Last week, a powerful message was delivered. Eyes were opened, minds were transformed, and breakthroughs took place as everyone heard the Good News about their real identity in Christ. After the services, people were still talking about it. Here is a video that you can play to remind yourself of who you really are. This is the real YOU. Meet the real YOU and say, “Nice to meet ME.”
Author: Tim Warden
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Leaders' Appreciation Night
July 26, 2015 (Sun.)
At SFCC, all wins (big or small ) are celebrated in a big way. To mark the end of half a year, Pastor Tim and his wife, Bambi surprised the Primary and the 144-level leaders with a fun get-together. The event was riddled with fun and games, testimonies and affirmations. There were also surprise tokens for networks and individuals who worked hard at winning souls since the beginning of the year. It became a celebration of the great harvest that God has promised. Suffice it to say that the food was also overflowing. What transpired that night was not just a party. It was a recharging of the soul and a much-needed affirmation that working for the Lord is never in vain. Pastor shared his heart and assured everyone that above all, he will back each one with prayers, be everyone’s number one cheerleader, and friend. Expect the leaders to be all fired up and ready to take on new challenges.
Here’s to a more bountiful harvest for the 2nd half of 2015!
Tim Warden shares his heart and appreciation to the leaders.
Surprise tokens were given to those who ran the vision. 
Words of affirmation were overflowing that night. Needless to say, the leaders were recharged. 
Hair down and laughing their hearts out. 
Pray for one another. Build each other up. 
So hip to be square: capping the night off was a square dance for all. -
On Board the Logos Hope
Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating book fair, has docked on San Fernando City shores once again. In a sleepy town where things like these rarely happen, it created quite a stir. Folks, both local and from nearby towns, queued up to get a chance to be on board.
Their publicly accessible deck showcases a bookstore featuring over 5,000 different titles of educational and Christian books. The International Cafe offers snacks and drinks. There is also a visual presentation called “The Journey of Life” which is based on the story of “The Prodigal Son”.
San Fernando Christian Community‘s participation falls under the Logos Hope Ambassador Program or LHAP. The LHAP provides a platform for local churches to come on board, reach out, and share the Gospel to local people. SFCC sent 59 ambassadors. Everyday, people who troop to the Logos Hope ship get a chance to hear the Gospel and know Jesus on a more personal level.
With souls listed as one of SFCC’s primary core values, it is already innate for members to fulfill what is said on Matthew 28:19 to “go and make disciples of all the nations”. For each day that the Logos Hope is here, and as long as there are willing hearts to go out of their way to share the Gospel, there will be souls saved.
God is not interested in your performance or your achievements. He is simply interested in you. At the end of the day, all that matters is you—that precious life that has been salvaged from imminent destruction. One soul saved is worth more than all the gold in the world. That is why the Bible says, “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:7)
Therefore, grab every open door to share His love.Joseph Collado is one of the young, cool kids who never really took His walk with God seriously until He encountered God through an Encounter God Retreat. Now he has this to say: “I never really expected my life to be like this. I never expected “ME” sharing the Word of God. Before I thought it was ‘baduy’ (unhip or uncool), but when you experience the love of God, you can’t help but to share it to everybody. You love because you feel loved, and when you feel loved, you give. That’s why I joined the Ambassador Program. It was nerve-wracking having to speak to people you just met. But there is great joy in sharing that the Lord is not angry at us. Instead, He is patiently & lovingly waiting for us to come to Him.”
Souls is one of the main core values of SFCC. 
Irhea takes the Logos Hope visitors on a meaningful tour of “The Journey of Life” 
Joseph leads a couple into a prayer of acceptance. 
Representing Jesus 
Let the little children come unto Him. Even children understand the depth of God’s love. 
Using the handy, no fuss hand signals, Vikki and Saem shared the Good News to a mother and daughter. 
God’s love pacifies even the most restless of young souls. 
Communicating God’s love in every way -
Building With Excellence: Building Solid Foundations
Because of the growing number of church attenders, there is also a growing demand not only for space but for facilities. Of late, the SFCC Building & Facilities Team is putting up a bigger comfort room to accommodate everyone’s pressing needs. The structure is about 60% done. It still needs a lot of work, and more importantly, it still needs a lot of materials like tiles, extra toilets, plumbing, and electrical wirings.
Over at the Kids’ Pavilion, the flooring needs to be finished especially now that the rainy season is here. Bricks and other materials are needed.
The Overflow Hall also needs more covering. Last weekend (July 5, 2015), the hall was wet due to strong winds blowing in the rain.
