San Fernando Champions Community

Author: Tim Warden

  • Next Step: Knowing Jesus More (Team Righteous' SOL 1 Team Project)

    San Fernando Christian Community has an in-house training called PEPSOL Academy. PEPSOL stands for Pre-encounter, Encounter, Post-encounter, and School of Leaders. It is all about encountering God, experiencing His love and power, equipping a believer for a deeper Christian foundation, making him a champion in life. 

    As part of the PEPSOL curriculum, the Team Righteous conducted an eat-all-you-can event at Edible Edz, inviting people they have ministered to during the Logos Hope Ambassador Program at the recent docking of MV Logos Hope ship. The other invites were from the La Union National High School. 
    Joy Cruz shared how much God loves mankind, sacrificing His only begotten Son to save the world from the wages of sin.  Mark Navarro showed a video showing the depth of God’s love for us. Everyone who attended was deeply moved. The participants gladly accepted the invite to experience community at the SFCC Champion Center. Truly God moves as we allow Him to use us to display His glory. 

    Fellowshipping over food. It’s also a good way to relax and get to know each other. 
    Joy Cruz shared how much God loves mankind, sacrificing His only begotten Son to save the world from the wages of sin.


    Mark Navarro showed a video showing the depth of God’s love for us. Everyone who attended was deeply moved. 
    Jenny Mayo sharing her testimony of how Jesus changed her life.

    The happy organizers and participants—creating a lasting bond because of Jesus. 


  • Barkada Food Trip: A School of Leaders 1 Team Project


    Team Frontier, a group of San Fernando Christian Community leaders (undergoing the School of Leaders 1 Training) hosted an event called “Barkada Food Trip” at Ganaden’s Nook, a beach resort along the famous San Juan surfing strip.
    The activity is an opportunity to reach out to people and lead them on an exciting journey of life and salvation.  And what better way to start it with than food. The bonding was facilitated through a cook fest. In helping one another grill and prepare the food, the participants and the organizers got to know each other better. It was a perfect way to unwind. One participant mentioned that he has not been out of his school-to-boarding house routine for the longest time. One even celebrated his birthday at the event.
    When the food was ready, there was a preliminary sharing from each of the group members. God’s love and His free gift of salvation was shared thru personal testimonies & the sharing of Bible verses. The group was led to pray and to accept Jesus into their hearts. It was befitting then that afterwards, they feasted on the food they prepared together. The ‘breaking of bread’ gave more opportunity for them to get to know each other on a deeper level.  It also gave more opportunity for the organizers to share more of God’s goodness.
    After the feast, there were games and some opted to take a dip in the sea. It was the perfect getaway, which was maximized by bringing in God as the major factor. After that, the group could not bring the day to an end. They headed to SFCC to attend that night’s Soaking, a night of praise & worship.

    What a way to spend the day just reflecting on God’s awesome love and kindness!

    Getting to know each other



    Using food as a common interest, the organizers were able to break the ice through the concept of teamwork.
    Sharing was done before the partaking of the food.


    Eating together paved the way for more opportunity to share God’s goodness. 
    Team Frontier offers not just physical food, but food for the soul.

  • SFCC Champion Kids

     At San Fernando Christian Community, children are given the utmost importance. Every week, children from all over San Fernando City are fetched at the City Plaza so that they can attend events and services at the center. At the center, the children are loved on in different ways. Hugs and high fives greet them as they step into the premises. Love baths are given to kids who need them. They are given a clean change of clothes and the necessary steps for hygiene (trimming their nails, dressing their wounds, getting rid of lice) are administered to them by happy volunteers. 


    The Champion Kids Team holds great programs and events for children. The object is to give them a foundation for spiritual growth. The focus is helping kids grow in the knowledge of God.  

    SFCC wants to see children secure in Jesus’ love and living out their faith. Age is never an issue in understanding who Jesus is!

    The Champion Kids’ Nursery is for children from 0 to 1 year old. The nursery is a nurturing, loving environment, where children are introduced to God’s love for them through play, songs, and stories. The Champion Kids’ Nursery is fully air-conditioned, sanitized, and complete with a flat screen tv so that the nursing mothers can also listen to the service.

