FAQ — The DeFouw Family

Frequently Asked Questions

(Many FAQs are answered in our video updates)

Q. Why Ethnos360?

A. Deciding what missions organization to go with is important. There are many groups that we could work with or even go without one. We believe that Ethnos360 is a great fit for us. Ethnos360 works with the least reached people groups of the world. They have a large network of missionaries in many various countries and have a heart to see mature churches in every people group. They are also dedicated to seeing their missionaries succeed in life and as a result Ethnos360 has a large consultancy program and bases around the world to support us. We know that no organization is perfect, but we believe that partnering with Ethnos360 will us glorify God better.

Q. Why the Philippines?

A. There are many reasons why we are deciding to go to the Philippines. First of all, there are over 7000 islands in the Philippines the larger islands are very mountainous which makes the different people groups fairly isolated. This means that there are many villages who have never had a clear presentation of the gospel. Secondly, with some of our health needs there is enough infrastructure within the Philippines to meet our needs. Thirdly we have really appreciated hearing from missionaries on furlough who have interacted with us in answering our many diverse questions we have. There are many other reasons, and we are trusting God in His leading to direct us where He sees best.

Q. What about Sybil?

A. We are very excited to have Sybil be a part of our team! She will have the opportunity to see lost people’s lives changed forever. She will get to learn multiple languages, and developed skills in multicultural settings. She will get to have experiences in other countries that she will get to cherish for the rest of her life. She will be an intricate part of our team which gives us great joy.

Q. Why does church planting take 15+ years?

A. We are wanting mature believers who can disciple others and teach God’s word. This starts with us being able to communicate well with the target people, which involves years of CLA (Culture and Language Acquisition). Literacy is next and then comes Bible lessons. We start with creation and work our way through the Old Testament sand then present Christ. We continue to teach lessons with the new believers and help them understand who God is and how they relate to Him. We are developing leaders in the church and teaching them how to study the Bible. All the while we are working on translating the Bible into their language so they can interact with God’s word when we leave. These are just some of the activities that we are desiring to do and as a result it takes many years to see a Church be able to function well on it’s own.

Q. How often will you be in the states?

A. We accumulate 3 months of home assignment for every year overseas. After 4 years of service in the Philippines we have 1 year Stateside built up so we are able to visit during that time. This gives us an opportunity to continue to be a part of the lives of our friends and family here in the states while spending a majority of our time in the Philippines. Sybil will also get a taste of what living in America is like. Another important reason why we do this is to mobilize the church to go and expose individuals to the need to reach the unreached.

We plan on retiring in the Philippines… so working there the next 40+ years. We know that is is a big commitment, but this is a big task. Things may change, but this is our desire and we are privileged to have a small part in what God is doing all around the world!

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Q. How do you Financially stay in the Philippines?

A. We are completely supported by churches and individuals giving monthly and one-time to meet our needs. We must trust God, like everyone, to provide for our needs. We are honored by everyone who gives and prays for us.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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