Mindanao – Page 13

Christmas Party on the street of Nazareth

January 13, 2015/in EFC CDO, Regions/by cecille

(Written by: Ms. Risa Labis)

“The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity—hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory.” – J.I. Parker

Evangel Family Church CDO is blessed to have embarked on its first outdoor Christmas Party on a community outreach in Barangay Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro dubbed as “Christmas at Nazareth”. “Christmas at Nazareth” was a striking departure from the Christmas parties we used to have inside the four corners of our church where we enjoyed the fun and the fellowship of fellow believers and of course, feasted on a variety of delicious food.

The church, under the guidance of Pastor Andrew Kwong and Pastora Rowena Kwong, felt that Christmas should be a time where we can showcase God’s generosity because on that first Christmas night, God gave the most precious thing He has, and that is His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. So instead of lavishing ourselves with gifts and toys and all that, we decided to go out to the community and spend Christmas with them. Interestingly, a barangay in Cagayan de Oro named after our Messiah’s hometown was fittingly chosen for the event.

It was a warm afternoon of 21st of December 2014 when about 500 children from Barangay Nazareth were gathered together in a gymnasium. It was an uncomfortably humid day, yet the kids did not mind because they were very excited on what were in stored for them during that day.

The active and dynamic TKK (The Kingdom Kids) teachers started the program on “Christmas at Nazareth” with a Praise and Worship led by the Music Team. Kids were attentive to hear the sharing about Christmas, and Jesus being the center of the celebration. Moreover, Burglar, a mascot brought fun to all the kids when he started playing with them. Teachers also entertained the kids with various games and fun activities.

Moments later, grandparents, parents, and more adults started coming in. The second part of the program was dedicated for them. Everyone enjoyed worshiping and praising the Lord. Everybody raised their hands as they all sung joyous Christmas songs. Evangelites continued on by having more surprises through various games and activities.

The day will not be complete without hearing a word of encouragement from beloved Rev. Andrew Kwong. He gave a very uplifting word of Hope. Also, a brother in Christ, Jeff Ouano and his band presented songs about his life experiences in encountering the Lord during the darkest moments of his life.

After all the games and giving out of prizes, four families were surprised with gifts given by Evangel Family Church. They were thankful and indeed surprised.

The fellowship with an estimated 900 adults and kids ended with a night of shared happiness and so much laughter over the warm and simple foods prepared by Evangel Family Church’s Staff and members.

By going into Nazareth, which happens to be the name of Jesus’ hometown, we meant to be a blessing to others as the Lord wants us to be. We shared material things that we could manage to buy to give to others so they would be happy on Christmas. We did this to let people know God is a generous God. But little did we realize that we in turn were also blessed to share the message of God’s relentless love with the people most in need of it – the destitute, the downtrodden, the hopeless and the restless. Indeed, the true message of Christmas is His undying love for everyone.

A small thing can carry great love

November 27, 2014/in EFC Davao, Regions/by cecille

By Pastor Jordan Kintanar

Mother Theresa said, “In this life, we cannot always do great things, but we can do small things with great love”.

Last November 8, volunteers from Evangel Family Church- Davao visited Co Su Gian Home for the Aged, a temporary shelter for indigent and abandoned old persons. Sick with flu that day, I wonder how much I can do to help and inspire them. Because of my condition, I could not even go near the indigent and abandoned elderly folks.

We came to know of this place through a friend, Dr. Rizaldo Gonzales and his wife who committed themselves to help the JECPP yearly medical mission in Marilog District. The shelter, used to be called Day Center for the Elderly, served as haven for socialization and relaxation for senior citizens. Here they exchanged views and experiences, play guitar and chess, and do other productive activities. After few years of operation, the center was turned over to the City Government of Davao, and became a temporary shelter that serve poor and neglected old people.

I remember EFC Davao first visited this place last Christmas. Our Sunday school kids sang and recited poems for the residents. This year, twelve of us from Evangel Family Church Davao came to clean and decorate the place in time for Christmas again.

Our day started with a drive to Buhangin district, Davao City in the warm morning of November 8. When we reached the place, we were moved, touched and at the same time amused of how they welcomed us. There were three elderlies present in the receiving hall when we arrived. One met us with a smile and hello while the other sat on a corner staring at us like a little kid. His expression looked as if he had been scolded or had quarreled with someone. The third one was busy chopping firewood to cook their meals.

We were divided into groups. My group spent the whole day energetically wiping windows, railings and the surrounding of the Center while the second group climbed ladder and hang decors personally made by the EFC staff. After we embellish the dining and receiving areas with our ornaments, the Christmas mood stirred in.

After our tasks, everyone assembled in the receiving area. I did not go close to the elderly folks, however, due to my flu. Though wanting to help, I just stood at a safe distance watching a lovely scene unfold at the receiving area where the residents assembled. The volunteers were now distributing to each grandpa and grandma personalized Christmas mug, toothbrush, toothpaste and colorful face towel. We also gave personalized Christmas mugs to the volunteer social workers and nurses there.

