November 29, 2012 Update

Greetings to you all once again from Baguio.

 The Christmas season is upon us and it causes our hearts to remember the greatest of all gifts.  What a wonder it is that God would become a man in order to pay the penalty for our sin and redeem those who would put their faith and trust in that finished work.  It is good to remember.  It is good each week to sit around His table and remember who He is and what He has done. 

We are thankful to the Lord for providing us with a newer vehicle for the ministry here in the Mountains.  We were enabled by Him to purchase a 2009 Ford Everest 4X4.  So we went from a car that was 21 years old to a car that is just approaching 4 years old!!  Quite a difference.  We are so very thankful to Him.   

Tomorrow we make the drive back up to Kayapa and the three hour hike across the mountain trails to hold the Bible Study.  This is truly fertile soil and we pray as the seed is scattered that it would find the good soil of hearts prepared to receive the gospel, and that fruit would be borne.  Please pray with us.    I am a bit concerned about the drive so pray that the Lord would settle my heart.  We will be driving up in the early morning darkness and coming back in darkness as well,  across mountain roads that I am not real familiar with.  It is a hard drive, please be praying.  

The home Bible studies continue to be a source of encouragement to me.  Fruit is evident in the lives of those whom we have been teaching and to a teacher that is a tremendous source of joy.  

We finished up the second semester of Bible School a couple of weeks back.  It was quite a profitable time.  Many attended and we trust the Lord will use those things taught to build up the saints and lift their up their eyes, for their redemption draws near.  

In a few weeks I will be teaching at the Men’s Conference in the lowlands.  This will be my second time to be invited to speak to this gathering of men from all over the islands.  It is a wonderful opportunity for which I thank the Lord.  Continue to pray as I put the final touches on the message and as I prepare my heart before the Lord to deliver it.

My preparations for Special Studies are coming along well.  I am now in the process of organizing all my notes and putting them into a syllabus of sorts from which the lessons will come.  This year they have offered to pay the tuition for all full time workers and their wives to attend.  So we are expecting well over 100 students.  So please pray as I make decisions regarding notes and handouts for such a large group. 

Again I thank you all for your prayers for us and the Lord’s work here in the mountains of Central Luzon.  May the Lord continue to bless you….

The Latest from Baguio - October 31, 2012

Greetings once again to you all, and thank you all for your prayers for the Lord’s work here in the mountains. 

The work here continues to go well.  The home Bible studies are producing some fruit for the Kingdom and we are so thankful to the Lord for this encouragement.  On Friday evenings we have three studies at three different homes up at Tip-Top.  They are three lovely families and I enjoy visiting with them each week.  Two of those families have started coming out on Sunday mornings for the Sunday School time and the Family Bible hour, which is such an encouragement.   The Tuesday night study continues to be a blessing to me personally.  That family always enjoys the study time and consistently are learning and growing, as anyone who teaches the Word of God knows there is no greater blessing than to see folks eager and hungry for the Word of God. 

Our trip to Kayapa had to be postponed due to heavy rains.  The barangay captain texted us and told us that the roads were too slippery and that we should not come at this time.  So we are praying for the Lord’s guidance as to when we will be able to return to that area to share the gospel. The fields there are truly “ripe unto harvest.” I was a bit discouraged that we had to cancel, but the Lord has a plan in all these things so we will wait on Him and trust in His leading.  Keep this in your prayers.

This week the assembly at Navy Base will be having a Family Day at Camp John Hay.  These times are always so good for the assembly family as it builds bonds between us all.  We are praying that some of the new families will join us so that they can begin to feel a part of the assembly and not just “visitors”.

I continue in my preparations for upcoming conferences and seminars for the end of the year and into the New Year, so please keep these things in your prayers .  I have been spending many hours at my desk trying to prepare in advance since my regular studies keep me quite busy as well.  

We are going to have our fourth session in this “semester” of our Mini Bible School at Navy Base this coming Lord’s Day.  The turnout for these studies has been very good, and we are thankful to the Lord for that.  We pray that what is taught would bring honor and glory to the Lord and be an encouragement and challenge to the Lord’s people.

