Greetings to all our friends and supporters of the Advent Christian work in the Philippines. For us here in New Zealand a new year is just beginning with various activities recommencing but in the Philippines activities don’t stop for the holiday period.
We give thanks for the faithfulness of the pastors and church workers who labour without taking time off for a holiday.
Pastor Benjie Ragas
Pastor Benjie Ragas reports that some of the difficulties he was having when he took over the pastorate at Riverside, Calinan, Davao are being overcome by God’s grace. Some church members who have not attended for some time have returned and that the work there is progressing well. Pastor Benjie writes
“This is our last activity in our church last Sunday for our youth prayer fellowship. More than 100 delegates who joined this prayer gathering and it was successfully headed through the Help of our Great God. Some of our youth are encouraged and being touched to serve God.”
This was a combined church activity.
[nggallery id=171]Pastor Roy Rocha
From Novaliches Pastor Roy Rocha writes UPDATE OF GOD’s GOODNESS! OUR MINISTRY:
[nggallery id=172]“LIVING THE BLESSED LIFE OF FAITH” is the NEW LIFE IN CHRIST DREAM for the 2013. After all the tough challenges in 2012, we are looking for as Blessed Life as we continue making Christ known in our community. We are Thankful to our God for all the blessings in 2012, the prayers, and support from all of you that in spite of difficulties we experienced God’s grace and faithfulness in keeping us through and we can still stand and say “we are Blessed”. To God be all the glory! We can share many highlights in 2012, but to name a few like the Flood was tough yet we were able to start, and rebuild our lives through the strength of our God. Another great thing happen was our Christmas “PINOY style” was meaningful and blessed that we were all filled with awe that we started our Christmas celebration with “Simbang Gabi” (a Filipino tradition of 9 nights of Christmas worship service that started in the 16th of December till the eve of the 24th.) the 25th was the main event were all the cell-group presented Christmas carols with Filipino costumes and Filipino foods were served. Truly, the spirit of Christmas was experienced.
BAPTISM: with all those challenge and fun, one thing that we should never forget and we are thankful the most was before the 2012 ended, we were able baptise 12 people who committed their lives to our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 of those baptised were the fruit of our child care ministry. They were parents of our students.
We wanted to keep our Child Care Ministry in order to reach more parents only that we lack resources. We get training from a kiwi friend and we are thankful to God. Another concern was how to sustain the ministry in terms of finances, an opportunity to open a Sari-Sari store was a great Blessing! Added were New Refrigerator and sacks of rice. Thanks to the generosity of God’s people at ACNZ.
ADVENT CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT MANILA
1st meeting was held last December 27, 2012. It was gathering of advent Christian pastors and workers who currently live here in Manila. It wasn’t successful as we intend but we have agreed once a month fellowship and prayer. We started our first prayer fellowship last January 17, 2013. The purpose for this is to encourage, strengthen, and share resources to bring God’s glory as we spread the advent message.
MY FAMILY:
We are doing well in our new house, God is always good. He always put us in a right place at his own timing. We are so happy of what he was doing and going to do in our lives and ministry. My son Jojo is doing well in his studies and he top 5 in the class. He is leading his classmates to Christ. I am so blessed by his leadership development. Our daughter Keziah is so passionate in her bible reading that she is using my Kindle for other Christian readings too. Peniel, the youngest, is doing well academically and in leadership.
I want to thank all of you for making our 2012 a blessed year, may we continue to lift up each other in prayers this 2013!
OUR PRAYER CONCERNS: please pray that may the Lord will continue to:
- Good Health, strength, and spiritual wisdom for all of us especially for my wife, Llerma, as she is now the leader of the cell-leaders cell group.
- Ministry Partners who will commit to pray and to support. Monthly house rent and school needs for my kids.
Pastor Jonathan Navacilla
I am pleased to congratulate Pastor Jonathan Navacilla and Flor (Banilad, Cebu) on the birth of their first child, Chris Nathan, who arrived on January 29th, three weeks early. Despite this, baby “Nate” is doing well. Another “Filipino grandson” for me!
Pastor Jonathan has just completed two modular units towards his M.Th. He continues studying another subject this semester.
[nggallery id=173]Here are some of the photos of our evangelistic night (Wed 13th Feb). There were 34 people who received Christ out of about more than 60 people. The Evangelistic Night was done last night. We entitled it “I love U More”, finding who’s the one who loves you more.
I have not heard from OBC or BPACCI for this “Update”.
Thank you for your continued support of the work in the AC Philippines. I trust that the Lord will continue to bless and use you in His service.
Yours in the Master’s service,
Grant Aldridge
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