“WITHOUT
A VISION SOULS PERISH”
PHILIPPINE MISSIONS
and YOU!
A very familiar verse
with a clear meaning. Several years ago the Lord was dealing
with me about a project to open a bible school. I was hesitant
being without funds, a place to conduct classes, a place to
house students, no teachers or a place to house them. Then
to confirm His burden He had placed on my heart, the Lord
started sending different persons to me with the same idea
and burden. Soon with nothing but a “Vision” we
started to take action and soon the vision was a reality.
That was almost 19 years ago, we just graduated our 18th graduating
class in May this year. The years have passed and the school
has been a blessing to the work of the Lord in the Philippines,
not without great cost and struggle. But through it all the
Lord has proved His promise that He will never leave nor forsake
us. When there were times of nothing to eat and the students
volunteered to fast until funds would arrive, the Lord made
a way to meet the needs. Financial needs have not been the
only challenges, the enemy has brought all sorts of trials
but the Lord has always been there to carry us through. He
truly is a wonderful and caring God. All the Glory belongs
to the Lord for the success of the school, the students who
have graduated and gone on to pastor and work in the churches
and the harvest of souls; which has been possible because
of the training of workers to go forth and bring the Good
News of Jesus Christ. This last May we graduated another 8
graduates. PRAISE THE LORD!
The Republic of the
Philippines is an island nation made up of over 7000 islands
speaking 85 different dialects and languages with a population
of more than 80 million people. With the population being
spread out over such a large area, many of which are in rural
and mountainous areas, speaking so many different languages
it takes a lot of people to reach out with the Gospel of Jesus
Christ to all those lost souls, especially in the remote areas.
The scripture says, “…how shall they hear without
a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?”
This is what the bible school is trying to accomplish, by
training men and women to go forth and preach the Gospel of
Salvation.
The last few years
it has been very difficult to continue the bible school due
to the increase in prices of most everything, and at the same
time a very great loss of funds from here in the United States.
We have been looking for a way to try and make the school
at least partially self supporting. We have prayed earnestly
for the Lord to guide us in how to do it. We are conducting
chain fasting and prayer, not only in the school but also
in many of the churches throughout the Philippines.
Recently we have found
out there is a parcel of land for sale in the next town from
where we are located now.
This land is in a rural setting but still near market areas
where we could buy needed supplies and electric has just recently
reached the area. The Philippines uses the metric system of
measurement with the land being listed as 1.4 hectares, being
translated to our measurements makes it about 3.6 acres. It
will cost approximately $16,500 for the land. We will need
to drill at least 2 wells for water and make all the electric
connections from the power line that runs alone the road in
front of the site.
This location would
be perfect for us to be able to use parts of it for planting
gardens and crops to help with the food needs, and any extra
production could be sold to purchase things we can not grow,
also we can raise a variety of livestock such as goats, pigs
and chickens. In time we would like to make the school totally
self supporting. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
I took a group of faculty
members to the site where we walked over the site. Before
I told them what we were thinking; they all were talking how
this would make such a good place for the bible school. I
told them this is what we would love to do and requested them
all to kneel with me on the land and pray for the direction
of the Lord. We know God will show us how to make it possible.
Part of the name of the school is “FAITH” as we
have started all those years ago, ALL BY FAITH.
After much prayer and
fasting, consulting with ministers and workers in the Philippines
as well as the students, all agreed they would be willing
to help each doing what their ability allowed them to do.
Some have special skills we can use, as we would have to build
a church, kitchen and dining area, boy’s dorm, girl’s
dorm, classrooms, living quarters for the faculty as well
as rest rooms for men and women together with bathing facilities.
It is really a big
undertaking but as we all know NOTHING IS TOO BIG OR TOO HARD
FOR THE LORD.
In this regard, I believe the Lord has shown me a plan and
a way we can get it all done and complete. It all starts with
prayer and willingness for all of you here in the United States
to reach out in a way to help; not just to build a bible school
but also to make it possible for us to train workers to go
forth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This will require a
sacrifice for most of us willing to take part. But I would
beseech each and everyone to have faith with us and make a
commitment to this project. Don’t miss your chance to
bless others and at the same time allow the Lord to be able
to bless you.
If we can find just
120 persons or churches or groups of persons, to pledge to
give $100 per month for ONLY one year, this VISION can become
a reality. If you as an individual cannot do it on your own,
then you could form a group and divide the amount between
all of you. I believe there are some persons that can undertake
this on their own, but if you don’t think you can do
it by yourself, then as I said, form a group. If you have
2 people that’s $50 each, 4 persons $25 each, 5 persons
$20 each and so on, a group of ten would mean only .33 cents
a day, less than a pack of gum. How much is a soul worth?
It is hard to imagine that there is not a way we can save
a few coins each day to give a few dollars for this good cause.
There will be a large plaque placed in the church with the
names of each individual or church that will make this pledge.
Another large plaque or if needed 2 plaques to list ALL the
names of those giving in groups, all names of those who give
will be listed. This can be a reasonable way for each and
everyone to take part and be a part of the establishment of
this school for the Work of the Lord. Please pray about it
and let the Lord direct you, don’t let the enemy put
delay and doubt in your mind. If you want to be a part of
this Vision and Outreach, let us know at my stateside address
and we will get all the information to you. You will have
a choice to send the money direct to us; or to PAJC foreign
missions department. Foreign Missions Director, Rev. Wheeler
Estepp, says he will not deduct the usual 10 percent from
this special offering.
Thank you for reading
this long letter, and for taking time to consider sharing
a vision with us as we all work together for the Lord. Let
us be Companions in Missions. May the Lord bless us all.
Missionary Larry L. Mann
Addresses:
Missionary Larry L. Mann
5202 N 400 ST
Greenfield, IN
Rev. Phillip Fuller
3925 Deal Rd.
Mooresville, NC
