Investment beats money woes

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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

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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?

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(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

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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.group_picture

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

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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 1st 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.DSC_0355

Northern Mindanao sections prepare for harvest

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By Pastor Vic Louie Pacaña

northern_mindanao1The 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.

EFC-Carmen commemorates 10 years

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by: Pastor Mabel Miraflor

 

After graduating at ECME Bible School in Jaro, Iloilo City in 2008, I was assigned to shepherd EFC-Carmen, Davao del Norte. Five years later, I could look back and marvel on God’s leading up to this day and the promising years ahead.

EFC-Carmen, now 10 years old, is headed by my team-up with Pastor Evelyn Calamba. Looking back, this assignment seemed daunting for two young ladies. When asked to pastor EFC Carmen, we were afraid, nervous and hesitant. There were people who put us down because they think we can do nothing as single ladies who are frail and weak. There are also very physical tasks such as doing repairs or church construction that we find difficult.

But God’s command to be strong and courageous keeps us steadfast in the mission field. In fact, one of EFC-Carmen’s goals this year is to prepare for the construction of our own permanent church building in a 180 sq meter lot donated by one of the members. This has been an answered prayer, as the church, presently located at Purok 17, Brgy. Ising, Carmen has kept transferring from one rented building to another for the past 10 years. Looking for a bigger place to accommodate the growing church or avoiding conflicts with neighbors due to noise problems during church services prompted us to find a suitable and permanent place of worship.  We are now raising money for our own church building. This is one thing we have learned here in the mission field that we haven’t experienced while we were in ECME. We have to actually teach the members to be good stewards of their time, talent and treasure that God has entrusted them with.

Last November 3, 2013, we celebrated EFC-Carmen’s 10th year anniversary. Rev. Gregorio Simpas, who was our guest speaker, inspired our faith. His message challenged us to work on our church theme this year which is “Conquering the Giants.” Our giants in life are the obstacles that we meet along the way- our struggles, weaknesses, fears, doubts, discouragements and temptations. We dare to believe that we can attain victory by taking God at His word and trusting Him completely. God will meet all our needs and destroy these hindering giants.

In line with this theme is our vision for this church. We need to have more leaders for the Church Planting Movement. To accomplish this vision, we conduct leaders training every month. Second is to build our own church building. In order to meet this need, we challenge the members to give for the building fund and commit faith pledge. Another vision is to equip the youth. We train them to practice friendly evangelism in the church neighborhood. We also want to see more children being saved and being used by God through the children ministry. To reach this vision, we train Sunday school teachers to impart the Word of God and Christ-like attitudes by being good examples to our children. As of now, we minister to 115 children in seven children outreaches on Saturdays and Sundays.  

As I look back over the years, the road has been a journey with the Lord. EFC-Carmen started in 2003 through the Church Planting Concept by conducting evangelism and house to house bible study in Carmen. Four young pastors, namely, Antonette Salem, Eddie Gutang, Chandie Tanucan and Liza Honor were the pioneering pastors of the church in a rented house in Prk.14, Brgy. Ising, Carmen, Davao del Norte. After them, Pastor Dolores Lozada was assigned to continue the work, and after a year, Pastor Fabian and Pastor Joyce Sumampong took over the church. But after two years, they transferred to Polomolok in South Cotabato.

I was a newly graduate bible school student then when I was asked to take over EFC-Carmen, together with my batch mate, Pastor Maria Dherly Galing. When Pastor Dherly got married, she joined her husband Ptr. Willian Consular in EFC-Panabo. Pastor Evelyn Calamba took over her place up to the present. As single young ladies, there are lots of pressures in the ministry from the start up to now. We can never do this on our own. It is only by God’s grace and through prayers that we can pray the price of our calling. We must not be frightened nor be dismayed for the Lord our God is with us wherever we go.

 

 

 

Barangay officials prefer healing crusade over disco

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By: Jeanelle Grace Lorilla

Last December 13, Barangay Meohao in Kadapawan City celebrated its Purok Foundation Anniversary with Gospel music and healing crusade. Barangay officials said they want an activity that would draw people to God instead of their usual disco parties that caused riots and crimes in the past. About 150 residents went out of their homes to join the revival crusade.

This community’s hunger for God started when EFC-Kidapawan conducted a Gospel concert and healing crusade there last December 5. Many received the Lord Jesus Christ and get healed in various aspects of their lives. But the Holy Spirit’s move in this barangay did not end that day.