I just kept watching from afar as the Center staff prepared the residents’ lunch. I felt quite hungry myself and still weak with my bout of flu. I just managed to stand up from my sick bed that morning because I wanted to experience the therapeutic joy and satisfaction of sharing love to these precious folks even for just a short time before the Lord takes them home.

A few minutes later, refreshment was served. One elderly man said a prayer of thanks for the food. For me, his simple prayer is the best part of our visit here. It almost brought me to tears. “Lord, thank you for the lives of these people that are here cleaning today that you might bless them, keep them healthy, and keep them safe when they leave this place,” the old man prayed.

I was dumbfounded. I was thinking that we were there to bless these old abandoned fellows, but I realized only then that God has a gift waiting for us there. That gift is His love expressed in affirming words. “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

As I am writing this article, I’m still having goose bumps recalling that prayer of blessing coming from the most unlikely place. The Center has nothing spectacular for inspiration, rather a chilling reminder that life is short, and that one day, we too might end up in the same place.

If we desire to become a blessing to others, God will in turn bless us in the most unexpected way. My sick body really needed that boost from God that day. I left that place strong and encouraged in my spirit. It’s not how much we do that counts, but even in our weakness, we can touch and bless others through the abundance of God’s love in our lives.

I again remember Mother Theresa’s words. “To show great love for God and our neighbors, we do not do great things. It is how much love we put in the doing that makes our offering something beautiful for God.”

EFC-Davao celebrates 25 years of marriage

October 23, 2014/in EFC Davao, Regions/by cecille

By La Donna Yap

Five proud grooms stood in the altar seeing the women they have loved for all these years walk down the aisle. Looking as beautiful as ever, the brides reminisced how they have been together for better or for worse. With tears falling down their cheeks, they walked to the front, with eyes only to their husbands. Once again, they met at the altar, and with so much pride delivered the anticipated sweet “I DO.”

“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person”, as the saying goes. In this light, the Married Couples Fellowship of Evangel Family Church – Davao recognizes the importance of building a successful marriage relationship. Reaching the milestone of 25 years in marriage is not an easy achievement. For varied reasons, many couples have not even reached a decade. To rejoice over a lasting union, the event dubbed as Celebrating 25 years & beyond was birthed.

On September 26, 2014, family, friends and members of Evangel Family Church-Davao gathered together to witness the solemn and meaningful Renewal of Vows Ceremony of the five triumphant couples, namely: Engr. Avelino and Mrs. Nelly Domingo, married for 47 years; Engr. Jonadab and Mrs. Nenfa Sepulveda, married for 43 years; Mr. Felix and Mrs. Becilda Morcillos, married for 40 years; Mr. Valentino and Mrs. Minda Tamayo, married for 32 years; and Mr. Roland and Mrs. Rowena Jumawan, married for 26 years.

During the course of the preparation, it has been known that most of these couples were not wed in church. According to them, this event is a dream comes true. These couples represent the many wives who wished that they were able to walk down the aisle on their wedding day as well as the many husbands who wished that they were able to fulfill their wives’ dream. By the grace of God, the Married Couples Fellowship became an instrument to carry out the answers to these prayers.

Rev. Peter Wee, officiated the ceremony and inspired the couples and everyone with the message “MARRIAGE IS A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT. ” He shared that married couples rely on the wrong source of love to sustain their relationship when God is the only source of love, a love that can overcome any problem in marriage. Only God can meet our deepest need and only God can love us

perfectly, permanently and powerfully. Couples who build their marriages on the Love of God will certainly cross the finish line with great success.

It was such a tender moment to see the children of these five couples taking turns to pay tribute to their parents and honoring them with various gifts, AVPs, beautifully crafted poems and touching words of appreciations. What a delightful way to end the night’s celebration with a sumptuous buffet dinner and warm fellowship with loved ones and friends. This event would certainly be a memory to keep and the fulfilled couples were a sight to behold for a lifetime.

JECPP expands missions mandate among tribes

September 11, 2014/in EFC Davao, Regions/by cecille

By Mayme F. Olegario

A new batch of tribal workers is now ready to set out in the mountain region of Mindanao to conserve and enhance indigenous cultures through the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. Four men and five women compose the third batch of Tribal Workers Intensive Training (TWIT) which culminated last August 30, 2014 at JECPP Evangel Tribal Training Center (ETTC) in Arakan Valley, North Cotabato.

JECPP has partnered with the Tribal Missions Foundation International (TMFI) in the mandate of salvation to all nations. “Language, territory and culture constitute a nation. Tribal communities posses all three, and therefore, the ethnic culture is a focal part of this redemptive plan of God,” says Sherelle Cotecson, Program Manager for Culture and Development of TMFI.

The TWIT program includes Bible and Mission, Culture and Development, Sustainable Agriculture and Indigenous Education.

