by Roger Marcos
Identifying the Need to Learn New Languages to Communicate God’s Word
I came to Canada in 1994 from the Philippines where I started a pastoral work as full-time pastor for eight years at Aparri Church of Christ Inc.
Ministry within the church is a part of my life journey but then I was in a foreign country where the struggle to communicate is a challenge because English is not my native tongue. Oftentimes, I said to the Lord: “Why did you bring me to an English-speaking country?” It’s funny but it’s true! So, I decided to learn Tagalog which is considered as the national language of the Philippines so I can communicate better with other Filipino immigrants here and English which is important in my work and in ministry.
In 1994 I was involved in the church leadership and as part of my training, I learned to become aware and sensitive of the Holy Spirit’s promptings toward kingdom work. The big challenge for me was fulfilling the work of Jesus through the Great Commission.
I knew for sure I’d be involved in the church for so many years—the focus had always been there. My concern was for the church growth in numbers, but it was limited because I have a full-time job to support my family. I was a part-time pastor at the North York Church of Christ (NYCC) preaching, teaching, and counselling the church at the outset.
Identifying God’s Call to Ministry Work
Time passed and they decided to hire someone full-time at the church which I never dreamed I’d be a pastor here in Canada. In my own judgment I was suited better for being a Philippine pastor. As I recall, brother Edmund Lucido came for a visit with a word of encouragement which I never expected, and he said, “I think God is calling you to do the ministry work.”
“Really?” I answered.
“Yeah, bro,” Edmund said.
I kept quiet—Not knowing what will come next. The leadership met and discussed what was best for the church. They talked to me, with regards to their plan to hire a full-time minister.
My response then was: “I’m not saying I don’t like it and I’m not saying I do like it. I’ll give you two months to pray, and I will pray.” That’s my word to the church leadership. So I knelt down to God so I can determine what response I need to confirm. After two months of intense prayers, God’s call [on me] to be the pastor of North York Church of Christ had been accepted without a second thought. In hindsight, Brother Gil Bacus also became the spiritual architect and can be considered an advocate behind me in becoming the first full-time pastor at NYCC with the support of the entire church.
My life experiences in ministry testify to God’s faithfulness from day one and I can’t imagine we have just celebrated 33 years of ministry at North York Church of Christ. My focus has always been on sharing the Bible and the Restoration Movement principles which are very important to know. Overall, my priorities were sustaining Bible studies, strengthening the prayer warrior ministry, pursuing home visitations, preserving marriages as an institution and making a difference in the lives of people.
Identifying Where the Holy Spirit is Working
In 2018, with the Holy Spirit’s leading, some church members who lived an hour’s drive away from the church in Toronto caught my attention. I proposed one day that it would be better for one car to travel their way rather than the four or five cars traveling an hour to NYCC. They were church members and I wanted a commitment from them that if I travelled an hour to lead their Bible study then they needed to provide a house as a meeting place. That way they did not have to spend much on gas.
Glory to God! On March 13, 2022, NYCC launched the Church at Guelph which is the first church planted by the NYCC, registered under the name 33AD Church of Christ, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
The vision statement of NYCC is “A Church that Cares and Reaches the Lost!” It has always been my marching order in terms of pursuing ministry.
As I am always aware of the direction of the Holy Spirit, I brought this unexpected calling to the NYCC board members, to start another outreach ministry at Scarborough which is located in the east side of the Greater Toronto Area. A big “YES” was given and the Bible studies started right away conducted every Sunday afternoon after the NYCC main church worship.
We give glory to the Lord for the realization of the church in Scarborough! In 2022 the Brethren and Sister’s Church of Christ was registered as a local congregation in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The right mindset to plant a church is to follow the Great Commission—to go and preach the Gospel to all nations right where you are. This is a noble work you can be involved in because you are sharing a divine message of Jesus with people that determines their eternal destiny. I am convinced through the mercy and grace of God and the help of the people at NYCC that the plan to start a new church in Scarborough would be blessed and become a reality.
Identifying NYCC’s Dream to Enlarge God’s Territory Through Immigrant Networking
Networking in spiritual terms can be a good practice if you’re in God’s Kingdom. When people come from the Philippines, they would often know me because of my prior network back in the Philippines or someone in the church has a connection with them. Networking is essential. I love collecting stuff like microwaves, toasters, tables, and chairs. When I hear about someone or families flying to Toronto, I’ll volunteer to pick them up mainly because of our common network and ask them what they need and what their preferences are. I help pool care packages to provide the most basic stuff to help them get settled here in Canada. These are often small things and gestures extended to newcomers and they never forget those thoughtful acts. I bring them to church because the church is a community. People know it’s important to have community especially when you are starting in a foreign country.
