Philippine FORO #2

I’ve mentioned FOROs here before. No, it isn’t an acronym. It’s a Spanish word for forum or meeting. Yes, I have to capitalize it. People above my pay grade have made that decision. Life goes on.

The name doesn’t really matter, though.

Voted on in convention three years ago, the FORO model started in the Latin America Region (LAC) of Office of International Mission (OIM) and now is being mandated across all four OIM regions. All of which is fine. Life goes on.

The idea is to gather LCMS-related organizations, RSOs, Districts, Circuits, even congregations – basically anyone who is interested – around a literal table with specific church partners in every region. In Asia the first FORO was held in the Philippines this past February with the Lutheran Church in the Philippines (LCP). It was a good start with a faithful church partner towards aligning people, materials, prayers and money with projects prioritized by the LCP.

In the FORO model, meetings happen twice a year, roughly six months apart. One meeting is always held in-country with the church partner (in this case, the Philippines). The other meeting can be remote/virtual. It’s a chance to update members on progress made since the last meeting, and to start orienting people towards the next year’s meeting. Transparency and accountability are part and parcel of how a FORO operates so all partners involved can clearly see how their partnership is enabling progress.

We had the second LCP FORO today. Originally it was supposed to be in Manila at the LCP headquarters. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. The Philippines routinely get battered by tropical storms that form in the Pacific Ocean and had west. My entire time in Baguio last week teaching, I saw the sun maybe a total of ten minutes and had maybe six hours spread across those seven days when it wasn’t raining cats and dogs. Today in Manila, it was raining as well. A LOT. Flooding in parts of the city, but fortunately not where I was staying.

But raining so hard that the LCP business manager needed to leave the office early to ensure he could get home despite the flooding. So our meeting became a virtual one instead of in-person. We were joined by the OIM missionary on the ground in the Philippines, Rev. Dr. Walter Steele.

It was a good meeting. We locked down the date for the next in-country FORO gathering next year (February 19-22, 2027). We discussed some cross cultural communication suggestions and agreed to make plans together before the February FORO next year.

Why am I telling you this?

Because you could be at that meeting.

Yes. In the Philippines. Flying in to the capital city of Manila, meeting with LCP church leaders at their main offices. Riding five hours up to Baguio to see Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS) and learn about planned upgrades, expansions, renovations, and new construction. See and hear, smell and taste life in the Philippines where the LCP is sharing the Gospel. And learn how you could be a part of it. A partner with OIM and the LCP in their work.

Your congregation might be interested in sending a team. Or maybe several local congregations around you want to send a team. Maybe your LWML group wants to send some people. Or your men’s Bible study. Or your high school youth or young adult group. Come, taste, see, smell, listen. Then come back to offer tangible ways your groups could be involved. Sending groups to lead VBS. Or assist in construction projects. Or help with evangelism efforts. Or help fund a new dorm at the seminary. Or establish a scholarship fund for future Filipino pastors and deaconesses who want to study there.

Lots of possibilities. But those possibilities begin with knowing of the opportunity.

And this is your opportunity. Want more information? Want to come for four days of learning and growing? Let me know. I’ll be happy to share more!

You don’t have to figure out all the logistics on your own. LCMS has staff ready and willing and able to assist your group in making this kind of trip a reality. Assistance in securing airfare, travel insurance, and cross-cultural prep-work – you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. But you could very well be here.

Think about it. Pray about it. Think about others that might be interested. Start talking and planning and praying and budgeting. If it’s the right thing for your group to consider, trust me, the doors will open and things will fall into place!