In his welcome address to the graduates and guests, Southern Mindanao Regional Director, Rev. Peter Wee, announced that the Tribal Ministry which started in Mindanao has now extended to “the Ifugaos” in Banawe and “the Mangyans” in Mindoro. Through the efforts of Rev. Jessie Yu, Regional Director of Luzon, JECPP tribal churches have already been planted in these places. Pastor Wee also shared his desire of a coming together of all JECPP indigenous churches all over the Philippines for a convention.

The church can be a holistic tool for culture development. One of the graduates, Bernie Tumanding, son of a Tinananon tribe Datu (chieftain) believes that the church can effectively promote this advocacy more than other organizations. He observed that though many NGO’s come to their places to promote the welfare of the tribes, they could cause division instead.

Sister Sherelle explained that due to the different advocacies of NGOs, prejudice or bias can be directed at specific groups of people. “This practice works against the integrated nature of the indigenous culture,” she said.

On the other hand, Bernie believes that a “development-focused and culturally-sensitive” church has the power to preserve and unite the ethnic society. Eager to impart his training, he wants to teach literacy to his folks at Sitio Pundok. He particularly observes that during election, some tribal people can be tricked into voting someone simply because they cannot read and write.

TWIT graduates are expected to impart their knowledge and skill to their Bible study groups and discipleship outreaches. “More than half of our trainers now are from our first batch of graduates,” says TMFI Managing Director Ma. Elena “Beng” Bicaldo, who was the Speaker in TWIT’s 3^rd Graduation ceremony. Sister Beng reminded the graduates that the end of their missions training is only the beginning of a miraculous journey with Jesus. She quoted Mark 6:45-51 where the faithful disciples encountered amazing miracles as they obeyed God’s call through impossible situations and problems.

What hindrance did the disciples face? One hindrance was their being physically and emotionally drained. Sister Beng pointed out that after a tiring day of ministering to a big crowd, Jesus instructed them to immediately cross the sea instead of resting. Since the waves were strong, they strained rowing all night. They felt very afraid and alone in the middle of a cold, dark sea. Jesus did not go with them because as they crossed the sea, he departed to the mountain to pray.

What is your response when you reach this difficult point? Sister Beng encouraged the graduates to wait on Jesus who promises to give rest for the weary. When the disciples could have thought that Jesus had abandoned them, He had not. He was actually praying for them, as He is continually doing for us today.

The 6^th chapter of Mark reminds us about knowing God by obeying Him even if we do not understand His ways. Jesus commanded the disciples to feed five thousand when they themselves had nothing to eat. They also wondered about the “ghost” who walked on the water towards their boat. Sister Beng said that as long as we are here on earth, we will always be disciples so we do not stop learning and knowing Him. This is why God said we can ask of Him for wisdom in our lack.

Among the nine graduates, two were from the One-Way Outreach denomination who joined this year’s training. Wearing their colorful ethnic attire, the graduates gave a spectacular dance and song numbers in Obo Manobo language. They also gave their testimonies and much appreciation for the training. A very sumptuous and delicious lunch prepared by the volunteers follow the closing of the graduation ceremony.

Investment beats money woes

August 13, 2014/in EFC Davao, Regions/by cecille

By Mayme F. Olegario and Ptr. Liza Angelias

After the summer holiday, the month of June is a bustling back-to-school season in the Philippines. School expenses become top budget priority. However, for most parents, the answer to the question of where to get extra money for school fees is always hard to pin down.

As a church family, finance is a shared affair. A pastor’s aspiration is always for the welfare of his flock. This concern is not only limited to spiritual fulfillment but also to material success in order to live a truly blessed life.

To help members enjoy financial freedom and increase, the Southern Mindanao Region held a seminar in three churches from June to August, a refreshing and timely discussion as financially draining school year kicked in. The seminar aimed to energize breadwinners, new and seasoned professionals and aspiring and established businesspersons with the reminder that God is the one who gives us the ability to produce wealth.

EFC-Davao, EFC-Kidapawan and EFC-Tagum were the host churches of the seminar “A Divine Purpose on Investment” with speakers Eng. Dave Domingo and Godeth Domingo from EFC-Davao. About 200 professionals and entrepreneurs were thrilled and motivated with moneywise principles shared by the husband-and-wife team.

Bro. Dave started his talk with an animated video presentation of two men making a living by carrying pails of water from the river to the village houses and stores that pay them for their service. One of the men wakes up early every morning and does the same thing every day for the rest of his working years. The other one named Bruno, however, is a visionary. He has a big dream for his life and the society. He works hard, plans every move, and sacrifices his time for pleasures until he is able to attain his dream. Bruno’s dream is to create technology that will bring water faster into the village. He invests two years of hard work, and his income gets bigger and bigger as his accomplished water system brings improvement in the community. Everything he sacrificed pays off. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keeps the law, happy is he.” Foresight and knowledge are indeed steps that usher vision fulfillment.

