I was wrapping up a fix-it project for my daughter, Pami, when my cellphone rang. Startled, I answered. Then came the voice; “Pastor Paul, did you forget that you are invited as our special guest speaker at our annual ministerial ceremony? Can you still join us?”

Oh no!!!

There are times I am frustrated with my own shortfalls as a human… I assured the pastor I would be there asap and rushed to change into the only other clothes I had brought with me: jeans and a golf shirt, definitely not keynote speaker appropriate attire! Oh well, it was the best I had. I jumped into the car and raced to get to the venue, praying all the while that God would use what was suddenly a gaping weakness for His glory. I knew that whatever I said would either reveal my gross lack of preparation OR be Spirit-filled with His words. I prayed for the latter.




The occasion was the Cainta Ministerial Association’s annual installation of new officers. Cainta City is part of the sprawling metropolis, but it is just outside the official “Metro Manila” boundaries. It was amazing to see the number of those officers, both the outgoing and incoming, who have undergone the 6-month Life Discipleship training in our home. The invited mayor gave his address about what the association can do in cooperation with this city government to improve the quality of life for its communities and for other nearby communities.


I arrived in the middle of the city mayor’s speech. As I sat down, I felt the calm assurance that God would provide for what I should say from His word when I got up to speak. And sure enough, He did by His grace. I was invited to share some biblical encouragement with exhortation that focused on three things:

1) Pray that you may be given a heart that seeks after God so that you may know Him and his love even more (I John 2:15-17, I Corinthians 6:11).
2) Commit yourself to a life that lives by and teaches the principles of God’s Word (I John 14:5-17, Matthew 28:19-20).
3) Prepare and follow-up those who will be faithful to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2, 20-21, 24-26).

This message was well received and I offer my full gratitude to the Lord. Please pray with us that these men and women will be faithful to be examples of the faith teaching others in this ministerial organization to teach others also.

PS - I looked at what the ministerial officers were wearing and guess what? Some of them were wearing jeans like I had to wear. Whew! While my jeans were not what I would have planned to wear, they sufficed in a pinch.

Graduation!

There is nothing quite so thrilling as seeing your children doing more than what you can do by teaching others what you have taught them to do.

The same is true in ministry. Paul and I headed off to Bauan, Batangas for the graduation of 15 students early December 20. These students have worked diligently to do the lessons and assignments. Batch 4 graduate, Pastor Jim Delos Santos, has been their faithful teacher.

These students are all full-time workers/pastors in local churches that are a part of Jesus New Covenant International. JNCI has a unique story. It began as a Bible study for overseas contract workers (OCW) from the Philippines in a country that is closed to the Gospel! As the OCWs returned home, they started Bible studies in their own neighborhoods and towns. JNCI now has three churches in Canada, 19 churches in the Philippines, at least one in Japan, plus churches in two major cities of that “closed country”.

It was a real privilege to be able to participate in the graduation exercises of this group of special people. They are committed to carry their training to yet others, spreading the message that we are to “be doers of the Word and not hearers only.”

Patty and I have been under a marathon of ministry activities recently. We had a special reunion for all qualified pastors and church leaders of past Life-Discipleship graduates. Great testimonies came out from the reunion last month. A sample of those testimonies is well worth posting here.

Pastor Lito is a member of the first batch of pastors and church leaders who were trained in our home dating back to 2007. Since then, he has trained two groups of prisoners at the Philippine National Penitentiary. Next February, plans are in place for him to begin training a 3rd group of prisoners, some of whom attended seminary in Maximum security, under Life Discipleship.

This prison compound has four Evangelical denominational churches each with their own church facilities inside. A few years ago, we were able to start a Christian worker’s library and resource center for these prisoners with many of the books coming from libraries of churches in the Seattle area and from the low desert in Southern California. With the impact from this pastor and what this ministry has done for those prisoners combined with results of their testimonies, the churches inside along with Volunteer Religious Workers from the outside are planning to build a new training and resource center. Included will be the transfer of the library and a classroom.

Two of the prisoners who have become pastors since their release attended the reunion celebration. They had wonderful encouraging testimonies to share with all who attended. A highlight of one ex-prisoner’s vision is to multiply this ministry to yet another high security national prison in the south. Big, big challenges to his vision lie ahead of him. How we praise the Lord for what He is doing with this ministry for the prisoners.

The weekly training session for a current group of pastors and church leaders are on-going. They're scheduled to complete their training by mid-January.


Pastor Lito speaking to the prisoners.


One of the prisoners sharing his testimony.

Graduating prisoners sharing their testimony in song





The prisoner's Certificate of Completion





















A prisoner receiving his certificate and a free book to enhance his life in Christ

Pastor Ogie

Several years ago our hearts were broken by the tragic story of Pastor Ogie and his wife Gina. Their simple home burned to the ground with three of their four children trapped inside.

Missionaries mobilized to give assistance to this grieving poor pastor, his wife and one remaining child. A missionary doctor treated them for TB and other illness. We pitched in to purchase a small lot and construct a simple home for them to call their own. Someone else bought a nice small motorbike. The whole family rides it – together!

Pastor Ogie was referred to us for Batch V this year. Paul interviewed him and noted that he struggled to express himself in English. The referring pastor paid the P500 ($12) deposit on his materials. (If he completes all the requirements for the certificate, this money is refunded.)

Pastor Ogie has been a faithful student. His assignments are all up to date and done with the greatest of care – read that “easy to read”! It is clear that he comprehends the lessons and is applying them in his life better than many of our other pastors who do not have a struggle with the language.

A month ago, Pastor requested a meeting with us after class. In front of him was the Counseling Record form from his packet of worksheets. “How do I properly use this?”

A story unfolded of two women in the church, an unsaved husband, and adultery. Children are being affected as well as the testimony of the little church in an area in the grips of a corrupt and controlling cult. We carefully and prayerfully discussed where he needed to begin in counseling the ladies. We showed him how to use the form to plan for the counseling sessions, keep records, and track progress. Tears flowed as we prayed.

The next week he was grinning from ear-to-ear! He told us how the offending lady had actually come to him for counseling! He and Gina had the plan and kept perfect notes – even color coded! He told us the form was of great help in preparing and identifying areas that needed to be addressed.

Please pray for this dedicated couple as they seek to serve a very depressed area just east of Metro Manila. And, pray for God’s provision to repair the rim on his motorcycle. The roads he needs to travel are hard on rims.