"God Wants To Use Filipinos"

While the government hails overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as modern-day saviors of the economy, Rick Warren says these millions of our countrymen have been scattered all over the world by God for a purpose–to bless other nations.

"God has placed the Filipino workers in the homes of the most influential people all over the world," Warren told STARweek in an exclusive interview. "I don’t know people of a country that have so spread out as Filipinos."

Warren, a world famous pastor and author of the best-selling book "Purpose Driven Life", arrived in the country last week with his wife Kay for the two-day National Purpose Driven Congress at the PhilSports Arena, and share the peace plan for the country which he thinks will help the nation to eradicate the five "Global Goliaths" that countries like the Philippines has been facing for so many years.

He named these "Global Goliaths" as spiritual emptiness, egocentric leadership, extreme poverty, pandemic disease, and illiteracy or poor education.

 These "Global Goliaths" can be addressed only if the people work together, bringing with them the same "purpose." And that purpose is serving God by serving the people.  

He wanted the nation to Plant churches, Equip servant leaders, Assist the poor, Care for the sick and Educate the next generation. This is Warren’s global PEACE plan for the Philippines.

 The 52-year-old Warren said he came to the Philippines for several reasons, primarily to encourage the church, the business sector and the government to work together for a "spiritual national transformation".

He also called on the country’s leaders to end destructive political quarrels for the betterment of the nation, with the administration making the first move by "reaching out to the opposition."

 He said that as a pastor he knew that there were certain things that, no matter were he goes, are universal.

"Everybody wants to reduce poverty, illiteracy, disease and corruption in their country," he said.

When asked what he thinks of the Philippines and the Filipinos, Warren says that he loves the Philippines, and he feels very at home in the country "I think the Filipinos are very warm, they are very friendly. And I feel very at home here," Warren stressed.

With millions of them spread all over the world, Filipinos have made significant impact in the lives of even the most influential people, Warren said.

These Filipinos work as domestic helpers, caregivers, nurses, engineers, scientists as well as top executives.

"God has placed the Filipino workers in the homes of the most influential people all over the world," he said. "I don’t know people of a country that have so spread out as Filipinos."

"God wants to use Filipinos to bless other countries," Warren said.

There are many sides to Rick Warren.

"I have many sides, I wear many hats," he said.

"My first hat is I am a husband, a father and a grandfather. My first job is to be a loving husband to my wife and a caring father and grandfather to my children and grandchildren." Warren has been married to Kay for more than 30 years; they are blessed with three children Josh, Amy and Matthew and two grandchildren.

"My second hat is I am a pastor. Because I love the people in my church and I care for them deeply," he stressed.

The third hat is "I am also a leader that cares about the whole world and cares about the Philippines," Warren said.

Warren’s best-selling book has sold over 25 million copies worldwide and has been translated into different languages. He wrote the book for his church, Saddleback Church in California, when he was 48-years-old and he never expected that it would touch the hearts of so many people across geographic, racial and cultural divides.

"I did not come here to advocate religion, I came here to build lasting relationships," he said. "We will not agree on doctrines, we will not get all Christians to agree on worship styles, but we can agree on God’s purpose for our lives."

To create unity among individuals is Warren’s dream for every nation. For a society to be changed, it must start with the individual or personal renewal.

"When I was in America I was always asked whether I’m for the left wing or the right wing, but I tell them I’m for the whole bird," Warren narrated.

"A one-winged bird just rises around the circle, it doesn’t go anywhere. You have to have both wings to be able to fly," he said. "Oftentimes it is in the give and take that we find the true compromise that moves the nation forward."

Time magazine named him one of the "15 World Leaders Who Mattered Most in 2004" and "One of the Most Influential People in the World in 2005." He was also included in Newsweek’s "15 People Who Make America Great." Prior to his visit to the Philippines Warren was invited to speak at the United Nations, the World Economic Forum in Davos, the African Union, the Council on Foreign Relations, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Time’s Global Health Summit, among other top level gatherings.