As an organization that embarked on a paradigm shift called Church Planting Movement, JECPP has continued its commitment in empowering God’s faithful laborers through the much needed CPM Retreat.  Retreat, per se, is an integral event for reconnection to one’s self and to God. A great time to glean wisdom, share joys and struggles, praise God, and rest.

March 28-30 was the set schedule for CPM retreat for Cebu, Cagayan and Davao regions at Tubod Flowing Waters Mountain Resort, Minglanilla, Cebu. A total of   176  church planters and their immediate families were in attendance, including the 5 spiritual leaders and Evangel Family Church Founding Pastors Robert & Marion Lim.

Let’s Plant Spirit-Empowered Churches

Arrays of sessions were made in conjunction to the theme:  Let’s Plant Spirit-Empowered Churches with the JECPP Spiritual leaders as Guest Speakers and Pastors Robert & Marion Lim as Main Speakers. What a privilege!!

Church Planting Movement is characterized as a rapid multiplication of churches. It is likened to a rabbit which reproduces within a short time, thus producing churches called ‘rabbit churches’.   Rapid reproduction of churches is a supernatural thing that can only be accomplished if we are Linked to a Supernatural God. Pastor Lim underscored the fact that we are God’s chosen vessels. As such, we need to be a blessing to inherit a blessing. Time and again, Pastor Lim’s commitment and love for the Philippines remains irrefutable. He has the strong faith that Christians in this nation can bring forth blessings in this seemingly barren land. Through God who is in us we can pronounce blessings, thus producing proportionate results in every facet of our life and in ministry. Growth in churches and converts would be within our reach if we were linked to the supernatural God. Hence, Pastor Lim firmly believes that just as Elijah and Elisha pronounced God’s blessing to people, the same can be done to our churches and our nation, for the glory of God.

CPM, according to Pastor Toh Nee, is indeed a divine operation. It is directed and controlled by the Holy Spirit. So as a Christian, it is of paramount importance that we need to personally see and experience the power of the Lord through the Holy Spirit. Even more so for Church Planters who are duty bound to living on God’s mission and calling for their entire lives. As quoted by Pastor Toh Nee, “Pastors are called for life”. While a pastor's job can be exceedingly rewarding, it also can be weighed down by the responsibilities and stresses associated with serving their congregations. Their ability to succeed and thrive in the ministry is deeply rooted in the quality of their relationship with God and the mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit. At the end of Pastor Toh Nee’s sharing, he put much emphasis that church planting is the result of effective evangelism and that the centrality of mission is evangelism.

God is the same yesterday, today and forever and with Him nothing is impossible.  When Pastor Andrew shared on the topic entitled Ministering in the Miraculous, the aforementioned scripture texts came to life. The most recent was the story of Varvi, an 8 year old girl who was initially diagnosed of having meningitis. Hope of survival was far distant as per doctor’s advice. However, with persistent prayer and faith, Varvi is now well and normal. God turned the impossible to possible and because of the miracle, the girl’s family and relatives became born-again. Glory to God!

On the second evening service, Pastor Marion brought about a powerful message on Submission. She stressed why we need to submit, who we should submit and the key to submission.  The bible tells us in James 4:6-10 that “Those who submit will experience God’s grace and blessings because submission honors God. So long as we live, we need to submit to whoever God has appointed to rule over us. They can be our spiritual authority, earthly rulers, husband, parents and above all, the will of the Lord. Submission in itself is kind of difficult to do for many; however, God has given us the key in doing so through humility.

On the third day’s first session, Pastor Wee shared an eye-opener topic concerning Freedom from Foreign Dependency. Through the years, JECPP churches and most Christian churches in the Philippines at large are heavily reliant on foreign sources for funding. The time has come for Filipino church to rise up and reach the potential God has given to her. It can be attained when every person in the church reaches his/her potential in giving. He cited also that Giving is a matter of the heart not the head. Ultimately, the role of tithing cannot be disregard because it is the key answer to freedom from foreign dependency and we can be certain that JECPP churches are on its way towards liberal giving and freedom.

In the light of freedom from foreign dependency, Pas Jessie Yu shared a correlated topic about Raising Local Leaders. Being a local leader himself, Pas Jessie opened the sharing about the law of reproduction. It states that in nature and among men, one kind reproduces its own kind. There is a need for a leader to reproduce another leader, citing David as an example of a warrior who reproduced other warriors. In the same manner, to be able to be set free from foreign dependency, raising of local leaders is a must.

The last evening session was an evening worth-remembering. Pastor Marion shared on a topic about Overcoming Slothfulness, in which many of us are seemingly guilty. She pointed out that many families and employers suffered because of being slothful. The same can be said also in the ministry wherein procrastination abounds. However, it can be cured if we frankly admit our slothfulness before God and man, faithful and zealous in what God entrusts to us; and be focused and disciplined in prayer.  Undeniably, prayer is God’s chosen method for us to accomplish mighty task. A prayerful woman herself, Pastor Marion stressed on how vital prayer is. It serves also as the oxygen of our soul. It has the power to change the present and the future, even our destiny.

Famed Chicken Wings

On the final night, as JECPP’s tradition, the church planters enjoyed a sumptuous meal and the famed chicken wings introduced by Pastor Lim. It was a time of wonderful fellowship among church planters who share the bonds of common commitment, through JECPP, of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Philippine archipelago.

Kudos to everyone, who in one way or another, made the retreat successful and meaningful. To God be the glory.