I would like to thank the Lord for the blessings He has given us. This year my son Nathaniel passed the Engineering board exam and is now employed here in Bicol. I also praise God because his work is an answered prayer to us as he doesn’t have to work on Saturdays and Sundays so he can still attend to the Bible studies in our outreaches and daughter churches. He, Jeff (a church planter) and others of our youth leaders have a weekly schedule as to who will visit and lead Saturday bible studies and Sunday fellowships in the different churches. This is done with the help of the partnership with ECPM's campus ministry. We are able to train our youth leaders not just in evangelism in their campuses but also in leading our outreaches. My children and the youth in the church are a great help to me in our ministry.
I am also very thankful for the partnership with ECPM not just for church planting but also campus ministry. Because of the youth leaders that are trained and the fact there is always communication and friendship with the ECPM team, they are able to bring their classmates to church. I will not forget that they bring most of their classmates with problems to our house and we are able to let them know about God’s love and hope in Him. This has resulted in a number of them now regularly attending our Sunday Service and now being discipled for the ministry.
Vacation Bible SchoolsIn April - May our youth organised vacation bible schools in all our outreaches and daughter churches like Sorsogon, Matacon, Oas and Pio Duran. The youth travelled simply and the young adults with work gave towards this ministry. The photo on the right shows Darwin, one of our youth campus leaders, leading a class. The photo on the left shows our youth leaders as they travel for the VBS. Second from left is Amy who came to know the Lord because of one of our youth campus leaders.
Age:22
Sharlene is a student of Ligao Community College where most of the youth in Ranao Ranao are attending school. She lives on her own in a dorm away from her family so she can study here in Bicol.
Sharlene was having a lot of difficulties as a student away from her family and she experienced challenges with regards to safety in their place. Her classmate and dorm mate Kim, who is my niece, came to know the Lord during the Bicol Youth Camp and has been praying for her because of the difficulties with her family and safety from the people where the dorm is situated. My son Nathaniel asked if they could have a dorm bible study. Vida and Ella also visited the dorm. Sharlene then came to our house to visit and she returned with more questions about faith.
Sharlene became close to our children Nathaniel and Cyril. Then she regularly attended church and attended Christian Training Camp. She shared how the Lord touched her heart and brought her into the ministry. Sharlene has now graduated, passed the teacher’s board and is one of the youth leaders. She is working as a teacher and is not just part of the ministry in Ranao Ranao but she also helps other brethren churches whenever she can.
I have seen the strength of our youth in bringing their classmates and then endorsing them to us and to other older people in the church for nurturing. There are more stories the same as Sharlene in our church. Recently there is also Keesha and Amy Paloyo who the Lord led to us through their classmates (some are part of the campus ministry training) and because of the difficulties they experience as university students.
Having a local community church has nurtured these university students well because of the old members in our church who show “old style” Filipino Christian nurturing and hospitality to them.
Partnership's Influence within the CommunityBecause of the partnership with ECPM their training, pastoral care and genuine friendship with us and the youth has taught us a lot and is very refreshing for us workers. This inspired the youth and thus the community appreciates the Bicol Youth Camp we do every October where more than 100 young people from the community attend it for free. Even if we just eat simple food in camp they are very thankful with the camps and care from the counsellors. Ella and Vida usually help us during these camps and also with our women's conference.
Most of our youth are now licensed teachers and very passionate in evangelism. Most of them do not want to leave Bicol and get jobs here so they can also help the church. My daughter, Cristy Cyril, also took education after passing the nursing board and is also now a licensed teacher. They are praying to build a pre-school in the community of Ranao Ranao. This is a very big task but we have started praying for it.
Please pray for our young adults and youth that when challenges happen to them they will be reminded of the strength and love the Lord gave them. Pray that they will always have hope in life and encouragement even if they are only living simple lives.