Training pastors from the walkie-talkie church
How a creative Filipino pastor kept churches going through COVID
Dear Family,
Pastor Paulo wondered how he could hold his church together during the long COVID lockdowns in the Philippines. His village has no electricity or cell phone signal, and solar-powered internet is costly and inconsistent, so Zoom and Facebook Live were not viable options. As Paulo asked God for direction, holding a walkie-talkie radio transmitter in his hand, the idea came to him: conduct church through the walkie-talkie!
For months, Pastor Paulo kept his congregation together in this way. It was not ideal, but it was better than giving up.
Pastor Paulo served not only his own flock but also pastors in nearby villages. He had led many of them to the Lord and identified them for leadership. For months, he had been praying for a way to gather leaders in person from 15 different villages. Because he missed them terribly, he repeatedly made this request to our team in the Philippines.
When he learned that we would be coming and enabling these leaders to travel to a training session, Paulo was overwhelmed with joy!
In late July 2022, we arrived by motorcycle (the only way into Pastor Paulo’s village other than on horseback). We visited his village and then took him to the training. With our Filipino team’s coordination, 50 precious church leaders came together, from a people group that is only 4% Christian. The times of worship and fellowship were worth every bit of what it took to get there.
Pastors were encouraged to come out of the pandemic era stronger and more missional than before. They were challenged to spread the gospel and shown how to make disciples. These leaders are now equipped and determined to reach their tribe and other peoples.
Let’s be like Pastor Paulo and use what’s in our hands to do what we can!
Todd Matthews
Director, Unreached People Groups Ministry