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Updated 8/11/2011 11:15 a.m. Philippine Missions Team - July 2011
Last year we prayed for the Redicks as they led an evangelistic campaign in the Philippines that saw thousands come to Christ. This year we're sending a team to help! Please pray for Pastor Larry Ball, Makayla Beck, Sarah Bushey, Sarah Collins. Lydia Christensen, Rebekah Clement, Samantha Coe, Joshua de la Rosa, Grace Evans, Richard Gaglianao and Jurgen Weber as they share Christ in high schools and universities July 7-29. Read about the trip
Photos
Videos, Etc.
Web LinksWEEK 1Thursday, July 7: Left for the PhilippinesJurgen Weber: is looking forward to seeing God work in the hearts of the Filipino people!
Josh de la Rosa: Well, this is it. Seriously guys, thanks for all your continued support. I know I'LL definitely need it. With an adventure of this magnitude ahead of us, having you guys standing behind us and God watching over us - it's comforting to know we're covered on all sides. See you all in a month! This is Josh...signing off. ;D
Friday, July 8: Arrived safely in ManilaSarah Bushey: we made it! we just landed, got our bags, and are hanging out at the Manila airport for 6 hours until our flight to Negros.
Samantha Coe: we're in manila waiting for our last flight to negros. it has been a long and interesting.. 2 days and God has protected us and helped us through a few trials already. i am excited to see how God works these next 3 weeks!
Saturday, July 9: Arrived safely in NegrosOur team joined joined the rest of the Student Ministries for Christ International (SMCI) team in Dumaguette, Negros. Sunday, July 10: Training and preparationMonday, July 11: First day of preachingOur team preached the Gospel in northern Negros, at schools where SMCI has never been before. Today's totals for all teams:
Tuesday, July 12: EarthquakeOur team felt the 6.2 Richter earthquake but was safe. Sarah Bushey: Thank you for your continual prayers! God has been protecting and using us for his glory despite an earthquake and a tire blowout in one day! To God be the glory!
Today's totals for all teams:
Wednesday, July 13: Another Flat TireLots of great preaching opportunities today! By God's grace we had strength and many made decisions. Keep praying for the Spirit's working here! FYI we are all okay despite the earthquake which most of us did not feel and two flat tires on the van in two days. As far as I know we have all been basically healthy. We have two doctors, a third year med student, a third year nurse and an EMT on the team. They have plenty of meds for any situation.
Today's totals for all teams:
Thursday, July 14: Joining the Other TeamThe entire team has joined together near Bacolod. With just a couple more days left in Negros Occidental, pray for great strength physically and spiritually for the teams, open doors, open hearts, the enemy to be bound and safety! The team is having a great time in Negros eating rice and chicken for dinner...again! We cannot believe we have been here for almost a whole week! Thanks for your prayers!
Today's totals for all teams:
Friday, July 15: In the Big CityOur Team: We are back to the "big city". At least we have wifi. Tomorrow is rest for most of us. Rich is preaching to a large college ROTC group. Everyone is fine.
Pastor Larry: This week our group preached 309 times to 13,700 people. There were over 5,000 decisions in our group alone. Realize that we are not saying all of those were saved, but they responded on a decision card. I would feel comfortable saying that at least half of those are genuine and understood (personal opinion). Josh preaches tomorrow to 1,000 navy ROTC students and tomorrow afternoon I am preaching to 1,500 Air force students! Tell everyone thank you for their prayers and to continue praying. This week is supposed to be bigger. A few of our team is going to the island of Siquijor which is dominated by witchcraft. Last week the other group was interrupted by a demon possessed girl. As soon as the preacher came into the classroom she went nuts--welcome to the Philippines! Be in much prayer for them and us.
