Church Planting: God takes you to places
By Karen Santiago
“…I just want to be remembered as a person who serves God wholeheartedly and faithfully. All that I had and will have are all because of Him.”
These simple words came from a simple person who made a big impact in God’s ministry as a church planter. He wanted to leave a legacy of standing by faith, despite all the pain and suffering, because Christ already won it all at the Cross.
For Pastor Bong Gonzales, faith and absolute obedience to God are the essential elements to stand firm in sharing the Gospel, in winning souls and also, in church planting.
Hatred, Poverty and Chaos
Pastor Bong’s life was ruled by chaos and hatred before he came to know the Lord Jesus. He held a grudge against his father who had abandoned their family during his childhood. This same grudge urged him to take BS Criminology with the sole purpose of killing his father. He became addicted to drugs, alcohol, and was always involved in street fights even at a young age. He also recalled that because of poverty, it was hard for him and his family to survive.
God Called, He Listened
But God is good! On May 26, 1985, at the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Church’s Morning Breeze Community Bible Study in Caloocan, the Lord Jesus made Himself known to Pastor Bong. That day, he accepted Christ as his God and Personal Savior and this led to his transformation – for the better. He put aside his vices and grudge, and became addicted to the word of God, reading and meditating it day and night. He became a volunteer worker for this church.
A week later, Pastor Bong heard the voice of God calling him to preach His word and to plant churches. At first, he found it weird because he seemed to have heard an audible voice. He refused this call at first, but the Lord never stopped speaking to him through his prayers, even during his spare time, and even during his police training. He then needed to heed this call.
Pastor Bong as a Church Planter
He started to attend leadership and discipleship trainings in his local church, after which he was able to handle his first bible study in Bagong Barrio, still in Caloocan. Three years later, he became the home church coordinator of JIL Morning Breeze. At that time, he was left with only 12 members because of previous leadership issues that they had to deal with. But only after three months, God worked in this church –increasing its members to more than a hundred.
Afterwards, he became a JIL full time pastor in 1990, pioneering JIL churches in Occidental Mindoro, Ilocos Norte and Batanes. It was also during this time when he married Sis. Rose Rotoras, a fellow worker in JIL Caloocan. God used Pastor Bong in saturating each barrio and each town in these provinces through the Word of God. Each JIL church planted became strong with increasing number of attendees and committed leaders and workers.
He decided to move his family with him in Basco, Batanes. During that time, God spoke to him once more, saying that He will bring him abroad. He further confirmed that this voice was coming from the Lord during his prayer and fasting. The Holy Spirit told him that he would be sent to Canada.
The Lord proved to Pastor Bong that if it is His plan, it shall come to pass. He and his family flew to Canada in 2001 and he was assigned in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Mississauga, among others. And by the grace of God, once again, the churches planted experienced growing number of attendees. More people heard the Gospel through these JIL Churches. Though there were seasons when the enemy tried to tear down these churches, still God held them and even made them stronger.
Challenges and Things Worth Remembering
“For me the biggest challenge was leaving and being away with my family for many weeks and months,” he said.
He has always wanted his family to be with him, primarily because of his experience coming from a broken family. But considering his calling as a pastor and a church planter, he had to be away from his wife and children most of the time. But even if this made him sad, his love and commitment to God and his calling prevailed.
Another thing that he had to go through was his adjustment in these new places, including coping with new ways of living and interacting with different people. But he overcame because God gave him knowledge and wisdom to adapt to changes. He was also thankful that God use him to showcase His awesome power through miracles, signs and wonders.
All of these caused him to become more faithful to his calling.
Straight From the Heart (of a Church Planter)
When asked about his principles, ideals and aspirations as a church planter, Pastor Bong will tell you these: “Dependence on the Holy Spirit, holy living, strategic planning and right timing, regular prayer and fasting, obedience and submission to the church leadership, “dying to one’s self”, and believing that God will do wonders as one exalts His name.
Pastor Bong firmly holds his principles based on John 6:27: “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval”
Current Assignments
Today, Pastor Bong is the JIL Church’s Director for International Operations – North America 2.
He is currently planting an English service church in Canada. Also, they are working and praying to purchase a multi-purpose church building that can accommodate more than a thousand congregation in one service. They are also in the process of improving the JIL Praise Valley Canada Campsite.
Under him, the JIL Canada leaders and workers are equipped and strengthened through the implementation of the JIL Mission, Vision and Core Values’ strategies and programs.
Pastor Bong is an example of the truth that God can use anyone to carry out His perfect plan for men. He always asks for divine intervention in choosing the right people for His church. Pastor Bong believes that God will bring us to our end so that He can begin His wonderful works in us.
“He changed my life and called me, He led me and showed His grace and mercy to me in a way beyond anyone’s imagination. God can use an insignificant person like me and bless me significantly so that when people will know about it and see it, they will be amazed. I am a recipient of God’s amazing grace and mercy.”