Looking at the bulk of the work list can be a bit overwhelming, but SFCC builds its trust on He who began a good work in us (see Philippians 1:6). He will carry it on to completion.
Extending the roof of the new SFCC comfort rooms 
The Building & Facilities Team relentlessly work around the clock despite the heat & rain. 
There used to be just one stall each for male & female. 
The plumbing requires more materials, and more intricate work. Next comes the electrical wirings. 
A sneak preview of the female bathroom. There will be 4 cubicles instead of just 1. No more long lines and holding it in. -
He Is King Over the Flood / Typhoon Egay
05 July 2015 (Sunday)
It was an unexpected storm that hit San Fernando City last Sunday. Going to the center at an early hour due to an early call time as a volunteer worker has its perks. But it was noticeable that the roads were already devoid of public utility vehicles and, of course, commuters. Still, the people who made it to the Sunday services were blessed with such timely teaching. Whatever it takes, the service must go on—howling winds and deafening, torrential rain notwithstanding. Add to that, the power went out several times. But God’s Word, as the scripture says, stands (see Isaiah 40:8).
After the services, news about the Cabaroan/ Negro bridge has reached us. It was no longer passable. To cut the story short, the SFCC members were stranded for the night. But all things work together for good (Romans 8:28). God allows such things to display His glory. It became a time for bonding, relaxing, and having fellowship with each other. God also sent a ‘good samaritan’ who braved the rains and took several detours to the center to provide the stranded members with piping hot dinner and drinking water.
Storms, floods, and other disasters will be a part of our earthly life. But take heart! Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33).
To date, everyone went home safe and dry the next day. No storm can dampen the spirits of those who keep their eyes on Jesus. He is King over the flood.
The water level started rising early in the morning. 
Most roads and bridges became impassable due to torrential rains. 
Rescue trucks and boats were deployed to help both the stranded and evacuating residents. 
Seeking shelter at SFCC. 
The SFCC courtyard, for once, is unoccupied save for fallen leaves, branches, and other debris.
The stranded SFCC members, workers, and volunteers. They opted to stay the night instead of braving the floods. 
Bonding while doing the dishes together after a sumptuous hot meal brought by a guy with a big heart. 
Pastor and his family also stayed for the night. It’s a wise choice to remain safe. 
Fellowship takes place during meals shared together. -
Sharing the Good News
27 June 2015 (Tue.)
“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15)
That is what God wants us to do. As a believer who has experienced the overwhelming love of God, it is but natural to want to share that experience. At San Fernando Christian Community, every disciple’s heart is to spread the Word and to share God’s love to everyone. To enhance the skills and creativity in sharing the Gospel, an Evangelism Training session was held. And since a disciple is a willing learner, everyone got excited at the thought of gaining new knowledge. Rizze Panit, a radical evangelist, headed the training, which was attended by 52 participants. Armed and ready, the group trooped to the City Plaza to apply what they have recently learned. Right then and there, in a span of less than an hour, 75 people received Jesus in their hearts. I can just imagine the heavens rejoicing.Watch out for more Evangelism Training sessions. Let’s go into all the world!
Rizze headed the training. Her heart is for the lost. 
New creative styles for sharing the Good News 
The disciples trying out the new technique 
The hand signal is a creative way of sharing God’s love to anyone. 
Prayer of acceptance -
A PEPSOL FINISHER'S TESTIMONY
Joby Bang-as is an educator—a high school English teacher from a local private school. He is also a long-time believer. He received Jesus into his life when he was still a high school student. Since then, he became an active youth worker, serving in the worship ministry as a talented musician.
When introduced with the concept of undergoing training to further deepen and widen his faith and his knowledge of the Lord, he felt he no longer needed it. It took him a while to finally enrol. And when he did, he finished at the top of his class/ batch.
The teacher became a student, with God as his Mentor. He humbly admits that he was wrong to think that he already knew everything. Joby now commits to becoming a life-long-learner. He says finishing the Post-encounter lessons gave him a clearer idea of God’s plans for his life. He testifies that he has all the foundation he needs to pass the tests of life. -
Father's Day Celebration at SFCC
“Honor your father…” (Exodus 20:12) With that command comes a promise: “so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
At SFCC, fathers of all shapes, kind, and sizes are greatly revered and honored, not just on this particular day but everyday. We honor their individual style of parenting, the paternal bonds that they have established with their biological, surrogate, and spiritual offsprings, and their influence.
Last Sunday, June 21,SFCC, along with the rest of the world, paid tribute to the dads. It was a time for them to let their hair down and let loose.