The speaker continued by discussing the various sources of income such as being an employee, self-employed, business owner and investor. He said whatever our source of income is, investment and savings are a must. The attendees were coached how and where to invest their financial resources and were taught the 7 Simple Steps to Save Money. The attendees, some of them engaged in small businesses, were all eager to apply the knowledge learned and were even asking for a part two of the seminar. Asked for a reflection, one EFC-Kidapawan youth who is currently employed as teacher in the government realized that he should find another source of income and not just depend on his monthly salary so he could give more and be a blessing.

Bro. Dave also warned that fear and laziness are enemies in wealth production. Fear can paralyze and eventually make us unproductive. Laziness, on the other hand, is a likened to a robber. As Proverbs 6:10-11 states, “ A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man”.

Another convicting point is the “Law of Use” which states that “What you don’t use, you will lose”. This is a reminder to all that we are accountable to what the Lord deposited in us. Whether in ministry, business or daily activity, God is looking for faithful stewards in small and big things.

Finally, Bro Dave concluded the topic with tithing as a divine investment. He shared his own testimony on how God flourished his business with so many favors since they started to pay their tithes faithfully. He encouraged everyone to pay tithes honestly despite bills to pay and daily expenses. It’s heartwarming to hear some participants, who are still struggling with tithes, say “I will surely give my tithes from now on”.

By understanding and applying the divine purpose on investment, may we truly think of ourselves as not just mere employees or workers , but wise investors and owners in the kingdom (with contributions from Ptr. Judith Kintanar and Micah Simpas).

JECPP teachers brush up competence

July 16, 2014/in EFC Davao, Regions/by cecille

By La Donna Yap

Children’s Ministry plays a significant role in setting the foundations of faith in a child’s life. It could be the first place where a child encounters Jesus Christ. While parents remain as the most important faith influencers in their children’s life, Children’s Ministry comes alongside to help them rear their precious ones in the Kingdom of God.

In this light, JECPP empowers the Children’s Church teachers of EFC in Marilog District, Davao City on May 22, 2014 and in EFC-Kidapawan (with Del Sur, South Cotabato and SOCCSKSARGEN Regions) on May 29, 2014 by giving them a Seminar-Workshop on Teaching Children. A total of 57 teachers joined the said training from 23 Southern Mindanao EFC churches.

The one day seminar-workshop was designed and facilitated by Sis. Cecille Gacasan and Sis. La Donna Yap, experienced Children’s Church teachers of EFC-Davao. Both facilitators emphasized that Bible Teaching doesn’t have to be dull and drab. Teachers do not have to get stuck in ruts. They demonstrated the methodology in teaching children, such as drawing and crafts, demonstration, dramatization, question and answer, drills and games, music and action songs and storytelling.

Moreover, teachers were also taught to outline or plan their bible lessons effectively. The objectives are to help the students remember the details of the story (e.g. names and characters, places, etc.); understand the conditions in the story; apply the details in real life situations that students can relate to; analyze the word of God and how the message affects the child’s everyday life; evaluate the circumstances of the characters in the story and make connections with students’ experiences and create their personal reflections or conclusion of the story. Explaining the bible verses before asking the students to memorize it was emphasized as well.

Aside from equipping the teachers with the knowledge and skills in teaching effectively, they were also given time to share their testimonies, struggles and burden in their respective ministry. These gave them the chance to relate to each other and to encourage each other. All of them shared that the training is a refreshment for them and that it put springs on their steps to teach their classes in the coming Sundays.

Indeed, teaching children is not easy, and success is not immediate, but the rewards are sure and eternal as Jesus said in Matt. 19:14, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

WHY GIVE TO MISSIONS?

May 21, 2014/in EFC Davao, Regions/by cecille

(The 11th Tribal Medical Mission)

By Joy Risonar

“Dako gyud kaayo akong pasalamat sa JECPP ba kay dili lang check-up ilang ginahimo, gahatag pud sila ug tambal ug vitamins (I thank JECPP very much because they do not only do [medical] check-up, but they also give medicines and vitamins.),” said Nene, a 48-year- old mother of seven children. She brought to the medical mission her one-month-old baby who was suffering from LBM and a seven-year-old boy who was having fever and cough.

Nene was only one of the four hundred fifty-one (451) residents of Marilog District who were served during the 11th Tribal Medical Mission conducted by Jireh-Evangel Church Planting Philippines, Inc. (JECPP) at West Marahan Elementary School, Marahan, Marilog District last May 9, 2014. Three hundred forty-seven (347) of these availed of the free medical consultation, seventy (70) for dental services, and thirty-four (34) underwent the circumcision ‘tuli’ operation. All of the patients were given medicines, and the children and babies were given vitamins.

A quick interview with them made me realize that they await the annual medical mission of JECPP, and that they had nothing to say but a thank you to JECPP and anticipation for the future medical missions.

My joining this medical mission for the first time made me see how far JECPP has achieved bringing to the people of this far-flung area access to basic medical services and medicines and vitamins, yet the journey still has a long way to go. I now better understand the need for us to have passion for missions. As a matter of fact, the medical mission team had to cut-off the dental services and the tuli operation because of time constraints and lack of some medical supplies.

