PHILIPPINES – ADVENT CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT (ACM) MANILA UPDATE

Pastor Roy Rocha and his family (picturedleft) lead the NEW LIFE IN CHRIST ministry in the Novaliches district of Quezon City in Metro Manila.

Although the ministry is an independent one, Pastor Roy, who graduated from Oro Bible College, says “I am an Advent Christian minister and living on Advent Christian principles.”

Pastor Roy sent the following report to ACMissioNZ’s February prayer meeting – we have been praying for his ministry for many years…

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 1:2

The verse above is also our prayer for all of you my dear friends in the ministry. The Lord continues to prosper us financially, physically, and spiritually. His grace and strength is always sufficient for all of us!

I always thank God for your kind hearts that you continue praying for me, my family, and ministry.The end of 2013 made us so busy in the ministry. December was holiday for most of the people but for me, it was lots of ministry work. We held Christmas worship services every night that started on the 16^th to the 24^th. We had baptized 3 adults and 7 young people; it was the second baptism for the year. I also had the opportunity to solemnize a wedding in the 28^th; it was both a great and blessed experience for it was my first time.

Youth fundraising activity

Our Christmas party was meaningful and blessed as each cell-group presented native songs and dance representing some ethnic groups of our country (pictured right). We believed that every tongue and tribe of our country should give praise to the ‘new born king’ and know that JESUS CHRIST is LORD. It was fun and encouraging for it made our eyes open to reach the unreached tribal/ethnic groups of our country.

The youth made a fund raising activity for the purchase of new DLP projector, and the Lord blessed us with new Projector as the result of it. (pictured above- . (pictured right – Youth fundraising activity: The ‘King and Queen’ with their prince and princesses of New Life in Christ Fellowship: the TRANSFORMERS ).

As we welcomed 2014, we held a New Year’s Eve worship service. Our first Sunday was great for we had great attendance. Everybody felt 2014 would be a blessed year. Some of my members made an accounting of the membership of our ministry; we were so blessed that officially we are 110 – last year we were only 80. No wonder we need and are praying for more chairs. One leader proposed that we start fund raiser for church building, and everybody agreed, but for now, we are praying on how we can expand the church. To God be all the glory!

Prayer requests:

1. My first mission TRIP to TACLOBAN, Leyte – next week on February 24^th, I will be travelling to Tacloban with my pastor friend. We will be driving a L300 van carrying some Bibles and relief goods for the typhoon victims. It is estimated an overnight drive from Manila to Tacloban. Pray for our safety, strength, guidance.
2. 2^nd Mission Trip to TACLOBAN on April 23-28, this time I will be taking my family to join my school alumni days program to be held in that place. International Graduate School of Leadership (IGSL) where I graduated from Master of Divinity program, is encouraging all the Alumni to muster to the place.>The kids will minister to the kids, the women to the women, and the guys for the guys. I do believe it is a great opportunity for me and my family as they begun to learn to embrace and be compassionate to the depressed people. I am praying to raise 35,000 pesos for fare and lodging.

May you consider this in your prayers, thank you!”

Please pray for Pastor Roy and his family, for those who serve with him in Novaliches and ask the Lord to bless the ministry by bringing more fruit for their labours.
(Ernie Schache)