by Sis. Shekinah Margate
“Since the catastrophic COVID-19 season, this is the first training seminar that made all the tribal pastors and workers gathered together.” – Rev. Mivelyn Margate
JECPP Southern Mindanao Tribal Ministry held its 3-day Leadership Seminar at Evangel Family Church Marahan and Evangel Tribal Training Center (ETTC) facilities on June 28–30, 2023. This was attended by 55 tribal pastors and volunteer workers and leaders of 43 churches and active CPM churches. With the theme “Changing Lives Toward Christ’s Likeness,” the seminar revolved around the encouragement and restrengthening of vows, commitment, and obedience of the tribal workers toward God. As mentioned above, it is with great joy and excitement as the tribal workers were not given a chance to gather for trainings and seminars in the past 3 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the workers said that her heart was filled with delight as she spent time with her co-workers, especially in the presence of the Word of God.
Pastor Mivelyn Margate talked during the morning and afternoon sessions about the series “We Are Ordinary, but We Have an Extraordinary God.” Wherein she emphasized that even if the majority of the tribal workers’ population are only ordinary citizens, not holding any educational degree or even having a stable financial status, they are serving a God who is extraordinary and possessing enormous power. Highlighting that even if they are commoners in material terms, they can live in God’s bountiful grace and favors. The series also included the importance of the heart’s brokenness. The heart symbolizes a man’s pride, nature, stubbornness, and earthly desires. Therefore, if the heart is broken, God can use man.
Pastor Patricio Margate preached during the evening sessions. His first evening session was about “The Good Servant,” where he gave relevance to listening to God before acting up. To act righteously, one must listen carefully. The second and last evening session was about “Being Close to God.” To prevent the tribal pastors and workers from becoming weary, Pastor. Patricio indicated the importance of always wanting to be closer and closer to God. As a servant worker of God, it is indispensable to be near and connected to the one you serve, who is the primary source of strength and courage. He then concluded that if one is weary then he is far from God.
