The founding of CCOWE Fellowship Philippines traces its roots to the gathering of Chinese leaders from different regions of the world at Lausanne Evangelization Congress in 1974. According to the late Rev. Wesley Shao, our former adviser, we should be thankful to Rev. Billy Graham since it was he who challenged all the Chinese participants to form an organization with one goal and mission in mind – to continue to do the work of evangelism.  Among those early Christian leaders who were present were Rev. Philip Teng, Rev. Thomas Wang, Elder Wu Yong, Rev. Wesley Shao, and Rev. Mark Cheng.  After the end of the congress, each of them returned to their respective countries and started to promote the common vision and mission.  After two years of preparation, the 1^st CCCOWE Congress was held in Hong Kong in 1976.  The said congress was very successful and a decision was made to hold a world congress every five years.  The 2^nd Congress was held in Singapore (1981), the 3^rd in Taipei (1986), the 4^th in Manila, Philippines (1991), the 5^th in Hong Kong (1996), followed by the 6^th Congress in Kuala Lumpur (2001), the 7^th in Macau (2006), the 8^th in Bali, Indonesia (2011), and the 9^th in Taipei (2016). The 10^th CCCOWE World Congress, which was originally scheduled for 2021, was postponed to 2026 due to the epidemic and will be held at Kuching Borneo Convention and Exhibition Center in East Malaysia. The purpose of this momentous gathering is to broaden the perspective and the vision of the Chinese churches, not only to do mission work on their native soil, but also overseas. Thus, we follow the great commission of Christ Jesus to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Chinese-Filipino delegates have been part of this significant worldwide gathering since the first congress, and we have had representatives serving in the Steering Committee at most of them.  Chinese churches in the Philippines fully support the work of CCCOWE International.

In the Philippines, CCOWEF stands for Chinese Congress on World Evangelization Fellowship Philippines, Incorporated.  Its mission is to promote spiritual unity, to mobilize joint ministries and to propagate and assist church growth and mission work.  Some of our past Chairman and Advisers who have gone to be with the Lord were Rev. Wesley Shao, Elder Henry Co, Elder Ong Kim Peng, Brother Giok Khun Lim and Elder Sy Seng Cho.  The current advisers include past Chairman and Vice Chairman Dr. John Chang, Rev. Dr. Vicente Sia, Rev. Dr. Joseph Shao, Rev. Tie Ing Hang, Rev. Jeremiah Cheung and Deacon Samson Su.  Our current Chairman is Elder Patrocinio Bayot.  The Executive Secretaries who served us in the past are Rev. Dr. David Cheung, Rev. Philip Ong and Pastor Francis Ang, with Pastor Pacita Ong and Sister Lourdes Barretto as office staff.

All these years, CCOWEF Philippines has sought to work hand in hand with Chinese-Filipino Churches as well as other para-church organizations, in order to equip Christian leaders to utilize their potential both in the marketplace and in the church.  During its more than 40 years of service, CCOWEF Philippines established several ministries in order to support the local Chinese churches. The first, CCOWE Women’s Fellowship was started to gather and encourage Christian women to do the Lord’s work. CCOWE Women’s Fellowship had its name changed in 2023 to “Golden Joy Fellowship” in order to expand its ministry and invite men to also participate. A Welcome Gathering was duly held in March 2023. To minister to young adults, CCOWE Young Professional continues to hold its yearly conference and to inspire professionals to be involved in evangelism and missions. This year’s young professionals’ camp will be held on October 16 to 19 in Cebu City. With many calamities in the Philippines, CCOWE Young Professional also formed CCOWE Care Caravan to involve Filipino-Chinese Christians in social ministry and service.  CCOWE English Task Force (CCOWE ETF) Philippines was started before the congress in Macau (2006), in order to equip English-speaking Christians in the Chinese churches. Local Conferences are held every 2 years. CCOWE Resource Center works hand in hand with local churches in the development of children’s ministries, holding seminars for Sunday School teachers and assisting with the procurement of materials. To date, CCOWEF Philippines remains the only district of CCCOWE International with multi-faceted ministries serving different age groups. Indeed, the Lord has been good, and His faithfulness endures forever.