If a friend I know recommends someone who moved here, I’ll go visit and offer my assistance and practical helps —we have benevolence and mission assistance at NYCC and if there are any goods we can extend to them we try our best to help.
If they are looking for a job, I’ll drive them to get their social insurance and their health cards. Sometimes, if needed, I’ll pick them up and take them to the agency to find a job. We need to acknowledge the reality of NYCC as a church in assisting people, meeting them where they are first and foremost rather than the other way around which often leads to lost opportunities to minister. The credit goes to God and I’m only the vessel to connect so that the people may know how important it is to have a community like a church family. Without a community, people get stressed with the transitions as newcomers and can also become depressed due to the isolation from a lack of vital human connection. The people need to know there is a Godly community they can count on not only spiritually speaking but is there for them physically for practical helps on their journey right in our own city. That’s the real need. That’s why the church is relevant as it makes community living a reality for people it seeks to minister to.
Identifying the Need to Develop New Church Leaders
When working with a group of people, my goal before appointing any leader or installing any form of leadership role is to ensure they know the Restoration Movement of the work of Jesus Christ. Choosing a leader is not based on the gift of public speaking alone. That is not the criteria I use on how I choose people who serve in NYCC. An important aspect is the element of how strong they are with regards to the Word of God. It is not because they’re talented. If you only choose by virtue of talents, they will stray away from the real doctrine of the Restoration Movement that focuses on the Bible, belief in Christ and forming one body of Christ in unity. They need to become a student of the Bible. They are also diligent in prayer and intercession so that they will be able to depend on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to discern what is best for the congregation and to expand God’s glory and kingdom rule through continued obedience and faithfulness.
The main objective is to protect the teaching of the Bible of Jesus Christ. There is no other. Jesus is the greatest example and model in life and in the discipleship mandate. I can see by their own commitment whether they put Jesus first. They need commitment and loyalty—loyalty is not a word it is an action. That’s how I define commitment and loyalty. Here in NYCC, many people come from different church backgrounds like Methodist, Roman Catholic, and other congregations but when I teach them in our 101 Membership Class pertaining to NYCC’s doctrine and vision for the church and how to become a member of the church, we come together in love and unity to pursue the cause of Christ. They must know Restoration Movement doctrine and become a member of NYCC before they become a leader—after three years I ask that they get baptized. For example, a pastor from another church started attending NYCC but before he became a deacon or an elder, I baptize him.
I explain to them I do not know what kind of baptism they had from their previous church. I tell them when you embrace the doctrine of the Lord in the New Testament--you are leaving behind the old doctrine you have. The only way to present how someone totally accepts the doctrine is by their obedience in baptism through immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. No one complains because I tell them upfront.
I want to know from a potential leader what they know about Jesus Christ. What do they think about communion—the Lord’s Supper? Do you agree 100%? What do you say about giving to the Church? My point is if you do not agree with the doctrine of the church then why do you want to become a leader? I do not want people to disagree during Sunday School or during the Bible study. We are agreeing about something from day one before we proclaim them to be a leader in the church. We have a private meeting with the leadership.
Potential leaders must agree with Restoration Movement principles of NYCC before I call their wife and interview her about her husband becoming a leader at NYCC. “Your husband wants to become a leader in the church. Will you support him or not? Why or why not? If you cannot support him, then there is no reason for him to become a leader.”
If the wife agrees, then I present the doctrine to them and so they can embrace the doctrine as well. Then we are able pursue and preserve the teachings of Jesus Christ. The unity of the leadership matters because when you bring something up to the congregation like giving and they are 100% in agreement, a miracle of spiritual unity and physical harmony occurs in the congregation and most importantly, in the families that make up the church. It is by the grace of God I’ve been at NYCC for 31 years.
When the leadership and the members of the church help each other because we’re all on the same page, then to be honest, if we need 100 volunteers to help in the community, I know the volunteers will be there. We will not have a hard time finding them because they know the church is a community that uplifts each other.
Lastly, an NYCC outreach at Hamilton, Ontario was started last August 2024. This is another huge faith challenge as we facilitate a service after the NYCC worship at the main church in North York in the morning then an appointed leader will travel an hour to host the service in Hamilton.
If you ask me how does one plant a church? Go with God’s plan in Matthew 28:19-22 to obey Christ’s command to disciple others to love and follow Jesus, commit to be faithful to the Bible as the Word of God sustained by faithfulness in prayer as a spiritual discipline. I experience most of the breakthroughs in church ministry on my knees, depending fully on the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the work of God, not mine!
For in Him we live and move and have our being.
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