforce of 494 under this organization as of December 2007. As such, not only is it geared towards Church planting, for in the last three years it has evolved in the area of community service and helps. At the moment, this organization has ventured into Tribal ministry under the leadership of Rev. Peter Wee, located in the tribal hinterlands of Davao.  Through these far-off outreaches, basic services such as medical missions and water supplementation are extensively carried out, and provided for our less privileged brethren.

In one of the most notorious territories of Cebu City, Rev. Chuck Chua would embark on a massive feeding program, catering to 900 impoverished children. Yet, sensing a still deeper urgency in their hearts for community transformation, they would thus venture into providing educational facilities that would provide tools for enhancing a better way of life, therefore the Evangel Futurekids’ Academy was born.  Likewise, conferences for the strengthening and equipping of pastor’s and leaders, such as the Breakthrough I/II conferences consecutively held in Antique was organized by the Iloilo region under the wing of Rev. Toh Nee Lim, who believes in fostering revival and unity among our local pastor’s and leaders. Evidently, different means and ways are used to explicitly spread abroad the Gospel and the love of God, as the work of God continues to thrive in the four corners of these isles!