Patients already lined up for three registration stations even before the set up was finalized. They had been given lugaw or rice porridge that was prepared by volunteers from EFC Marahan whose station had three big pots cooking lugaw at the same time. They lost count of the bowls of lugaw that have been served because many of the local residents got several refills. “Ang uban kay mao na ni ang gipamahaw mao nga kadaghan nangayo ug lugaw, ” said one cook. At the end of the day, a whole sack of rice was cooked into lugaw.

The first station was the medical check-up registration manned by Cecille Gacasan and Christopher Gelicame of EFC Davao. They took the patient’s body temperature, weight, and blood pressure. After the patients had their preliminary interview, they were led to the medical doctors namely Dr. Rizaldo R. Gonzales, a Physician and an Obstetrician and Gynecologist, and Dr. Orfa Abelende-Ingay, a Physician in Occupational Medicine. According to these physicians, most of the patients had upper respiratory problems like cough and colds, skin diseases, and body pains. Apart from the medicines they prescribed, they also recommended vitamins and deworming especially to children.

Catherine, a 23-year-old pregnant woman, who has not had pre-natal checkups and therefore has not counted the months of her current pregnancy, came complaining about stomach pains. Dr. Gonzales said they were actually contractions. Dr. Gonzales advised her to go see the resident German doctor in the place immediately since the classroom-turned-medical-clinic was not equipped to accommodate patients of her case. After a while, I noticed her at the lugaw station feeding her two children, and so I went to talk to her again. She said she was already feeling well and the contractions had already stopped, and that she intends to give birth at home with the midwife in the community.

The oldest who came for medical check-up was the eighty-one-year old Lolo Ambrosio who complained of suffering from cough and constant dizziness. According to him, “wala mi panggasto aron mopacheck up ug mopalit ug tambal. (We don’t have money to spend for check-up and medicines). The youngest patient was less than a month old baby Ashley who had skin allergies.

A 19-year-old Carlo was noticed limping and so was given immediate attention. His case was urgent. He had an incised wound on his left knee he accidentally caused himself the day before while he was clearing a cornfield. Dr. Gonzales had to stitch the 3-cm long wound and dress it. He also advised Carlo to get anti-tetanus shots at the district’s health center. “Ako ra gyud ning gihiktan aron moundang ang agas sa dugo” (I just tied [a cloth] around this [knee] to stop the bleeding), Carlo shared while enduring the pain.

The second station was the dental registration which was facilitated by Lalaine Madanlo and Adrian James Pangilinan of EFC Davao. Only seventy were given Dental Services led to the classroom-turned-dental-clinic.

Ten dentists composed the dental team, namely Dr. Hafid Millan, Dr. Louise Marie Alhambra, Dr. Reginald Louie Tolentino, Dr. Viezel Monterde, Dr. Jasmin Jade Gramaje, Dr. Najed Macarimbang, Dr. Ilee Ampong, Dr. Gino Arvin Santos, Dr. Rosana Ang, and Dr. Jane Rose Yee (EFC-Davao).

The third station was the circumcision ‘tuli’ registration which was attended by Janice Sy of EFC Davao and Ena Wee of EFC Singapore (who later on also helped in the medical checkup station). They also took the patient’s body temperature, weight, and blood pressure. Almost a hundred boys whose age ranged from 6 to 10 years old registered, but only thirty-four were eventually operated on due to time constraints. The classroom-turned-operating-room had seven registered nurses working on six patients at the same time. Only a few boys decided to cry in the middle of the operation. The free lollipop was more than enough of a reward to make the rest feel brave. One mother whose son was not accommodated for the tuli said, “Hulat napud mi sunod tuig” (We’ll wait again [for this mission] next year).

The registered nurses who composed the tuli team are the following: Vicenta Biñan, Clara Maris Hofer, Melissa Zosa, Ian Te Eng Fo, Jessa Empis, and Rachelle Ann Tilacas.

All of the patients proceeded to the pharmacy attended by Ptr. Christine Wee, Ptr. Judith Kintanar, Ptr. Jordan Kintanar, Aldin Gacasan, Genji Jimenez, PJ Pascua and Boyet Bitong of EFC Davao and Catalina Gonzales, a volunteer nurse and midwife. They were given noodles, sardines, biscuits, and drinking water. The kids, especially those who were having tantrums, were also given toys (cute airplanes and beautiful hairclips hand-made by Sis. Sherry Lim of EFC Singapore) and candies. The dosage was labeled on the medicine boxes in the Bisaya language and was also carefully explained to the patients in the same local language.

The overall project manager Ptr. Peter Wee, together with Ptr. Jordan Kintanar, Michael Barrera of EFC Davao and Ptr. Patricio Margate of EFC Marahan set up the venue and maintained order all throughout the conduct of the mission. We also had 4 Policemen from the Police Station 12 of Marilog District who assisted us to uphold peace and security within the vicinity.

