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Mission Philippines:

Mindanao Island

As we sit here in our hotel room waiting to go to the airport, thinking of the past 10 days we have spent in Gen San, (General Santos City, nestled in the bay of Sarangani on the Island of Mindanao, Nation of the Philippines) I thought I would write a brief summary of events, some of which are prophetically symbolic, at least to my understanding. The Holy Spirit led me to Galatians and Paul the Apostles letter to the church there. When I got to chapter 2 verse 10, Paul speaks of the three pillars, Peter, James and John and they remind Paul to "Remember the POOR" this he said he would do eagerly.1

Galatians 2:10 eager, spoudazo (spoo-dad-zoe); Strong’s #4704: To exert oneself, make every effort, give diligence, make haste, be zealous, strain every nerve, and further the cause assiduously. Spoudazo combines thinking and acting, planning and producing. It sees a need and promptly does something about it. The word covers inception, action, and follow-through.

I felt from the beginning of the establishing of the relationship between pastor Edgar Buico and myself was divine in nature and the will and purpose of God. Our hearts were knit together and it seemed that we had known each other forever.

The confirming SIGN to actually make the decision to go to the Philippines was an early morning phone call from Edgar, which was arranged by God. (See The Call - March 8^th 2001)

Thursday morning she, (my wife) poked me early in the morning so I got up and started to take a shower and felt like I was so tired. I was contemplating going back to bed and skipping prayer because of all the overtime. While standing under the water a voice says, "come on keep going you'll be OK, you’re already up". So I got dressed and went out and sat down at the table where all my prayer and bible stuff is. I sat there praying and thinking of the Lord and His goodness when the wall clock begins to chime. As I looked at the clock it read 5 am. I was dismayed because I usually don't get up till 5:20 am. "Man I can't believe this, why did Roe wake me up this early" was my thought. Well I may as well stay up and keep praying was my response. I began to pray for many things when all of a sudden I was impressed to pray for the latest letter from the Philippines. I took out the letter and began to read it then laid hands on it to pray over it when at exactly 5:35 the phone rings. My first impression is who in the world is calling at this early in the morning.

The beginning of the trip was unsettling as the first leg of our flight was canceled out of Rochester NY, which had a domino effect on the rest of the international flights to Manila with Delays.

I then began to see prophetically that this was a "resistance" to the trip. I was given a mental picture when a man is intimate with a woman that thousands of seeds are released into the woman’s birthing canal "but" only ONE seed reaches the egg to fertilize it. This is where CONCEPTION takes place. There is much resistance to the seed’s as they struggle towards the egg. Only one makes the JOURNEY. (See Roseanne’s and Linda’s journals)

The hotel we stayed in was named MATUTUM, which is the name of a huge volcano looming to the north of Gen San.

Our first meeting was Sunday morning June 3^rd, Pentecost Sunday. I ministered at pastor Edgar’s church and Roseanne and Linda ministered at pastor June’s church. (See journals)

After worship Roseanne and Linda left for their host church.

I was asked to dedicate 4 babies, which I felt honored to do. (The final Sunday we were there I dedicated two additional babies) I then preached on Acts 3:19-21, on Times of Refreshing and The Restoration of all things. When I gave the call for ministry ALL came forward. Some began to cry and the Holy Spirit came powerfully. I prophesied the word of the Lord and many came to Edgar wanting to know how I could know these things about them. Most of the crowd were pastors who were drinking in the apostolic / prophetic 5-fold ministry RESTORATION message. I prayed for all of them for deeper revelation and understanding. Roseanne and Linda came back amazed at what the Holy Spirit had done in their meeting. (See journals)

The people received like a Virgin Bride adorned for the Groom. There was an openness and hunger for whatever we would teach. They were ready to drink in the Word of God that we brought forth. The Lord impressed upon me to use much of the Word of God and to read the Scriptures to assure them of what God was saying, not man. They listened intently as I brought forth the Apostolic and Prophetic Restoration message that the Lord had imparted to us. I reassured them that we were there to help and encourage them and not to hurt them.

The opening of the conference was an eye opener as I saw a deepness of worship that we lack on a whole in the USA. People actually wept as the worshipped! The worship leaders were young and did a variety of music even some Vineyard music. The videotapes were awesome and the journals will give more details.

It was easy to minister to the 165+ pastors, they were hungry for God. I called forward THREE pastors which I felt impressed of the Holy Spirit who were the PILLARS of the conference. I presented them with a Spiritual Mapping STAKE that they could use as an Inheritance stake I had brought from the US to present to them for their City, Island, and Nation. I explained to them what to do with this Stake. I called forward my wife Roseanne and asked her to read Isaiah 54: 2-3. We then all faced North, South, East and West and declared and prophesied over them what the driving in of this Stake would do in the Spirit Realm, that the Land and Harvest be released to the Lord of Hosts for His purposes! We ended up ANOINTING the whole group with OIL. (At least 165+ pastors and the leaders) There were many who came to Edgar and said "we have never seen this done before but when they anointed us with the OIL and prayed FIRE came on our Hands and Heads". This was a SIGN that made us WONDER.

