As the year 2017 began, ECPM staff and training teams being led by Mr Marwin Pesuelo immediately bowed their heads in prayer for guidance in setting of training schedules, module lesson reviews and updates, and new office arrangements beginning to take place. Transitions were inevitable with the passing on of Brother Elvin Buenviaje in 2016 but this has brought out opportunities for the members of the Board to visit the church planting teams, teach in the modules, mentor, encourage and listen to the church planters. As it turned out, the Board and other invited module teachers came home being overwhelmed and amazed seeing and experiencing first hand how the Lord is working in each site and team.
We are living out a HOPEFUL 2017. Other challenges have happened to our team at the start of this year but it calls us to even more depend on God’s strength in us. Setbacks, sickness, transitions may stop us for a short while only to let FAITH stand. We continue to hold on to our Father’s words for us in Psalm 139 which Brother Marwin also emphasized during the recognition of Brother Elvin.
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.”
We continue to believe that the Lord has gone before us. He also moves his people even beyond the Philippines to encourage and support the work of ECPM and our hearts overflow with gratitude for partners who continue to touch our lives that we too may move on and be excited for what new things the Lord has in store for us.
Last December the team had a Christmas party with the members of their Bible study groups together with their families. It was well attended and was a good time for the families to come together. Since they have different bible study groups scattered during the week, they invite them for a simple fellowship every Sunday afternoon. But this is the first time they all came together with their families.
Last January, ECPM Board secretary, Shil Padilla and previous ECPM board member, Ronnie Magpayo, joined Marwin and Vida to teach the module here. Brother Ronnie was also able to impart and share a lot as part of mentoring and coaching during their time together. Shil on the other hand helped develop team work through games and other team building activities. Brother Ronel and Gab, who are from a church in Rizal but work in Aklan, visit the team in their free time to teach them how to play the guitar and they are really improving in this area! We praise God because He knows what the team needs. They are not perfect and even new in missions and in the ministry yet we see the Lord’s hand continually moving to make them fruitful.
After the Lord’s work in both of the teams with baptisms last year, the teams continue to enhance Christian growth among the believers. Team Samarinyana moves forward preparing to become GIMPO BENWAT KATEPUSDAN (GIMPO CHRISTIAN CHURCH). The team is now starting to identify who among the new believers could be part of the fellowship’s core group. As they prepare, Christian growth and understanding of God’s word continues to happen in their regular bible studies. The teams asks your prayer as they are nervous yet excited for how the Lord will gather the new believers and become a new congregation in Gimpo, Samarinyana, Palawan.
The team in Tula-Tula also is focusing on Christian growth for the new believers especially those who were baptized last year. Their seven bible study groups who meet weekly are gathered every month as the team’s preparation for having a regular Sunday fellowship. Aside from this, they continue their feeding program as part of their service in the community and in the public school in the area. They are now praying for those whom they have identified to be part of their core group who will assist them in their regular fellowships and eventually as they begin a new congregation.
When the Lord opened a new area for the team aside from ministering to the area in Manggahan, He never failed to send people to the team to hear His words. They now have a regular large bible study group in KININAMAN. The people here go to the bible study groups on their own and willingly. Our church planting team at first hesitated to reach out to this area because it would mean extra work for them and they don’t know why the Lord impressed it upon them to come this area. After prayer and consultation with the partnering church and ECPM training team, the team obeyed and now see why the Lord asked them to go there. After spending a day or two in Kininaman, they go back to Manggahan and continue the Bible study groups that they regularly have. Please pray because in Manggahan, the people are usually busy going to their farmlands. Yet this never stopped the team to think, pray and strategize. Please also pray as brother Abring is considering and praying to continue on as a worker in Manggahan and Kininaman even after the church planting training. With that please also pray as the team starts to plant corn and peanuts in a lot owned by brother Abring where earnings will be able to help provide for the team’s needs and to assist them buy snacks for their bible study groups.
The team experienced a great challenge when a member of the church planting team, brother Jose passed away and went home to his creator after a motorcycle accident. ECPM immediately assisted the team and brother Vic helped them regain hope and be encouraged that it is indeed the Lord who will make the team fruitful despite this trial. By God’s grace, with renewed energy, the team had their module last February 2017. They reviewed their previous goals and strategies to reset how they will move on despite the loss. Please pray for wisdom as they assign someone who will stay in the area in Sta. Catalina which is really the thrust of ECPM. Having someone stay in the mission house will help them gather their contacts and revitalize their bible study groups and connect even more to the community. As of to date, they are praying for brother Sergio to join and help the team. May the Lord continue to show His direction and encourage the team in Sta. Catalina after losing brother Jose. The team believes that the Lord has a purpose in all these.