Saturday, 07 September 2013

“Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” –Matthew 14:14, NLT


To have compassion is to have a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune , accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.  Jesus is the epitome of compassion and as His follower, we are to go where people are hurting and make a difference.  People have needs and most of what they need boils down to One Source—Jesus.  He is full of mercy and He never runs out.  The problem is not everybody is aware of that.  Our mission is to bring this Hope to them.  Step away from your comfort zone and reach out to those who need to hear about His love. 

A team of women with a heart to minister troop to Tanqui.

Cheryl Bartolome speaks hope and life to Nanay Delia, a cancer patient.

Matthew 10:8 says, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”

Never underestimate the power of prayer.  

Every Tuesday night at 7:15 p.m., prayer warriors troop to the SFCC Worship Hall to lift up prayer concerns and simply worship. Prayer is talking to God.  In building any relationship, conversation is a very important factor. Therefore, constantly talking to God will build  our dependence on Him, His power, and His wisdom.  Significant changes and answers to prayers have revolutionized and increased the growth of the church in every area.  Sicknesses have been healed, families and broken relationships have been restored, burdens have been lifted, strongholds have been torn down, and  victory is proclaimed as the prayer continues.  In the life of a believer, the best battle stance is on one’s knees.  

So put the full armor on and fight from victory! (Ephesians 6:10:18)

The 90-Day Challenger started with a bang and ended with a bigger bang.  Everyone was encouraged to learn new things and improve themselves.  The Challenge booklet holds 12 Categories of Growth.  In the Bible-reading Challenge, Dada Raquepo shares that she found it hard at first to get into the groove of reading the entire New Testament.  She developed a system of reading 5 to 7 chapters per day.  Sticking to her system, she was able to read the entire New Testament days before the 90-Day Challenge ended!  In the Capacity Building category, Julie Madriaga took it to heart to finally learn how to ride a bike at the age of 22! Dada asked her friends to coach her to dance the waltz and finally had enough courage to get up and dance at a Rotary function.  Ces Myra Mabalot resolved to learn how to cook this year and she went a level further by covering the Health Challenge category.  She learned to cook healthy veggie dishes and started running to keep fit.  Dhang Bumachi started a new ministry—the True Love Waits Campaign—a radical campaign teaching about the  revolutionary principles of true love.  Right now, her campaign is touching hundreds of young lives as the team goes from campus to campus sharing Bible-based principles on purity and waiting for the right time. Tessie Marcelino and a lot of regular attendees are seriously evangelizing and winning souls.   A lot of young working adults have opened a savings account in answer to the Finances challenge. Church attendance, another category, has greatly improved, and more and more guests are being invited and won for Christ.  Leaders are rising and increasing in numbers as they eagerly undergo training in the Pre-encounter, Encounter, and Post-encounter classes.  

It was a successful campaign that ended last Sunday, September 15.  But the learning does not end there. There is still more to learn, and definitely lots of room for more growth.  This is just the beginning.  

They are never called to do missions. Nobody persuaded them or cajoled them to do it. They volunteered. They wanted to  obey Christ’s clear command to ‘go’ to places where Christ is still unknown and un-revered.  Mission is not exactly a ‘calling’.  It is not exclusive to those who hear a ‘special call’ from God.   It is a desire that God puts in one’s heart to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mk.16:15)   It is a desire to share one’s joy in discovering the Truth and the Sole Source of Hope. 
One can never go wrong in obeying what God tells you to do.  It’s never that complicated. Just lean on His wisdom to lead you where He wants you to harvest.  
All you have to do is make a decision to ‘go’. He will take care of the divine appointments.  

 Sharing God’s love to the ends of the earth

Every Sunday at 2:30 in the afternoon, volunteer missionaries gather at  San Fernando Christian Community  to worship and pray before they go out into various destinations.

Destination: Sulnit

At Sulnit, children are receiving the wonderful news that Jesus loves them.

It’s been more than a month since the True Love Waits Campaign has started and already the campuses are abuzz  with the tagline.  The practical, bible-based teachings, personal testimonies, and basic principles on maintaining purity before marriage has created such an impact on the young ones.  The crowds attending the campaign seminars have increased. There is also lot of positive feedback.  Lorena Jane Taeza, a junior at  DMMMSU-CAM, said that she was greatly inspired and did not regret attending the seminar.  “Di na po sana kami a-attend  pero na-curious kami.  Yung iba nga po gutom na pero okay lang kasi nakakabusog naman yung napakinggan namin,”  she quipped.  Matthew 4:4 states that,  ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  Hunger is not only a physical need.  More than that, there is a hunger for the Truth. San Fernando Christian Community aims to fill that need.  

It was a jam-packed Wednesday.  No amount of rain could stop God’s divine appointment with souls.  At 8 in the morning, the Moral Recovery Program Team (MRP) hied off to the PNP 1 station to hold yet another seminar, this time on financial management.  The title is “How to Be Rich with What You Already Have”.  

Wealth is relative.  You could be making a lot of money and yet still feel discontent.You could be earning a minimal amount and yet feel that all your needs are being met.  Make the decision to involve God in your finances and recognize that He is the provider of everything you need.  He is on your side.  He does not desire anyone to experience lack.  He loves you too much.  

The PNP participants reciting the new motto, “Give to God the first and the best and He will make sure the rest will be blessed.  “

 The PNP attendees listen with interest on the topic

 Biblical-based tips on how to manage your finances

 The PNP take valuable notes

 Pastor Time presents his teaching with a very interesting visual aid


Sharing their own personal testimony regarding their financial management

 The Moral Recovery Program Team

Wednesday, 21 August 2013 

San Fernando Christian Community storms the Philippine National Police Regional Office 1, the relentless rain and flood notwithstanding.  In the morning, a marriage-enrichment seminar was held.  There was a film-viewing of the movie, “Fireproof”.  This movie is about a marriage falling apart and how it was saved by adding the most important element in it—God.  The crowd, comprising mostly of married people, were moved to tears.  More importantly, they realized that God should be at the center of their marriage. Tim Warden gave a short  wrap-up afterwards.  

In the afternoon, another seminar, ‘Soul Spa: : Interpersonal Communication Skills’, was held. The participants were asked to answer the People Puzzle survey-a personal assessment tool used to improve work productivity, teamwork, and communication.  This survey helped each one discover their behavioral differences and how they can adjust to each unique personality.They also discovered that strengths should be maximized, and weaknesses should be minimized.  This also removed the focus to self and instead, it moved each one to be more concerned about the needs and interests of others.  Philippians 2:3-4 instructs us to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit”.  It goes on to say to “consider others better than yourselves.” In the group discussion that followed, it was clear that everyone was enlightened by this activity.  Their responses held great promise and resolve to treat others better, considering each other’s personality quirks.  In the end, it was established that only by surrendering our weakness to God can change be achieved.  So many lives were changed during the course of that one afternoon.  It would not have happened without God’s amazing grace.  

To God be the glory!  

Sunday, August 18, 2013 

San Fernando Christian Community loves guests.  They are given the ‘royal treatment’ and are served both physically and spiritually.  The 2013 theme, “Save Souls & Make Disciples” is being implemented to its maximum level.   Every soul counts.  Mark 16:15 says , ” preach the gospel to all creation.”  Therefore, no soul leaves without being touched by the Word of God.