    The Champion Kids Worship Hall is divided into the following age groups: 2-5 year olds stay in the Joshua Room. 6-8  year olds stay in the Kids’ Hallway, and the 9-12 year olds stay at the Kid’s Hall


    The Champion Kids Team has fun and age appropriate activities where the use of music, storytelling, drama, crafts, and games help the children develop their relationship with God.  Each  child will learn about how much Jesus loves them, what Jesus has done for them, how to understand God’s Word, and how to communicate with God.  
    “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)  
    During the Sunday service’s 1st 5 minutes, the kids recite their memory verses in front of a very impressed congregation.

    Champion Kids’ Team Head, Bambi Warden, is very passionate about children. Her love and patience for each one of them is an inspiration.


    At the center, the children are loved on in different ways.

    Francis Munar is just one of the many willing volunteers serving in the Kid’s Ministry. He successfully juggles his schedule between ministry and college homework. 
    Maximum participation at the Kids’ Hall. Children are like sponges. It is our responsibility that they absorb the Truth.
    The Champion Kids’ Nursery: nursing mommies can feed their young in private and at the same time enjoy the service via a live feed. Nursery helpers are present to help mothers concentrate on listening to the Word. 
    The Joshua Room is for children ages 2 to 5. 
    A young volunteer cradles a child as the mom attends the service at the Worship Hall. 

    Treating them as VIPs: Uncle Rudy makes sure that all kids are safely inside the service shuttle. 
    Toothless grins, grateful hugs, and seeing them grow in the knowledge of Jesus—that is reward enough. 
    Let kids be kids. 

    All photos by Photobyjoy
    For more photos, click Our Filipino Family
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  • Child Evangelism Fellowship

    The San Fernando Christian Community recently partnered with CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship), a Bible-centered, worldwide organization whose purpose is to share Jesus’ love to young boys and girls, disciple them in the Word, and establish them in a Bible-believing church. The first outreach was in Santiago Norte Elementary School.  The first week, there was an open air sharing at the school’s playground. Jonathan Endencia did the sharing while the SFCC volunteers went from classroom to classroom to distribute free booklets to each of the students.  The following week, the SFCC volunteers taught the first lesson during the allotted time given to them. 
    In the organization’s website, it says that if a person is presented with the Gospel message before the age of 14, they are 80% more likely to trust Jesus as Savior.  
    Like the Child Evangelism Fellowship, we are committed to reach and disciple as many people as possible. And children are people, too. 

    Jonathan Endencia leads the Santiago Norte Elementary School pupils to a prayer 

    A student eagerly browses the free booklet. 

    It takes so little to put smiles on their faces. 

    The SFCC volunteers with the school principal and staff

    Learning about Jesus is never boring. 

    The children’s excitement cannot be concealed. 

    Teach them to sing life-giving songs.
    Roseann strongly believes that even the little ones have the right to know who Jesus is and what He has done for them. 

    A child learns to recite a memory verse from the Bible.

  • PEPSOL GRADUATION (Sep. 13, 2015)

    Sunday
    September 13, 2015

    “Leadership is not exclusive for the wise, or for the wealthy,” says Pastor Tim Warden.  “Leadership is for every child of God! You are are salt of the earth!” This was received with a resounding applause and amens from the crowd who was there to witness the latest PEPSOL Graduation. PEPSOL stands for Pre-encounter, Encounter, Post-encounter, and School of Leaders.  This is a series of lessons designed to upgrade the believer’s level in terms of a deeper relationship, understanding, and knowledge of Jesus.  

    Jefferson Flores, a graduate of Pre-encounter Kids, brought the entire assembly to tears with his testimony.  In front of a full house, he admitted to bullying a classmate. But with tears in his eyes, he admitted that he realized how wrong it was. “Sa tulong ni Hesus, gagawa ako ng tama at hihingi ako ng tawad sa kaniya.” (“With Jesus’ help, I will do what’s right and ask for His forgiveness.”) 

    Walter Icalla, this Post-encounter batch’s top achiever exclaims, “SFCC is a real house of God. You can’t help but grow! I have received a decade’s worth of learning in just 10 days.” The Post-encounter was held for 10 Sundays at SFCC. He became self-dependent at an early age, driven by the desire to escape poverty.  “But the more I focused on myself, the more I failed.  When I became the Walter who was God-dependent, I experienced rest. I have no more fear and I am just resting in God’s love.” 
    These are just a few of the amazing testimonies of those undergoing the PEPSOL training.  At SFCC, a leader is a perpetual learner. 

