These three statements are still the guiding goal for Vision for Missions (VFM). Since 1985, many new churches have been started and several existing churches were provided financial support needed to purchase land and building supplies. Economically and politically many things have changed in the past 20 years but the goal of VFM goal is unchanged.

STARTING CHURCHES
Starting new churches has always been our primary goal. The pastors and workers on Negros have started over 50 new churches since 1985. Some are in the cities and many are in the rural, remote areas of the island. Several are house churches and have been started by men who were trained in the recent years of Leadership Training classes. The Negros pastors have set the goal of new churches 137 by 2010. VFM desires to work with the church leaders to reach to start more churches!

BUILDING CHURCHES
Land is very expensive in the Philippines and local congregations rarely have enough money to purchase land. Often most of the land in the major cites and towns are owned by people who are not interested in selling except at prices too expensive for most Filipino workers. Once a suitable site is selected, VFM will purchase the land and the building supplies. Most of the labor for constructing the building is completed by the church members. Usually the blocks are individually hand made by church members. Each year we hope to help four churches with land or buildings.

Leadership Training

There are three different types of Leadership Training presently being encouraged in the Philippine churches!

First is the sending of young people to Bible College. For several years, we had the Negros College of Evangelism (NCE) in Bacolod City at the Green Plains Church of Christ facility. This small Bible College was discontinued in the 2008 school year. Presently, students may attend a Bible College in either Cebu or Manila. Both of these Bible Colleges speak a different language than Ilonggo which is spoken in most of our churches on Negros. We need either a two year or four year Bible College on Negros Island in the future. A student can attend a Bible College for approximately $50 a month. We need more students in Bible College from Negros Island.

Second is the training of church leaders and pastors, one on one, in a mentoring program. Some of the pastors use the “Train and Multiply” lesson materials for leadership training. These materials are available in three languages: English, Cebuano, and Ilonggo. The 63 lessons of teaching materials are designed to establish indigenous new churches by personal teaching and mentoring of teachable students. A second group of materials are being prepared for leadership training called “Biblical Leadership Training.” Presently, VFM is translating several books (of a possible 15 books) of materials for use in the local church to train leaders and possibly serve as future textbooks in our Bible Colleges. These materials are presently being used very effectively in several other countries of the world and have been organized by Bob Sheffler. The materials are partially based on programmed learning (or TEE) and have weekly discussions led by a small group leader. If the same book can be used as a textbook in the Bible College and in the local church for leadership training, then this could be a great help to strengthen the churches of the Philippines.

Third style of training is to have a short seminar training of pastors and leaders of the local church. Many of the new churches have been started and led in the past ten years by men who have been in Leadership Training classes. This Leadership training is the key for starting new churches on Negros and the other islands in the central Philippines. Often, VFM helps with some of the expenses of seminars so that more leaders can continually be trained for church leadership.
All three styles of Leadership Training are needed. Only a few people can attend Bible College and most often they are young people. Married ,employed individuals that accept Jesus, usually can’t leave their homes and jobs to attend Bible College but they need training in their local church or one on one. VFM encourages young people to attend Bible College when possible but the church must also train qualified Christian leaders for church leadership locally. What if the same materials that are used in the Bible College were also available to be taught in the local church? This is what hopefully can be done by the providing of the materials called “Biblical Leadership Training.” Can what is being taught in Bible Colleges be connected to what is needed to be taught in the local church? YES!

ENCOURAGEMENT
VFM seeks to encourage the workers to meet together monthly in pastors’ fellowship and working in unity with each other. Often VFM helps with medical assistance, food, transportation and various income-generating projects to help the pastors and workers. We desire to help pastors but not have workers dependent on VFM financially each month. The goal is to have indigenous churches and workers seeking to only follow the New Testament!

PASTORAL SUPPORT
VFM is committed to helping the people and churches of Negros. VFM occasionally provides supplemental financial support to pastors starting out or experiencing financial hardship. VFM's objective is to help a pastor establish a church and congregation in his community. VFM will then begin to reduce financial support as the local body assumes the stewardship responsibility of supporting their pastor.

VBS and CAMPS
One of the biggest events in the summer is Vacation Bible School. Each year we encourage and help between 2,000 and 3,000 kids to have VBS. Also we hope many of the youth can experience a week at church camp. Usually about 400 kids are in summer camp each year in four locations. Thank you for supporting the work of VFM to encourage the youth and churches of the Philippines.

For more information on the history and stewardship of VFM's ministry please feel free to contact:..
Lakewood Christian Church in McAlester, Oklahoma
Oakwood Christian Church in Enid, Oklahoma
Rogers Christian Church in Rogers, Arkansas

PARTNERSHIP WITH VISION FOR MISSIONS
BE Informed .......Through Paul's Journey..........Through Current News (coming)
BE in Prayer ........Through Praise and Prayer.....Personal and Corporate Prayer (coming)
BE Involved..........Through Various Means........Contact Paul & Mary for further information.
Gather needed items for shipping
Go on short-term mission trips
Be a communicator to churches or Sunday School
Classes on behalf of VFM
BE a Supporter......Through Ocasional or Regular Giving