Kingdom Message Ministry Foundation

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

I would like to express my gratitude for your prayers and not only I but also the rest of the team. The mission to the Philippines at this time was very successful; we all agreed that there was a breakthrough in the natural as well as in the spiritual.

In the KMM School we have managed to move the practical things several steps forward. We set up computers, spent time teaching the staff, checked how the teachers manage their classes and smoothed out the internal communication.

I personally haven’t been to the Philippines for three years and so it was marvelous for me to see how everything had moved forward, what a great progress had been made! When we first started coming, many times we didn’t know how things should fall into their places; even the local people were not quite sure which way the whole school operation should go. In addition to it, this is a work that the devil absolutely hates so he always tries to set up somebody who will gossip, seek their own profit at the expense of the children or other workers, as well as using other means to distract and subvert. Thanks be to God that He has always faithfully shown us the negative happenings and so we were able to address them appropriately. It is wonderful to see how the whole assembly of people in the school is moving ahead as a group and everyone is doing their share of the work. It doesn’t mean it is not without its challenges. Challenges are and will always be present in the work of God and there will always be space for improvement. However, what we have in the school at the moment is a real treasure.

The school has become a very good basis for preaching the gospel to the children and their families. Please pray so that we would be able to fulfill this purpose in even a greater measure. Even though the teachers are Christians and do an excellent job and are very qualified for the work, there is a need for somebody who would be able to pour out their heart to teach the Kingdom of God message. It is for this purpose, that we, the team, believe, that there is a need for somebody with a special gift for ministry to be able to go and stay for a longer period of time. It is very important for the children to learn not only the Bible stories, how to pray, etc., but also that they would understand the most important thing of all – a relationship with a living God and His Son Jesus Christ.

The next important point for us was three days spent in Brother Edmar’s Bible School. Not only were their current students present in the meetings but also many of those who have already graduated from the school. For me personally, it was probably the most important point of the whole mission. These young people understand that the word we are bringing is more than what others are offering. Some of them came from places 5-6 hours away. It reminded me of years ago when we used to travel from our villages to Prague when some of the American brethren visited. These young people have the same hunger we used to have and that shows a great potential. From my perspective the best we could do is to send someone there for a longer period of time and give them a greater measure of teaching.

The final point of activities was meetings in various fellowships as well as with the elders. As I mentioned previously, I haven’t been to the Philippines for three years and so I was glad to see some of the same faces as before, but also new ones mainly from the students who graduated from the Bible School two years ago. Both meetings with the elders had a very good spirit of camaraderie. Those who used to seek their own gain from being an elder or who kept defending their pastor’s position in the church seemed to have disappeared. However, those who came to understand in their hearts that eldership is about something completely different than money or a position in the church remained; so even the words that came forth were carried in a spirit of encouragement so that they would keep the right vision and continue to be an ensample to the flock. There were also visions and prophecies that, combined with praises, confirmed the right direction of their walk.

The last thing I would like to share is that it took seven years until a true foundation was built in the Philippines and I believe this foundation will stand even if none of us would never go back there again. Of course, I do not want to say that we should stop going, however, what I want to say is that something was broken in the spirit. Something very significant was created in the hearts of the brethren that allowed this message of the Kingdom of God to come into their lives.

When we first arrived in the Philippines in 2008, the meeting halls were filled with both male and female pastors who listened to the word they had never heard before and either immediately turned their backs to it or on the contrary, received it with excitement. Today, I just marvel how God works all things out. We do not hear anymore from some of the originally excited individuals and yet some of those who had their doubts came to the point of understanding. Some understood but didn’t have enough strength to “sell all they had” and some had given up all they had, but instead of seeking God they were looking for their own future benefit. It looks so familiar to me when I read the gospels how many who followed Jesus came to Him at night; some rejected Him even though they knew in their hearts that He was speaking the truth; some even experienced His power when they themselves cast out demons and yet turned their backs on Him later. It took Jesus three and a half years to preach and walk with those who not only received Him but also endured with Him till the end. It took us seven years in the Philippines, but now we can say assuredly that there are people in the Philippines who have received His word of the Kingdom. Of course, it is not due to any of our credit, but it is due to the power of the Word of God that has been planted into the hearts of men through His gifts.

This brings me to a thought about our own selves: How long did it take us to get this message “under our skin”? How long did it take us to understand? How many of us are not in our midst anymore? How patient has God been with us? How many times did He have to send us His servants? How much time and energy are we still going to need?

I want to express once more my gratitude for your prayers. They were certainly answered and they accomplished what they were sent to do.

