Reflections on My Trip By Ps Greg Crawford

Reflections on My Trip to the Philippines by Ps Greg Crawford

In June of 2024 Ps Greg Crawford and Ps Corey Watson visited our Missions Churches in the Philippines to provide support to the teams and see first-hand the incredible work happening through City Impact Church Philippines, read on to hear from Ps Greg about his experience.

Can you describe your initial impressions of the Philippines upon arrival?
The first thing that struck us upon arrival in the Philippines was the heavy army and police presence at the airport. It turns out that they were conducting a dawn raid on a cult leader’s premises, which happened to be right next to the airport runway. It was a tense and exciting start to our trip! And on top of that, the heat was intense—a kind of sticky, humid heat.

What were some of the most memorable experiences or moments from your trip?
The highlight for me was watching our New Zealand team work together in such harmony. There was a beautiful spirit of unity, with everyone preferring each other’s needs and supporting one another as we served the local people. No matter how well you plan a mission trip, unexpected challenges always arise. But instead of complaints, there was a consistent “How can i help?” attitude from the team.

What specific activities or projects did you engage in to support the local church in the Philippines?
We had three main goals for this trip. First, we wanted to invest in the local Pastors by working alongside them and providing ministry support. Second, we aimed to create outreach opportunities by running medical and children’s/youth outreaches in their communities. Third, we focused on several building projects: starting a new toilet block for Tagum Church, beginning renovations on Pastor Fortune & Roslyn’s house (which had serious issues like holes in the ceilings and walls where snakes had entered) and starting the construction of a new Church building in Monkayo.

How did the local community and church members react to the support and assistance you provided?
The locals absolutely loved working alongside the Kiwis. Both our cultures have a strong “acts of service” approach, which made it a mutually enjoyable experience. There was a real sense of camaraderie as we served together.

Can you share any stories or testimonials from local individuals or families who were affected by your work?
Please check out this video for a major highlight from the trip.

What did you learn about Filipino culture and community life during your time there?
The Filipinos are a joyful and generous. They love to laugh and share meals with others. Wherever we went, they were incredibly generous, always putting on meals for us. It was a wonderful experience to share in their hospitality.

How did the mission trip impact you personally?
This trip fired me up to take more people on mission trips. I’ve seen firsthand the significant impact these trips have both on the local communities and on the team members who participate. It’s a powerful experience that changes lives on both sides.

What were the most significant ways in which the mission trip supported and strengthened the local church?
Souls were added to the Church at each campus and the Church itself was once again highlighted as a “City on a hill”, a place where people can find the read deal – Jesus.

What long-term goals or follow-up plans do you have for continuing support or collaboration with the church in the Philippines?
As we speak, we are planting three more campuses in the region. We believe that life-giving local churches are what the Philippines yearns for, so we are committed to raising up future leaders and planting more life-giving churches.

What do you wish that City Impact Church members in NZ knew/understood about the Missions work in the Philippines?
It is SO FRUITFUL! The work we’re doing there is making a real difference and I hope more people will get involved, whether through prayer, giving, or even joining a future mission trip.

How did you collaborate with local church leaders and members during the trip?
We worked closely with the local church leaders, always striving to be Christian role models. We also discipled the local pastors through ministry nights and had the privilege of formally ordaining them all.

What challenges did you face during the mission trip and how did you overcome them?
We encountered several situations where we didn’t have enough resources to keep the building team functional. Josh Tan, a member of our team, took the initiative to go out and purchase new tools, a concrete mixer and scaffolding for the team to use, both now and in the future.

As we continue exploring this topic, we’re unpacking a key tension in the Christian life: why we still struggle with sin even though Jesus has already defeated it. Read the notes below to understand what Christ has done at the cross, what we experience today, and how God is shaping us through the ongoing journey of sanctification.

The Power of Sin

Overview
The Defeat of Sin’s Power
The Struggle with Sin’s Influence
Why We Still Struggle With Sin
The Victory We Can Have Over Sin
Conclusion

Overview

Many of us understand that when Jesus gave His life on the cross, He defeated the power and authority of sin. He became sin in our place so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Yet, it’s clear that sin is still present in the world, and many Christians still struggle with temptation and sinful habits. This can feel confusing. If sin has been defeated in Christ, why do we still struggle with it?

