March 2020 PAMI Bulletin and impact of COVID-19
Click on the following for the latest PAMI bulletin: March 2020 PAMI Bulletin. This bulletin illustrates the 2020 vision and goals of various partitions/churches of PAMI as of the end of February. Perhaps these plans will have to change now that the whole world has shut down due to COVID-19 social restrictions. As of March 26 there are 707 confirmed cases and 45 deaths in the Philippines, but none yet in our area. But our area is still included in government mandated lock-down, so church services, EBI classes and internships, graduation ceremonies, Compassion activities, etc. have been temporarily suspended. Please pray for protection, adjustment, & recovery.
Prior to government mandated restrictions, EBI was planning to graduate 4 on April 3, and an all-PAMI fellowship/summit at EBI was being planned for April 26. And a new modular study program was going to commence in four churches in June, with various EBI teachers teaching weekly Friday afternoon classes and rotating monthly. But all this is now on hold. It’s sort of a double whammy to have this COVID-19 happen right after the December typhoon, and we pray that some measure of ministry can continue. Although big group gatherings have been suspended, a few pictures of small-scale efforts can be seen below. Pastor Gumer says, “Glory to God for the opportunity to share God’s word even in hard time due to community quarantine because of ncov19..and I pray that our God be glorify in our lives. Jesus is above all name..Phil.2:9-11.” Read More
2019 Summary, January 2020 PAMI Bulletin and Typhoon Recovery
By the end of January, year-end statements and a January 2020 PAMI Bulletin were mailed out to those that made 2019 contributions to PAMI. The year-end statements included the following summary of PAMI ministries in 2019:
Dear Friends:
Thank you for your gifts and prayers for PAMI in 2019. They are fitting of Hebrews 13:16 that says “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
This has been another fruitful year of ministry. About 65 people were baptized! Three graduated from Emmaus Bible Institute on April 3rd. Two of the three were added as workers, along with a couple that graduated in previous years. We were able to distribute another 500 Operation Christmas Child boxes and carry out a lot of discipleship along with that. 160 Compassion sponsored kids were served weekly at EBI. An all-PAMI youth camp was held in April and a crusade in May, with a couple hundred attending each. Churches were started in Culasi Matnog and San Jose Bulusan. Other gatherings, retreats, and workshops were held. Film showings, Christian radio, Bible study outreaches, children’s feedings, and VBS continued. Weekly Values Instruction Classes were done in several public schools and Family Development Sessions were held with government welfare recipients. Several balikbayan boxes were sent with books, CDs, games, toys, school and office supplies, hygiene supplies, clothes, laptops and projectors. Some building refurbishment/improvement and typhoon relief/repairs were done. It’s through the partnership of dedicated Filipino workers and faithful supporters like you that all this is possible.
Regarding the January 2020 PAMI Bulletin , it includes before and after repair pictures of two of the worst hit PAMI buildings–the PenaFrancia Church near EBI and Candumaay Matnog Church. It also has some pictures of distribution of typhoon relief goods. And page 2 is a January 7 report from Sis Ofel that praises God for batches of typhoon relief from different sources along with corresponding ministry opportunities. For more info and pictures, see below: Read More
Sept 2019 PAMI News
Click on the following to see the latest PAMI News: Sept 2019 PAMI Newsletter . It mentions financial needs (for reroofing the ECF church at EBI and adding new workers), as well as includes exciting news and pictures of a crusade, new EBI students, Youth Development Team Building, and a lot of baptisms.
VIC classes taught in public schools
Various PAMI pastors, workers, and Emmaus Bible Institute students are teaching Values Instruction Classes in elementary and high school public schools throughout the Province. These are 30 minute classes taught weekly using Christian based curriculum and training from the Matthew 18:14 organization. This public service is an avenue for connecting with families and the community, as well as exposing kids to Christian values. It’s interesting that the Philippine government actually encourages churches to help install values to students, instead of worrying about separation of church and state like in the U.S. EBI VIC teachers are becoming well-respected by public school teachers, principals, and town officials. Sis Ofel has even been asked to be a commencement speaker. Increased familiarity also means students and parents will be more open to joining other ministries of EBI or attend church at Emmaus Christian Fellowship. For instance, some of these students will later be recipients of Operation Christmas Child boxes and discipleship, or become Compassion sponsored kids. The first few photos are from a Matthew 18:14 training session: Read More
Youth Development Team Building at EBI & update from Sis Ofel
Here’s an August 15th update from Sis Ofel: EBI Partition Updates Aug 2019
It appears that the mosquito borne Dengue Fever is still a problem in the Province. Sis Ofel mentioned in her report about Sis Gloria Tumala going to the hospital for it. She got released about two weeks ago. Now Ptr Redgie’s 4-year-old daughter Novelee Izzy is being tested for it. Ptr Redgie says the government is doing chemical fogging/misting on their street in Baybay, Castilla.