    “Leadership is for every child of God! You are are salt of the earth!”
    Young Jefferson renewed his mind because of what he learned at the Pre-encounter Kids. 
    From Walter-dependent to God-dependent: resting in God’s grace. 

    Some of this batch’s happy graduates

  • Jeep Ni God

    Under the School of Leaders 1 Training, the Team Y.A.P. (Young and Positive) came up with an awesome project aptly titled, “Jeep Ni God”.  The idea is to offer free jeepney rides to commuters and during the trip, the team would share the Good News of salvation.  There were about 30 souls saved during the 5 back and forth trips from the city proper to Barangay Lingsat. Someone from the group also brought a guitar and ministered to the commuters via songs. 

    The passengers were all pleasantly surprised when the announcement came that the ride was for free. Their usual comment was, “It’s not everyday that you get a free treat.” Add to that they were able to hear about God’s immense love for them. Josh Bartolome, one of the Gospel sharers, disclosed that there was an intense sense of fulfillment on his part. “The people were so happy about a measly free ride. To think that it only costs P8.00 from the city proper to Lingsat, not to mention the student discount.  It made me realize that to people who so are hungry for love, so little means so much.”


    Team Y.A.P. won for best project during the recently concluded PEPSOL graduation at the SFCC Worship Hall. “We connected the free ride to the love that we receive from God—it is free,” explains Jingo, the group’s team leader.  

    Mary Ann leads the passengers in praying to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. 

    Team leader, Jingo, shares about the free gift of salvation.
    The passengers were pleasantly surprised about the free trip. 
    Team Y.A.P. (Young and Positive): Offering much more than just a free ride. 

    Team Y.A.P. gets recognition for Best School of Leaders 1 Team Project

  • In His Presence, There is Power

    September 5, 2015
    Saturday

    “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, ESV) 

    “He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3)”. And when His presence is there, power is there.  Every first Saturday of the month, San Fernando Christian Community holds a night of praise & worship. It’s called ‘Soaking’ because people literally soak in His majestic presence for 2 hours. There is singing, music playing, dancing, and victorious shouting. And why not? When there is light, darkness flees. Wounds and sicknesses are  healed. Anger and feelings of resentment are flushed out. Problems are given solutions. And peace takes residence in every heart.  

    Justin Miranda had been suffering from  intermittent high fever for a week. Add to that he was experiencing intense headaches and skin rashes, all symptomatic of the much-feared dengue.  In fact, on the afternoon before Soaking, he was bed-ridden, debilitated by his condition. But inspite of how bad he felt, he chose to go to the Soaking and while worshipping, he experienced instant healing. The headache, the rashes, and the fever just went away, and he was able to enjoy the rest of that evening worshipping and praising God.

    Truly, God is faithful. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. 
    Radical worshiper: Justin Miranda experienced radical healing during Soaking, a night of 
    praise & worship. 

    The cry of everyone’s heart: “Freedom!” 

    Tim Warden encourages the congregation to pray BIG prayers. 

    All hands were lifted up in surrender and adoration to the King of Kings. It was truly a remarkable worship experience! 





  • Water Baptism, Aug. 30, 2015

    August 30, 2015 (Sunday) 

    Water Baptism provides a wonderful opportunity to testify about God’s marvelous work in our lives. It is clearly for those who have entered a relationship with Jesus. 

    At the last weekend of the month, it being Baptism Sunday, there were 7 people who eagerly underwent the ceremony. Among them were bestfriends, Shalika and Chinky.  

    Shalika grew up in a dysfunctional home. This eventually led to the breakup of her parents.  Now,she lives alone but not lonely. “I fell in love with Jesus,” narrates Shalika. “I also fell in love with the church, with the people of SFCC.”  What really struck her when she first entered SFCC was the genuine warmth and love emanating from the people.  At SFCC, she found a new family. “But it is Jesus Who taught me to embrace and face life with Him, with genuine, well-meaning friends as bonus.”  Unmindful of her present situation, she continues to live with a new-found purpose, knowing that Jesus is with her. 


    Chinky never met her dad and her mom left her when she was two-weeks old. Left to fend for young Chinky, her mom went to work overseas.  Meanwhile, Chinky was raised by her loving grandparents. 

