WHO WE ARE
Christ to the Philippines is a growing, multiplying, and disciple-making church, reaching out to the Philippines and to the nations for God's glory.
History
The story of Christ to the Philippines started with a vision, a vision of islands – “The isles shall wait for his law” (Isaiah 42:4). It continued with another vision, “the isles shall wait upon me and on my arms shall they trust” (Isaiah 51:5). Now we declare his praise in the islands” (Isaiah 42:12). These ‘islands’ of course were believed to be the Philippine archipelago.
The Setting
Christ to the Philippines came into being some 60 years after the first protestant church was established in the Philippines. It was during those years when then Ferdinand Marcos was about to finish his four-year term as president of the Philippines.
A Confirmation from the Lord
In 1966, Harold Mcdougal Jr., from Fairmount West Virginia, came to the Philippines with his wife Diane to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the Philippines with the intention of planting churches. Originally, they had in mind going to India to serve as missionaries there, but on their way to the country and in transitory ministry in Hongkong they were given two tickets for Manila which they acknowledged as a confirmation from the Lord to come to the Philippines.
Rev. Robert Robinson and wife Rita later joined them. He became a co-founder of Christ to the Philippines and served as director of CTTP from 1973 to 1978. Other American missionaries followed them. They conducted evangelistic crusades in many towns, cities and even remote villages, with the purpose of planting churches.
Along the years, God raised people to support the Mission, Sis Ruth Bloom and husband George Hurd(deceased) served as Treasurer of Philippine Mission and raised finances for the ministry.
The Birth of an Organization
In 1969, CTTP was formally registered as a non-stock, non-profit organization, a denomination aimed at uniting local congregations it has established in a single legal administrative body. Training workers became an integral part of the ministry using the Short Term Training Program.
Taking Root in the Heart of the City
By 1970, Murphy Church found a permanent location for worship. In its beginnings, the church had to meet in a rented apartment before finally finding a house at 11th Avenue, Murphy, Quezon City with an ample space at the back where at first, services were conducted under some trees. Today a new building is situated to host the worship services.
Catalyst of the Holy Spirit
We could very well say that CTTP has played a role in ushering the movement of the Holy Spirit among the Catholics in the Philippines. By the later part of the 80’s the Catholic Church in the Philippines recognized the emergence of Pentecostal and Born Again groups.
The Mustard Seed Planted in the City
CTTP began small and with not much resources but the passion of the mostly young and untrained ministers sufficed – a CTTP trait that has been noted even by other denominational leaders. In 1976, a daughter missions organization was established in Thailand called Christ to Thailand Mission. The year marked the turn for Filipinos – Luciano Cariaga, Pedro Belardo, Mario Taculod and Sonny Largado – to become founders of a mission group. It would later become an umbrella organization for various Christian ministries. Seven years later the Mission established a Training Center in Khonkaen located in Northeast Thailand.
1978 saw the turnover of leadership from the foreign founding missionaries to the locals giving birth to all-Filipino CTTP Board, with Joey Tupe, former missionary to Vietnam, as director. They missionary founders by then believed that it was high time to give full authority to the nationals but they were neither independent of the Philippine Mission nor continue to be fully dependent on them. The aim was to have an interdependent relationship between the two.
In 1979, the CTTP Training Center in Murphy was transferred to Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal. It also got a new name, Asian Hope Bible School, under the leadership of Levita Dacayanan, former missionary to Hongkong. Other Bible Schools were established to serve the districts of North and South Bicol.
In Thailand, a church called Namphrathai (God’s Will) was established in Bangkok under the leadership of Luciano Cariaga. Then a few years lalter, Estelita Besas took over and has now served in that capacity for ten years.
In 1981, Berth Colosaga, former missionary to Ecuador, was elected as CTTP Director. A three-year program of church growth was launched. The plan was designed to produce simultaneous growth in membership of local churches as well as the number of churches under CTTP.
Over the years, CTTP has been declaring God’s Word and touching the world. As we’ve grown spiritually, we have also grown numerically. To date, we have planted 91 churches geographically located in six districts all over the country with 150 licensed ministers all actively and faithfully serving in God’s Vineyard.
Our Mission
Experience Christ
Engage People
Explore Nation
Expand Churches
Our Vision
A growing, multiplying and disciple-making church reaching out to the Philippines and to the nations for God’s glory.
Core Values
Discipline
Discipline mixed with love makes functional, well-balanced disciples. CTTP leaders and disciplers will not induce fear, humiliation, shame or emotional coercion but should aim at full restoration for an erring member. In so doing, respect for each is gained or enhanced. A wise CTTP member and disciple is open to impose and receive discipline when warranted. Heb. 12:10
Integrity
Integrity is the fullness of self and requires a spiritual and transformative journey. It requires an inner sense of ‘wholeness’ and consistency of character. It is a choice in all areas of life that we make in our daily journey. It is being honest and authentic with our thoughts, words, decisions, methods and behaviors based on God’s spiritual truths. It is integrating all these into ONE WHOLE PERSON wherever we are and in whatever situation we are in. Titus 2:7-8
Submission
All authorities come from God, thus rebelling against them is rebelling against God. In CTTP, we honor and respect God’s appointed authorities for a number of reasons, namely: to honor God, to help serve their purpose and to follow Christ’s example, among others. Thus, when we obey the rules, policies or directives instituted by earthly authorities, we obey God. This does not preclude our submission to God and to one another in the Body of Christ. Rom. 13:1, 1Pet. 2:17-18
Commitment
The cost of totally committing to God is high because He demands 100%, not half-hearted commitment; that is loving Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. In particular, loving Him with all our strength requires our action in loving God, meaning our active participation in His work. At CTTP, all are enjoined to commit to the ministries of Missions, Discipleship and Church Planting – the Ministry’s main thrusts. On the basis of God’s word, there is simply no way to live the Christian life without total commitment because there lies the heart of our relationship with God. Luke 9:23-24
Initiative
As a church, CTTP’s prayer is to transform the Philippines into a truly progressive Christian nation in Asia. Prayer, coupled with its active participation in initiating programs and projects for community development, integration in the marketplace, and nation building can demonstrate our concern for others and love of country.
