Update from ECPM

Dear Partners in the Ministry,

Mabuhay!

The beginning of this year is very challenging for all of us here at ECPM. We had our first quarter planning last January 9, 2018. 

I realized that I should be more focused now and through the years that God would use me in this ministry. It's far from what I am doing with my business, but I believe God has His purpose why He placed me in my position now. I just have to accept it and give my best for His glory.  

I'm just so grateful for the teamwork the ECPM staff have been showing. They are very supportive and helpful. So, I humbly ask for your prayers as I lead the staff and the team of ECPM. 

As our partners in the ministry, I would like to share updates and prayers for this month.

Let us pray for Bicol (PHI01)

We have brothers and sisters who are affected by the eruption of Mayon Volcano. Brethren in Daraga and Banadero cannot work and most of them are in evacuation centers. 

Kuya Rudy Ortiz and family and the church in Ligao are still safe at the moment except for the bulk of ash fall now stuck and weakening their roofs. Please do pray that the situation will not worsen so they will not be hardly affected. 

New church planting team (PHI05)

We started a new team in Raang Palawan last November 2017. The team is very positive and excited on how God will use them to turn the community into believers. They are praying for a lot with a small house that they can use as a mission house which we can also use and stay during modules. One of their key people is selling her lot for 28 thousand pesos. Please help us pray for God's wisdom in deciding if we should build a mission house, and provisions if we decide to buy the lot. 

Another new team started last November 2017 at Saranggani. According to Vic, the location is really hard to reach and is quite far for us but most of the team members are locals so it's not a problem to them. We just need some adjustment in teaching the modules because they don't speak tagalog well. Vida and I will have a pastoral visit to them on February 9-12, 2018. Please pray for our safe travel and that we could encourage them.

Let us pray for another partner in Palawan. Vic is going to meet and assess a possible new team on February 10, 2018.

Integrated Pastoral Care

During our planning, and God's leading to us, we will be incorporating more focused and intentional pastoral care for the church planters. This will help us evaluate and improve modules and guide them personally as they train for two years for church planting. We expect that this will improve our communication with them. Ella and I will usually do the assessment and pastoral care through separate visits on site and doing interviews, spiritual reflections and team building to improve their team ministry. We observed that counseling through pastoral care (member care) is essential in church planting.

We have been attending classes and seminars to help us be equipped. Please pray that we will be patient in finding low airfares or any other means to visit them in between modules. Pray also for smooth scheduling and planning so we will continue to maintain our budget.  

Campus Ministry (PHI07)

Campus leaders in Bicol are about to end their training with honors. Yes, with honors because they also graduated from the university with great recognition. Darwin, one of the leaders, was even chosen as one of the most outstanding students in Bicol Region. 

With this, another team in Saranggani in Mindanao and one in Aramaywan Palawan will start this February and March. Please pray for their pre-module sessions and that as their churches move forward, the youth will also move with them.

Staff & Couples Retreat

This March, I plan to give the staff an intimate vacation and retreat with our spouses. We are planning a trip to Bacolod and have group dynamics to strengthen each other as well. Often we leave our spouses when we travel and this is a time to involve them deeply in what we do at ECPM. I am praying that the ministry of ECPM will also be of help in strengthening our relationship with our spouses. I know this will be very beneficial to the staff. Please pray for provisions and wise planning as we do this. 

Marwin J. Pesuelo
ECPM Director