Action International Ministries Short Term
3015A 21st St. NE T2E 7T1 Calgary, AB, Canada

Last installment of highlights from two students from the MX3 team trip to the Philippines: Eli: Through MX3 Philippines I learned that when you are faithful God will use even your smallest gifts to further His kingdom and bring Him glory. Janelle: God revealed His heart for the poor, and the power of the Gospel in dark places when faithful followers love in word and action!

Part 4 - SBC MX3 team trip to the Philippines: Janelle: Our short-term exposure trip to the Philippines on MX3 was a rich and eye-opening exposure to missions in a new culture. We were refreshed in seeing that the Gospel has power to transform lives! When people encounter Jesus, radical life-change occurs! We saw that the Gospel is powerful and meaningful, especially in situations of darkness and brokenness, as we were exposed to poverty unlike anything I had ever seen before.... In these places of brokenness, we saw that hope was possible when God’s people enter these places and love in word and action! We also continually saw God’s faithful people living out the Biblical commands to care for the poor, the orphan, and the widow. I was challenged by their radical obedience to the Word of God. From their example, I came away with a greater understanding of God’s heart for the poor, for I saw His heart through the hands and voices of believers serving here in these contexts. These faithful followers are loving as God loves, especially to those who are abandoned, forgotten and on the fringes of society. These faithful followers loved with word and action, seeking to bring wholeness to the whole person, as they addressed spiritual need, but also educational, physical, emotional and mental needs. Gino: MX3 is a great opportunity for those who have a heart and passion for reaching the global church. It stretches a person’s comfort levels for room to exercise faith in God’s calling in their lives. Going out on missions also helps to build relationships and trust in other members of a team.

Part 3 of posting personal highlights from the MX3 team trip from Steinbach Bible College to the Philippines: Justin: MX3 was filled with enlightening, exciting, challenging, and life changing experiences. Our time in the Philippines has given me a better understanding of the poverty and brokenness in our world, along with a renewed sense of urgency for the spread of the good news. We were exposed to the beauty of the Gospel as it was being lived out; giving people purpose, m...eaning, value, and a reason to care for one another. A theme verse for me during MX3 was John 1:5, which says "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." The good news of Jesus Christ is spreading throughout the Philippines, even in the darkest places, and our team was blessed to observe and participate in what God is doing. Rachelle: Throughout MX3 I was reminded to be faithful where God has placed me and love the person in front of me. I was reminded over and over of the faithfulness of God through His provision for us as a team but especially through the faithfulness of the believers in the Philippines. I was challenged as I watched so many people giving everything they had to serve God and others. God reminded me continually of His hand at work within the people and I was blessed and encouraged everywhere we went by the hope the Gospel brought in the darkest places. Ultimately I was reminded to be faithful where God has placed me by loving the person in front of me and resting assured that as I do this, God will also continue to be faithful.

Here are highlights from two more students from the SBC team that went to the Philippines: Carmen: MX3 was eye-opening in many ways. God showed me more of his heart for the poor, as well as the power of the gospel to transform the most hopeless situations. I learned more about my own ministry gifts, as well as the value of working on a team with diverse strengths and abilities. I feel blessed to have been able to take part, in a small way, in what God is doing in the Philipp...ines. Eli: MX3 was a time of being challenged and shaped, there are so many hearts ready to hear the Gospel. I found that sharing the gospel and having people accept God was easy in a way. Because of this longing and all the cults around, discipleship is mandatory. I was encouraged at all the different ministries that we got to partner with that are doing discipleship. Taking young believers into their homes and teaching them in the way of the Lord. As we found out more about the Philippines and were able to connect with individuals, we heard many stories of God’s faithfulness. As these stories of poverty, brokenness, and finding God were shared I was in awe. Many of these conversions happened because teams like ours went into their communities, bringing rice and sharing the gospel. Next came the Church walking alongside these new believers, pointing them to discipleship ministries and encouraging them to get involved in the church. What we did would make a difference! That is when I remembered that God is the one making the difference and He has chosen to use us as His faithful servants. God has been so faithful in many lives in the Philippines.

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