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Malou's posts with tag: passing the baton
This reminds me of Ptr. Steve’s preaching in Manila on “Preaching Revival Without Reformation” (from Part III of the 7 Deadly Sins series). A dear friend of his who also is a pastor had once remarked, “the only hope for the Philippines is a supernatural touch from God.”
To this Ptr. Steve responds, “I don’t believe the hope of the Philippines is to get zapped by God. I believe the hope of the Philippines is long-term generational discipleship and passing of the baton.”
He continues, “Can a nation be transformed in a day? No. I wish it happens in a day, but it is a generation rising up who carry the responsibility before God…Generational discipleship or a long obedience in the same direction, not an instantaneous zap and then everything is ok.”
Tatay’s passing of the baton did not happen when Eben got married. It did not happen when he had his first grandchild either. It happened when Eben was but a small boy, just learning to listen and understand - a process that took years.
It is our desire that this baton of faith will continue on down our whole generation line to teach, to instruct, to bless; so that those who run with it may be a blessing, honoring God by faith, because they are kept by God’s mighty power through faith.   
 A book Tatay’s just recently lent Eben is entitled “How to Get More Money From God.” Eben wanted to borrow it, remembering the old book months before we last went to Manila. Tatay had taught him and encouraged him to tithe faithfully for as long as he can remember.
Even as a young married couple Eben and I have always understood that the tithes are an automatic deduction as soon as funds come in (from anywhere, not just salaries – and NOT salaries net of taxes either but based on the gross amount).
And so I found myself writing about a bit of our history as a couple. I found that there was always a challenge in the finance area of our marriage, though not in a bad way. I say not in a bad way because there was always provision for every need, even every desire.
I sure thank God for a father (in-law) who’s wisely passed the baton of faith to his son (and continues to for his story hasn't ended...I don't think it ever will). Now it’s Eben’s turn to do the same.
 One story Tatay would tell us about is how there was this one night, Eben and his sister were sent to bed early without dinner because they just did not have the money to buy food.
The challenging part about this is the fact that Tatay is a tithing pastor. He’s just so anointed by God in encouraging people to tithe. I do not know how many church buildings he’s had rebuilt/repaired during his limited tenure at every assignment, but the pastor who gets assigned after him usually finds the place in a better condition than when Tatay and his family first found it. He usually ends up with no money in his pocket at the end of the day because he's given all of it to someone in need.
Going back to the story, Nanay (Eben’s mother) was not necessarily in the best mood because of their situation. All Tatay would keep telling her is that God will provide. He sure didn’t know how, but he believed God would.
It was not long before a knock at the door was heard and a church member comes bearing a few pounds of rice, a bag of vegetables, and other things he just wanted to bless the pastor with.
There was another time when as a young pastor, Tatay and another pastor were walking along rice paddies to get to a meeting. All he had for food was steamed rice sprinkled with salt, folded neatly in a banana leaf and covered with newspaper.
Well, after a bit of walking, they just had to stop to rest, knowing they still had quite a few miles to go. As they sat under a tree talking, a whole piece of milkfish drops right beside him. He looks up to see an eagle flying away. The bird had accidentally let go of his catch.
Tatay and his friend headed to the nearest kubo (farmer’s hut) they could find and asked if they could cook their fish so they can have a sumptuous lunch.
 I was talking to Tatay (Eben’s father) a few evenings ago. When I think about the richness of faith God’s given to him, it makes me want to talk to him some more. Sure wish we could spend time with them again soon.
Ptr. Ernesto Tabelisma is a testament of God’s faithfulness. He has a trove of stories from when he was a 13-year-old smoker to when he was a 19-year-old alcoholic and bully to when he became born again, studied in the seminary and eventually became a Methodist pastor. He would be assigned to different churches almost on a yearly basis. I can’t imagine how his family survived not just the multiple transitions, but the dire living situations they usually found themselves in – infestation, flooding up to the waste, lack of finances…
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