Also, here are some pictures of a May 24th Social Welfare Youth Development Team Building held at EBI. Note that some of these games resemble those done at the April all-PAMI Youth Camp. Read More
EBI school year started June 10
Eight new Freshmen EBI students
“The peace that passeth understanding will guard our hearts so that we will live in the abundance of His Grace”
Last June 10 – We started Bible School with Orientation and presentation of our guidelines and policies from the school handbook. We have 8 freshmen all in all –5 from Manurabi, Matnog — I want to clarify the students are not from Culasi, they are from Manurabi which is 8 barangays from Culasi (Pastor Loreto Alig of Manurabi learns about EBI from Operation Christmas Child when they got their boxes here at EBI), 1 from PAMI Castilla, 1 from Northern Samar and returnee Jerry Homo from Fabrica who decided to continue his Bible schooling; so a total of 8 freshmen. Read More
EBI & Bulabog Youth inspired by Camp getting more involved
Sister Ofel wrote on May 3rd: I am very happy to tell you that the EBI and Bulabog youth and my children are very involved in the ministry here at EBI. They are now the teachers of the Operation Christmas Child follow-up Discipleship for children that previously received gift boxes. Now some of them are staying here at EBI and preparing for our DVBS for this coming May 8-11 (27 youth were involved in teaching VBS in Gimaloto and Pamurayan!). Also Bro. Kevin is teaching them playing music instruments like guitar and drums.
Read More
PAMI January Bulletin and State of the Union
Click here to see the January 2019 PAMI Bulletin
For a summary of 2018 ministry, below is a copy of what went out to those supporters that received year-end statements in January: Read More
More EBI partition updates
Click on the following to see additional reports and pictures of recent highlights of the EBI partition:
Ofel Letter 1-17-19
Penafrancia Church 5th Anniversary
Bulabog Church 5th Anniversary
Balikbayan boxes
Photos
PAMI Pastors and workers Christmas 2018
EcF Christmas party 1
EcF Christmas party 2
EcF Christmas party 3
EcF Christmas party 4
FDS Christmas Party
Grocery giving
SPPO Thanksgiving Celebration
BCCL Graduation
Capuy Ministry
Although Ptr Redgie’s Castilla Church is part of Ptr Gumer Gile’s Other PAMI Churches Partition, several people from EBI attended their Nov. 2nd Youth Evangelistic Gathering:
Youth Evangelistic Gathering Castilla
EBI partition updates
EBI hosts many workshops and continuing education opportunities, including masteral extension classes of the Bicol Center of Christian Leadership where guest speakers have come on Friday afternoons for the last two or three years. Interestingly, a retired pastor from Oakwood Community Church of Waconia, Minnesota has taught these extension classes three different months over the last year.
Pastors and workers attended the BCCL classes on Acts taught by guest pastor Steve Anderson from Waconia, MN
Emmaus Bible Institute is one of three partitions of PAMI and is headed by Sister Ofel Mendizabal. It includes the ministries of the EBI campus and it’s daughter churches of Bulabog and Pena Francia. The ministries of EBI campus include a four-year post-secondary Bible school currently with 19 students, a child development center for 150 Compassion sponsored Padaba (“well loved” or “well cared for”) kids, Emmaus Christian Fellowship Church which serves both the campus and neighborhood, and many outreaches that include Bible studies, children’s milk feedings, weekly Values Instruction Classes in public schools, Family Development Sessions, and Youth Development Sessions. Click on the following to see reports and pictures of recent highlights of the EBI partition.
OfelMessage8-7-18B
Ofel Letter 09-18-18
EBI Partition Updates 11-7-18
ECF Sunday worship service
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL
Cell Group Bible study
Cell groups
Ebi classes
Ebi students drama
EBI Students Testimony
Matt 18 and FOP
Oath taking officers of Sorsogon pastor association
Bible study ticol
Bulabog Sunday worship service and lunch fellowship
Bulabog church elder meeting
Bulabog Youth fellowship
Capoy Children ministry
Construction of padaba classroom
Padaba Children Plenary
Padaba Parent meeting
Padaba simultaneous activity and intern meeting
Padaba Simultaneous activities and baptism 1
Padaba Simultaneous activities and baptism 2
Padaba Simultaneous activities and baptism 3
Padaba Simultaneous activities and baptism 4
Padaba Simultaneous activities and baptism 5
Padaba Simultaneous activities and baptism 6
Padaba Simultaneous activities and baptism 7
Padaba Simultaneous activities and baptism 8
Remembering Ptr. Chito
Message 11-17-2018
Padaba classroom & Boxes from ICLD
Ebi 1st year students
Ofel Message 11-20-18
Estimate for finishing new classroom
Estimate for Improved Back Fence
Distribution of ICLD Books