On another subject, I was wondering if any of the assemblies that you are in fellowship at have over the past couple of years upgraded your sound systems and you have tucked in a file cabinet somewhere an old wireless lapel mike system that you are no longer using.  If so, and you would like to donate it to the work here I would certainly appreciate it.  There have been many times I wish I had one to take along with me to different meetings.  It is a bit cumbersome sometimes to try and hold a mike and speak for me, since I have a hard time standing behind the pulpit, as many of you know.

Also we are beginning to realize that we will need to replace our 1991 Mitsubishi vehicle in the near future.  She has been a real work horse for us but her age is catching up with her and her maintenance is a regular on going situation.  We need a vehicle I can depend on when taking trips up the mountain trail, and not have to be worrying about whether or not it will break down and strand us.  We are so thankful to those who have helped us keep her on the road, but her days seem to be numbered.  Please be praying with us regarding this ministry need,  that the Lord would provide a newer vehicle for His work here.

Again, thank you all so very much for your prayers for His work here among us.  May the Lord continue to bless you all as you serve Him in your part of the vineyard.

Update, September 19, 2012

Greeting to you all from Baguio, I pray that you are all doing well and rejoicing in our wonderful Lord.     A couple of things to report for your prayers:

Please pray for the various on-going home Bible studies.  We are seeing good fruit from a couple of them, and two families who have come to know the Lord are now in fellowship at the assembly, for which we thank the Lord.  We pray for consistency and growth in their spiritual lives.  In another study we are encouraged to see the hunger that these saints have for the clear teaching of the Word.  Pray that they may continue to grow in grace.  

Secondly, please be praying for the upcoming Bible school session scheduled to begin on October 14^th.  It is the second “semester” of classes on Eschatology, and we will begin our look at the book of Revelation.  The first “semester” of classes was well attended by young and old alike and I was much encouraged by their desire to learn.  We are praying that they will all be able to return to continue this study.  

Thirdly, please be praying for the assembly down in Baguio Gold.  They seem to be struggling a bit and could certainly use your prayers.  Pray for wisdom and guidance for the elders as they deal with some recent issues.    

We would also appreciate prayers for Joyce.  She has been having some health issues which we are trying to get diagnosed.  She has had some heart problems and has gone through a battery of tests.  We will be finding out the results today (Wednesday September 19, 2012).  She has been quite fatigued and has been experiencing many heart palpitations, please keep her in your prayers.

We are preparing for the Men’s conference in December on the topic of “Protecting the church from modernism” and for the Special Study classes in February on the topic of “Expository Teaching” Please keep these preparations in your prayers as well.

We will return later this month to Kayapa which is a new outreach about two hours drive Northeast of Baguio on the Mountain Trail.  The last study there went very well and there were many questions regarding salvation by grace through faith without works. It was our third visit to this remote village. Now that the rainy season is coming to a close we hope to make monthly trips up for studies, often times this requires hiking three hours on the trails to reach the homes where these studies are taking place.  Our goal is to eventually see a new assembly started in this town. 

This week we head down to Manila for a visit.  Joyce has a weekend conference to attend with our daughter Kim this coming weekend.  I will be speaking at one of the local assemblies in the area. Next week Joyce’s brother Dale, his wife Lois and their daughter Dorothy along with her husband Aaron will be arriving for a two week visit.  Dale will be the speaker at our expat missionary retreat the first week of October.  The retreat always is a time for us to reunite with fellow missionaries and learn of what the Lord is doing in different parts of the Philippines.  Good teaching that feeds our souls is also much appreciated.  We will return to Baguio on October 8^th.
 

Well, I have given you a lot to pray for!!  I trust you will continue to support us by your prayers.  Pray for the Lord’s provision for the needs of the poor among us.  We love you all and give thanks to our Lord for you.  God bless….

Nice to Be Home - Update - August 12, 2012

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Matthew 6:19-21

     These verses were on my mind this morning as we begin to settle in once again here in Baguio.  It is nice to be home.  We spend a wonderful morning yesterday with the saints at Navy Base remembering the Lord and hearing from His word.

