Synergism in Ministry

Mary Ann and I attended the opening ceremony this morning for Papa John Center's (PJC) skills training and discipleship ministry for older street girls. They admitted the 10 girls who attended our camp two weeks ago who will now study cooking, sewing, cosmetology, computer and practical Christian living over the next 10 months. The girls were recruited by partner churches and para-church agencies who have joined together in our four "city-wide" projects to address needs unique to older street boys and girls such as basic literacy, livelihood skills that students can use right away to earn some income and practical Christian living. It was also a blessing to have several mothers of the girls in attendance as well because they'll be a part of this training in one way or other. I gave a short message from 2 Corinthians 5:17 about leaving the old life behind and following the Lord Jesus because He's given us an opportunity to have a new start in life.

We heard a wonderful testimony of God's grace from Jenelyn Cortezo who was rescued from the streets in 1999 when she was 9 years old by the staff of PJC. She has grown up at PJC and today is a lovely almost 18 year old who graduated with honors from high school in March. Last month she started a 3 1/2 year course in social work because she wants to help other kids who are suffering on the streets like she did with no purposeful future. ACTION has started a fund to help assist with Jenelyn's tuition, books and other expenses so if you'd like to know more in order to help Jenelyn let me know. She's a radiant young woman who loves the Lord and remembers where she came from with a sense of responsibility to the Lord and others. The entire program will cost $5,700.

See our photos of this event at http://picasaweb.google.com/mryanmnl/PapaJohnCenter.

Next Saturday we have the kick-off for our Accelerated Learning System (ALS) ministry with 40 street people enrolled from our city-wide projects. Children's Garden has 13 boys, PJC has their 10 girls, Restorers has 3 boys and our Cubao ministry has 14 girls and boys who'll systematically study literacy under the guidance of trained volunteers from our network. The Department of Education will oversee the students' progress through-out the course and will test them in the end. Those who pass will receive a high school diploma and those who don't can keep taking it until they pass if they wish.

July 21 ACTION's Working Hands discipleship-vocational training ministry graduates 28 young men from hardship backgrounds which is our largest class ever. Over the past 10 months of strenuous daily classes 15 guys studied auto mechanics, 6 wood technology and 7 electronics repair along with practical discipleship. The guys will receive diplomas from their instructors that are recognized by the Philippine government which will enable them to get an entry level job. But before that Working Hands will sponsor the grads to get on-the-job training by paying an employer a small amount to allow the guys to gain some work experience. Daryl Germaine, Gary Root and Arn Jocson are excellent teachers with a passion to pass on their trade to young men and see them become responsible husbands, fathers, employees and church leaders. Churches refer the students to Working Hands with the guys returning to their churches and families each weekend to serve so the links between the church, community, family and student are maintained through-out the 10 month course. Graduation day is glorious because the guys and their families thought the streets would be their only future.

Synergism is defined in the Webster's Dictionary as "the simultaneous action of separate agencies which, together, have greater total effect than the sum of their individual effects". This is what happens when God's people work together (not against each other) not caring who gets the credit but giving it to whom it's due while all the glory goes to God. I praise Him for my ministry colleagues who are modeling this truth to the church here and around the world.

Jeff