God Makes Possible New Beginnings
PHILIPPINES – Dr. Robert D. Crick, director of Chaplains Commission, shares about his first trip to the Philippines and how it has changed his life.
Recently I had the privilege of meeting with Gerald Holloway, director of the Word for the World Fellowship in Manila, Philippines. He shared with me that God had enabled his faith group to have access to a 24-hour, seven day a week television channel. As I listened to his passion for this new ministry opportunity that will take the gospel into many countries, including China, my memories went back many years when I had the privilege to visit the Philippines for the first time in 1967.
I took a C-130 planeload of soldiers out of Vietnam for a retreat at Baguio City, Philippines. In that retreat, every soldier who was not a Christian gave their hearts to the Lord, except one. As God would have it, our flight back to Vietnam was delayed and we were stuck at the airport for a few hours. Those young soldier converts insisted that we find a room where we could continue worshiping, praying and fellowshipping. In those couple of hours, this lone holdout gave his heart to the Lord.
We will be back in the Philippines in May providing chaplaincy training, consultation and an International Care Conference. I am sure that when the plane lands I will think of those who took that trip out of Vietnam, possibly some who never made it home, and how God makes possible these “new beginnings” that start at an altar of prayer.
Dr. Robert D. Crick, Director
Church of God Chaplains Commission
© 2009 Church of God World Missions