A week later, local officials called EFC-Kidapawan to request another crusade be held for the town’s Foundation Anniversary. The number of residents who showed up was greater compared to the previous crusade. They were even more participative and more hungry for the message they were hearing. Everyone was crying and calling for the Lord. Most of the people fell on the ground in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

After Pastor Tony Angelias prayed and ministered, testimonies roused. A Barangay Councilor was instantly healed from her back pain. She had a problem with her spinal cord. Another woman with a heart disease thanked the Lord for the physical relief and “lightness” she felt after the crusade. There were also lots of open doors for Bible study. One man approached the crusade team and invited them to visit his farm so that his family and farm workers will receive the Lord Jesus Christ too.

After the crusade, the officials brought the team for dinner and fellowship to one of the barangay councilors’ house. The day was filled with so much victory. To God be all the Glory.

Yolanda left a trail for revival

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(JECPP’s Recovery Mission in Visayas and Luzon)

By Mayme F. Olegario

Let Yolanda’s trail be the path of revival in the Philippines! This is the hope and cry of all JECPP churches in the country. Now, a month after the ravaging storm, JECPP reviews God’s immense faithfulness and grace that propel injured lives and ministries on the way to recovery.

It all started on a hastily relocated leaders’ meeting in Manila, supposedly held in Palawan but was cancelled due to alarming weather. On that Saturday breakfast meeting of the JECPP Spiritual Council, no one could touch his food. It was November 9, the day after typhoon Yolanda’s devastating six landfalls in the Visayas region.

Around that breakfast table at the Traders Hotel in Manila, the pastors’ eyes and hearts were crying for God’s mercy for the churches in Western, Central and Eastern Visayas and Luzon.  It was an anxious waiting for calls and texts from the pastors stationed in those places. But none was heard of Samar Section Leader, Pastor Nelson Banol, his wife and three young children in EFC-Tacloban.

The agonizing silence on his whereabouts would last for three days. JECPP Chairperson Rev. Peter Wee said that they sent Pastor Ronel from Maasin who walked overnight to reach EFC-Tacloban, ran out of water on his journey there, and went to the police station asking for Pastor Nelson and his family. But all he saw in Tacloban was only the building where Pastor Nelson’s family had taken refuge in.

“We also sent in pastors from Calbayog and Ormoc to search as well as mobilize believers to pray for their safety. We prayed, but we also braced ourselves for the worst,” said Rev. Chuck Chua who heads Central and Eastern Visayas.

Doubly worried on that Saturday morning meeting was Reverend Benjamin (Benjie) Chavez whose family was left in Ajuy, 5th District of Iloilo placed on state of calamity. He was not home on Yolanda’s onslaught as he was travelling for this Spiritual Council meeting in Manila. “According to my wife, they felt the strong wind around 11:00 am. At exactly 11:30am, they saw how the very strong wind totally blew off the wall and the roof of our parsonage.”

Pastor Benjie said his wife Pastor Lina and two children immediately ran inside the church to protect themselves from flying roofs and tree branches. Seeing the rapid surge of water reaching the sanctuary, they decided to leave. But the flood was so swift that in very few minutes, the water already reached their necks. They tried to swim to reach the road where the police saw and picked them up. They stayed in the police station until the typhoon was over.

Thanking God for His protection to the Chavez family and the other pastors in Iloilo, JECPP was also very relieved to hear that Pastor Nelson’s family was found by Pastor Jeffrey of EFC-Calbayog.

“Thankfully, we finally got news that the family was located and safe by noon on Nov 11, Monday! We had them evacuated via land and sea journey, and they arrived finally in Cebu City on Nov 15. We are thankful for protection from the Lord for all our workers and families”, said Pastor Chuck.

A week after the Spiritual Council meeting in Manila, the pastors had to brace themselves again for what they would personally observe on their assessment visit to Yolanda’s trail. The assessment was needed for the recovery direction of JECPP. The pastors struggled with difficult transport and communication as these were dysfunctional for many days in the ravaged Visayas and Luzon regions. Pastor Chuck and Pastor Benjie travelled all over Visayas. Pastor Jessie Yu also went to Iloilo to assist Pastor Benjie to assess the damages of the church buildings.

“I did a follow up of all churches in Western Visayas. Aside from our church in Ajuy, I found out that there were five more destroyed churches in Northern Iloilo and Northern Antique.  My heart was really troubled when I saw the pictures they e-mailed me”, shared Pastor Benjie.

According to Pastor Wee, a total of 23 JECPP churches were hit by Yolanda. 14 of these experienced slight damages (such as blown roofs or walls) to severe damages. Around 6 seriously damaged churches could not hold Sunday gathering. EFC-Culasi, for instance, held Sunday service under a tree.

In Luzon, Pastor Jessie reported that Metro Manila was spared by Yolanda and only one church in Mindoro was minimally affected, thankfully noting that the damage could have been more critical based on the building’s light material. “Our pastor related to me that the wind was super strong. The whole town was black out. I’m very thankful to the Lord for sparing all our planters. None of them was physically hurt badly.”

