May Update

Dear Praying Partners,

For several weeks I've been studying Galatians and recently I was thrilled with 5:1 "Christ has liberated us into freedom. Therefore stand firm and don't submit again to a yoke of slavery." (CSB) Christ's yoke is "easy" and "light" (Matthew 11:28-30) but the yoke of sin and religion is hard and heavy. In the Greek the word "easy" means kind, gracious. And the yoke of Jesus frees us to fulfill His will while the yoke of the law enslaves us. Men and women of God, let's heed Paul's exhortation to stand firm in the grace of Christ and follow Him.

The following are quick ministry updates aside from what we've been sending you over the last several days. Thanks for your persistence in prayer. These updates reflect God moving through your intercession.

1. CAMPS

Last week we coordinated 3 camps in 3 provinces. In Real, Quezon, we had 70 campers. In Cagayan De Oro City, Mindanao, we had 135 campers plus 18 "junior" staff who are former campers and at Honest Hands in Silang, Cavite, we had 10 at a "boot" camp. I think having 3 camps in 1 week is a first for ACTION so we praise God for the needed funds, many cooperative workers and several campers indicating turning from sin to the Savior. Now pray for the follow up.

2. SOUTHERN LEYTE SPORTS FEST

May 10-12 we sponsored a sports fest for 54 kids ages 15 to 21 in coordination with 3 churches who are working among families who were relocated due to the killer mudslides that wiped out St. Bernard. This is part of our ongoing development work. Thirty seven youth indicated trusting Christ as Savior and are now being followed up by the churches. By the way, churches working together in this area is a first so we consider this a major accomplishment.

3. HONEST HANDS AND MUSTARD SEED

Honest Hands, our life-skills discipleship ministry for street boys will be having its 2nd boot camp June 4-8 for 10 boys. They then will select up to 10 from the two camps to join their next class which opens either June 18 or 25. Pray for Carl and Pastors Mel and Lino as they are now selecting the 10 for their camp and their class.

Mustard Seed, our discipleship and vocational skills training program for young women will open its doors for their next class June 4 so pray for Barb and her team as they are busy preparing for this big day.

4. BASECO MEDICAL CLINIC AND FEEDING

May 19 ACTION, Greenhills Christian Fellowship and Aplaya Christian Church ministered to 385 patients. This clinic is part of our ongoing partnership with Aplaya in spiritually and physically feeding the very poor in this tough slum. Our current Fish and Bread Feeding Program ends June 10 so pray as to how GCF, Aplaya and ACTION can continue the work. See our links below for photos and a fuller report.

5. THIRD PRINTING OF "ARE YOU A GOOD PERSON?"

Last week we printed our 3rd batch of 10,000 of this tract. It is proving to be used by the Spirit to show people their need for Christ.

6. 180° ALLIANCE WEBSITE

Last week the website for 180° Alliance -- United Global Action with Street Children was launched. Check it out at: http://www.180degreesalliance.org/. Mary Ann and I have been a part in developing this work since October '05. Check out our blog for a fuller report.

7. FOUR CITY-WIDE PROJECTS

In the last month, we launched and partnered with 4 city-wide ministry projects for street children and they are:

1. Restorers of the Walls -- a drop-in and processing center for hard core street boys and girls

2. Alternative Learning System -- A non-formal educational system developed by the Department of Education for people who desire to become literate but do not fit the formal educational system. The ladies of Greenhills Christian Fellowship launched a fund drive last Saturday in an effort to raise $2130 to sponsor 100 of our kids in this educational program.

3. Papa John Center -- will house, disciple and train 10 older street girls in sewing and computer literacy.

4. Children's Garden -- will house, disciple and train possibly up to 30 boys in welding and carpentry.

The reason these are called city-wide projects is because the churches and agencies involved in the network are providing workers and funds and can refer contacts to these programs.

8. FIRE RELIEF

As you know we have been very involved in providing relief for fire victims in 4 locations since March. Friday we will give school supplies to many families in 2 of the locations and a 3rd possibly next week. Monday June 4 is the opening of classes so the families need help in getting their kids ready for school. In one location we will also supply more tarpaulins because it is now raining just about daily so they will have better shelter.

9. MICAH SPOKE AT THE NWC ALUMNI BANQUET

Micah was given the honor of giving a testimony at the Northwestern College, St. Paul, MN, at their annual alumni golf-tournament and banquet. We posted her message on our blog. She had something all prepared ahead of time but the Lord redirected her message at the last minute. She has one class now in Bio-mechanics followed by a 300 hour internship in her field of kinesiology then she will be finished. She would appreciate prayer for her internship.

We praise God for the excellent education Micah received at NWC. She had a very non-traditional and disjointed college education but she stuck with it through thick and thin. She graduated from high school in December of 2002 and went straight to Crown College for her first semester. That was followed by a semester spent at Army boot camp in South Carolina and her MOS training in Alabama. She earned 30 of her credits while being deployed in Iraq. She changed her major a few times along the way but will earn a degree in Kinesiology and minors in Bible and Intercultural Studies.

To help celebrate this accomplishment, Mary Ann is going to Minnesota in mid-July to host a special picnic in her honor. Lord willing, Amos will be able to join them but I will not be able to go.

10. ENGAGEMENT RING

May 20, Doug Nichols preached at a large church called Christ Commission Fellowship and mentioned the need of a former street girl who wants to study Social Work and serve kids like she was. Jenelyn is now 17 years old and was rescued from the streets by the staff of the Papa John Center mentioned above several years ago. She now wants to follow in the footsteps of their director and mentor Gemma. However, the Papa John Center and Jenelyn do not have the funds to put her through this 3 year course so Doug mentioned this during his message. After the service, this note along with a ring was give to Doug to sell as a sacrificial gift to the Lord to help Jenelyn:

Pastor Doug, I never felt this strong command from the Lord... enclosed in this envelope is my engagement ring that is worth P23,000 ($500). The Lord is telling me to give what is precious to me and I can say that this ring is my wealth... I don't have money to give you but this. I also am poor and I am being blessed by the Lord through my fiancé Andrew. I am surrendering this ring that will serve its greatest purpose and that to send a child to school. All glory and honor to our Lord God and Most High!! My fiancé agreed to give this to you because he too was touched by the message of the Lord. Mary

Someone who was moved by Mary's sacrificial gift donated the price of the ring so I could return it to her. We returned to Mary her precious ring and thanked her for obediently following the Lord and inspiring others to likewise give. In my thank you note to Mary, I encouraged her with Hebrews 10:24, "Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds." Several have now given to get Jenelyn started in school next week and we're trusting the Lord for more donations. Her total education will be $4500 for a 3 1/2 year course.

Mary gave what was precious to her to help someone whom she doesn't know but who has even less. At the GCF ladies' meeting last Saturday, Mary Ann gave this challenge, "are you willing to give up a manicure, day at the spa, café latté or 6 text messages so that a street child can get an education or receive food and shelter and have an opportunity to hear the Gospel?" Think and pray about Mary Ann's challenge.

Sincerely in Christ and for the sake of the Gospel,

Jeff