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| Enrichment Seminar & the Encouragement of Training Resources |
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![Enrichment Seminar & the Encouragement of Training Resources]() |
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First Annual EBC Workers' Enrichment Fellowship! Last Friday evening and Saturday morning our first ministry enrichment training took place at Emmanuel Baptist Church. Now, to put this in perspective, we need to realize that this church is 40 years old, yet it is within the last 8 or so years with the present leadership and their pastoral gifting, that this church is in a prime position for a more member-saturated ministry focus. The pastors have shepherded the EBC congregation to the point where all recognize the need and timing for this kind of training. It is my personal opinion that they are ready for it more than ever.
Emmanuel Baptist is on the threshold of a new era in their ministry because they've had mature growth and successes taking place in the last couple of years. Of course, as is common to any church
they've had some tough stuff take place and the loss of some key leaders. Still, they are learning how to serve in the midst of it all.
I was personally blessed to be the first speaker entrusted for this ministry enrichment seminar and to present messages that were both doctrinal as well as practical in nature. It has been a long-standing prayer on my part that the Lord would give me the opportunity to speak on the Doctrine of the Sufficiency of Scripture and then, as follow up to that, to lay some practical ministry foundations through the message "Constructing a Framework for Discipleship".
You might recall that back in the spring of 2016, before our furlough, we were scheduled to hold a Common Church Issues Workshop. However, the sudden death of one of our key deacons had such an impact on the congregation that it was clear we needed to wait. Well, much of
Saturday's message allowed for me to speak on those practical, common church issues which we were going to work on in 2016. So, I"m praising the Lord for His perfect timing in all of it.
The pictures below are from both days of the Workers' Enrichment Fellowship. The pastors of EBC really want to see their people well prepared for ministry and they took time to hear reports about the ministry and key items for prayer from the brothers who are serving in the Binangonan, Floodway and Muntindilaw church plants. Thanks for praying!
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The Power of Resourcing Local Church Servants! Near the beginning of 2018 we began to see a response from our supporters to help meet the need of training resources for the workers of Emmanuel Baptist Church. Supporters sponsored training materials through their donations of books via our Amazon list and 22 Study Bibles, 22 books for personal growth (Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and its Cure) and 22 books on a solid doctrine of the local church (9 Marks of a Healthy Church) were donated and then sent to us via Balikbayan box. The answered prayer of their arrival before our training weekend was truly amazing..
I wish you all could have been there when these faithful servants realized that not only were we having training that would help them in ministry, but that they were going to receive a Study Bible and books
as well to help them in the ministry effort. These are hard to come by here and usually quite expensive.
Some of the Study Bibles were distributed during the seminars, but others on Sunday morning. Our Sunday School teachers expressed they were so excited because they had been saving for years for a Study Bible just like these and now here the Lord has provided what they need.
EBC supports a faithful missionary to Cambodia, Teacher Elvie, who is in country a bit longer. She expressed to us that knowing she's going back to her work with a Study Bible means so much to her!
Kim told me that at the end of the presentation at least one of the young ladies bounced off the stage giggling and holding her Bible in the air as she was so excited! Please pray for the faith and ministry abilities of these devoted servants to grow as a result of these resources!
Thanks for praying!
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All EBC Pastors & Workers Express Their Gratefulness! The EBC pastors and EBC workers wanted me to express to all of those who sent resources to them how they are grateful for the honor you have given to them. It is such an encouragement to them as they carry on in faithfulness in the ministry.
I told the audience the story of how this all came to be and God's perfect timing. Many were greatly encouraged. I told them too "with a big, new Study Bible comes a big new responsibility." A quote from Spiderman of course, but I happen to know it is a popular phrase among our Filipino friends. Pastor Roi especially liked that one! :) Through these donated resources you have become a “Barnabas, Son of Encouragement” to many here. Thanks for praying!
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Second Eye Cataract Surgery on Tuesday! My first experience with outpatient cataract surgery was awesome! A little strange at certain moments, but still wonderful! Having to hold your eye still and fixed, looking at 3 little triangular lights is quite nerve-wracking. I'm not claustrophobic or anything, but I began to get what I imagine could be described as the beginnings of that condition, or just a panic attack. As they were working on me I could see instruments touching my eye, but I couldn't feel anything. I was finished by 9:30am and caught a Grab Taxi home by 10:15.
Dr. Cheng and the nurses were very careful and reassuring, so I came through very well. I now have 20/20 on my left eye and tomorrow I should have the same on my right eye as well. These "Bono-like" glasses are to protect against
anything getting into my eye and so they protect against infection. Unfortunately they haven't helped my singing voice one bit though! :) Thanks for praying!
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And Now For Something Completely Different! This trike was so loaded with balloons! At first I didn’t see the people and joked to myself it must be a fly away! It is a common sight because weekends are for parties and balloons make it special. So why not sell all you can, especially down near the tourist areas, which is where I imagine they were going. I enjoy seeing these as I drive the cruddy, smoggy roads of Manila. ?
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Investing in a Generational Legacy The seminarians Robert equips at BBSI are training for their calling to serve in His church with excellence. The missionary kids Kim works with at Faith Academy need an education and to be challenged with the truth of the gospel, even while their parents serve in ministries all over the Philippines.
Out of 2 Timothy 2:2 we find a premier passage related to passing the baton of ministry to the next generation... "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
When you join us in prayer ministry and regular financial partnership, you are investing in a movement of equipping a new generation for Christ and thereby partnering in a legacy for future ministry in the
Philippines and beyond.
We are presently down in support by about 5% of our pledged monthly needs, which is common after arriving to the mission field again even after a long and fruitful furlough. To invest in this work, simply click the button to go to ABWE's secure online donation page. There you can arrange automatic monthly support. All support donations are tax-deductible.
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 | Visit our Website to Learn More! Click on the Equip logo and you will be directed to our website to know more about the vital ministries we are involved with in Manila and beyond. It's been said that the Philippine Islands are the "gateway to Asia". Well, in regards to the gospel being taken to Asia that could very well be true as many young Filipino men and women are preparing for ministry even as missionaries in other Asian countries. They need our prayers! We need to help prepare them. Click on the button to see my new ministry blog..."THRIVE!".
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