Towards the end of the medical mission, a weak, quick earthquake was felt. Nobody panicked. The medical mission team continued their task. The patients in line for the check-up remained still. Then, a heavy rain poured. The dry soil was quenched.

Many residents watched the team pack up and leave. Those who availed of the medical mission were not verbally expressive, but the team saw in their faces peace, happiness, and gratification for what they have experienced that day.

May those who give to the work of the Lord not panic when funds get low. May their own thirst get quenched too in cheerful giving. May they continue to give so that faces like those in Marahan on May 9, 2014 could continue to experience God’s abundance until the next medical missions to come. All praises to our Awesome God for this mission (photographs taken by Benedict Chan – EFC Singapore).

Northern Mindanao Youth take on the fight of faith

May 10, 2014/in EFC CDO, Regions/by cecille

By Maria Niña Bañares

“This fast-paced life requires much of our time to do the things that are required from us and as a result, we don’t have ample time for ourselves. We tend to be more focused on the things that help us to be a better student or employee, but we forget to develop our relationship with the Almighty. I believe that if we, the next generation, spend our summers in retreats like this, we would be better prepared for later decisions in life and for every spiritual battle that we will encounter,” said one of the delegates Cinderella Bañares, a secondary education teacher, when asked about her expectations of the retreat.

She echoed the sentiments of the enthusiastic115 delegates in the first Northern Mindanao Regional Youth Conference last April 15-17, 2014 at the Coconut Bay Resort, Tablon, Cagayan de Oro City.

The said conference which was focused on the JECPP theme, “Empowering the Next Generation” was participated by the delegates from Evangel Family Church Cagayan de Oro and all its outstation churches namely EFC Lala, EFC Naawan, EFC Manticao, EFC Balingasag and EFC Malaybalay. It was facilitated by Pastor Rowena Kwong, and administered by Pastor Andrew Kwong, Pastor Roberto Padinit, and Pastor Vic Louie Pacaña.

The Holy Spirit did a great job in empowering the spiritual lives of the young people throughout the two- day camp. Pastor Andrew set the mode of the retreat on the first night by stressing Joel 2: 25 on his preaching, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten – the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm – my great army that I sent among you”. He started off by defining locust as a type of insect that caused farm infestations that devastate crops and cause major agricultural damage and human misery through famine and starvation. He then metaphorically compared the swarm of locusts to the cruel infestation that Satan brought to the believers causing spiritual devastations, misery, coldness and dryness of the present generation. Such devastations weaken the hearts of this generation and hinder the passing on of the great commission of faith, but there is hope in the future with Jesus. God has promised to restore this hope in us by repaying the years of havoc in our lives. And true enough, as the song in the praise and worship went, “these dry bones will live again, we’re nothing without You, nothing without You…”, young people in the Northern Mindanao region responded to God’s message in a desperate cry of restoration. Indeed, God’s outpouring is overflowing; it was a night of healing from pain and disappointment, pure surrender and deliverance from selfish and worldly desires that corrupted the minds and hearts of the young generation. The night ended with a promotional video from Evangel Center for Missions and Evangelism (ECME). One delegate from CDO Section, Milyn Mayake took the challenge to step out and accept the greater call to join the mission field and study in the Bible School.

After all cares were cast to the Almighty on the first night, the young people were once again set on fire for a greater encounter with God on the second day. Pastor Vic Louie Pacaña of EFC-CDO dared the young people to experience or re- experience the infilling of the Holy Spirit on his short message delivered during the early morning devotion. After which, cries of hunger and thirst from the empty vessels echoed throughout the hall. Among those filled was a young boy who is the son of one outstation pastor.

The morning service was led by the energetic praise and worship team from the Naawan section. Pastor Andrew commended the worship team and even expressed his great joy upon witnessing them lead Bisaya songs in fragrant worship to the Lord. Because of this, he proposed for Battle of the Bands for next year’s retreat and all outstation pastors to take turns as Speakers. “This is so good because we are all one body. Through this, we will grow together, challenge one another, help one another and polish one another,” he said.

In the morning service which was entitled “The Generation that Seeks God”, Pastor Roberto Padinit shared a very relevant message out of his experiences of faith. He led the young people into an awareness that there is a spiritual warfare or battle (immorality, idolatry, media, education, music, pornography, drugs, and civil initiative promoting same sex marriage) going on around us, and that they are obliged to bring about this awareness into each of their circle of influence. “We are enjoying right now because of the generation before us that picked up the good news and suffered and sacrificed for us to receive the freedom of worshipping the Lord. Now is the time for us to take up the battle. We are the next generation! If we don’t take up the battle, then we are doomed! It’s time for us to see the cause and pass it on to the next generation,” Pastor Robert said on his sermon. He added that in order to be empowered to fight a good fight of faith and to pass on the battle to the next generation, Christians need to declare the mighty and awesome acts of God’s greatness and majesty. To do this, we need to understand that we are created by God; we need to know that God cares for us; we need to trust on the cross of Christ; we need to follow Christ and be sold out to Him; we need to live the correct way of living – having wisdom and integrity, and we need the Holy Spirit in our daily undertakings. He wrapped up his sermon by saying that Christians need to arise because we have been called to be the light and salt of the world.

