Upcoming Will Graham Crusade, YWAM visit, Baptism
Recent reports from the field mention some exciting things coming up soon, which we can be praying about:
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* The Bulan church is planning a baptism of several people on Oct. 16th. Pastor Virgilio Fulo says: There are nine candidates we’re going to baptise. Please pray because our weather is not good at this time. There is a coming typhoon. (It’s headed for Northern Luzon Island, so shouldn’t hit our area directly, but can cause a lot of rain and waves.)
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* In preparation for an upcoming Will Graham Crusade (grandson of Billy Graham) called BICOL CELEBRATION OF HOPE, a local kick-off rally will be held on Oct. 19th in the Sorsogon Gymnasium. Our field director, Pastor Chito Mendizabal, was voted as chairman of this rally. This is what Ptr Chito says about it:
Kick-off rally is mobilizing pastors and leaders to commit to preparing the people for the event BICOL CELEBRATION OF HOPE (Will Graham), which will be on Apr 28-May 1 at Pili Stadium in Camarines Sur Province. So kick-off is choosing leaders as operation andrew, intercessors, women’s, youth and children leaders. Course/training will be made for all leaders, like LIFE AND WITNESS COURSE. As chair of kick off, I’ll help form committees and delegation of works.
Note: The Bicol Region is one of the 17 regions of the Philippines. It occupies the Bicol Peninsula at the southeastern end of Luzon island and some other islands. It consists of six provinces–namely Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon.
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* Week-long visit/training by a YWAM team of Filipinos from Manila is to be hosted at EBI at the end of October (during the EBI semester break). Pastor Chito describes it as follows:
They are Filipino youths who have been trained in Manila by Youth With A Mission training groups. EBI could have an exposure to other training like of the YWAM who are best trained in area of ways of presenting the Gospel like miming, street preaching and others…this may serve as encouragement to our Bible students and vise versa; YWAM could learn too from our distinctives like small groups, in-depth Bible training and work program or the bakery.
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* YWAM may set up a Christian Literature center for use by pastors throughout Sorsogon Province, and is considering locating it at EBI. Pastor Chito says: About Resource Learning Materials, EBI is a nice prospect of having a christian library for pastors and workers because it’s a Bible school. We have many people to assist in proper handling of the books, they say. Anyway, this isn’t final yet, as they’re considering too having the library in the city proper.
Nun Comes to Know Christ
When ministering God’s Word, we never know whom he might lead us to. Pastor Randy tells us that on September 12, a woman who was a nun, and who has listened to Randy’s Christian radio programs for some time, attended the Sunday morning worship service in Allen. Afterward, Randy led this woman to accept Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. Glory to God!
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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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Pray for Dengue Outbreak, Baptism, and Other Things
Here’s a Sept. 16th email from Ptr Chito:
Dear Brother Mike,
In God’s grace! Thank you for covering us all in your prayers. Philippine government declares many parts of the country in a state of calamity due to Dengue outbreak. About 78,000 people, mostly children have been affected by the said dengue virus (from bite of a mosquito called aedes aegypti). Three children from our church here at EBI have been hospitalized due to dengue.
This coming Saturday, September 18th, I (probably Ofel, Nicole and Pauline) will be at Bulusan to assist Pastor Virgil with their Water Baptism. They have 8 candidates. Read More
Feed My Starving Children Meals Used in San Isidro, Samar
From Sister Raquel Ongcal (serving in San Isidro, Samar)
Greetings! We have Sunday worship here (afternoon) in San Isidro attended mostly by young people and some adults. We have lot children here for their Bible study and feeding. Thank you very much for the Feed My Starving Children meals that you’ve sent, this adds to our milk feeding. The children love this meal. I received 7 from Pastor Chito. I pray that you would send us more. Please pray too for me here in San Isidro as I’m working alone. At first, Janice (EBI intern) is with me, but went home temporarily because of severe skin allergy, probably from too much exposure to heat/sun or maybe due to water. Anyway, nothing to worry because the house that we’re renting here is owned by a Christian too.
Healing Leads to More (report from Bulusan)
Praise God for His mighty deeds! As He heals Bro Boy Robles from paralysis (see previous article) more people are coming to God. Bro Boy and wife and family want to be baptized and some others. Sunday goers are increasing, so with attendance in prayer meeting. Other ministries like milk-feeding and outreaches continue. I used audio-Bible Bicolano in our Bible studies here. Listeners were surprised to hear Pastor Chito in the proclaimer (as Pastor Chito’s hometown is Bulusan). I wish we have Bicol Bible that people would read too while listening. Lorenzo stayed most of the time in Sorsogon because of the E2E schedules that mostly in Sorsogon and nearby town. I told him to finish his schedules first the west part of the province, then I’ll work with him when schedules are in the east part like that of Bulusan, Gubat, Barcelona or Irosin.
Thank you very much for being our partners. God bless you more!
In Christ,
Pastor Virgil Gacis
Bulusan PAMI
September PAMI Newsletter
The September 2010 issue of PAMI News is now available. Download your copy, print it out, and pass it along to your family and friends. If you would like to be on the PAMI mailing list, to receive the PAMI News by US Postal mail, please Contact Us.
PAMI Strategy to Spread Further South with EBI Students from Those Places
This year, we started to plant a church/mission in Visayas region. Isomel Espinar (one of our EBI graduates from Samar) starts the work in Calbayog City, Western Samar. He is best candidate to do the job because he speaks the same dialect with the local people. And they ( with his sister Icy, {EBI graduate too}, and an EBI intern Dwight Lumberio) are having nice start as they already have Home Bible studies. Please continue to pray for Isomel, Icy and Dwight and Visayas ministry. (Note: Iso and Icy still need sponsors to cover about $100 per month allowance, $35 per month rent, and $25 per month to start a children’s milk feeding ministry like done in most other PAMI locations.)
Next mission thrust is to open ministry in Mindanao. This was a long-time prayer which begun even from the heart of our beloved first missionary Rev. Norval Thorud. One of our strategies in opening mission is to train leaders from its native place and send him/her back to his own people to bring the Good News. This is more effective than sending a pastor/worker which was oftentimes rejected/persecuted by native people because of different dialect, treated with caution being an intruder. 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