Saturday, April 21, 2012
Philippines Update #5
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Philippines Update #4
The last two days of ministry have been good, with VBS in the morning at New Hope Christian Fellowship. Yesterday afternoon we visited one of the squatter villages to hold a worship service and feed the children and families there. At VBS the children have been learning stories about the life of Jesus and today is a lesson on His resurrection. Please be in prayer for hearts and lives to be committed t
o Christ today as we have a time of decision with the children. Tomorrow we will hold a medical clinic at the church and the SuperKids program for children for children from the community will also be going on. Pray that our last days of ministry here will be fruitful for the kingdom of God.
Love,
Team Philippines
Love,
Team Philippines
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Philippines Update #3
Philippines Update, Day 4 - Today was a very tiring day but an exciting day as well. After providing VBS and then feeding the children, we were blessed to participate in a worship service in one of the two squatter villages the local church serves. We recognized many faces from our morning VBS program and received enthusiastic greetings when we arrived. Randy Koger gave a Bible lesson for the children and Sharon Evans shared some medical and spiritual advice with young mothers. The team then had the opportunity to serve an evening meal to children and families in the community.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Philippines update #2
Philippines Update, Day 2-The team was blessed to share in corporate worship with our local church partner, New Hope Fellowship. It was a wonderful time together as we praised our Lord, and Savior, with these brothers and sisters in Christ!
It was great renewing friendships from last year but also meeting new friends. The fellowship was so sweet and language was not a barrier as the Holy Spirit knitted our hearts together and offered up a sweet fragrance to our Heavenly Father.
Pastor Ding Teodoro shared a wonderful message from God's Word on abiding in Christ. We were reminded of what abididing in Christ requires but also what the benefits are to those who "are in Christ Jesus."
After two days of travel, the team was able to take a well-deserved afternoon nap and then reviewed plans for the upcoming week of ministry. Please pray that we will allow God to use us to influence many to place their faith and trust in the living God and find the hope and peace that so many desperately seek.
Philippines Update, Day 3 - The ministry with the children began today with about 100 children participating. After an opening session, the children then separated for four rotations - Bible Storying, crafts, music, and recreation.
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the children were very well-behaved. After the closing session, the children were provided a nutrious lunch and then they departed for their homes. Most of the children come from two local squatter villages and are excited to have an opportunity to participate in Vacation Bible School program as a means of escaping the hopelessness they see daily in the villages.
As we experience in many places around the world, the children are so grateful for the time and attention they receive and they return the love and attention in amazing ways. We can honestly and sincerely share the love of Christ because of their display of uninhibited joy despite the challenging conditions in which they live.
It is also encouraging to see the amount of love that Pastor Ding and his wife Mona have for these children and their families. They have invested so much in these children to ensure they have an opportunity to know and accept Christ.
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers!
Love,
Team Philippines
It was great renewing friendships from last year but also meeting new friends. The fellowship was so sweet and language was not a barrier as the Holy Spirit knitted our hearts together and offered up a sweet fragrance to our Heavenly Father.
Pastor Ding Teodoro shared a wonderful message from God's Word on abiding in Christ. We were reminded of what abididing in Christ requires but also what the benefits are to those who "are in Christ Jesus."
After two days of travel, the team was able to take a well-deserved afternoon nap and then reviewed plans for the upcoming week of ministry. Please pray that we will allow God to use us to influence many to place their faith and trust in the living God and find the hope and peace that so many desperately seek.
Philippines Update, Day 3 - The ministry with the children began today with about 100 children participating. After an opening session, the children then separated for four rotations - Bible Storying, crafts, music, and recreation.
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the children were very well-behaved. After the closing session, the children were provided a nutrious lunch and then they departed for their homes. Most of the children come from two local squatter villages and are excited to have an opportunity to participate in Vacation Bible School program as a means of escaping the hopelessness they see daily in the villages.
As we experience in many places around the world, the children are so grateful for the time and attention they receive and they return the love and attention in amazing ways. We can honestly and sincerely share the love of Christ because of their display of uninhibited joy despite the challenging conditions in which they live.
It is also encouraging to see the amount of love that Pastor Ding and his wife Mona have for these children and their families. They have invested so much in these children to ensure they have an opportunity to know and accept Christ.
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers!
Love,
Team Philippines
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Philippines team update #1
We have had a long two days to get to Manila but God blessed us with some wonderful conversations on the airplanes. We are about to start our day with a worship gathering with New Hope to Asia church and the activities with children from the squatter villages will begin on Monday. Please keep our team and ministry in your prayers.
Love,
The Philippines Team
Love,
The Philippines Team
Monday, February 6, 2012
Update #3 from the Middle East
This update one will cover the highlights of our last few days on our trip and include on-going prayer needs.
