Conference Committee on Mission Service sends a VIM Team to the Philippines

by Rev. Dr. Felicisimo Cao

A Volunteers-In-Mission Trip team to the Philippines had been organized by the Global Ministries Team on the Conference Committee on Mission Service. The team of seven (7) people are led by Fel Cao, Conference Secretary of Global Ministries and pastor serving at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, Henry Pablo III, pastor serving at Dixon UMC, Omer Thompson and Graesson Berbano, members of Community UMC in Half Moon Bay, Jesse Dizon and Ellen Dizon, members of Pinole UMC, Sally Flores, member of Loomis UMC. Ellen and Sally are Deaconesses. The VIM trip dates are from February 25 through March 11, 2024.

The following are the objectives of the Philippine VIM Trip:
1. Re-build mission partnership with Global Ministries-Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO), the EcuVoice (Ecumenical Voice) of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and the Manila Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church in support of the vision of the California-Nevada Conference, “Following Jesus, Thriving in Community, Healing the World.” There will be an opportunity to visit ministry sites where GBGM missionaries are serving like at Kapatiran Kaunlaran Foundation, Inc., where urban street children are being provided with care and shelter.

2. Promote, “Decolonizing Mission,” with intentional progressive mission practices, participation in education and raising awareness about the critical need of building partnerships in doing missions for the transformation of the world.

3. Engagement in grassroots Biblical and Theological Reflections with planned immersion experience, providing space to listen to people’s stories of struggles and to show solidarity. The team will have the opportunity to listen to Professor Revelation Velunta, faculty member at Union Theological Seminary in Dasmarinas, Cavite who teaches New Testament and Culture and is the author of, “Reading the Parables of Jesus Inside a Jeepney.”

4. VIM Hands-on Repair Project at the Decker Home-Deaconess House and offices of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.