Let us continue to uphold CCOWEF Philippines in our prayers so that we could fulfill our work of uniting the Filipino Chinese churches to achieve these 3 goals: the Church as one family, proclaiming the gospel, awaiting the Lord’s return.

菲律濱華福聯誼會簡介

菲律濱華福聯誼會的創設，該追溯於1974年，來自世界不同地區的中國領導人齊集於洛桑世界福音宣教大會。依據前顧問邵慶彰牧師所云，我們應該感謝葛培理牧師，因為正是他向當時參加的中國領袖代表挑戰，應組織一個同一目標、同一使命的宣教機構。當時參加的華人領袖計有；滕近輝牧師、王永信牧師、吳勇長老、邵慶彰牧師與鄭果牧師。會議結束後，與會的代表各自回到自己的國家，並開始推動共同的異象與使命。經過兩年的籌劃，1976年，第一屆世界華人福音會議便在香港舉行，該次會議非常成功，並議決每五年舉行一次福音宣教會議。第二屆在新加坡舉行(1981年)，第三屆在台北(1986年)，第四屆在菲律濱馬尼拉(1991年)，第五屆在香港(1996年)，第六屆在吉隆坡(2001年)，第七屆在澳門(2006年)，第八屆在印尼巴厘(2011年)，第九屆在台北舉行(2016年)。本訂於2021年舉行的第十屆，因疫情缘故， 將延到2026年在東馬婆羅洲會展中心古晉舉行。此重大的集合旨在擴大華人教會的視野和異象，不單在本土的宣教工作，亦包涵了海外的宣教工作。因此，我們遵循耶穌基督的大使命：“你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒。”菲華教會代表自第一屆會議以來即熱烈參予。在世界性的大匯集，菲華代表亦參予在督導委員會中。菲華教會甚至全力支持國際的世界華人福音事工聯絡中心。

CCOWEF此一名詞，在菲律濱代表菲律濱華福聯誼會，它的使命是促進靈裡合一，推動聯合事工及傳播與協助教會的增長與宣教事工。曾任主席和顧問的先輩有邵慶彰牧師、許書楚長老、王金炳長老、林玉昆弟兄和施承祖長老。 現任顧問有曾擔任主席， 副主席的： 章長基博士、謝國智牧師、邵晨光博士、池永涵牧師、張國強牧師和朱培榮執事等。目前主席由施國雄長老擔任。 曾經擔任本會執行幹事的有陳貽強牧師、陳安立牧師與洪光輝傳道，辦公室職員有莊秀娟傳道和楊芝玲姊妺。

菲律濱華福聯誼會四十多年未，一直與菲華教會及其他福音機構攜手合作，以裝備基督徒領袖運用他們的潛能在事奉工場上及在教會中。四十多年的事工中，華福聯誼會也組織了“華福婦女團契”，藉以鼓勵婦女們參予主的事工。今年為了擴大組織並能邀請男士參加，決定改名為”樂齡團契”。並於三月舉行迎新會。為了牧養職業青年群，華福職業青年組持續不斷每年的活動以激勵職業青年參予宣教工作。今年的職青營將於十月十六到十九日在宿務舉行。為了菲律濱受災地區,華福職業青年組織關懷列車團隊積極參於社會關懷事工。華福英語事工隊於第八屆澳門福音宣教會議之前(2006年) 組成，期望加強說英語之基督徒在華人教會中的事奉。華福資源中心和眾教會合作並協助兒童事工的發展，舉辦師資訓練協助接洽教材的提供。至今菲律濱華福聯誼會乃世界華人福音事工聯絡中心擁有對不同年齡群多方面事工的唯一分會。主確實良善，祂的信實存到永永遠遠。

願大家繼續以禱告支持菲律濱華福聯誼會，使能夠藉著三個目標：教會一家、宣揚福音、直等主再來，得以完成我們與菲華教會打成一片的工作。