Philippines Trip: Jeff Pessina

After a quick stop in Japan and then Detroit we landed in Chicago yesterday - back from the Philippines. The first thing  I did was go out with the family to get something to eat.  It's kind of becoming a family tradition that  after we have been apart (camp, CIY, mission trips, etc) that we go out to eat and get a chance to hear all the stories and catch-up.  So I told the Ferguson gang all about our quick trip to the Philippines.  One of the things I told my family about was this guy - Jeff Pessina.

Jeff is the Director (I just made that title up - it may or may not be his actual title - they aren't really into titles - but he is the guy that everyone looks to for direction) of Frontline Ministries.  At the age of 20 he became a follower of Jesus and decided to follow where ever the Spirit of Jesus led him.  Within 6 weeks Jesus needed him in the Philippines, so he quit his job and sold everything he had to live with the poorest of the poor in this third world country.  For the first five or six years he lived in a tent.  When I asked Jeff about his budget he said, "we live on whatever God sends us".  Stuff does not seem to be a big temptation to Jeff.  He lives as simply as anyone I know.

There are a lots of things I admire about Jeff and what they are doing through Frontline.  I admire...

• ...that since coming to the Philippines he has led a team of evangelists that have literally seen hundreds of thousands of people make first time commitments to Christ. 
• ...his commitment to the poor of his community includes weekly outreaches to street children, sick in the hospital and those in prison (almost sounds like he got these ideas from the Bible).
• ...his courage take Frontline in a brand new direction of planting reproducing churches.
• ...his vision to see their first church reproduce 17 sites within San Pablo and to train future leaders to "take the nation".

However, the thing I admire most about Jeff is the genuine Biblical community that he has created.  There are about fifty people (counting kids and all) that are a part of Frontline.  They all live on the same 3-4 acres and do life together.  They eat together.  They share bathroom facilities together.  They  work together.  They play (lots of) basketball together.  They worship together.  Together they love the lost.  Together they love the lonely.  And they really do love each other.  It is perhaps the best example of Acts 2 community that I have seen.  Amazing!  I wanted my family to know about my new friend and a guy I really admire.  I want you to know about him too.

Comments

[Barry Caudle]

Dave,

It sounds like you are a frontliner now. From your blog it shows that God answered your prayers, and you were impacted by the Frontline team and Jeff Pessina. You are right they are a great example of the Acts 2 church, and also they give you a hunger for evangelism, and looking for those opportunities to share God's love wherever you go. I am praying for you that you won't have to much jet lag. God Bless you!!!

Barry

[Tony]

Welcome back (OK I missed saying this to you yesterday as I passed you at the Yellow Box!!, I'm sooo dippy!!!)

[Francie]

I'm glad you are home safe & sound. Also glad it was such a great experience for you and Josh. I know God will use all of it in amazing ways. Love you.

[jeff pessina]

Dave, thanks for such commendations... perhaps one day we'll figure out what makes people think we're so "out there" (we'll I understand SOME of it). Anyway, My youngest son is now my newest fan telling me to write a book; he said, "I'm sure you'd sell 3,000 of them in the first year!" :) Maybe the title of that will be "A Strange Idea?" :) Either way, I believe we'll continue to feel that our life and activities are a normal response to our faith, not extraordinary. Your visit was a blessing, and we appreciate our developing friendship with CCC. Thanks again for coming out.

[Kristine D. Knight-Holzwarth]

Wow Dave, this photo makes you look 10+ years younger. Funny how life is sometimes, when you find yourself living off the needs of the world and not the wants of those around you. Thank you for helping make this a better world for all of Gods children, one continent at a time .

[Dave Covic]

I had the priviledge of working with group for five years, in fact my daughter was born in the Philippines when we were part of this team. Since then I have taken short term teams literally all over the world and still have not seen an organization do as much with as little as PFMI has. The transition in direction I think is just the Lord doing more through them as the team has matured. I can recommend them with out reservation to any church or arganization looking to partner with foreign workers.

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