May the Lord bless you all.
Brother Tomas

By Kristyna Klusonova Jr.

I was so very blessed that I went to the Philippines this winter. I believe the Lord had done some great things. And as the song says, “He’s just begun to move again in our generation, and though He’s done so much He still will do much more!” So I believe there are many more things in store for all the people and children back in Butuan City.

One of the best aspects on this trip for me was to see how the labor of so many people around the world brings forth fruit; that it all makes sense. The children have a future because of the KMM School. I, along with Lucy, my friend, had the privilege to do the eye tests to all the 140 children. During those 2 days of going up and down the stairs, taking pictures of each child and checking their eyes, God drew my heart so very close to them. I see the cute little faces of the kindergarten children running around, shyly smiling at us, and my heart melts. I really would love to share that joy with everybody that sponsors a child or has anything to do with that school. I am seeing all the children laughing, being fed and happy there, learning how to read and write. I see them running around during recess chasing each other with screams of joy and excitement. And as the school bell rings, they all dash inside to be in the classroom before the teachers come. Before they start their lessons, they sing the national anthem and pray. The melody of the songs they sing floats downstairs. It is beautiful. It is so much worth it!

The practical things we all do make such a difference. This was one thing that the Lord was teaching me in the Philippines. That I can also help by learning important things now so that God can use them later. I can further my knowledge of English and other things, and God may use it one day. As we walk with the Lord, He can use us to make a difference, a difference in the lives of other people and children, a difference in the Butuan school. Together with our God, we can make a difference in this world. And the nicest thing about it is: we already are making a difference.

“…so let your eyes take hold of a new vision. For the Lord, has only just begun!”

By Josiah Asbill

It all started a few months ago, probably shortly after the Dubuque Conference, that I had a desire to go to the Philippines again. I talked with my parents and my Grandpa Herrig about the possibility of me going, and we prayed about it. The consensus was to go, and also that this trip would be a great learning experience.

It was necessary for me to take two weeks off work for this trip from the grocery store where I am a full-time employee. My manager was very accommodating in giving me the needed time. I immediately began to look forward to the day of our departure. That day came sooner than expected, and before I knew it, it had arrived.

Beginning in Dubuque, Iowa where we live, we drove down to Moline; from there we flew to Atlanta. The team for the Philippine Mission Trip consisted of Grandpa Herrig, Grandpa and Grandma Asbill, Mr. and Mrs. Jantzi, Brother Martin, Kristyna, Lucy, and myself. Those of us from the states met up in Atlanta, flying from there to Tokyo. After arriving in Tokyo, we had a short layover before boarding one more plane that would take us to Manila. We rested for a night in a hotel there, meeting up with the Czech brethren in the morning, and in the following afternoon taking one last fight to Butuan City, on Mindanao Island. We reached Hotel Karaga (our destination) and settled in before it had gotten late in the evening. We had arrived safely and soundly, without any missing or damaged luggage. Though there is a 14-hour time difference, adjusting was not quite difficult for me, and especially after a long day of traveling, we slept quite well.

The following morning was Friday, and it was the first day of the annual Butuan City Conference. These meetings continued though Sunday, with two meetings a day. The thought that I came away from the conference with was “Change!” God wants to move in your life to change your nature, but is limited only by the level of your commitment to Him. Grandma Asbill, wanting to incorporate the children into the meeting, gave a children’s word before each morning’s message. Believing it essential to have the fundamentals, she taught on such things as salvation, the condition of our soul, and spiritual warfare. Knowing that demonstration and illustration are much better tools for learning than just verbalization, flannel-graphs and skits were employed during the children’s words. We, young people, helped in the skits. My roles varied between being a sinner that comes to Jesus, to being David protecting his father’s flock. Each word ended with a song, which would put the message to music.

Monday morning saw the start of a series of meetings at the Bible School in Jabonga. This town is about an hour’s drive away from our hotel; it lies at the base of a mountain range that erects itself in the northern part of the island. The first day there the entire team went (excepting Brother Martin and Kristyna who stayed at the hotel). On the second day Grandpa Herrig and Brother Martin went to the Children’s School, as some of the administrative work there was needed to be done on that day. Kristyna and Lucy also went to begin doing eye tests on all of the children. The rest of us went to the Bible School. On the third day there, the whole team went to Jabonga. Various thoughts came forth during our visit to the Bible School. The messages’ subjects dealt with Divine Order in the Church, the Nature of Perdition, God’s Vision for Our Lives, and even a two-part teaching by Brother Mark on the History of the Bible. On our last day at the Bible school, it was decided that we three young people should share a little something. My heart began to race at the thought of it. The idea of me getting up to share something in front of a room full of people is one that I am totally not used to. My Grandpas getting up… it happens all the time. My Dad getting up… I’m used to that. Myself getting up… I’m not so sure about that. But nevertheless, I still did it. I just introduced myself, gave a little bit of my background, where I come from, and my growing up under this word. While I was up there, I began to speak about my current position in my life, and trying to know what God’s plan is for me. I talked about how when our vision is in the right place – on God – only then can God’s will be done in your life, spiritually and practically; also you are able to find a peace that transcends your environment and situations. While I was speaking, it was like all my fear of standing up in front of that congregation started to melt away.