The day meetings were smaller but just as powerful with teaching an impartation. Roseanne and Linda did very well teaching some of the sessions, especially the women’s workshop. (see journals)

The second night of the conference was a larger crowd and worship again was awesome. The really worship God in a way I have never seen at home. Truly incredible! Different worship leader, just like our conferences. This was their first ever conference.

This night was a continuation of the foundational Calling, Gifting, Function and Anointing of the Apostolic and Prophetic 5-Fold Ministry of Ephesians 4:11.

I made a call for more of God’s Love and Healing. The whole crowd came forward, truly amazing to see the hunger of the people. Edgar kept telling us they had never heard this kind of teaching and ministry before. I kept using the Word of God and all seemed on solid foundation. The testimonies that kept coming on Edgar’s cell phone were encouraging. I decided to keep going for the prize of our high calling, Jesus. I kept telling them that the message has always been there and that Jesus is the CHIEF CORNERSTONE and center (Head) of the Apostolic and Prophetic Foundation of the church.

The closing day was more of the same. I sensed that the Holy Spirit wanted to introduce the people to The Renewal, Father’s Blessing which began in Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship on January 20^th 1994. Can you imagine a whole group of people who had never heard of the Toronto Blessing? I shared our experience and gave them all the information I had, along with the Spread the Fire magazines I could bring. We shared how going there 38 times had impacted our lives and receiving SOAKING prayer changed our lives.

When I gave the invitation to receive more of the Lord they all came forward. Such Hunger! They PRESSED in and it was funny to see Roseanne and Linda Try to get them to line up. There just happened to be LINES in the concrete floor with just the right spacing in case they were overcome by the Holy Spirit. What a time of ministry! Every kind of response to the Holy Spirit we had seen we saw take place. He’s the same in the Philippines as he is in Toronto!

The pastors said, "what is this", we said "this is that which was recorded in Acts 2". The leaders that saw what we were doing started to do as we did. To their amazement the people dropped over before they even touched them. This startled them. We just let them go and showed them how to soak people in prayer. For two days we were getting reports of blessings and healings. To God be the Glory!

13) From here on it was from church to church and to a hospital to pray for some people. Then on to more church’s. We lost count and they wore us out of messages.

Time after time we were overwhelmed by the poverty of the region, yet their faith in God and His Provision was heart rending. We gave away money, food, jewelry, clothes and Linda and Roseanne brought school clothes and supplies for Edgar’s children who had nothing. (see journals)

14) Saturday June 10^th. I was suppose to Baptize 10 people. However on Friday night we were taken to a Tribal village church called Higher Ground for a visit. Little did I know that I was to speak there until we arrived at the church. It was already dark when we got there and the church was packed with children and adults. I decided to address the children and share with them how Jesus Loved to be with the children and bless them and He never turned them away. I told them a story about two shepherds and their sheep. How that no matter how the SHEEP mixed together they all KNEW the shepherds VOICE.

I then asked all the CHILDREN who wanted a blessing from the Lord to come forward. The children came forward and when the adults saw and heard what was happening they came and pushed forward.

It was heart rending to see the children push forward to stand there with their head bowed and ready.

Some would even take my hand and put it on their head as I was praying for someone else. All the time Roseanne and Linda were anointing with OIL. Some even came up a second time. Some mothers brought their babies up and held them out for us to lay hands on them. Truly Amazing! Roseanne, Linda and I laid hands on every one of them and prayed an Aaronic Blessing over them.

Then Edgar asked me to speak to them about water Baptism. I had just finished Dale Rumbles new booklet on this subject and had new insight that was new and refreshing REVELATION. I shared what Baptism was and how John the Baptist baptized in the wilderness and ALL CAME to him, even Jesus. I shared the difference between Water Baptism and the Baptism into the Holy Spirit which Jesus Himself instituted and that WE must come to the water and the Spirit to be Baptized.

The next morning we were on the way to the Sea Shore to were the baptism’s were to take place when Edgar turned and said because of your teaching last night 17 more people want to be baptized. This ministry trip seemed like it was taken out of the pages of the bible. I was really humbled by all that was happening as a good size crowd of unbelievers gathered to watch. (Roseanne took some excellent video footage of this event). \O/

On Sunday at Edgar’s church I shared the word of the Lord and we prayed for all. During the testimony time the people shared how the blessing of God had come to their city.

In the evening Roseanne and Linda ministered in song and word at pastor Erlinda Sale’s (1) church. It was very good. God really used these two to minister to the women and what they brought forth added to the overall ministry of the trip. We also visited a hospital to pray for the sick father of one of Edgar’s people.

