Emmaus (EBI) Christmas and Thanksgiving
By Ptr. Chito: January 2, 2011
It has been said that Philippines have the most elaborated and the longest as far as celebration of Christmas is concerned. In fact, when the month ends in “ber”, as early as “September”, a Filipino family would start decorating one’s house with Christmas tree or lanterns. There are good and not so good things about it. The not so good things are: focusing on material things, as expecting gifts, and the extravagance and excesses (food, drinks) and “firecrackers.”
The good thing: Christmas is a wonderful opportunity to evangelize people; Filipino, being closely- knitted and gregarious.
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Christmas Greetings from PAMI Philippines!
From Pastor Chito B. Mendizabal, Field Director – EBI-PAMI Philippines
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.” 2 Cor. 2:14
Praise God for His abundant mercy and grace that we may become an aroma, spreading the fragrance of Christ to all people. Thanks be to God, just recently, we’ve been a conduit of His grace, extending hands to a pastor [William Thompson] and family in their great ordeals – from hospital needs to arranging things at home (wife died from Heart Attack after 3 days aggressive interventions in the ICU). Some EBI students stayed with the family to help in the cooking, arranging of Bible study every night for 7 days, ushered guests; We too help in processing papers of insurance; preached at their Sunday service and officiated the necrological service. While we were at the hospital, we’re able to minister too to other patients (4 other rooms) mostly Christians (Divine appointment?) praying and helping. And you had great part in those ministries of serving, because of your financial help and your constant intercessions for us.
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Free Haircuts in Allen
Last month Ptr. Randy (serving in Allen, Northern Samar) told us how they used free haircuts to spread God’s message and love:
One of our radio listener owns a barber shop here in Allen. I convinced the owner to have a Free Haircut at the elementary school. Praise God because a lot of elementary students enjoy a free haircut in their school. Before we started I gave a devotional message. We have now a new Bible study in Barangay Lipata Allen. Some radio listeners are members of one of the cults here but praise God they are now regular listener and have Bible study in their house.
Below are some more pictures from Allen’s free haircut day.
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E2E Jesus Film Showings
One of the partnerships that will be highlighted at the PAMI Potluck this coming Friday Sept 24th is the End to End (E2E) program with Faith Comes By Hearing. On one end are Jesus film showings in the Bicolano or Tagalog languages, using the Acclaimer projection system received from FCBH on May 8. This is followed by weekly Bible study groups that listen to and discuss a Bicolano or Tagalog audio New Testament, using one of the 25 Proclaimers received from FCBH on May 8. Because of the good response, FCBH plans to now supply another 25 Proclaimers. Some of the exciting developments are listed below. Read More
Making Use of Seminary Disks, Projector, & Audio Bibles
Before reading the following email from PAMI field director Pastor Chito Mendizabal, let me give you some background of a Russian connection. A few years ago I hosted a couple Russian brothers (Igor and Vitaliy Petrov) at our house while they were attending an Evagelical Free Church missions conference in Minneapolis, MN. They were in the U.S. to get training at Trinity, the E. Free Church seminary in Illinois. They also work towards getting seminary classes translated into Russian on DVDs, which they distribute to pastors throughout Russia as a means of learning by distance. You can learn more abou this ministry from the following websites: Read More
Welcome Baby Moses
Ptr. Gumer and Ophie Gile (serving Irosin Christian Church) are now proud parents of an adopted baby. Gumer writes:
We thank God too for His gift of baby for me and my wife. The baby was from a young girl who was abandoned by a boyfriend after knowing that she’s pregnant. Still pregnant then, the girl decided to look for a couple who would receive her baby as she thought that she isn’t capable of becoming a single mother.
Ptr Gumer and wife Ophie decided to adopt the baby as they [had been] really praying to have one for quite a long time. So, on July 7, 2010, they took the baby, registered at the local registry, them as his parents, and named the baby Moses.
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Sirangan Market Site Ministry Using Proclaimers
Poor kids at Sirangan market site reading along in Bibles as they listen to a chapter from the Faith Comes By Hearing Proclaimer
From an Aug. 14th email from Pastor Chito:
In the past, it was very hard for people here to open their house for Bible study. We usually knocked doors and people would looked at us with disdain and rejected us. This in turn compelled us to pray harder for people to be more receptive to the gospel. We prayed earnestly early in the morning (Daily Dawn Watch), and we even had prayer jogging at 4:30AM to 5:30AM praying for the place that we passed through.
Praise God to see people becoming more and more responsive to the Good News, not only house to house but in throngs. Indeed, the field are white for harvest. This is what happened to our market site ministry. Read More
Evangelism Via Radio, Massage, and Haircuts (news from Casiguran and Allen)
Ptr Rafael (left) and Ptr Randy's son Jordan (right) with a Casiguran family who listens to Ptr Randy's radio programs.
Although Casiguran and Allen are in two different Provinces and two different islands, the two share a couple connections. Evidently the FM radio signal from Ptr Randy’s programs broadcasted from Allen, Samar are able to travel over 30 miles and be heard by people in Casiguran, Sorsogon. In turn, there were listeners from Casiguran that sent text messages to Ptr Randy, and Ptr Randy then introduced them to Ptr Rafael.
Furthermore, both Casiguran and Allen employ creative means to reach out to people. As you can see in the following reports, Sis Elsie has used massage of babies and mothers to start Bible studies in Casiguran. And Ptr Randy has convinced a radio listener to offer free haircuts to reach kids at the local school. I am reminded of 1Cor 9:22 where Paul says, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” Read More
Small Groups at EBI Named after Virtues
VSG leaders meeting which includes: Small groups of Gentleness, Love, Patience, Wisdom, Perseverance, Hope, Grace, Humility, Meekness, Mercy, Peace, Faith and Joy.
From an Aug 12th email from Ptr Chito
VIRTUES SMALL GROUPS. Last week of June 2010, we mobilized and involved every person of Emmaus Church into a small groups. These include church members, parents of compassion children, EBI staff and students and outreaches. This is to become good steward of all the people that God has entrusted to our care. To make a disciple of every believer. To have deeper relationship with people whom we are ministering in the true meaning of fellowship (koinonia) or one anothering (sharing, praying, helping…one another). Read More
New Water Source at EBI
Praise God that things are getting back to normal. No more rushing to the river as early as 4 AM. Now that we already have water connection fromcity water supply. Though the supply is not that big. In fact, in our application, they let the applicant sign a waiver that says “no 24 hours supply of water.” In our seminar, they told us that 3 springs (sources) had dried too. Their water supply comes from 7 pumping stations (drilled 100 meters deep). So, they regulated the supply of water, as I look at it, supply is made from 4AM until 4PM. So we have to fill all containers to be sure that we have enough water during the cut.
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