    Chinky decided to undergo baptism for 3 main reasons.  First, as a proof that her sins are washed away. Being submerged underwater physically reminded her that she has been made clean by the blood of Jesus.  “I am confident now that Jesus loves me no matter what.” Second, she wants her baptism to serve as a reminder that she has been fully forgiven, and that her sins are paid in full. And third, she considers it as her new beginning. “I have been reborn. I have been made new.”


    Changed lives, changes perspectives. This is what happens when Jesus becomes a part of one’s life. The situation may not change, but the outlook is different. It is just a matter of looking at things through the lens of the cross. 

    Saying a prayer before stepping out into the water.
    Overwhelmed: “It is Jesus Who taught me to embrace and face life with Him, with genuine, well-meaning friends as bonus,” exclaims Shalika. 
    Chinky shares her new found security in Jesus: “I am confident now that Jesus loves me no matter what.” 
    The happy group of newly-baptized people and their well-wishers. 





  • Encounter God Retreat (Aug. 21-22, 2015)

    “All the lonely people, where do they all come from?” 

    This is a line from an old song which points out that every person on earth is broken.  There may be different levels of brokenness, but broken just the same. Here are a few examples: 

    A wife left to fend for her two kids recently heard that her estranged husband is siring a child with another woman. 

    A middle child is hurting because she can’t seem to please her parents no matter how good she performs. 

    A young man is reeling from the effects of cyber-bullying.

    A young woman never saw her real father and was abandoned by her mother at a young age.

    A young woman who is struggling to forgive herself. 

    These are real people with varying degrees of hurts.  The pain is real. It cannot be erased, or so we think.  Thank God that He desires to heal us.  He wants us to realize that Jesus’ death on the cross was intended to restore, to heal, and to mend everything that is broken.  With Jesus, there is a change so great that the past becomes unrecognizable. 

    After the 2-day Encounter God Retreat,  almost all of the participants could not wait to stand up and testify about the breakthrough that they have experienced when they allowed God to move in their lives.  The once bitter tears were replaced by joyful ones. “Everything started to make sense,” shared Daryl, one of the participants.  

    The most striking revelation for them was the truth that they are already forgiven. Because of that, it became easy for them to forgive and let go of all the hurts, pain, and bitterness that had taken root in their hearts.  

    Anyone who encounters God will never be the same again. 

    Tim Warden never tires of sharing the love of Jesus to those who have yet to hear about it. 
    Sweetly broken
    His presence was palpable. There was not a dry eye in the room. 

    Jesus’ victory over death and sin will forever be celebrated. It is finished! 
    This batch of Encounter participants will never be the same again. 

  • FORMING GOOD AND GODLY HABITS

    Habits are things we learn through repetition and eventually do either unconsciously or with very little effort. First we form habits and then they form us. It says a lot about our character. We are what we repeatedly do.  Habits are not innate. We have a choice in the matter.  
    Sadulawit, Inc. and the Rotary Club of Metro San Fernando joined together to help the students of La Union National High School upgrade themselves in this area. They came up with a 3-hour program centering on developing good habits in the use of public bathrooms. It actually starts with the little things. With the little things, a whole world of difference can be made (see Luke 16:10). According to the “Keystone Habit“, forming just one (1) good habit can eliminate at least 6 (six) bad habits that one has.
    Romans 12:21 says to ‘overcome evil with good’. With this Biblical principle, the organizers are positive that good habits have the power to overcome bad habits.

    There was great excitement among the students even at the onset of the event. 

    The attendance was overwhelming. 

    The Rotary Club of Metro San Fernando 


    Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable. It was heartbreaking to see that in less than a few weeks after the comfort rooms were built, the ceiling was smashed in for no apparent reason. 
    We are what we repeatedly do.  Habits are not innate. We have a choice in the matter. &
    nbsp;
    In this skit, the Sadulawit actors depicted that even a caveman can be taught good habits. The knowledge and information is there. The application is a choice.

    Joana composed a special song with the title, “C.R. Pag-ingatan”.  The refrain goes, “Sabi ng Diyos maging excellent, kung ano ang iyong gawa, YUN KA! Gawin mo sa iba kung ano ang gusto mong mangyari sa iyo.”
    The ribbon cutting signaling the turnover of the new comfort room donated by the Rotary Club & Sadulawit to the La Union National High School students. 
    Dedicating the new comfort rooms. 
    LUNHS Principal Madeleine Corpuz expresses her gratitude.