(1) A point of interest was when Edgar asked me if I wanted to say anything. I said I didn’t. Well he proceeded in Filipino language to teach all that I had ministered on regarding the 5-Fold ministry and the Apostolic and Prophetic Restoration currently sweeping the earth. I was able to pick up bits and pieces of the message and spoke with him afterwards on what he had said.

We visited many of the sites of interest to get a flavor of the prophetic implications, purposes and plans that the Lord has for General Santos city. I sensed that this was not just a usual missions trip. This was a very STRATEGIC city of the Philippine Islands, a MAJOR SHIPPING and INDUSTRIAL PORT. It has a large Muslim population that seems to be at peace with the Christian population. There is HEAVY SECURITY throughout the city.

The FISH, FRUIT, and WOOD industries are a major supplier to the world and to the countries of MALAYSIA, INDONESIA, and the 10/40 WINDOW.

What a Strategic Bay (port), Beach (landing place) to LAUNCH a SPIRITUAL INVASION of a NATION or CONTINENT.

The day before we were to depart Edgar came to our room and asked us to hear what he had to say. He spoke of how he had been approached by the pastors earlier in the day and they asked him if he would ask SACF/Ministries if they could be a "chapter" of SACF and they would take the apostolic and prophetic 5-fold ministry to their city and province. I told him I didn’t see any reason why we couldn’t arrange that. They said they would like all the books, teachings and SACF ministers that will come and teach them.

The next morning he came early and said 5 of the pastors (he said that represented the 5-fold ministry) wanted to meet with us before we left for the airport. So we met for breakfast in the hotel and they affirmed what Edgar had told us. I said we would be honored to have them in NETWORK with us. However I thought NETWORK MINISTRY sounded better than chapter. They agreed with that.

I could not help but see in my mind the MURAL on the wall behind the platform stage in what I began to call the UPPER ROOM. (Where the conference took place) This was an open walled large room, South toward the SEA (BAY) and the other open wall was to the North and the street and city. This MURAL was a HUGE picture of ST. LOUIS with the GATEWAY painted over the city. They had placed, unbeknown to them, the THEME of the conference and my name half way through this archway. My prophetic antenna was going ballistic! The final night during worship some of the pastors had gotten the large BANNER from Edgar’s church and placed it over the Theme which you almost have to see the video while they are putting it up, Again it’s going through the GATEWAY of the city. This GATEWAY is the same shape as the BAY of SARANGANI where GENERAL SANTOS CITY is located, right in the APEX on the BEACH. These pastor’s had no idea what they were doing or that they were doing a PROPHETIC DECLARATION for their city.

Another interesting note that Edgar told us was that the U.S Government had just built the city a new road called FRIENDSHIP ROAD and a new INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. (You can see it on the video)

The U.S government is also trying to convince the Philippine government to let them build an AIRFORCE BASE in their city to replace Clark Airforce Base, which was destroyed by a volcano. (Mt. Pinotobo) Even in the NATURAL this PLACE is recognized as STRATEGIC!

Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit give us WISDOM to do what it takes to SPREAD and KEEP the FIRE BURNING. Father of Creation, let YOUR GLORY FALL on General Santos City, Let it Spread to the WHOLE Island of Mindanao and then to ALL the Philippine Islands. Let it sweep into the 10 / 40 WINDOW and save ALL who come in contact with Your PRESENCE. Let it FALL like RAIN!!

AMEN and AMEN.

By James C. Exner

June 13th 2001

And I have put something in his heart. The Lord has put something in his heart, a cry for a region, seeking God for the time and the season and that whatever is done would honor the Son and honor those in authority. The Holy Spirit would say to you (pointing to the audience) there is No rebellion in this man and do not come into agreement with a fault finding spirit but rather bless a pioneer who will not stop. For the Lord will put a breaker anointing upon your life to speak to the fountain of the deep and to prophesy over a mountain steep and over a region where there is slate, like rock, where some have said it is too hard a spot…but in that very place there will be a new beginning you will see. (I don’t understand but I see bits and pieces… I see in part) I see a grocery store, a food liner (but I don’t know what it means yet). There will be more than one building coming. There is another building coming. Because the Lord is going to give a revelation concerning a heart for the nations. The Lord will give a heart of compassion for the poor and there will be a warehouse that will be given to give to the nations and to the poor and the widow and the orphan and this will be something you will steward, but something you will blow a trumpet on with compassion for the lost, the poor the widow and the orphan. For this is a hallmark of true apostolic Christianity. This is a mark of the real thing. That they care for the orphan, the widow, the poor, the prisoner and those who have no hope. And the Lord will do a new version of thee, …(he begins to laugh) of a salvation army, blood and fire that will be supported by more than a congregation but there will come forth a ministry to the poor birthed in blood and fire. I bless him right now that he would move in apostolic compassion.