Monday, 1/30: We spent the morning and early afternoon at Seeb Souq and Beach. We had an opportunity to shop and share with merchants. One team member purchased an abaya (and one of our fellow "tourists" shared the Good News with the shop owner). Divine appointments! We spent an extended time on the beach praying for this community, its people, its leaders, ... The wind was blowing the sand all around and it stirred our hearts to pray that the Spirit would blow all over this land, stirring up every crevice. DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER??? DO YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT YOUR PRAYERS OFFERED IN FAITH HAVE MORE POWER THAN YOUR HUMAN DRIVEN ACTIONS? In our western way of thinking doing often overshadows praying; results and numbers become our goal more than submission to His Spirit. In God's economy, faith-filled, trusting prayers unleash His power to move unlike man-inspired action. After a sandy picnic, the ladies went on to our new friend's home for tea and conversation while the guys met up with new friends to share fellowship and truth. Both groups spent the evening at the festival. Please continue to pray for these and others with whom we have had divine appointments.
Tuesday, 1/31: We spent most of today driving to various tourist sites and praying as we passed communities, mosques and people on the streets. We ate lunch with items we purchased at a local market, while making connections with the cashier. ARE YOU AWARE THAT PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS WATCHING YOU AND IN EVERY ENCOUNTER YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE AND SHOWCASE THE LOVE OF JESUS (or perhaps you showcase your impatience and pride)? There is no neutral ground ... you either showcase God or you showcase yourself!
Wednesday, 2/1, Last Day: We had a rough boat ride along the coast. Despite being soaked to the bone, the beauty of this land is breath-taking (or maybe that was the chill from the wind and spray). At any rate, we were reminded that God is God even over these more difficult places. In this land, there are less than 20 reported believers of the 2.5 million nationals. Can you imagine that... LESS THAN 20! Unlike here, many have never met a true believer, nor experienced His love through our hands. "It is not about converting a Muslim, it is about showing them the love of Jesus." HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THIS LOVE? IF SO, YOU ARE EQUIPPED TO SHOWER THAT SAME LOVE ON A MUSLIM? They are all around us here in Hampton Roads. We MUST be vessels showering His love on all those around us! After our boat ride, we visited a museum and met a friend who is curious about our faith in the interest of understanding other cultures. May God stir that curiosity into a passion to know Him.
Monday, 1/30: We spent the morning and early afternoon at Seeb Souq and Beach. We had an opportunity to shop and share with merchants. One team member purchased an abaya (and one of our fellow "tourists" shared the Good News with the shop owner). Divine appointments! We spent an extended time on the beach praying for this community, its people, its leaders, ... The wind was blowing the sand all around and it stirred our hearts to pray that the Spirit would blow all over this land, stirring up every crevice. DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER??? DO YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT YOUR PRAYERS OFFERED IN FAITH HAVE MORE POWER THAN YOUR HUMAN DRIVEN ACTIONS? In our western way of thinking doing often overshadows praying; results and numbers become our goal more than submission to His Spirit. In God's economy, faith-filled, trusting prayers unleash His power to move unlike man-inspired action. After a sandy picnic, the ladies went on to our new friend's home for tea and conversation while the guys met up with new friends to share fellowship and truth. Both groups spent the evening at the festival. Please continue to pray for these and others with whom we have had divine appointments.
Tuesday, 1/31: We spent most of today driving to various tourist sites and praying as we passed communities, mosques and people on the streets. We ate lunch with items we purchased at a local market, while making connections with the cashier. ARE YOU AWARE THAT PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS WATCHING YOU AND IN EVERY ENCOUNTER YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE AND SHOWCASE THE LOVE OF JESUS (or perhaps you showcase your impatience and pride)? There is no neutral ground ... you either showcase God or you showcase yourself!
Wednesday, 2/1, Last Day: We had a rough boat ride along the coast. Despite being soaked to the bone, the beauty of this land is breath-taking (or maybe that was the chill from the wind and spray). At any rate, we were reminded that God is God even over these more difficult places. In this land, there are less than 20 reported believers of the 2.5 million nationals. Can you imagine that... LESS THAN 20! Unlike here, many have never met a true believer, nor experienced His love through our hands. "It is not about converting a Muslim, it is about showing them the love of Jesus." HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THIS LOVE? IF SO, YOU ARE EQUIPPED TO SHOWER THAT SAME LOVE ON A MUSLIM? They are all around us here in Hampton Roads. We MUST be vessels showering His love on all those around us! After our boat ride, we visited a museum and met a friend who is curious about our faith in the interest of understanding other cultures. May God stir that curiosity into a passion to know Him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)