People Call us PAMI
By Ptr. Chito Mendizabal
When Ptr Romy Escobedo asked me to be their speaker in their Church Anniversary and Christmas Party, I willingly accepted; in fact I was excited. Because this church was one of the churches that PAMI has started or pioneered. The first Bible study was for children. Then, adults Bible study followed. Many of the first attendees were men which became pastors eventually (Pastors Nestor, Romy, Ernie, Inggo, Jessie). They sent some of their students to EBI, who have since become pastors: Pastor Redgie (Bonifacio), Ptr Rolly Balasta (Presbyterian in Albay), Ptr Samuel Espano (Phil. Evangelical Mission-Bulusan), Ptr Levi Caudilla (Masbate) and Ptr Joel (Leyte), Ptr Eddie Fuedan (Channels of Blessing-Bulusan).
It was so heart-warming to hear in their church history that they indeed started as PAMI outreach. Until today, said Ptr Ernie, “People keep on calling them PAMI.” [Chito has previously said that the word “PAMI” is used the Sorsogon to generically refer to born-again Christians.]
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MARAMING SALAMAT PO!
Thank You Very Very Much!
By Ptr. Chito Mendizabal, January 2, 2011
We want to convey our deep appreciation for all the kindness and gifts that we received from you. In Tagalog, we say “Maraming Salamat po!” “Marami” means a lot or many; “Salamat” means thanks” and the expression “po” suggest respect.
What you have sent us means a lot to us. Primarily, it boosts our spirit, to know that a lot of people care for us. This edifies and encourages.
Furthermore, the amount that you’ve sent as a gift helps workers here in a great deal.
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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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Training with Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Early this month Ptr. Chito spent two days in training by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, for the upcoming Will Graham crusade: Bicol Celebration of Hope. Chito writes:
The Love of God! I just arrived from Naga City from a two-day training. This was hosted by Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) in preparation for the upcoming Bicol Celebration of Hope with Will Graham on April 28,29,30 to May 1, 2011 in Pili Stadium Naga City. Our lecturer was Dr. Bob Kendig (BGEA Counseling & Follow-up Coordinator). Eight of us (pastors) from Sorsogon were recommended to attend and be trained which in turn would re-echo the same training to churches in Sorsogon province. The training focused mostly on the Christian Life & Witness Course, a training on how to help the “babies” or “inquirers” (those who would accept Christ in the crusade) grow in their faith.
I think this is God’s “visitation” to us Bicolanos. Our place has been always devasted by varied calamities and disasters like typhoon, volcanic eruptions, flood, and other crisis and adversities. Christians in Bicol are only about 4% of the total populations. That’s why when I heard about BGEA coming to Bicol, I praised God and continuesly praising Him; looking forward to a time when a great numbers of my own people coming to the Lordship of Christ. God pours out His saving mercy and grace upon Bicolanos. Please include this always in your prayers, especially breaking the walls among Christians and churches, especially pastors here in our place, that we may be united in our vision and care for the souls of our people.
Mourn with Those Who Mourn
We were saddened learn that on November 16, Sis Meriam Thompson went home to be with the Lord.
(Meriam was the wife of Ptr. William Thompson, who serves the Korean Presbyterian church in Matnog, but has been a long time friend and partner with ministry of PAMI. Ptr. Thompson teaches at EBI, and has been a spiritual mentor and father to many EBI students and alumni.)
Meriam went into the ICU a few days earlier with Heart Attack symptoms. Initially, she had been revived multiple times, but eventually the doctors saw that they could not do anything more.
EBI students and staff were very busy the next week ministering to the Thompson family. In looking back, Pastor Chito writes:
Mercy and Grace of God! Another whirlwind weeks had just passed. In His grace that we may able to sustain. Praise God that we’re able to extend grace of help to needy brothers like Ptr Thompson and family and others. Not just financial help but many in many ways. We (and some EBIs) attended mostly to the needs of the family while at the hospital like keeping watch at night, in order for the family to sleep too, buying medicines and other errands (EBI tricycle a big help too), washing clothes, sending hot water and opening our house (EBI) for the family. And standing with the family in their most painful moment of decision of letting go (reviving sis meriam many times at the interval 20 or 30 minutes – the doctor finally recommended no resuscitation due to the fact that sis meriam already brain dead and only breathing because of the ventillator. We sent an EBI students to further assist them in Matnog, preparing things there. I personally attended the processing of the PhilHealth and other papers, preached at their Sunday service, vigil with them at nights and officiated the necrological service. Might be exhausting but looking that the family and relatives being encouraged, we’re encouraged too; as Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
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.
PAMI Potluck Pictures & Video
Kermit Titrud speaking
We had a nice turn-out of about 60 people at the annual PAMI potluck on September 24th. Thank you to all who attended and helped. We enjoyed the lively worship led by Joey Feliciano and The Repeat Offenders from Crosspoint E. Free Church. It was interesting hearing Kermit Titrud speak of partnering, sharing his experience as a Wycliffe Bible translator in the Philippines, and recalling his visits with Norval and Ardelle when they lived at the Bethany Bible school in San Jose, Mindoro about 30 years ago. Mike Thorud reported with pictures on the many ways that PAMI has been partnering with others during this last year. We also viewed a 6 minute video of clips from the EBI graduation this last March. You can see this video by going to the following YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mznNRiA1PA
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We are all blessed to have you as partners!
A greeting from Pastor Chito Mendizabal written for the PAMI annual pot luck held on September 24
Beloved in the Lord Jesus,
I wrote this letter just after our prayer meeting this night. We prayed for so many things as always because of so many needs: healing, protection from Dengue virus, safe delivery of pregnant mothers in our Bible studies, job for a father who’s contemplating to transfer his family to other place because of lack of job opportunities here, budget for church buildings, progress of our small groups… but we also had a special prayer for you in your event for tomorrow, the PAMI Potluck Fellowship. And whenever we have you in our prayer lists, our hearts were burnt with fire of grace, love and courage knowing that we’re always in your intercessions and prayers. Likened to Aaron and Hur holding the hands of Moses until Joshua and some Israelites defeated the Amalekites (Exodus 17).
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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
VOICE Seminar Equips Ministry in Public Schools
8-18-10 texts from Ptr Chito Mendizabal:
Hi bro mike and all! Praise God for all your hearts for God’s mission. God remembers all. As of the moment we have a seminar here at ebi. This is VOICE, teaching values education in public school, elem. and high school. Included in it is gov’t endorsement, curriculum, teacher’s manual, visual mtls and students lessons. Many churches attended. We’ll be starting this month in elem. first. Read More