Saturday, July 16: Wrapping up the WeekSMCI: It's been an amazing week! The good LORD made a way for us and drew many souls to the saving grace He has provided! Well, yesterday was a fun reunion for the teams who had been separated for the week doing what SMCI Director Mike Redick calls, "Cowboy Evangelism" in Negros Occidental! They got dropped on different corners and met in between! It was hard work but every team member will say it was glorious!! Today the combined team traveled back to Dumaguete, preached along the way and tonight are settled snug in their beds at the Pensionne House with air con, wifi, room service, laundry and MacDonalds that delivers--all if they want! There will be Mass Evangelism meetings tomorrow and some time to rest. Remember to pray for those who heard this week and did not believe and for those who did and especially for wisdom for those who follow up!
Our Team: As of Friday, the LORD has given great fruit in the SMCI e-Campaign after the first 2 weeks:
WEEK 2
Sunday, July 17: Starting the Week with ROTCSMCI: It was a great weekend! The teams did 3 mass evangelisms--one on Saturday and two on Sunday. They attended churches born out of the SMCI Campus Ministry on Sunday! Sunday afternoon there were 1600 ROTC cadets waiting to hear the Gospel! There was a brown-out and so there was no electricity for a sound system. PMike divided them into groups and four of the fellows preached to 400 each! Thank God there was still a wonderful response! Thanks LORD, you have the plan and we can trust You always!
Monday, July 18: Dumaguete, Bayawan, SiquijorSMCI: Three teams headed out in 3 different directions today led by the SMCI Negros Team--there was opposition and victory--open and closed doors. But in all, the LORD is in control and He brought forth fruit!
Our Team: Grace, Sarah B, and Josh are in Siquijor with Pastor Eugene from Singapore. Jurgen and Rich are in Bayawan with Pastor Ivan. The rest are in Dumaguette with Pastor Larry.
Today's totals for all teams:
Tuesday, July 19: Overcoming OppositionRedicks: [An SMCI team] got refused at NORSUniversity campus today. Had the signed letter from president but he is away. He called PMike and warned him the vp might try to hinder them. Yest vp was late so they went room to room for 2 hours then he stopped them. Only allowed 5 minutes per room w/teachers having liberty to reject. Lord allowed fruit amidst many closed doors. Please pray!
Read more about this story on the Redicks' blog and view photos SMCI: Almost 110,000 have heard! Please keep praying!
Today's totals for all teams:
Wednesday, July 20: Continuing the WorkToday's totals for all teams:
Thursday, July 21: Too Busy to TalkEven though we haven't been able to hear much from our team members, know that they are doing what they went to do and doing it well. They are not alone; they are with about 150 others from SMCI. Please pray and have faith! The Lord is in control. We look forward to hearing their reports and seeing their pictures when they come home! In the meantime, check out these posts on the Redicks' blog:
Today's totals for all teams:
Friday, July 22: Yesterday, God Held Back The Rain!Yesterday our team had just finished a small rural school and we were heading for our final school of the day when the dark rain clouds burst with a downpour. We knew that in a half hour there would be several mass evangelisms taking place outside involving very large crowds. One of the SMCI team immediately said, "Pastor Larry, you need to pray for God to withhold the rain." Being the leader that I am I immediately obeyed! :) Within 30 seconds the rain slowed down and in a few minutes it stopped completely! The outdoor meetings were greatly blessed with large crowds and many decisions. As we left our team gave thanks to the Lord and then outwardly said, "Now, Lord, you can let it rain.". It poured rain most of the way home. 20 minutes from Dumaguete we spotted 3 waterspouts forming over the ocean and coming our way. Our prayer then turned to "Lord get us home!" He did and we are looking forward to another day of serving Him. Pastor Larry on the Redicks' blogLydia Christensen: Salamat Hesus!! <3 Please pray! Tomorrow we take a ferry to Bohol and some team members from Singapore head home :( there are also some who are sick.
Our Team: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8
Today's totals for all teams:
Saturday, July 23: Traveling to BoholRedicks: Pray for the teams traveling! The whole e-Campaign is moving to the island of Bohol on Saturday!
