Field Report: Parañaque City, Phillipines
How TRANSFORMATION is transforming a city
June 2008
Pop quiz: What are the signs that God’s presence and power have come to your city?
- A) Christians gain exemption from speeding tickets.
- B) Book of Ezekiel must be recited from memory to receive public assistance.
- C) The Passion of the Christ is only movie playing within city limits.
- D) Corruption dwindles, city income skyrockets, crime rate plummets, new businesses flourish, Church happens 24/7 in City Hall, young people without futures receive skills for success and relationships for life.
—OK, you know the answer!
What is less obvious is how a city arrives at such a point of transformation and what type of person God uses to bring it about…
Enter Harvest Evangelism Philippines Director, King Flores. King is best described as a humble bulldozer – a mover with an innate faith that allows him to come into intractable situations, particularly with governmental and business leaders, minister to them, see their problems resolved and then remain alongside as a loyal pastor and servant. This is a remarkable apostle.
To illustrate, below is King’s most recent report, showing the stunning turnaround God has caused in his home city:
“Ed, In my city – Parañaque City – a City Hall employee attended your seminar, where she realized that she is called to be a minister to local government. She then asked permission to hold daily prayer in City Hall for all the workers and the newly elected mayor. The mayor readily agreed and emphasized the need to pray for elimination of the 1 billion Peso debt he inherited from his predecessor.
Since then, tremendous changes have taken place! Graft and corruption were curbed and the income of our city grew by 300% from 900 million to 2.7 billion pesos. The crime rate was trimmed down, a garbage disposal problem was solved, new businesses sprouted all over and employment grew by leaps and bounds. A ‘Healing Room’ was instituted at the Dept. of Social Welfare to pray for the sick and needy. Our Mayor was subsequently awarded as the best mayor of the nation and so was our police force as the best in the nation!
Our mayor is now part of our ministry which we call the ‘My City God’s City Movement,’ and serves as the honorary chairman of our Marketplace Pastor’s Academy where we teach and train out-of school youth how to change society via the marketplace instead of society changing them. He and all the other leaders of the different sectors of the city have dedicated and rededicated our city to God. The city seal was even redesigned and stands as a tangible symbol!
-from King Flores
Paranaque City Mayor Florencio Bernabe, Jr.(center) displays Transformation book that has provided direction for his administration.
Powerful figures take point in inviting God to fix their nation
The amazing changes King is seeing do not stop at the Mayor’s office. His efforts have opened the door for him to work closely with the Supreme Court Chief Justice of the Philippines, a committed Christian! He writes:
“The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, along with the Senate President and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives are strong believers who share a burden to see a moral revolution within the judiciary system. Because graft and corruption are highlighted almost daily in the papers, this is clearly the #1 felt need. At the last national prayer breakfast they boldly presented the vision for this and have asked our transformation network to lead the way in seeking a point of inception for it to begin. This is unprecedented among developed nations and also a high honor coming from the most authoritative individuals in Filipino society. Imagine the Philippines becoming a world-wide model for God’s power to wash away governmental corruption!
With all of these praise reports, we are so grateful to the Lord for sending us one of His humble and faithful servants in the person of Bro. Ed Silvoso who has given us his time, talents and gifting for our nation to be transformed. ALL GLORY TO GOD!”
Supreme Court Chief Justice, the former speaker of the House, King Flores and the Senate President of the Philippines display the manifesto dedicating Paranaque City to the Lord.
Three things YOU can do to help spread transformation
My friends, this is the kind of report that shows the power of God working practically, tangibly and actively on a national stage. It is happening and it can happen where you live too.
I urge you to do three things today that will make an immediate difference:
- Go to www.harvestevan.org and get your own copy of Transformation, the same book being held by the Mayor in the accompanying photo. It will lift your heart and prepare your feet for action.
- Please join us in raising up the King Flores’ of the world by making an investment into Harvest Evangelism by clicking here. It will yield powerfully back into your own area.
- Begin to pray for your Mayor and ask God how you should connect with City Hall. He is eager to surprise you!
~Ed Silvoso
P.S. As you are likely aware, this week a new law went into effect here in California allowing same-sex marriage. Many are watching anxiously to see if it becomes a harbinger for the whole nation. This illustrates how important it is for us to raise up those like King who are not merely holding back evil, but are actively establishing the kingdom of God and drawing entire governments into the light of His healing and redemption. If ever there were a time to join us, this is it!