Categotry Archives: Updates

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A Blessing from the USA

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We’ve been in the Philippines for about six months now and after two plus years of deputation we’re happy to be right where the Lord wants us.  At the same time it has been a blessing to hear from friends and family back in America.  We have received several emails and even some letters from our church family and friends.  And now we have received another blessing! Two more churches have decided to partner with our ministry through their finances and prayers!  Thank you New Beginnings Baptist Church in Kennedy, NY and Grace Baptist Church in Beaver Dams, NY!  What a blessing to see the Lord continue to provide for us in Cebu! And what an encouragement to know there are folks still thinking and praying for us across the miles.

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Missions: The Heartbeat of God

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This month North Cebu Baptist Church is emphasizing the importance of worldwide missions.  In the years Brother Lewis has been in Cebu, he has taught his people to give-by faith-to God’s great rescue mission.  Many have already learned this important principle and now the church supports missionaries in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China, and more!  But for some it still is a foreign concept.  Many excuse themselves saying they are too poor to give.  While it is true the people here do not have much it is also true that when a Christian steps out by faith, God provides.  Many families who have taken this step have already seen the hand of God in their life!  Giving to missions is not limited by our resources but by our own hearts.  God isn’t lacking finances or possessions!  He just wants His children to carry the truth to others through their words, prayers, and finances.  Just recently, I was privileged to see missions in action!  For years our home church has supported a national pastor right here in the Philippines. He has given his life to the ministry and has been blessed to see men from his church go out and start their own ministries.  One of these men happens to be a missionary on his way to China.  Just newly married he and his wife are on full time deputation right now until they can go to their field.  At the end of August he came by, presented his work, and our church was able to take them on for support!  It’s amazing to see how God uses missions to reach people and then those who were touched go on and reach others!  Faith Bible Baptist Church, our home church, not only has fruit from their missions giving here in the Philippines but now they will also take part in the souls who are brought to Christ in China!  Isn’t that amazing!  Missions works and it is the heartbeat of God!

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Learning the Language

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Since we arrived in Cebu I have relied heavily on my Tagalog to communicate with the people.  Tagalog is the main dialect of the Philippines so just about every person can understand and talk with me.  However, there are some who know very little Tagalog and others who have a prejudice against my language.  The church people have been teaching me some of their Cebuano and I’ve also learned a little from day to day living at the market, through soul winning, and other personal  contacts.  Thankfully, Pastor Travis, who is fluent in Cebuano, gave us our first language lesson this past week!  Even though Cebuano and Tagalog have a lot of similarities they are still very different and I have a lot to learn.  Please pray that the Lord would bless, Elizabeth, and I as we study the language!  While it will take my wife longer to learn Cebuano (because she doesn’t know Tagalog) in the long run, she will most likely speak it more clearly than I will.  We’re excited to learn the language and hope to get a better understanding of the culture through our journey!  

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A Tarp, A Pulpit, and…A Chicken???

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One of the ministries I’m involved with at North Cebu Baptist Church is the College and Career Sunday School Class.  It reminds me of former days when I taught the adult class back at our home church in New York.  There are some things that are uniquely different about this particular class though.  Space at the church is limited and because of this our class has been meeting outside under a tarp.  There are three seasons in the Philippines-hot, hotter, and really hot-so that tarp has been a blessing!  Then one morning I showed up at church and was surprised to discover a chicken in the back of our class! (Apparently supper for the Bible college students later that week.)  I could only smile to myself and think only in the Philippines!  During these past few months we’ve had a faithful group attend the class with several new Christians who are eager to grow.  It has been a blessing for me to teach this group and take part in their lives!

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