I first came to the Mangyan village of Sipit-Saburan in 2006, just a few months after I decided to follow Jesus. I already thought then that our outreach services needed to be seen in the village as a result of our partnership with our Mangyan Brothers and Sisters in Christ to help serve the community . Today, thanks to the partnership of Medical Ambassadors Philippines and Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship, the Mangyans see the difference of having God be the center of all we do, as opposed to the services of many philanthropy groups that came into the village and went again, many only using them to raise funds that never even reach them.
We are set apart for we love people to glorify King Jesus, our living God, creator and provider. Our hearts' purpose is to worship our Creator.
We are set apart for we love people to glorify King Jesus, our living God, creator and provider. Our hearts' purpose is to worship our Creator.
Mamay Birong
with his old Bible
I was told that the land where the Sipit-Saburan Mangyan Village now stands was donated by an Iraya Mangyan named “Mamay” (elder) Birong. He also happened to be the pastor of the only church in the village at that time. Like most elders in the village Mamay Birong does not know how old he is. He only remembers growing up in Occidental (west) Mindoro where the Iraya Mangyan tribe met missionaries from whom they asked to be taught how to read and write. When the missionaries left Mamay Birong learned only the Tagalog alphabet. However, God did not let the absence of teachers stop Mamay Birong from learning how to read. From his basic knowledge of the Tagalog alphabet Birong started looking through a Tagalog Bible given to him and began sounding-out the letters and the words and then pronouncing the words until he was able to read through the Bible. So, Mamay Birong can read but he could not write.
In May of this year I was shocked to discover that the only Bible they had in their small church or even in the whole village is Mamay Birong's old tattered Bible. Early this year God's Living Grace Ministries bought a box of Bibles from a Filipino pastor whose ministry is going around the country preaching the Good News and giving away and selling Bibles at a minimal price.
This is where the Mamay Birong's church gathers...
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Pastor Mener Malinao
Mener is a nephew of Mamay Birong. He became a Christian and a member of an “evangelical” church in the neighboring Ambang Mangyan village. He came to Sipit-Saburan when a outreach church in the village was looking for a local Mangyan to lead their church. I am encouraged by Mener's view of God's Kingdom. One day, it was suggested to him that he invite his uncle Mamay Birong and the “born again” church members to join the Baptist church movement. He respectfully explained to his senior pastors that the village has 94 families so that he would rather see other churches planted and help “harvest” souls rather than having just one church do all the work. So, he would rather see his uncle Mamay Birong succeed in building his "born again" church family than have him join his denomination. Mener finished only second grade but unlike many who finished Bible school his eyes are opened to the Kingdom King Jesus is coming to reign. Soon, the many denominations who preach the Good News will be one within the Kingdom.
Pastor Mener's church is also a recipient of the Bibles from God's Living Grace Ministries.
Mener is a nephew of Mamay Birong. He became a Christian and a member of an “evangelical” church in the neighboring Ambang Mangyan village. He came to Sipit-Saburan when a outreach church in the village was looking for a local Mangyan to lead their church. I am encouraged by Mener's view of God's Kingdom. One day, it was suggested to him that he invite his uncle Mamay Birong and the “born again” church members to join the Baptist church movement. He respectfully explained to his senior pastors that the village has 94 families so that he would rather see other churches planted and help “harvest” souls rather than having just one church do all the work. So, he would rather see his uncle Mamay Birong succeed in building his "born again" church family than have him join his denomination. Mener finished only second grade but unlike many who finished Bible school his eyes are opened to the Kingdom King Jesus is coming to reign. Soon, the many denominations who preach the Good News will be one within the Kingdom.
Pastor Mener's church is also a recipient of the Bibles from God's Living Grace Ministries.
The purchase of the Bibles were made possible by you, our supporters who have shared their blessings to contribute to our ministries here. The cost of one Old and New Testament Filipino Bible is only $2.00.