The SFCC kids paid tribute to their dads by reciting a poignant poem. 
Knock ’em over: the dads display their bowling skills. 
Singing their hearts out 
Kuya Danny is considered as ‘Tatay ng Bayan’. Many are drawn to him because he acts like a dad to everyone. 
A beautiful portrait of a father and daughter 
Mark Henry is evidently very proud of his dad. 
The dads let their hair (or what’s left of it) down. 
The dads must be crazy. That’s why we love them so much!!! 
Hurrah for the dads who are hands on in raising their kids. =) Click on the facebook link for more photos. -
A Dear Friend, Steve Pegg
Steve Pegg is a missionary from England. He often visits the Philippines at least once a year. He used to live here in the Philippines where he and his lovely wife, Joy, run a prayer room for those who need quiet time with the Lord. They became members of San Fernando Christian Community during that time. “My wife and I found such a sincere welcome not just from Pastor Tim & his wife, Bambi, but also from the congregation.”
Now based in England (their hometown—Tewkesbury) due to health & family reasons, Steve comes a-visiting whenever he can. He holds a huge respect for what Tim and Bambi are doing for the church. “When I come, I come under their authority. I do whatever I can to serve them.”
When asked what motivates him to touch base with SFCC, he answers seeing so many people on fire for God. “I see so many people having their lives changed,” he says. “I see lives transformed by the grace of God and people becoming living witnesses for Jesus.”
He claims that God’s movement is very evident in this church. “When God is moving, it doesn’t really matter what the church structure is or the denomination. I see people volunteer & give themselves fully to the work. Over the time that I’ve been coming, I have seen not just the growth of individuals. I have seen them transition from college to successfully getting employment. Another indication of God’s movement is seeing many new people coming in. The training programs have more & more people being discipled and just basically seeing the people focused on Jesus.”
“The strength of SFCC,” he claims, “lies on the absolute dependence on God’s grace.” He also shares that he has rarely met people who have given so much of themselves to see the church grow than Tim & Bambi. “They have literally laid down their lives.” He comes back from time to time and he sees the change, the growth, and the positive developments.
The church’s unique feature is the huge and diverse patrons from working adults to college age to high school students to even very small children. “The church touches those who have very little chance in life. They come, they hear the Gospel, they learn to live a lifestyle of worship, and they begin to see that there is hope—a future for them.”
“It is also impossible to understand how many lives have been & are impacted. I compare it to sands on the seashore, to the stars in the sky.”
Steve chose to minister to this church. He finds himself drawn to come back. “I’m sure I gain more than what I give,” he says. “To be where God is moving is to benefit from all that He is doing.” He loves being in a church where grace is not just taught but caught. He sees grace lived out in everyday lives—in school, at work, at home, and for the kids, at play.
He also believes in the vision of having a bigger facility and is fervently praying with us. “It’s not just for the glory of having a big church, but it’s for the benefit of the whole community. I think that’s something that touches God’s heart.” He will be absolutely thrilled to see it happen, “even if it means coming to see it with a walking stick,” he laughs.
When he comes for a visit, he rarely comes with a set agenda. “I’m simply your brother, your servant. As much as possible, I will do whatever I am asked to do. I don’t mind painting or doing a little carpentry, guest speaking at cell group meetings, or praying & ministering to individuals.”
As a parting word, he has this to say: “God has one church expressed in different ways in different countries. We are all a part of that one church. We all need to do our part to reap during the harvest, whatever the cost.”
Steve is leaving again to attend to family back in his hometown but really, his spirit and the impact of the nuggets of wisdom he has shared will be imprinted on everyone’s hearts.
Steve as guest speaker during a cell group meeting 
Steve share
s his heart during Praise & Prayer held every Tuesday night at 7:15 pm
Helping put the pieces together: putting up the Champion Kids’ McDonald’s playground 
Steve and his SFCC Family 
Everyone wants an audience with Steve because of his positive viewpoints and his servant heart. -
Youth Sports Fest 2
June 12, 2015 (Fri.)
Due to popular demand, the Youth Sports Festival held its encore last Independence Day. An overwhelming 110 participants registered for the 2 main tournaments: basketball & volleyball. Balls, trophies, free lunches, and prizes came from generous givers who share San Fernando Christian Community‘s heart for the youth. At the gathering after a hearty lunch, there was a chance to share the love of Jesus and many received Jesus into their hearts and lives.
It was very overwhelming to see a lot of support from the SFCC dads who came to lend a helping hand. Good job to the organizers & volunteers!
c