Partnerships
CTTP encourages partnership among churches within the organization in pursuit of a shared vision and mission. A Ministry with loving and helping relationship and without self-serving interest make the work easier and faster. Partnership with organizations outside of CTTP with the same or similar purpose is also encouraged. In so doing, the interest of the partners should be protected. A mutually beneficial relationship shall be established in terms of resource sharing, access to information and talents, long-term sustainability and credibility as organizations.
Loyalty
In CTTP context, loyalty to the organization means faithfulness and devotion to the Ministry’s cause, doctrines, principles and leadership. This may demand our sacrifice as a CTTP member in times of need, our unwavering support in good and bad times. It may mean forgoing our own self-interest for the greater good of the organization. It is speaking positive things about CTTP and its leaders, and constructively giving feedback to proper authorities for improvement. Loyalty is a condition of the heart that only wishes God’s will for the organization to succeed.
Excellence
We serve a mighty excellent God so He expects quality and excellence from what we do – from cleanliness and orderliness of our sanctuary to our praise and worship and teaching/preaching the Word. To do this, we have to be excellent ourselves in all aspects – physically, emotionally, intellectually and most importantly, spiritually. We need to be excellent to be able to create an impact on people with whom we proclaim the message of salvation. Mediocrity in all areas of ministry is taboo at CTTP. After all, the excellence in service we give to God is what He truly and richly deserves Col. 3:23
Stewardship
Whether we have much or little, we are accountable to God for everything - our treasure, talents and time. Stewardship is using all that we have for the glory of the Giver. CTTP’s generation, use, or management of resources are processes exercised with utmost care, not for the benefit of a few but of many to serve His bigger purpose. Faithfulness in tithing, rendering service through the use of members’ diverse talents, and allocating time for God’s service are practices extensively and intensively done in CTTP. Mal. 3:10, Phil. 4:14-19, 1Pet. 4:10
STATEMENT OF FAITH
1. We believe in the Bible as the Word of God, verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit, completely without error as originally written, and supremely authoritative for faith and conduct. (Matt. 24:35; Ps. 119:89; II Pet. 1:9-12; 2 Tim 3:15-17)
2. We believe in the one true God, eternally existent in three distinct persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deut. 6:4; Lk. 3:22; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Jn. 1:1,14)
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, did many miracles, died on the cross as sacrifice for sin, resurrected bodily, ascended to heaven, and will return to earth in power and glory. (John 1:1,14,18; John 3:16; Luke 1:30-35; Phil. 2:5-8; Col. 2:3,9; Mark 10:45; Acts 2:22-24; John 1:29; Rom. 3:25-26; Heb. 10:5-14; 1 Pet. 2:24, 1 Pet. 3:18; John 20:20; Phil. 3:20-21; Heb. 1:3; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1; Acts 1:11; Heb. 9:28; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; 2 Thes. 2:7; Matt. 24:44; Rev. 19:11-21)
4. We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God but fell voluntarily to sin and his only hope of redemption is through repentance from sin and faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, which provided salvation from sin and healing for the body in answer to believing prayer. (Gen. 1:26-31; Gen. 3:1-7; Acts 2:38; 3:19; Acts 20:21; Rom. 10:9-10; I Jn. 5:13; Isa. 53:4-5; James 5:14-16)
5. We believe that every true believer of Jesus Christ should be baptized by immersion in water in obedience to His commandment; that he should be partaker of the Holy Communion which is the Lord’s Supper, a memorial of Christ’s suffering and death and a prophecy of His Second Coming. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47; Rom. 6:4; I Cor. 11:23-26)
6. We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit and in His many other works in the life of believers, particularly in empowering them for a life of holiness and service. (Acts 1:4-5,8; Rom 8:1-17; I Pet 1:2; 2 Thess. 2:13; Gal. 5:22-23; I Cor. 12:1-11) (As amended on May 23, 2019)
7. We believe in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is made up of true born again believers, who have been baptized by immersion, regularly partaking of the Lord’s Supper, are championing the Great Commission, which involves the evangelization of the lost and the discipleship of believers, and who submit to the governing authorities of the church and to church discipline. (Eph. 1:22-23; I Cor. 12:12-14,27; Mk. 16:15-20; Matt. 28:18-20; Eph. 4:11-13; Heb. 13:17-19; I Thess. 5:12; Matt. 18:15-17)
8. We believe that the work of the Lord in and through the church is best sustained and expanded through the faithful giving of tithes and offerings of its members. (Mal 3:8-10; Prov 3:9-10; 1Cor. 9:7-14; 2Cor 9:15)
9. We believe that marriage is an exclusive union between two consenting adults, one man and one woman, and that, outside of it, any sexual act is considered sinful, including but not limited to fornication, adultery, and same-sex sexual acts, which call for church discipline, the ultimate extent of which is expulsion from the church. (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6; Heb. 13:4; Lev. 18:22; I Cor. 6:9) (As amended on May 23, 2019)
10. We believe in the Second Coming of Christ, the bodily resurrection of both believers and the lost, in the final judgment and in the final dwelling place for believers, the New Heaven and New Earth. (Matt. 24:30-31; I Thess. 4:13-18; Matt. 25:46; Mk. 9:38-48; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:8; Isa. 66:22; II Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1) (As amended on May 23, 2019)