December 2016 PAMI Newsletter and 2016 Summary
Click on this link to view: PAMI NEWS Dec2016
For a summary of 2016 ministry, below is a copy of what went out to those supporters that received year-end statements in January:
Read More
September 2016 PAMI News
Click on this link to view: PAMI News Sept2016
For further reference, here is the PAMI update email that accompanied the above newsletter: Read More
Radio Interview on KKMS AM980 on Oct 6
PAMI was featured on the radio for a half hour on Tuesday, Oct. 6th at 4:30 p.m. PAMI volunteer president Mike Thorud was interviewed by Paul Ridgeway on his “On the Way with Ridgeway” program on AM980.
Here’s a mp3 audio recording of the half hour radio interview, edited down to 17 minutes:
PAMI_interview_on_AM980_10-6-15
By the way, the interview covers some of the following background material:
July and Sept Bulletins and Fall Update
Click on the 3 pdf files below to see the latest PAMI news summaries, which contain a lot of nice pictures and exciting info:
PAMI BULLETIN July2015
PAMI BULLETIN Sept2015
PAMI Bulan Aug-Sept 2015 report from Ptr Vir Fulo
To augment these files, below is a copy of the Sept 23rd email update that went out to PAMI friends and prayer partners: Read More
Ushering in the new year in Bulabog and Penafrancia
Bulabog and Penafrancia are daughter churches of Emmaus Bible Institute (EBI) and each just celebrated their first year anniversaries as PAMI churches in combination with celebrating the new year.
Bulabog church (2 km west of EBI) ushered in the new year with a 9 pm – 2 am celebration (see pictures below). They’ve really progressed since becoming a PAMI church a year ago. See the Bulabog Powerpoint put together by EBI people. Also refer to the November 2014 PAMI Bulletin, which highlights a big youth event at the Bulabog church and a group baptism of 23 from there. (Also see the following blog entry: http://ec2-3-90-243-237.compute-1.amazonaws.com/2014/10/29/bulabog-youth-gathering-baptism-and-other-news-from-sis-ofel/ ).
A big factor to the success of Bulabog church is Pastor Marlon Gabion (purple shirt in below pictures). Pastor Marlon Gabion is an EBI graduate (graduated March 2013) that could use a sponsor. We have been giving him $75 per month from our general funds, but it would be better if his allowance could be covered by a sponsor instead. Pastor Marlon is the pastor of Bulabog church and also helps teach and do other duties at EBI. The Bulabog church has really thrived this last year since Pastor Marlon started working there. Pastor Marlon is a very good people person, and passionate about spreading the Gospel like the apostles Peter or Paul.
By clicking on “more”, you can see pictures from the Bulabog church and Penafrancia church new year gatherings, and also read the Jan. 9th report from Sister Ofel Mendizabal, director of EBI.
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Testimony of Sister Catherine Liclican
Catherine Liclican is a home-grown fruit of the PAMI Bulan church. After graduating from EBI in March, she spent 3 months getting additional training from CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) near Manila. Then in October she moved back to her home village of Abad-Santos, located in the outskirts of Bulan, because she feels called to reach that community for Christ. She’s leading Bible studies there attended by 5 young people and 15 children. Her vision is to have 15 baptized in one year, and start church services in 2 years. She’s planning to have a film showing or crusade, and disciple young people to be future workers. If we can find a sponsor to cover $40 per month of allowance, the Bulan church is willing to cover the other half. She could also use $100 for a guitar, so she doesn’t have to keep borrowing one repeatedly from Bulan church. Getting more teaching materials would be useful too.
Click here for the testimony-vision of sister Catherine Liclican.
Sister Catherine is on the far left side, in the white t-shirt. On the far right is Bulan pastor Virgilio Fulo and EBI senior Brother Felmar Guray.
Pastor Lorenzo Fugen in Bulusan
New Bulusan church signboard, printed on front and back, yet to be mounted on a post.
While the December 2014 PAMI newsletter had a short blurb on Pastor Lorenzo Fugen, this post supplies additional information. For reference, here’s what was posted in the December 2014 PAMI newsletter regarding Ptr Lorenz:
Lorenz is one of two or three PAMI pastors that could use a motorcycle to reach more people and use time more effectively. He could especially use one to do more Bible studies, go back and forth to help at EBI and other towns, and help transport film showing equipment. New motorcycles cost $1200-1500 each.