In this blog, we’ll explore:

The defeat of sin’s power at the cross
The ongoing influence of sin
Why believers still struggle today
How we can walk in victory over sin

The Defeat of Sin’s Power

At the cross, Jesus didn’t just deal with sin emotionally or symbolically. He broke its authority and dominion over believers completely.

We are no longer slaves to sin.

Romans 6:6–11 explains this clearly:

Our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

This is a decisive spiritual reality for everyone in Christ:

Sin no longer rules over us
We are no longer under its authority
We are now alive to God in Christ Jesus

Before salvation, sin wasn’t just something we did. It was something that ruled us. Paul uses the image of slavery to explain this:

“You were once slaves of sin…” (Romans 6:17–18)

A slave does not have full autonomy. In the same way, sin shaped our desires, decisions, and direction before Christ.

Freedom through Christ’s exchange.

Jesus broke that system through His death and resurrection:

“For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin…” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Through Christ’s sacrifice:

We are freed from sin’s power
We are transferred into righteousness
Sin is no longer our master

But this leads to an important question: If sin is defeated, why do we still struggle?

The Struggle with Sin’s Influence

Although sin’s power has been broken, its presence and influence remain in the world.

Sin is no longer our master, but it still tries to tempt, lure, and influence us. We still live in a fallen world where spiritual battle is real.

Even Jesus experienced temptation, yet He never sinned.

Scripture is clear that believers must still actively resist sin:

Ephesians 6:10–12 – We wrestle against spiritual forces
1 Peter 5:8 – The devil seeks to devour
James 1:13–14 – Temptation comes through desire

We are still in a spiritual battle

While sin no longer rules us, it still:

Appeals to our flesh
Uses external influences
Seeks to draw us away from God

However, sin will not always remain. Scripture promises a future where it will be completely removed:

“He will wipe away every tear… death shall be no more…” (Revelation 21:4)

Why We Still Struggle With Sin

To understand the tension we live in, we need to understand the three stages of salvation (Ordo Salutis):

Justification

We are saved instantly

Freed from sin’s power
Declared righteous in Christ

2. Sanctification

We are being saved progressively

Freed from sin’s influence over time
Becoming more like Christ

3. Glorification

We will be saved fully in the future

Completely free from sin’s presence

Where we live now

We currently live in sanctification:

Sin’s power is broken
Sin’s influence is still present
Sin’s presence will one day be removed

State of sin vs acts of sin

A helpful distinction:

State of sin: We are no longer separated from God
Acts of sin: We still sometimes fall and miss the mark

Being saved does not mean we never sin again. It means sin no longer defines our identity or separates us from God.

We are:

Fully forgiven in Christ
Still being transformed in daily life

The Victory We Can Have Over Sin

We are not powerless against temptation. Scripture gives us practical ways to walk in victory.

1. Identify the sin

You cannot overcome what you refuse to acknowledge.

2. Understand there is no condemnation

“There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

Conviction leads us to God. Condemnation pushes us away from Him.

3. Recognise triggers

Identify patterns and remove environments that fuel temptation.

4. Repent quickly

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just…” (1 John 1:9)

Don’t delay restoration.

5. Bring sin into the light

Confession breaks secrecy. Sin grows in darkness and weakens in the light.

6. Remember your identity

You fight sin from freedom, not for freedom.

“Be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” (Romans 12:2)

7. Rely on the Holy Spirit

Change is a process empowered by God, not human willpower alone.

“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion…” (Philippians 1:6)

Conclusion

Jesus has defeated sin, but sin has not yet been fully destroyed.

That is why:

We are free from sin’s power
We still face its influence
We still experience the process of sanctification

One day, at glorification, sin will be gone completely. Until then, we live in the tension of already free, but still being transformed.

The good news is this:

Sin does not define you
Sin does not separate you from God
Sin does not have authority over your life

You are justified, being sanctified, and one day will be glorified.

And in the meantime, the Holy Spirit is faithfully shaping you into the image of Christ.

Flourish

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