Eighteen months of staying in America, waiting for approval of the immigration petition, and eventually receiving denial of the INS could have been a tragedy by itself. I went home asking the Lord, why? I believe I heard the Lord ask me of the learnings acquired. There were several.
I pastored the church of the couple who had the earliest influence in my life to do the ministry, Dr. Max Atienza and Auntie Sarah. I celebrated birth with child dedications, rejoiced with newly weds, and officiated the burial of my loved ones - Uncle Max and Apo Nanay (Amalia Macalinao). I participated in the birthing of an American Baptist Church USA region in Seattle as the Pacific Northwest advocate of the Asian American ministry. I attended several conferences, met a lot of people, and gained new friends.
God painted from these colorful experiences a portrait of that which has now become globalfil alliance (check, the purpose of globalfil alliance). So, why eighteen months in the US and only to return in the Philippines? It was to see the unmet need of reaching out to intergenerational and miscegenational Filipinos. I came back to the Philippines in 2002 nurturing the vision and birthing it in 2005.
I believe that the timetable of the Lord to fully realize the vision is up ahead. He is raising up men and women from different parts of the world to accomplish this vision. This is the missional prophetic destiny of every God-fearing, God-loving, and God-obeying Filipino to the world. Utilizing educational services and the Filipino diaspora as both recipients and transmitters, the gospel can be preached into all the world to all nations. Let the "Philip anointing" arise! Alleluia!
