Crossing the Red Sea

It was like ‘Crossing the Red Sea’ to start the training of batch 29 amidst of this crisis. Our president, Dr. Paul Kim has told me that we only need seven (7) missionary trainees and we are good to start. But we only have three (3) at that time and the two wanted to quit and go home. The other students outside Samal who are waiting were also discouraged and frustrated by the situation, wanting to quit.

It was heart-breaking to realize that what I/we mostly hear and get is not encouragement but rather oppositions, discouragements, negative words and other people were just waiting for what will happen.
Voices of fear, doubt, worries, lies, intimidation and accusations from the devil and some people who surround us were telling us to “Stop! It will not work out.” “The world is in crisis and so there will be less or no support, no sponsors and no trainees/students.” “You do not qualify to lead these people, you are only a beginner.” “You are physically weak.” “Everybody is quitting, so just quit.”

But it is in this season where we depend on God and in His Word, not on our own confidence but on the RESURRECTION POWER OF CHRIST JESUS, our living hope.
“God never failed to EMPOWER us and the CRY of our hearts WORK POWERFULLY.” The Lord of the harvest heard our unceasing prayers and crying day and night, “that GOD will RAISE UP and SEND OUT more workers who will be trained and equipped for a massive global missions movement.”

On June 12, 2020 at 6:30PM during our prayer and fast, the Word of God in Isaiah 43:19 has dawned on me as a new song: “See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” It was and is a song and shout of victory, for the LORD is a WAYMAKER and He indeed opened the way and streams of provision for this season.

Thank you for never giving up in praying with us.
Let us be STRONG and COURAGEOUS! Be STEADFAST and LET NOTHING MOVE you! Let nothing stop us in pressing on for the gospel to be preached to the whole world for which God has called us.
Let’s Make it Happen!

JIMERR VELASCO VILLAR
TRAINING DIRECTOR, SOM Samal.