Samantha Coe: On our way to bohol! I am learning so much about God and meeting incredible people!
WEEK 3Monday, July 25: First day on BoholLydia Christensen: misses her Dumaguete family but is so thankful for spending two weeks with them! :)
Our Team: Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. 2 Cor 1:11 (from Rosie)
Today's totals for all teams:
Tuesday, July 26: Goodbye, JurgenJurgen Weber: has had an exciting three weeks in the Philippines and will be leaving for home tonight! It is amazing to see God work in the hearts of the young people here!
Our Team: Jurgen left today... sad farewell for now! At the Gospel Night tonight in Bisu 300 students attended and more than half made decisions and remained behind to receive guidance and sign up for discipleship! ;)
Today God set me on fire. Not only was I able to give the gospel many times, but I could see the words piercing the hearts of those needing to hear it. At one of the high schools the students were all out for lunch. Makayla, Sarah and I were able to attract a few of them by playing a game. It wasn't long before we were surrounded by 11-14 year old boys and girls. I remember being terrified of every one of them. I prayed. and as the words came out of my mouth, I found even myself listening to them. I saw God working in their hearts as their expressions twisted in fits of convictions and gaped in awe and wonder. It was beautiful. It took me a while to realize that preaching Christ had to be real. It had to be flexible. Our task was so much more than reciting words and illustrations or persuading students with analogies and comparisons. It was about giving them exactly what they needed to hear and when they needed to hear it. And because every class has a different dynamic, and because we didn't know what that dynamic was until five minutes into our presentation, there was no other option but to rely solely on God's trust....which as Pastor Jeff said to me 'is a nice place to be'. Today's totals for all teams:
Wednesday, July 27: The Last DayJurgen has already left us and the rest of AZ2:Re:vive Team will be heading home tomorrow! The LORD has worked in their lives wonderfully! He has shaped them and refined them, and has used them for the Kingdom in an wonderfully eternal way! We are very thankful!
Our Team: from all we've heard, none of our flights were cancelled. we leave Bohol in about 40 min. thanks for praying.
Sarah Bushey: We're waiting in the Bohol airport for our flight to Manila in 30 min. Saying goodbye was terribly sad, but we didn't cry... :) Today we have about ten hours in Manila before our flight to LA. thanks to God for the amazing things he has done and taught us all in these past tree weeks!
The e-campaign continues, even though our team has left. Please keep praying! Today the LORD allowed:
Thursday, July 28: TravelingOur Team: We are in the Manila airport and have had two witnessing opportunities already! :) God is still working through us even though our flight doesn't leave for four hours... Keep praying for us as well as for the rest of the team as they finish out the week in Bohol and the rest of E-Camp on other islands.
Lydia Christensen: We just made it! God is good :)
As of today, the LORD has given us 150,292 souls to hear the Gospel! 83, 218 People Have Made Decisions During
Thanks LORD! Friday, July 29: Home!Josh de la Rosa: It's good to be in the States again.
Our Team: The AZ team has made it safely back home after about 30 hours of travelling. Thank you so much for your prayers, and please continue to pray for the teams who are still working hard in the Philippines!
Jurgen Weber: God really touched me about just how little we focus on missions over here in the States and instead we are so often focused on materialism. By missions I am referring to spreading the Gospel to those who have not heard or are not believers. Over here, we so often get comfortable in our Christianity and don't take the Great Commission seriously.