     The trip home was fine and without incident as there was no flooding on any of the roads that we used.  The roads were in pretty bad shape and my poor car got knocked around quite a bit by all the pot holes, but survived.  Kennon Road, the road up the mountain to Baguio, was open as well to light vehicles, and we were able to pass without any problem.  At Camp 4 a bridge was washed out but we were able to skirt around it and still pass.  It is raining again this morning and talk of a new storm approaching.

     We are now beginning to focus our eyes on the next several months and what the Lord would have us do.  I am now scheduled to speak at the Men’s Conference in Bulacan in December and to teach at Special Studies in February, also at the camp site in Malolos.  I am also beginning preparations to teach the next Bible school session here in Baguio, continuing our lessons in Eschatology.   We will begin the home bible studies again next week , Lord willing.  So in very short order we will be back to the regular routine, which is always comforting to me.  I enjoy and need regular routine.  I love and thrive in the “rut”.

     Continue to pray for those of your brothers and sisters in Manila who have been affected so severely by the floods which plagued the lowlands once again.  Some close friends from San Juan had to be evacuated from their homes as the flood waters were reaching up to the second floor. We thank the Lord that all are safe, but several of the chapel buildings and many families from those works in various parts of Luzon have been affected once again, so please keep them in your prayers.  And be praying for Dave Harvey and those handling the relief efforts that the Lord would give them wisdom as they use the funds that the Lord will provide.

     The outreach up in Kayapa is currently on hold due to the heavy rains, so be praying that we will be able to return there, once the rains have subsided.  The last time the brothers were able to go up they had a study that lasted past mid-night because those hearing the word had many questions regarding salvation by grace through faith alone.  So keep this outreach in your prayers.

Thank you all for your prayers and for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read this update. 

     May the Lord continue to bless you all for His glory!!

April 27 - Kayapa Ministries

We arrived back from Kayapa safe and sound yesterday afternoon after smoking brakes and cars that had the water boiling in the radiators.  It was a hard drive both ways, but after a few stops to let the cars recover, we made it safely back to Baguio.

The time spend in Kayapa was profitable. There were over 30 kids out to the VBS programs and close to 40 people out for the film showing.  I was amazed to see them intently watching the movie on Thursday night.  All eyes were glued to the screen, even to watch the credits at the end. 

We also had Bible studies with those who where around during the time VBS was going on.  It was a good time of study with many questions being asked.  We met some other brothers and sisters in Christ who have been hungry for teaching.  Next time they want us to come and visit their place and have a Bible study.  It is just a three hour hike across the mountains.  Lord willing we will be able to have a study in that area the next time we visit and we are praying to establish two more studies in the surrounding areas as well. 

The next we travel over to Kayapa we plan to visit families scattered around the mountain side and try to begin these new home Bible studies as the Lord leads, then to return,  initially once a month, to teach.  We are thankful to the Lord for what He is doing in the hearts of the people in this region. We were so well received by all.  

 Thank you all for your prayers…

April 25, 2012 The Lord's work in the Central Luzon Mountains

Greetings to you all and thank you once again for all your prayers.  Tomorrow, (Thurs. 4-26) we head back over the mountains to Kayapa for a two day outreach.  It is a rather hard drive for me on some very steep and windy roads through the mountains. We will be leaving Baguio at about 6 AM and plan to hold a VBS program in Kayapa both on Thursday  and Friday mornings.  In the afternoons we plan on doing visitation and some evangelistic Bible studies as the Lord opens opportunities.  Thursday evening we plan on showing a gospel film.  Please be praying for this new outreach that the Lord would save souls and establish a new work in this area for His glory.  Two assemblies are working together in this endeavor there will be 16 of us from the Navy Base assembly traveling over and 12 from another assembly in Nueva Vizcaya. 

Tuesday of next week (May 1) the Navy Base assembly will be having an outing down at the beach in San Fernando.  We will be having a baptism at this time as well.  Seven are planning on being baptized at this time.  What a blessing to see these dear saints desiring to be obedient to the Lord.

 Wednesday of next week we will be driving down to Manila and would appreciate your prayers. I will be speaking at the assembly in San Juan on May 6^th.

Continue to pray that the Lord would keep our car running well without any breakdowns over these mountain roads as well as on our trip down to Manila.

