Mission Update: 12/5/16

The Spiritual Counseling Ministry/Drug Addiction Ministry continues to go pretty well. The praises are that 2 new men attended, received the message, participated in the discussions, and accept Jesus as their Savior, asking Him to heal, lead, help, comfort, and give them peace.

People in the group really seem to understand and accept the fact that Jesus is the only way, truth, and life, and that the “Road to Recovery” or “ the narrow, difficult path can only be navigated by Following Him. Praise God that His message is clear and simple, leaving Teresa and I and the others little room for failure. Praise God that the Mission Pastors and Ministry Workers that help me translate the material and minister each week see its value for every part of life and not just for overcoming substance addiction. They have been using this material for their Sunday Morning messages and bible study groups.

The prayer requests are:

1. For a greater residual attendance rate: Only ½ of the 10 saved during the previous week’s training service returned this week. I know 50% sounds awesome for a residual rate, and it is, but Teresa and I cannot help worrying after the lives and well being of the ones who may not yet be embracing  and living in the truth of Jesus Christ from week to week after they have heard and accepted it. God is faithful and just to forgive, and He is mighty to save, but flesh is weak and the “process of being saved” that each of us goes through is difficult, especially when we have an addiction to face and overcome. Please pray for these people as the struggle with the OPPORTUNITY to remain strong in admitting their need and submitting themselves to the Lord of lords.
2. Please pray for Teresa and I as we begin to expand this ministry this week by going to Malitam more and more through the week as a follow up to each weekly general meeting to minister personally to anyone in the program who will accept our love and support. We believe this will go a long way toward successfully meeting the opportunities mentioned already. This work is difficult because Malitam is not a pleasant place. The language barrier is stronger there than other parts of Batangas City, and this Ministry is the Gateway to the Muslim population there. You can bet that every obstacle and battle the enemy has to use against The Kingdom plans God has for this will be used.

We were blessed to be able to share in the 17^th Anniversary Celebration services at BCBC. Over 1000 people attended, and many decisions for Jesus Christ were made.

We went to Cavite this week to check on construction of a new, temporary building for the mission church there. This church has been meeting in a small apartment. It has become too small to accommodate the Worship Service attendance there, which has grown to about 30 adults plus their children. A larger (but still temporary) building is going up on a member’s piece of property that should accommodate growth up to about 60 adults over the next year. We hope during that time period the New Building at Mabakong will be completed so we can start concentrating on finding property and building a new church there in Cavite. Please help us pray for God’s favor and leadership for Pastor Jervel and his wife, Jenna.

I’m hoping to be able to travel to Lemery with Pastor Mario and to Lipa with Pastor Rudy later this week and sit in on some of thier weekly bible studies and church services. I’ll add pictures of all the Missions and the Pastors as I get them. Jervel and his wife, Jenna were not available when we were there at Cavite.

Mostly Teresa and I have just been trying to “experience life” with as many people as possible this week. I read something on a blog site last week that reminded me of the fact that Experiencing Life with other people was exactly what Jesus did and what He taught us to do while He lived and ministered on this earth. When we take the time and make the effort to “Experience the Life” of another person or other people, we begin to understand them better. The better we understand someone the more effective we become at sharing Jesus with him-both wth words and by example. How much better off would a world full of THAT be?