CSM and LMW Partner in Manila 

Church Strenghtening Ministry (CSM) and Leadership Ministries Worldwide (LMW) began a partnership six years ago. During that time Dr. Will Gopffarth (see photo) was the Director of the IMB business in Manila. Dr. Gopffarth's goal was to build the publishing business and at the same time train Filipinos to take it over completely by the time he retired. In 2005, he did just that and then in 2006 he retired and moved back to his home state of Texas in the U.S.

When Dr. Gopffarth saw The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible (POSB) he realized what a vaulable tool it could be for pastors in the Philippines, but the cost made it unreachable for most of them. That's when he approached Jack Walker, then the Executive Director of LMW, and the partnership was born. Soon the POSB and The Minister's Personal Handbook were being printed in the Philippines. It would be available and affordable for Filipino pastors. At first individual volumes were being printed, but pastors were wanting the complete set. Dr. Will made the decision to go ahead and print the all of the remaining volumes at one time.

Since 2002, the complete POSB New Testament has been available in the Philippines. CSM now supplies Outline Bible Resources (OBR) to several other countries. Emails that are sent to LMW and are requesting purchases of OBR from countries in the Pacific Rim are forwarded to CSM.

In 2002 and 2004, OBR Workshops were held in several cities and towns of Luzon, one of the the big islands of the Philippines. Partnering with CSM, the training team traveled up the island and worked with many pastors during that time. The very first OBR Workshop for this country was held across the street from the royal palace where the preident resides. Another of the workshop venues was the Baptist Seminary in mountain city of Baguio. Others were held in the flatlands and in the capital city of Manila. 

On Sunday evening the team started out with their guide and helper, Pastor Jun. They boarded a jeepney, the local way to travel short distances, and then the light-rail train, and finally they took a walk through a very dimly lit area of Manila. AS they were walking down the street, Pastor Jun suddenly turned into what looked like an old warehouse. Upon reaching the second floor, the team found a brightly lit area that turned out to be a church. Soon there were other people that came walking in. Before the evening workshop began there were over 60 people in the church. Ready to study how to be more effective in their preaching and teaching. It was a blessing to be with that wonderful group of Filipino Christians.

Pray that God will continue to allow CSM to be a publishing lighthouse for the Philippines! Also pray for Abner Lacson. Abner now has the responsibility of running CSM and maintaining partnerships with Christian publishers all over the world.

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