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Philippine Mennonite churches host Holy Spirit in Mission Conference & International Missions Association

LUMBAN, the Philippines — Waving country flags and balloons, 45 international guests from Mennonite churches in 16 countries trekked two miles along narrow stone streets from the mayor’s office to the Lumban Mennonite Bible Church.

Philippine friends welcomed the group with orchid garlands and children’s songs and dances to the fourth annual Holy Spirit in Mission Conference, September 7-10, 2006. It was held at the newly-completed four-story church building, which serves as a conference center.

The Integrated Mennonite Churches of the Philippines (IMC) and the International Missions Association (IMA) served as hosts. The IMA is an association of Anabaptist mission bodies established for prayer, mutual support, and partnering in carrying out the Great Commission. Held in conjunction with the annual IMA business meeting, the Holy Spirit in Mission Conference equips the international church to bring new vision and release gifts of ministry to build up the mission of the church.

IMA President Richard Showalter introduced the conference theme: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” He noted that the Greek word “testimony” is the same word from which English “martyr” comes — and is one of the most frequently used words of the New Testament. “It speaks of a powerful, external truth — and not just our own best ideas,” he said.

During the three day missions conference, more than 40 Filipino leaders joined the internationals for times of prayer and fasting, testimonies, reports, teachings, workshops, and unstructured “Holy Spirit time” at the Pagsanjan Rapids Hotel.

On the first day, Erlinda Veluz, a Filipino woman, delivered an impassioned challenge to the group: “There are no restrictions. God is not calling only the educated. Enroll in the ‘University of the Holy Spirit’ for his teaching and empowerment!” This became a watchword for the conference, and numerous participants “registered” in the “University of the Holy Spirit” on a big whiteboard.

Testimonies from participants emphasized the importance of walking in the Spirit. Mulugeta Zewdie, general secretary of Meserete Kristos Church in Ethiopia, had experienced revival as a high school youth. He noted, “Sometimes the Holy Spirit and our knowledge clash. Prayer brings the power of God to the nations.”

Dr. Tan Kok Beng, a leader of the Asia Pacific Mission, reported on the Mennonite church he has helped to plant in Singapore. Eighty-five percent of the 120 members are new believers, mostly from Buddhist-Taoist backgrounds. The church started three years ago with only six people. Last summer they also started another congregation which already has about 50 attending. The churches are growing as members pray and obey — even doing things that seem unreasonable.

On two consecutive evenings the conference group swelled to several hundred as they met downtown in a public stadium. Henry Mulandi, director of African Christian Mission International in Kenya, spoke the first evening. He issued a powerful call for salvation, outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and missions.

The second evening, Melvin Fernandez from the Honduran Mennonite Church and Ryan Showalter, director of Discipleship Ministries for EMM, led a special rally for children and youth. Again people flocked to the front, seeking a life-changing touch from God.

The conference concluded Sunday morning with a challenge from Lawrence Chiles, bishop of an Anabaptist circle of churches in eastern U.S. “As we empty ourselves, as Jesus did, God will ‘enlarge our tents, lengthen our cords,’” Chiles said. “It’s amazing to hear how the Ethiopians are reaching the Somalis, the Kenyans the Sudanese. No one country is the whole cord, but the IMA links cords together to take the gospel around the world.”