The day was concluded with the campers’ encounter and tracing back of the seven stations of the Cross where the pastors explicated Christ’s sufferings and battle per station. Pastor Andrew gave emphasis to the value of the soul by asking the question: “What is a price of the soul?” He further stated “The cost of the soul is the life of the Son of God – that is how precious and valuable our soul is. God gave His life for our souls. He conquered the greatest battle of mankind which is death. Jesus’s earthly life ended, yet He remains forever. He continues to live with us as we continue to pass on this life to another generation.” Knowing the price that Jesus paid on the cross empowered the young people to really take up the spiritual battle of this generation.

“The stations of the cross activity helped me to contemplate how great the battle he faced just to give us a chance to live a second life that will be of great use to His kingdom. As a response, I am now willing to give my life and will back to Him”, one high school camper said.

During the camp, strong camaraderie was also built among the young people from the various outstation churches through various activities such as group cheer competition and outdoor pool swimming. Special song numbers were also given by nine-year old Hannah Padinit, Pastor Robert Padinit’s daughter, on the first night and Sheen Cabañeros from EFC-CDO on the second night.

When asked about her insights and realizations after the camp, this is what Mariecris Michelle Uy, stage 2 cancer survivor from EFC Manticao said, “I had so much fun during the retreat. I made new friends and I enjoyed the food, the place and the fellowship. Everything was just so smooth, relaxing and no pressure at all. I felt like I already had a vacation, I am truly blessed by how God touched my heart. He made me realize that I am loved, that I am of such worth because He gave His only Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for me, for all of us. Isn’t that the sweetest thing that could ever happen in the history of mankind? It made me appreciate myself more, and it made me love God even more. I just felt so amazingly happy, loved and blessed. Thanks EFC for the wonderful experience”.

It was indeed a very successful retreat. The campers went to their respective places and homes filled, revived, and empowered by the presence of the Almighty to arise to the spiritual battle and become the light and salt of this earth.

Capping off the whole retreat were few words from Karl Angelo Almueda, lone delegate from Metro Manila who flew in to experience church youth retreat for the first time. “This retreat is undeniably a great and fulfilling experience in the sense that it gave me a taste of real spiritual encounter with God. The Conference taught me how to individually reflect and relate my present lifestyle to the standards God has set for me to live by. It made me realize that there is a great spiritual battle around and ahead of me as I go back to Luzon on Monday. God helped me to really take up this battle and rise as one of Christ’s servants. It is so awesome to know that this vacation is definitely one of my best and will always be cherished as I go back home EMPOWERED!”

Southern Mindanao convened for the 1ST Regional Youth Conference

April 25, 2014/in EFC Davao, Regions/by cecille

By: Jeanelle Grace Lorilla

The year 2014 is a special year devoted by JECPP to empower the next generation. With this theme, all the five JECPP regions conducted last April 14-16, 2014 its 1^st Regional Youth Conference simultaneously held in Davao City, Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro City, Iloilo City and Quezon City.

For the Southern Mindanao Region, a total of 213 participants gathered at Evangel Family Church, Davao City for the three-day much awaited summer gathering of young people. Delegates came from Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, SOCCSKSARGEN, Marahan and Davao City.

The theme “Empowering the Next Generation” aimed to equip each of us for the greater things God has for us individually and to the entire JECPP ministry. With our guest speakers, who boldly delivered the word of God, each one of us was fired up to serve the Lord with all of our hearts, minds, strength and souls.

Southern Mindanao was so blessed to have Rev. Dr. Robert Lim – JECPP’s founding chairman who shared God’s messages to us for three nights. The message for the first and second night was titled, “Unplugging Your Wells”. The scripture taken from Genesis 26: 12-33 talks about Isaac and his servants who re-dug the wells of his father Abraham. The first well that they dug, Isaac named it “Esek” which means strife, injustice and contention because the herdsman of Gerar quarreled with them for this well. They didn’t settle on this well. The next well they dug was named “Sitnah” which means hatred because they also fought over it. These two wells became areas of demonic activity. These wells represent our own lives where the enemy can throw in dispute, anger, and opposition until our spiritual and emotional channels get clogged. Isaac and his servants never stayed on these wells. They moved on to dig another well. This time, they never fought for the third well. So he called it “Rehoboth” which means that the Lord has made a room for them. They stayed there and also named the place as “Shebah” which means the Well of Oath. The wells embody our spiritual lives. If we allow the enemy to mark us with negativity such as “no hope” or “no future”, our wells will never flow.

