Philippine Trip – Episode 7

I just received a comment from an anonymous person regarding my last blog, episode 6 in which I mentioned that St Luke's hospital was a model to be followed. Here's the comment:

"Times have changed since I lay in that hospital - on the roof! After my surgery, I came to and found myself on the flat roof of the hospital. I could hardly wait to go home. Ask me about the rest of that adventure sometime. Gene, Bob and I are thanking the Lord for taking such good care of you."

Things have dramatically changed at St Luke's Hospital but not so with most hospitals in the Philippines, especially with those that are run by the government. Norman, my son, and his wife Tina, visited one of these and graphically described the filth and the crowded conditions. St Luke's is one of a kind. I felt I needed to clarify my description less you get the impression that St Luke's represents most hospitals in the Philippines. It is the exception to the rule.

The last week and a half of my time in the Philippines after being discharged from the hospital could only be describe with such adjectives as fabulous, incredible, unbelievable. If I hadn’t gone to the hospital my schedule and involvement would have been entirely different. God turned what appeared to be a grave misfortune into an unforeseen blessing.

There’s no greater joy than to reconnect with those you’ve ministered to many years ago, especially when they are still passionately following Jesus and aggressively sharing Him with others. After leaving the hospital I had the joy of spending extended time with three of them—Romy Salvador, Boni Arazadon and Philip Flores, along with their wives. Their ministry emphasis today is much different than it was back in the sixties and seventies.

The primary target then was students. In the beginning, the focus was directed only towards their spiritual needs. However, we discovered early on that many of those we were discipling and training had great nutritional and financial needs. In the States it’s usually a given that students eat three meals a day, have enough money to get by on and have an insurance policy to handle their medical expenses. Not so in the Philippines. There was nutritional deficiency among those we were helping. Financially, they needed help. There was no source of funds to handle medical needs that would arise. The parents and siblings of some we were helping spiritually, were dependedent on the income of their children. Consequently, they often needed to work long hours to supplement their family’s income. It’s difficult to help one spiritually if 70% of his or her time and emotional energy is directed towards meeting basic needs. It seemed obvious to us that we needed to minister to the total person, just as Jesus did. However, this conviction was not shared by all.

Gene Tabor (the director of the Philippine Navigators) had a strong conviction that it was imperative for us to develop a holistic approach in our disciple making ministry. In a recent article by Tabor he speaks to the need at that time. "The poverty of the people I (Tabor) was ministering to forced me to ask: What were the social implication of the Gospel? Jesus was the pattern. He saved souls AND ministered to their material needs." In light of the need, nutritional studies were done? What native foods had the greatest nutritional value for the buck? We began experimenting with practical livelihood projects. How could one generate income? Studies were done as to how to most efficiently and economically raise pigs. Land was provided for this endeavor by a family we were helping. This would provide work experience and a decent wage for those in training. Hopefully, it would provide a model that they could follow to generate income. Unfortunately, the Stateside leadership at that time was blind to the need. As a result our efforts were stopped. This was a very dark and trying time in our ministry. Since those early days, the Navigators worldwide have embraced and are advancing the social implications of the gospel along with their disciple making ministry.

The ministries of Romy, Boni, and Philip, focus on meeting the spiritual AND material needs of those they're discipling. Collectively, they are ministering to all ages—children, teenagers, adults and seniors. They are working with people in all economic groups—the wealthy, middle class and the poor. They are ministering to people of different occupations—students, professors, professionals, pastors, politicians, business owners, celebrities and the thousands who are unemployed.
They have programs for the poor. They are teaching the rich to follow Paul’s exhortation in II Timothy 6:18 “Let them do good, that they may be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share.

But more important than the breadth and inclusiveness of their ministries is the relationship of love that exists. They are not just sharing truth and skills but are imparting their very lives to those God has entrusted to them. They can honestly write to their flock what Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, “So, affectionately longing for you, we are pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives because you have become dear to us.” (I Thessalonians 2:8)

After getting out of the hospital, the first of the three men that I had extended time with was Romy Salvador. He is the focus in the next episode.