Johnson's Home Page
Updated 31 Aug 2005
Web Editor - Don Tarvin
The Johnson Family
BBFI Missionaries to the
2001 In Review
In February of 2001 Michelle and I began Bible Studies in three families in San Mateo, Rizal. Rizal is a province that borders the National Capital Region on the main island of Luzon. San Mateo is on the outer edge of the Metro Manila area. We began with the help of three families from the main work of Eddie and Cindy Lyons, along with a young man named Emmy Rebollido, a young preacher training to be a pastor. We once had 35 people in one home and saw over 25 saved in these home studies.
We met in homes for almost three months. God gave us a location near the point where three cities meet. We are amazed at the continual influx of people into this area. It seems to grow more each week. We began renting the second floor of a business building along the main road. We can set up 70 chairs in the main room and have two smaller rooms for children's classes. We had borrowed workers and musicians from the main work to start with.
At the end of six months were averaging 68 and had had a high of 90. After three months the borrowed workers had fulfilled their commitments to help. By this time God had graciously lifted up those from our new congregation who wanted to begin their service to God. Throughout the first six months we had close to 100 people come to know the Lord.
We were also able to do an evangelical outreach with the help of a martial arts and drama team in one of the large public high schools in are area. We were able to give a clear gospel presentation to 1,300 students and teachers with 456 professions of faith as a result. One young man from that school got saved and is now a member of our church. He is very talented musically and is now part of our music ministry with the possibility of being a future leader within that area of our church ministry.
2001 closed with a great month. December, our eighth month, has been our best yet. We had a weekly average of 143 with a high of 187. None of these were special promotion Sundays either. God is bringing new individuals and families to us every week.
God is definitely at work and doing something in San Mateo. We thank Him for allowing us to be a part of what He has chosen to do here in this place. And we thank you for choosing to be a part of it with us through your prayers and giving. May God continue to richly bless all your endeavors for Him throughout this next year.
Yours for souls,
Mark Johnson