After the final day at the Bible School we spent the next two days at the Children’s School in Ampayon. Their attendance has grown over the years to 146 students, ranging from preschoolers through the 4th grade. Thursday the girls were doing some more eye tests. Four students from the Tuesday screening were taken to a glasses shop, so that they could be more closely examined, and possibly fitted for glasses. Of those four, only two of them needed glasses, which they received. We had brought with us a bunch of gifts – pens, toothbrushes, toothpaste, notebooks, stickers, and other things – to create gift bags for all of the children (which we had done on Sunday night), and which Grandma Asbill and I gave out that Thursday. They received their gifts thankfully, calling us “Beloved Sponsors.” Before leaving each room Grandma Asbill would have us sing a song with that class. For the most part they knew the songs, and joined right in. The following day, I tagged along with my Grandpas, Brother Mark, and Sister Merlinda as they went to negotiate the lease for the school. The meeting resulted in the school’s space being doubled by the addition of the adjoining hospital to the existing contract. Having been abandoned for some time now, it will need to be cleaned up and improved during the summer months before the school rejoins again.

The next day was Saturday, on which we went to the school for a day of elders’ meetings. Brother Martin gave the morning message, laying out what the mentality and motivation of an elder should be from God’s point of view. In the afternoon there was a question and answer session, which quickly transformed into a teaching on Rapture and how no such doctrine exists in the Bible.

The following morning, we all went to Brother Lito’s fellowship. They meet in a building that is little more than a frame with a tin roof. The church next door heavily contrasted our meager structure; yet all of its Catholic splendor of architecture could not compare with the anointing in which the meeting came forth. After the song service, Grandma Asbill gave a children’s word. My role in the skit that we had, was more difficult then any other that I had yet done. I had to play King Josiah: illustrating his commitment to follow God, and his walking that commitment out. Grandpa Asbill gave the message, in which he highlighted God’s business and man’s place in the midst of it.

That afternoon, Grandpa and Grandma Asbill stayed back at the hotel to rest for the next day’s journey while the rest of us went to the Children’s School for one last time. A fellowship has sprung up there, meeting every Sunday afternoon. Again, the three of us young people were asked to say hello to everyone there – which we did. Then Grandpa Herrig gave the message speaking on our relationship with God. After the meeting we went around saying goodbye to everyone before we left.

Monday morning came at a bright and early 5:30 am. It was logistically necessary to rise at that time, as our flight to Manila left at 9:00. Though it took awhile to get some of our bags checked in, they eventually went through and we even had a waiting period before our plane arrived. After arriving in Manila, we had enough time to have lunch together before the team would start to be disbanded. The Czech brethren were leaving that afternoon; the next morning the rest of us would fly to Tokyo. From there Grandpa and Grandma Asbill would go to Atlanta, and Grandpa Herrig, the Jantzis, and I would go to Minneapolis. The Jantzis would then go to Albany via Detroit, while Grandpa and I (after a long 7 hour layover) would fly directly to Moline. Coming back involved less time flying, but more time in the airports. So overall it was slightly longer than going. By the time we reached home, we had been traveling for over 33 hours.

Being back at home has caused me to think. While you’re on the mission field your mind is going, going, going. I like to call it the mentality of a soldier, everywhere you turn your guard is up, and you model your thinking patterns in a certain way. You are careful in everything that you do. But when you come home, your defenses begin to come down, in that you are not as careful in what you do. You don’t even have to be home yet: just because your shoes are now pointed home, your mind begins to revert back to its default state. In light of this, I’m finding it is necessary that I don’t let my familiar environment bring down the momentum that you gain while on the mission field.

This overall experience, from the pre-trip stages, to being on the field, and even to coming home, has blessed me, and taught me a lot in terms of spiritual warfare. It has inspired me to see how the elder ministry, under the anointing of the Spirit of God, moves in wisdom when doing the work of the Lord. I hope to join them again someday on the mission field.