“We should prioritize to rebuild the facilities of our ministry centers and restore our pastors, workers and members spiritually and emotionally to serve as lighthouses in the physical and spiritual dark areas of the devastated communities,” said Pastor Chuck referring to JECPP’s recovery mission.

Church buildings and parsonages must be rebuilt so church services can function normally again, agreed Pastor Benjie. He said that by doing so, pastors and their families can recover from their own trauma. Then, they can begin to effectively minister to members and other families in their communities.

Rebuilding now goes on for the Evangel Family Churches in Ajuy, Barbaza, Padan, Bugasong, Culasi, Libertad, Patnongon, Bogo, Panliwad-on, Dawis, Anonang Sur, Agujo, Ormoc, Albuera, Macabug, Montebello, Airpot, Seguinon and Sipaway. Construction is expected to be completed in time for these churches to celebrate the hope of Jesus on their Christmas services.

Pastor Wee said that the pastors from these churches were instructed to submit a recovery proposal and budget plan for reconstruction. All JECPP churches, especially in Mindanao and Luzon carried the burden of their fellow brothers and sisters in Visayas and gave eagerly and sacrificially. Founding Chair Rev. Robert Lim spearheaded foreign help upon seeing the great need. In no time, all building expenses were met and sent immediately. “There is no lack. All financial needs were met,” said Pastor Wee.

If typhoon Yolanda claimed lives, it also ushered in rebirth. “It caused me to be more serious on living a life that’s dedicated to serve God because our days are numbered. Anything unexpected can happen,” said Pastor Jessie. “We must hasten our church planting wherever there is any open door, no matter how small.

“The long-term plan that I’m thinking is, if possible, our churches would be made of concrete materials and the roofs have to be tighten up and designed to withstand stronger winds up to 350kph. During my student days, I could still remember that our allowance for roofs was for only 240kph. Aside from that, flash lights, emergency lamps, cell phone chargers or power banks would be most helpful in times like these on top of the basic medical kits,” Pastor Jessie added.

Pastor Chuck believes that the pain of Yolanda’s aftermath is an opportune time for the Church to shine in righteousness and justice. “We must maintain the balance of proclaiming God’s Word and demonstrating good works so that all men may glorify God and have the opportunity to respond to the claims of Christ.

On that day he would never forget, Pastor Nelson was found with nothing, except for the clothes and tsinelas (slippers) he’s wearing, yet seeing his family safe beside him, he stood his ground.  A month after that fateful day in Tacloban, he and his family are now preparing for Catbalogan, Samar where they will plant a new church. EFC-Tacloban will continue to operate as a cell church.

With the Tacloban church building crushed by Yolanda’s 315kph winds and some members dead, the flock he loved and labored for, Pastor Nelson’s and JECPP’s call to rescue others from eternal catastrophe remains steadfast. It cannot be blown away.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

II Corinthians 4:16-17 NKJV

EFC- CDO youth help fellow students envision college degree

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Many high school students think that since they know how to Facebook or some internet games, they are gifted with computer skills, so they enroll in a computer-related course. After one semester, they find themselves shifting to another course.  Other high school students use a “no-mathematics-please” standard in choosing a perfect pain-free college life. These and many other downbeat decisions lead to delayed and distracted college years.

Seeing their losing plight, Evangel Family Church Cagayan de Oro City organized a Career Guidance Seminar as a community outreach program to help high students envision college education and professional life.

Career Guidance talks are held every third or fourth Friday of the month where working adults in the church are invited as speakers. Since this project kicked off, qualified speakers for Engineering, Accountancy, Medical fields, Education and Vocational Technology courses already shared their different experiences from college life to their current profession. They also suggested best school offerings such as affordability and quality, as well as choices of scholarships offered by various colleges and universities.

A few weeks before the seminar started, our youth went to three public high schools in the City and invited their third year and fourth year students. As we explained to them the objective of this event, they were very optimistic.  Some school principals also suggested that we hold the event within their schools so many students could join. The students are thankful because many of them are still clueless for college.  They said that Universities are also conducting room-to-room career guidance but the difference with ours is that we don’t promote any particular school.  Our speakers simply freely share to them their actual experiences, know-how and wise tips so students can start early career planning with courses that are most appropriate for them. To add fun, we also have some trivia questions between talks, snacks and awards for our young, enthusiastic participants.

Some of these students are now coming back to church, and we are very glad that we influence their lives. They are so blessed with the testimonies of our guest speakers and are now beginning to desire for God. After every event, many don’t want to go home immediately because they love to fellowship with our young people. Although lots of them are not yet coming to our church every Sunday, we praise God for the privilege of planting the Seed of God’s Word in their appreciative hearts.