At the final night of the conference, Pastor Lim shared the powerful message titled “It is Finished at the Cross”. He emphasized that the cross is the final answer to our slavery to sin and the curses that come with it. Furthermore, the cross is the fullness of judgment and the completion of our salvation. He encouraged everyone to claim God’s promises of victory, triumph and conquest over the enemy of our soul because of what Jesus did at the cross. Hallelujah! Jesus won us back on the Cross!

The morning sessions also featured very timely messages from Rev. Peter Wee, the Regional Director for Southern Mindanao and Rev. Gregorio Simpas Jr., Davao del Norte Core Leader.

Rev. Wee made us realize through his message “If You Want to Truly Live, Some Things Must Die”, that we should kill the giants of our lives when we still have the opportunity, or else, the giants will multiply and overpower us. Rev. Simpas, on the other hand, revealed to us the “Missing Ingredient” of our service to God which is momentum. He warned us the irony of being idle in the Lord and yet busy in worldly things. He gave specific warning on computer game addiction that corrupts so many young people today.

Each service was started by Praise and Worship that made us all jumped, dance and sang the Lord’s awesome wonders. Thanks to the Music Team of Davao City, Tagum and Kidapawan in leading the congregation. We were also entertained by special song numbers given to us by Davao City and Kidapawan.

Aside from lighting our spiritual vigor, we also enjoyed our trip to Crocodile Park where we saw many wildlife animals. Some trained animals showed off their intelligence by performing tricks. We were also engaged in workshops so we could learn new skills for our local churches. We had Song Leaders session, Musicians session, Creative Balloon Design, PowerPoint Designs and E-mail lessons. Not just the Young People learned from this workshops, so did the Pastors.

Another highlight of the conference was the courageous response of the eight young people to go to Bible School for more workers in the harvest field. God’s calling to some young people to become pastors aroused as we watched a special video presentation of Evangel Center for Missions and Evangelism (ECME).

The conference ended with testimonies from each delegate who was revived, delivered and blessed. On the last night, as we were asking for more of God’s presence, the Holy Spirit touched the young people in a way that made us respond with joyful cries.

Northern Mindanao sections prepare for harvest

March 11, 2014/in EFC CDO, Regions/by cecille

By Pastor Vic Louie Pacaña

The Holy Spirit taught me a very valuable lesson during my trip last December to Tacloban City via Ormoc City. Amidst the sorrowful landscape of wrecked houses and snapped coconut trees caused by Super Typhoon Yolanda, I saw a farmer plowing his fields. The houses nearby were all in shambles, yet this farmer would not allow the situation around him to hinder what needs to get done for the season. It was the right time actually to prepare the fields for planting, and this wise and diligent farmer arose from the heartbreaking moment to prepare his fields.

The church goes through many storms, and sometimes we can get stuck in the heartbreaking moments and neglect what needs to be done for that season.

C.S. Lewis says, “The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.”

“The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed…” so echoes Hudson Taylor.

Missions is not just about planting churches or spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. It means giving birth to another church that has this same mission to spread a passion for God. So instead of merely saying that we aim to plant a church, we say that we aim of “Planting a Passion for God” at a certain locality.

The aim is not just to plant a church, but to plant a strong, God-centered seedbed for spreading a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ.

Since our exposure to the Church Planting Movement Concept last 3-6 August 2010 at Marco Polo Hotel, Cebu City, we experienced a surge in our church planting endeavors for a year or two, but the zeal began to wane. As the essence of the Church planting movement rests primarily on the mobilizing of volunteer church members to plant churches, we revive our efforts on the training of new volunteers for church planting.

We began with reorganizing the evangelism program of our city church. Believing for the harvest must first begin with preparing for the planting. So we went back to the basics of evangelism. We gathered all willing members and enlisted them to our modified Evangelism Explosion Program. This program will take around 12-15 weeks, depending on the diligence of the trainee. With much excitement, the first batch of 29 volunteers has already grown to 40. We are expecting this number to double when the trainees reach midway of the program where they are expected to each enlist a trainee.

The excitement doesn’t just stop here at our city church, but it has also reached our barangay outstation churches. Our present volunteers who handle outstation churches have also implemented the same program on their barangay churches. Our full time church planters are also preparing their fields. Currently, Balingasag Section has 9 volunteers, and they are training 4 more workers to plant 2 churches this June. Malaybalay Section has 9 volunteer workers, and they are now training 3 additional workers to plant churches by July. Manticao Section has 10 volunteer workers, and now they are training 2 more volunteers to plant 2 churches by July. Lala Section has 10 volunteers, and they are training 5 volunteers to plant churches by June this year. Naawan Section has 12 volunteers, and they are training 3 more volunteers to plant church by June this year. The overall number of volunteers under Northern Mindanao Region is 113, and we are presently training 34 volunteers for our projected 10 churches to be planted this year.

Truly, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. We need to mobilize our people to be involved in the harvest. It starts by preparing them. David Livingstone says “Sympathy is no substitute for action”. There is so much to be done for evangelism, but it can only be done if God’s people are available and willing to do it.