Working with Filipinos 

Arriving on the shores of North America, Filipinos easily assimilate into the North American culture. Coming with a goal to be citizens, not just on paper but in lifestyle, Filipinos experience culture shock less than other Asian immigrants.  Possibly, this is because while still in the Philippines they were "Americanized" by American teachers, soldiers, and Hollywood movies.  Thus, for Filipinos, living in North America is a dream come true.  By and large, Filipino immigrants are professionals, particularly in the fields of medicine, engineering, and accounting. Another large segment consists of Filipinos in the US Navy. Unlike Korean immigrants who become entrepreneurs, Filipinos find work satisfaction in multinational corporations and government agencies. 

Filipinos are quite conversant with the socioeconomic aspects of North America. However, they know little about its evangelical foundation. Although from a primarily Roman Catholic nation, most Filipinos have no biblical understanding of a personal faith in Christ. Like Nicodemus, they are confused by the biblical phrase "born again." They think it is another religion or a certain Protestant denomination. This stems from a religious legacy of 300 years steeped in superstition, idolatry, medieval scholastic theology, and obscurantism. Filipinos bring this type of religiosity to North America. Their spiritual situation puts them in the category of an unreached people group in need of gospel proclamation. Southern Baptists have a challenge to lead Filipino-Americans from nominal Christianity to a biblical faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and that healthy churches be planted for and with them.   

Filipinos in North America: In Brief  

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION  

Filipinos are the second-largest ethnic group immigrating to the United States. More than 2 million Filipinos live in North America. The states of California, Hawaii, Texas, and New Jersey and the cities of Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago have the largest Filipino populations.  

RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND

Filipinos’ religious affiliation is 80 percent Roman Catholic, 13 percent Protestant, and 7 percent non-evangelical churches and groups– Muslims and Buddhists. Filipino Roman Catholics feel at home in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago because of the heavy Roman Catholic presence. Filipinos import their own brand of Roman Catholicism from the Philippines, holding festivals and activities to honor saints. 

FILIPINO SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCHES 

Today, there are more than 170 Filipino congregations in the United States and Canada.   

CHURCH PLANTING CHALLENGES 

The Asian Church Planting office of the North American Mission Board, has embarked on an aggressive ministry program of reaching Filipinos with the gospel. Working with existing Filipino churches, Baptist associations, and state conventions, NAMB envisions that in A.D. 2000 every Filipino in North America will have a chance to hear the gospel and respond in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. Your prayers, financial support, and active mission involvement in Filipino works are much needed in accomplishing this vision.