Merry Christ-mas (I know its not politically correct but its the truth) from Manila. We are partying fools for the Lord as our Evangelistic Christmas Parties for street and underprivileged children have been going full blast since the 1st and are now winding down. Everyone is having a good time at these parties so thank you for praying and giving so we can make these possible for those who are otherwise neglected and overlooked. A full report will be sent to you sometime in January after we receive all the reports but I can tell you we have had 68 parties so far so you can imagine the planning that has gone into these. There is a good possibility that we will have 1 or 2 post-Christmas parties also in January. To see several photos, click on the Christmas ‘08 Photo link.
1. Gift for Special Children
A pastor friend of ours and his family in Minneapolis, MN recently gave a special gift so we could give a large Christmas gift to kids we have been helping through our Marvin’s Kids ministry this year. Marvin’s Kids is a fund we have to help physically or mentally challenged poor children and is named after Marvin Prudencio, a former missionary of ours who is now with the Lord. This year we have helped or are currently helping 11 children so this was a very special party and we are grateful for our friend’s desire to teach his children how to give to underprivileged kids.
*One of the children who received a gift is Raffy who is one of five children who make their living scavenging junk. Raffy and his family are involved in regular Bible studies when they are not working. Raffy has a serious hare lip and Mary Ann and I are praying along with others about raising the funds to help him. In our photo album of Christmas pictures, you can see a photo of Raffy with his mother, Mary Ann and I as he receives his special Christmas gift. Pray with us about how we can help Raffy.
2. Feed My Starving Children Food Update
The 6 boxes packed with food arrived a few days ago and will be distributed to 8 sites, 7 of which have already received their food. Each location will have a 2 month feeding 3 times a week. The 8th site will get their allotment in January because they are 12 hours away by bus in Bicol. The 7 sites which have received their food are working with malnourished street and slum children and the church in Bicol is working with folks devastated by a typhoon 2 years ago and are living in a resettlement site struggling to rebuild their lives. Each feeding program includes Bible studies and is connected to a church while the Bicol feeding site has the goal of planting a church. So pray that many will trust Christ, children will be nourished and families join their respective churches.
3. 180° Researcher coming and January Strategic planning
Sometime in mid-January, Praise Goh, a student at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA will be joining us for 2 months to research our ministry of mobilizing and training churches in their ministries to the poor surrounding us. Praise’s research project will meet an academic requirement for her but she is also being sponsored by 180° Global Alliance and they will draw up her findings as a model of ministry which others may use around the world. Praise hopefully will join us for our January 20-23 strategic planning workshop which ACTION is coordinating and sponsoring along with 180°. Pastors and workers will come from several key cities of the Philippines to join us in discussing and implementing Child Protection Policies, advocacy, research along with discussing tools to evaluate and improve our ministries. Since everyone attending are followers of Christ we will have times of rich fellowship and prayer as well as studying the Word of God together. Pray that this time will be encouraging in the Lord and will help us learn how to better minister to street and underprivileged children.
4. Three-Day Pastors and Wives Conference
Fifty two couples, including Mary Ann and I attended a special conference a couple weeks ago sponsored by ACTION and Christian Growth Ministries. Dr. Rod and Barbara Pence from the Seattle WA area were our main speakers. They have been married and ministered together for over 50 years so it was wonderful hearing their stories of how God has sustained them through all the ups and downs of life and ministry. The last night we had a banquet candle light dinner and the president of CGM, Pastor Mike Lacanilao led each couple in a renewing of marriage vows which was very special. Mary Ann and I were recognized for 29 years of ministry together which was encouraging to us. By the way, our 29th anniversary was yesterday.
5. Mary Ann and Moody Bible Institute
In our November newsletter I wrote regarding Mary Ann’s desire to enroll in a Distance Learning program to earn an Associate of Arts and Biblical Studies. Thank you for your prayers and for the input and encouragement from several people. She is now enrolled at Moody Bible Institute and is waiting to receive her first batch of materials hopefully early January. Pray with us that the shipment will not get mixed up in the Christmas logjam at the post office. As the Lord enables, her long-range goal is to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources by taking some adult education courses at Northwestern College during our furlough in Fall 2010. Since we do not have the funds for her to study, we are trusting the Lord to provide. Praise God, though, that two generous gifts have been given which will cover most of the first year of study. ACTION has set up a scholarship account for Mary Ann into which donations can be made toward her expenses.
6. Aklan Book Distribution
December 10 a couple members of our team assisted pastors in Kalibo, Aklan distribute over $5,000 worth of school books to two elementary schools. This project continues to open the door for ministry in this key provincial city as they rebuild from the devastation from Typhoon Frank in June. We thank God for those who gave for this project and that through this natural calamity, many have reportedly trusted Christ, been baptized and are now members of local churches. ACTION and CGM are planning to have a pastor’s conference in Kalibo in May at the invitation of these dear brothers and sisters in the Lord.
7. CIC Video update
A few days ago we sent to Doug Nichols, ACTION’s Founder, a copy of our 11 minute video for his review and input. Thank you for your prayer on this project because it was and is a lot of work but it was a joy working with Adam Hussey, ACTION’s videographer, and the Kaagapay Video Ministry crew led by Menchie de Guzman. Pray that this video will be used for God’s glory by raising up workers, donors and prayer warriors for ACTION’s work among children in crisis worldwide. We are also planning to make a 3 minute version which will be more suitable for church services. You can contact the ACTION USA office for information about this video.
8. Amos & Micah
Amos’ roommate returned last week to Paris after completing his third post-doc in astronomy after which Amos moved from his apartment to the parsonage of Trinity Baptist Church. Continue to pray for Amos as he wraps up his PhD in chemistry and continues his job search. He has been interviewed by a few companies so pray for the Lord’s will to be clearly revealed to him.
Micah continues on in her daily work and has had a few good opportunities to share the gospel with her battle buddies in Iraq. Lord willing she is planning to take a 2 week leave in April to see John Mark in LA.
9. Taking a break
When Mary Ann and I arrived in Manila in August we were feeling quite tired from our activities while on furlough, my mother’s home-going, and helping Micah prepare for her deployment along with rejoicing in her engagement to John Mark. Since then we have been running full speed ahead and have not taken a break other than Mary Ann having a few days for study and relaxed time with her good friend Lynn. I have not been out of the city so we are looking forward to spending time in the country enjoying greenery, fresh air and unhurried time reading our Bibles and other good books during this holiday season. Pray that we will be able to unwind, slow down and just simply enjoy God and each other along with a few friends.
I’m now in chapter 12 in my study of 2 Corinthians which I am thoroughly enjoying. The theme of our Evangelistic Christmas Party ministry has been “Christmas is happy because of Christ” with Luke 2:10-11 being the key verses. As I have poured over Luke’s version of the events of Christ’s birth, we see that Jesus was born into a poor family, born in a barn and wrapped in swaddling clothes, or the clothes of the dead. It is absolutely mind boggling that God’s Son, Who created everything would take the form of a baby and be born of a young girl. 2 Corinthians 8:9 has resonated in my mind and heart since I studied it a few weeks ago in the midst of our partying. It says, “for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (NKJV) Why should we be happy at Christmas and each day God gives us? Because the Lord of glory laid aside His prerogatives as the Son of God so that we could inherit His riches through His sacrificial death and resurrection which are salvation, forgiveness, joy, peace, glory, honor and majesty. We are joint heirs (Romans 8:17) with this Baby who was born to die and rose again for us and is now seated at the right hand of God interceding for us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers and sacrificial giving so we can tell others about Jesus year-round.
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