Pictures and more info about Typhoon Glenda damage
Front of EBI campus, showing roof blown off Ptr Raf’s house and bamboo fence knocked over
This cottage which was recently constructed in early June is now collapsed.
Windows in back of session hall are broken
Tree on top of back of session hall
Since my last blog entry about Typhoon Glenda, I’ve received pictures from Sister Ofel that help one better visualize the extent of the damage. It’s a bit sobering to become more aware of someone else’s pain, and then to remember they are fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, members of our same body. I think of how 1Cor12:25-26 says to the body that “…its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it…”
After viewing this post, I hope you will consider praying for or helping financially with recovery efforts. It is estimated that it will take about $2000 to complete repairs at EBI, and probably another $1000-2000 to help the other PAMI churches and church members. There is no insurance to help with this unforeseen extra expense, so we could really use extra gifts. If you want to make a tax-deductible gift, see the donate tab on the PAMI website: http://www.pamimission.org/donate Read More
Typhoon Glenda damages PAMI ministry sites
Typhoon Glenda (aka Rammasun, which in Thai means “God of Thunder”) was the first major storm of this year’s typhoon season in the Philippines. It blasted its way through Luzon Island on Tuesday July 15 and Wednesday July 16, making landfall in Albay Province, just north of Sorsogon Province and exiting just south of Manila. It ranked up to a category 3 typhoon, with winds up to 130 mph, and dumped up to a foot of rain in some places. Countrywide, 20 people are dead and 5 missing so far. Although not as severe as the super-typhoon Haiyan (aka Yolanda) that hit the central Philippines last November, this one still caused much damage. Whereas Typhoon Haiyan did not affect PAMI locations very much, unfortunately Typhoon Glenda did.
Although the eye of Glenda did not pass directly through PAMI locations, it came within 10 – 20 miles, close enough to cause much damage. Sorsogon City was close enough to have 80-90 mph winds. PAMI ministry locations closest to the path of Glenda were Sorsogon City (where Emmaus Bible Institute, Bulabog church, and Penafrancia church are located) and Castilla church. We know for sure that all these places had damage, but not sure about other PAMI places yet.
This is what I’ve learned so far in texts from Sis Ofel Mendizabal, the director of EBI: Read More
Short term mission trip
March 2013 Philippine Mission Visit of Mike, Ben & Pam
Dear friends and relatives,
Wow! It’s hard to believe it’s just one week until our three week mission visit to the Philippines begins. Please remember to pray for our preparations and trip. We feel your prayers make a big difference. This post includes information about our visit so you better know what to pray for. In particular, please refer to the tentative trip schedule below.
Above is a photo prayer reminder card to print and put on your refrigerator, bathroom mirror, Bible, etc. to help you to remember us. Also attached is a prayer/support request letter written by Ben & Pam on behalf of all three of us. By the way, our request for help with trip expenses is more to cover help to the mission than our own personal expenses. Whenever I go to the Philippines, I usually cover personal airfare and travel expenses myself. That way whatever is given by others simply goes towards helping the ministry. This includes extra love gifts for the pastors and churches we visit (including monetary and physical gifts). Some things will be hand-carried and some were shipped by surface ahead of time (please pray the 3 big balikbayan boxes arrive safely before we do)*. Items for the field include a new and used laptop, new camera, 3 used projectors, printer, guitar, new & used clothes, personal hygiene items, snacks, toys, and a couple hundred pounds of used Christian books. We also might like to fund a couple special projects. Overall, we could use $3000-5000 for extra ministry expenses.
* Note: As of Feb 26, 2 of the 3 boxes just arrived!
If you want to give towards trip/mission expenses, just make out a check to PAMI with “team visit” written in the memo line, and mail to: PAMI, P.O. Box 201444, Bloomington, MN 55420-6444. You can also donate via credit card or Paypal on the donate tab of our website (www.pamimission.org/donate). Whatever means you use to donate, a tax-deductible receipt will be returned to you.
Besides team visit expenses, on-going mission support is also desired. We’d especially like to add new workers. We’d like to retain 2 or 3 EBI graduates at about $75 per month each. We’re also considering adding a pastor family to begin work in the Muslim area of the southern island of Mindanao, which has been a long-time goal of PAMI. I look forward to discussing these prospects with potential candidates as part of this visit. Read More