Even though our team is now back at home, SMCI's evangelistic campaign in the Philippines will continue for two more weeks. Please continue to pray for them, and follow God's work at he-still-answers.blogspot.com.Testimonies from Team MembersPastor BallAfter hearing about and praying for the e-campaign for many years I was privileged this year to become a part of it along with 10 college age young people from our church. My purpose in going was to see and experience this great evangelistic opportunity first hand and to expose our young people to a foreign mission field where they would be challenged to give their lives for the sake of the Gospel. The opportunities to preach the Gospel were unlike anything most Christians have ever experienced. We spent day after day going from classroom to classroom giving the Gospel. Sometimes we had the opportunity to preach to the whole school at once in morning or afternoon assemblies. My favorite opportunity was preaching to 400 ROTC students who were being carefully watched by their commanders. The Philippine people have a deep respect for the Word of God and know much of the Scripture. Almost every class could quote John 3:16 with me. However, few understand what John 3:16 means for them. It was a tremendous joy to be able to explain to them why Christ died and how they could receive the gift of eternal life through faith. The impact on the members of our team was by itself worth the trip. Several have indicated their belief that God is calling them to serve on the mission field. All of them have become eternally focused and burdened for souls. I am sure that when some people read the stories and hear about the numbers of souls reached during this campaign, they will shrug their shoulders in indifference or roll their eyes in unbelief. Having experienced this campaign first hand, I assure any doubters that this is truly a great work of God. I heard one testimony after another of those who had been saved in previous campaigns and whose lives were radically changed. I saw the tears of a young student when she realized that Christ had died in her place. I heard the emotional thank you from those who had just trusted Christ and were trying to express their gratitude for our coming. I have seen God move in a mighty way the past three weeks, and I pray for the Lord to continue to develop this movement in the years ahead. GraceI learned many, many, lessons during and because of this trip. One of the biggest things I learned, along with TOTAL dependence on the Spirit, is that God exalts Himself in His own strength. Psalm 21:13 says, "Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power." This verse reinforced my experiential education, teaching me that it is when we are completely, 100%, dependent on the Spirit that He is most glorified. He does not use our strength to exalt Himself, but He uses us as a mere vessel for all of His strength to be used in. We are simply instruments which our Creator uses to write His story. He exalts Himself in His own strength, and then we sing and praise Him for it. It's that simple. If we would use any of our own strength or knowledge, then He would not be most glorified. Initial and total surrender is our sacrifice of praise. Each of us is called according to His purpose, anywhere we are. At home or across the world, the Great Commission is given to every Christian, and Joshua 1:9 is a command, not a comfortable suggestion, that we be of good courage and speak the Gospel boldly. When we are right with God and tuned in to His purpose for us, we begin to see countless situations as Divine Appointments rather than neat "coincidences." It's amazing how many opportunities we have to share Christ, if only we are looking for them. I wonder how many times I have been ignorant of these opportunities. Whether we take advantage of them or not, we are impacting a soul's eternity in one direction or the other. Which direction would we rather point them? Whether we ignore or speak boldly, we choose. We must daily pray for spiritual eyesight for souls, a heart of compassion and courage, and words of wisdom. LydiaI really had no idea what to expect from this trip. I tried not to think about it too much because I knew if I did, I would try to talk myself out of it. :) I’m so thankful that God gave me the faith to take that step on the plane. Out of the ten team members going, I really only knew two of them well. But here I was, traveling half-way across the world with them! I’m so thankful that God gives His children like-mindedness and unity. Even though we didn’t know much about each other, we became a family. I know that there are many things about this trip that those who had gone will only understand. This is even true of the Filipino, Singaporean, and other workers that were there! There was a bond that came only from God. The Lord taught me so many things on this trip, through trials I personally went through, listening to others, and just observing. One of the biggest things I learned was from a full-time SMCI worker. He was talking to us one afternoon and talking about God’s commands. Many times I think of these commands as “nice suggestions” not commands. But God has told us to seek the Kingdom first, and then all these things will be added to us. There is faith that is required. Without faith we can’t please God; we already can’t DO anything without God, I believe that includes faith. God will give us this child-like faith. The SMCI worker talked about the opportunities he had after graduating college, but he knew God was calling Him to full time ministry. So he simply said this to us, “God says, ‘Leunel, seek me first,’ and I say, ‘Okay, God.’” It’s not emotion based, it’s truth based. |
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