Thank you all once again for taking the time from your busy day to read this update on the Lord’s work here in the mountains of Central Luzon.  May the Lord bless you all for HIS glory.

Pictures March 20, 2012

Update - March 20, 2012

Greetings to you all in that name which is above every name, the name to which one day every knee will bow and every mouth confess that HE is Lord, to the glory of the Father.  What a wonderful day that will be!!   “What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, just to look into His face, this one who saved me by His grace…”

Things here are going very well, for which we give the Lord our thanks.  The weekly studies are moving along nicely and people are encouraged.  The Sunday meetings at the Navy Base assembly are packed out each Sunday morning.  We have run out of chairs for the Sunday School and need to purchase some new ones, what a wonderful problem to have!! 

The new “semester” of Bible school at Navy Base has about 25 who are studying this time around, I think it is the largest group since we started these sessions back in 2007.  We are currently studying the prophecies of Daniel and will finish up with that overview this Sunday and begin a look at the Olivet Discourse of our Lord.  It has been an enjoyable study to teach.

There are a few here that are going through some very difficult times of trial and testing.  Much of the suffering that they are enduring is not a result of their own personal sin and failure but that of those around them.  So they are suffering affliction, but are remembering that “….in Faithfulness you have afflicted me” Psalm 119:75.  Please pray that the Lord’s will might be done in the lives of these dear saints.

Joyce remains cancer free, for which we give our Lord praise. She had an ultrasound yesterday since the doctor had some concerns but it showed no irregularities and no problems.   It is just one of the many blessings that He allows us to enjoy.  My last tests have shown that all systems are go.  My heart is doing well, my body is tolerating all the drugs without a problem and there are no irregularities, again we give the Lord our praise for His unmerited kindness to us.

We will be returning to Kayapa next month to hold a DVBS program, have a film showing, hold some studies and do some visiting, Lord willing.  Please keep this new venture in your prayers.  We pray for the salvation of souls and the eventual beginning of a new assembly in this region as the Lord leads and allows.

Thank you all so very much for your prayers.  He is a wonderful God to serve!

Update February 25, 2012

Greetings to you all from Baguio, it is so nice to be home.  I was quite surprised this morning when I checked my web site and noticed that I had not sent out an update since the end of December.  Things have been a bit hectic these last weeks and the time has just flown by.   
We spent last week in Manila while I taught at Special Studies at the Bible school in Malolos.  We are thankful to the Lord that the time seemed to be quite profitable.  There were some good times of discussion and questions regarding families and their responsibilities in the local church as well as the responsibilities of fathers and mothers in the discipline and raising of children in the home.  We pray that the lessons learned my have a positive impact on the biological families as well as on the local church families as the principles learned are applied.

Our car made the trip down and back, but there still are some more serious issues that need to be addressed.  Old Betsy, as she is fondly called, is in need of some rehab.  She has been a real work horse for us but she is beginning to show her age.  There are some reoccurring issues that need to be resolved and some new ones that came up during our time in Manila. We are so very thankful to the Lord that we were able to nurse her back home.  This week she will go back into the shop to have some things worked on.  Some things must be repaired before we can register her again in June or she will not pass inspection. Please be praying.  This car is so much depended on for ministry and right now my confidence level in her reliability is fading.  Please pray that the Lord would give us wisdom as to what our next steps should be. 

This week I will be completing final preparations for the next Bible school session that will begin next Sunday (March 4) at the Navy Base assembly.   I will be preparing the student notebooks, printing all the handouts and outlines as well as finishing up my personal notes and reviewing all the material for this semester.  We will be taking up Eschatology this time around and it should be a challenging subject for all.  I am looking forward to teaching it.  Please be praying that this would be a profitable time for all.

This week we get back to our regular schedule of Bible studies and meetings.  Sunday we are at Navy Base, next Sunday we will be down in Baguio Gold in the morning.  We will have home Bible studies on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday these next few weeks with a study also on Wednesday nights at the chapel.  Continue to pray for the continued effectiveness of these studies.  We desire to see those who attend these studies in regular fellowship at the assembly once they have received the Lord as Savior.  We have been seeing some good fruit in the lives of many, and are thankful to the Lord.

            Thank you all for your prayers.