Gate Way Ministries

            The experience we went through to get our 9g visa to allow us to remain in country continues to produce fruit in our lives. I was charged 2-3 times more than I should have had to pay. I was accused of abusing the system and even told I was a lawbreaker and should have been deported. I spent more time that one year at immigration then all the years previous and since combined. At one point in the process, a Filipino brother in Christ asked if he could help me and accompany me each trip. I asked him to covet with me that no matter what took place we would accomplish one goal – to bring God glory and leave a positive testimony with all we came into contact with. When all the dust had settled – we accomplished that. My friend has commented often when we see each other how amazed he was the way the Holy Spirit controlled me through the worst of it. I concur. That is why I have written on this. We cannot have what we need from God before  ...

Many folks do not understand what many missionaries go through dealing with foreign governments to remain in the country to minister. The USA is so free and easy that we assume other countries would be the same – not so. I have had some interesting experiences and learned a lot from the Lord since we began ministry in the Philippines in 1994. I have decided to share with you one experience we went through. It is sooooo silly and became quite complicated that I will share this in parts. I hope you enjoy, learn and also are challenged when you are placed in different, yet similar circumstances.

I shared this with my support team in a series of ministry updates I send called Leigh’s Es: Now to my visa. I have to get a 9g visa to stay in country – it is good for a year. Until I get it I have to renew my 9a (tourist visa) every two months. The cost to my family is around $300 each time. The USA gives Filipinos a 10 year tourist visa for $50. I have renewed my 9a six times so far waiting for my 9g to be approved – this is not unusual. Finally I get the letter that states my 9g has been approved. ...

Living in a different culture has been a great yet stretching experience. One issue that has really made me consider how arrogant we all can be when it comes to what we call the “norm” is the American concept of Family. A particular item that really struck me surfaced as I began to get to know Lisa – a woman married to one of the brothers I led to the Lord. His name is Chris. At a family party that I was invited to Chris introduced me to Lisa’s mother. Then about an hour later Lisa introduced another woman to me as her mom. Later I asked Lisa about this. She laughed and then explained it to me. The woman Chris introduced was the woman that gave birth to Lisa; the woman Lisa introduced was the woman that raised her. Lisa’s mother had 7 children and she was the last. Her mother’s sister had no children so Lisa’s mother gave Lisa to her for her to bring up. Lisa is friendly with the woman that birthed her but views her Aunt as her mother. I have asked others how much this is done and it is quite normal, particularly with the larger poor families. This really struck me because ...

In August of 1995 I went through a trial unlike I had ever gone through before.  I share it now only to encourage any others in the family that find themselves in a similar experience. I know many of us have found ourselves in similar situations, because I have counseled many through them.  Often believers are afraid to talk of such things with their Pastor or church friends, but because I am usually living thousands of miles away,  they opened up to me. I also believe we really underestimate our Adversary.  The scripture does not speak directly about much of what I will discuss in the retelling of this trial....

A magazine asked me if I felt the Bible is significant as a book alone. (Aside from what I believe about it being the actual Word of God)

What makes a book “Significant”? That would have a two-fold answer. If the book is unique, trustworthy, authoritative and impactful it would qualify as “significant” That significance becomes greater when...

Hey Nate,

Thanks for the group, it is nice and refreshing to see the insight that you have.  I would love to have meet Jun, his love for God and for lost souls, sounds wonderful .  I am a child of God who had struggles with alcohol and am now working with those in active addictions.  My addiction prevented me from having a true and meaningful relationship with God, but thank God he removed this from my life and his blessings have been so wonderful.

Reflection: I was thinking about my dear friend and brother in the Lord the other night. So I felt led to share this    as my first reflection on my new blog. I  shared this over 14 years ago with friends that helped us come to the Philippines.

A Death in The Family:

“But Jun smoked!”  Yes he did. Jun Pacudan smoked! He was born again and still smoked. He would walk out of the home where he had just led a Bible Study and light up a cigarette. Two months before he would light up while he was still inside the house. Before he was a believer he would light up during the studies I was teaching. Jun had been a believer for just over 5 months - but he still smoked. Jun read most of the entire Bible in those 5 months - but he smoked. Jun went out and made contacts that led to the beginning of 4 new Bible Studies - which he asked if he could lead - but Jun smoked. Every Tuesday I would meet with Jun to go over the lesson, which he had designed and desired to have me check out - but Jun smoked. Each lesson developed by this babe in Christ was in Tagalog and English (for my sake) with attached study notes that Jun had done using the Bible, concordance and one doctrine book I had bought for him, each guide was at least 7 pages long - but Jun smoked. Only...