A Thanksgiving Sermon for the Magsaysay Congregations
Occasion: Celebrating the 3rd Year Anniversary-Thanksgiving for the Tibon-tibon Congregation, as Magsaysay Churches step into a new Golden Era
REFERENCE VERSE
Genesis 32:10 (NLT)
"I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps!"
ENTRY POINT
Blessed morning to all of you, my beloved family in Christ here at Magsaysay! Today is no ordinary Sunday. We are gathered for a very special thanksgiving, celebrating the joyful 3rd-year anniversary of the new camp, the Tibon-tibon congregation!
This milestone is incredibly meaningful. Last year, the original Magsaysay congregation celebrated a profound Golden Jubilee—50 glorious years of God's faithfulness. Now, Magsaysay as one united church is moving forward toward another fifty years, stepping into a new golden era. And as we march forward, we celebrate the Tibon-tibon congregation reaching year three.
In the Bible, the number three is deeply significant. It is the number of divine completeness and of God firmly establishing a thing. Think back to Genesis 1. On the first two days, the earth was formless and void, but on the third day, God gathered the waters, caused the dry land to appear, and commanded the earth to bring forth vegetation. On the third day, God transformed the void into an environment capable of sustaining life!
Reaching your third year means you are not just a temporary experiment; you are established. Like the dry land producing fruit, God has brought forth life here in Tibon-tibon. You are alive, and God has firmly planted you. Looking at the growth and the life in this room today, we can only echo the words of the patriarch Jacob: We started with a simple walking stick, and look at us now—we have become two camps!
CONTEXT
Let us look at the background of our verse today in Genesis 32. Jacob was on his way back home after being away for twenty years. He was at a critical transition point, standing near the banks of the Jordan River, and he was taking stock of his life.
He remembered the day he first crossed that river as a young man fleeing from his brother Esau. On that day, he had absolutely nothing. He had no wealth, no family of his own, no guarantee of the future—all he held in his hand was his walking stick. But now, returning twenty years later, he looks around and sees that God has blessed him so abundantly that his family and possessions had to be divided into "Mahanaim"—meaning two camps.
This is the exact spiritual reality of the Magsaysay churches today. Over fifty years ago, the original Magsaysay congregation started with nothing but the "walking stick" of faith. Last year, we celebrated that golden milestone. And today, by the undeniable grace of God, Magsaysay is not just surviving into its next half-century; it is multiplying as "two camps"—two thriving, vibrant congregations existing as one family!
HONOR
Today, we must pause to honor the Lord, but we must also honor the vessels He used to bring us here.
First, we honor every leader and minister who has helped establish the Magsaysay churches over the decades. From the original pioneers who crossed the Jordan over 50 years ago with nothing but a walking stick, to all the men and women of God who carried the baton through the years and through every transition. Some of these faithful ministers have already gone home to be with the Lord, some have gone to other places to minister to different fields, while others are still standing with us today. They prayed with tears, fasted for breakthroughs, and poured out their lives to build this spiritual foundation. We are harvesting today because they planted yesterday.
We also honor the current leadership. To the pastor and leaders of the camp in Poblacion: thank you for holding the fort and shepherding this incredible legacy into its next fifty years with integrity. To the house minister and all servants of the camp in Tibon-tibon: thank you for nurturing this young flock and guiding them to this spiritually significant 3rd year. And to you, the faithful members of both camps: your resilience, your giving, and your prayers are the heartbeat of this unified ministry.
ADMONISH
But as we celebrate being "two camps," I must also give a gentle pastoral warning. Having two congregations does not mean we are a divided people. Jacob’s two camps were still one family, moving toward one promised land.
Do not let the enemy sow the spirit of division, competition, or comparison between Poblacion and Tibon-tibon. The camp in Poblacion must never look down on the camp in Tibon-tibon as "small" or "inexperienced." And the camp in Tibon-tibon must never view the camp in Poblacion as "outdated" or "old." You are not competitors; you are a multiplied army! You are one church in two locations! You are the Mahanaim of Magsaysay! Protect your unity fiercely, because a divided camp is easily defeated, but a united camp is an unstoppable force for the Kingdom.
RETEACH
Point 1: Recognizing Our Unworthiness (Genesis 32:10a)
"I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me..." Jacob starts his prayer not by bragging about his hard work, but by bowing in humility. He recognizes that his survival and success were not earned.
Hebrew Insight: Chesed (covenant loyal love) and Emet (truth/faithfulness). Jacob knew that without God's loyal grace, he would have nothing.
Practical Application: As modern churches, when we experience growth, build new buildings, or celebrate milestones, it is easy to become proud. We might think it's because we have the best programs, the finest music, or the smartest leaders. But we must maintain Jacob's posture of humility. True spiritual growth happens when we realize we are unworthy, and it is entirely God's grace (chesed and emet) working through us.
Cross-Reference: 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NLT) - "But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me..."
Point 2: Remembering the "Walking Stick" Beginnings (Genesis 32:10b)
"When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick." Jacob deliberately looks back at his past poverty to keep his heart grounded. He did not hide his humble beginnings; he used them as the baseline for his thanksgiving.
Hebrew Insight: Maqqel (a shoot, rod, or walking stick). It signifies the absolute bare minimum a traveler would carry.
Practical Application: Whether as a congregation celebrating anniversaries, or as individuals looking at our careers and families, we must never forget where we started. Do you remember when you had nothing but a maqqel of faith? When we intentionally remember our lowest points and our humblest beginnings, we are protected from spiritual entitlement and complaining.
Cross-Reference: 1 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT) - "For what gives you the right to make such a boast? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?"
Point 3: Trusting the God of Multiplication (Genesis 32:10c)
"Now my household fills two large camps!" Jacob marvels at the impossible math of God. What Jacob surrendered to God's leading, God multiplied exponentially beyond what human effort could achieve alone.
Hebrew Insight: Mahanaim (two camps, or a double company). It signifies overflowing abundance that can no longer be contained in one place.
Practical Application: When we surrender our little resources, our limited time, or our small talents to God, He multiplies them for His Kingdom. Magsaysay's growth from one pioneer with a walking stick to two established camps (Mahanaim) in Poblacion and Tibon-tibon is living proof. Do not be afraid to give God your small "walking stick" today, because He is the God who brings exponential increase!
Cross-Reference: 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NLT) - "I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow."
GENERALIZE
This truth is not just for the history of our Magsaysay churches; it applies to every single individual sitting here today.
Think about your own life. Think about where you started. Many of you crossed the "Jordan" of your youth, your marriage, your career, or your spiritual journey holding nothing but a "walking stick." You had little money, minimal connections, and perhaps a lot of brokenness. But you gave your little walking stick to God. You trusted Him. And look at you today. God has multiplied your joy, sustained your family, and provided for your needs. Everyone in this room has a "walking stick to two camps" testimony! If God can faithfully multiply a church, He will faithfully multiply the blessings in your personal life when you walk in humility and obedience.
ENCOURAGE
My beloved Magsaysay family, as I look at the camp in Poblacion stepping confidently into its next fifty years, and the camp in Tibon-tibon blazing forward into its spiritually significant 3rd year, I am filled with overwhelming hope for your future.
You have crossed the Jordan! Every minister and pioneer who has gone to heaven is cheering you on from the great cloud of witnesses. The baton has been successfully passed to the current pastors, leaders, house ministers, servants, and to each of you.
Do not be afraid of the challenges of tomorrow. The God who was with you when you only had a walking stick is the same God who will lead your two camps into greater territories! Keep praying, keep loving one another, and keep reaching the lost. May God bless the "Two Camps" of Magsaysay as you march forward together! Amen and Amen!