Category: Uncategorized

  • Sharing God's Word

    Sharing God’s Word does not have to be mechanical or technical.  It does not follow a standard method.  It is also not plausible to say that one method is the most effective. The important ingredient is your desire to share your faith.  It is not about mastery, but it is about commitment.  That is the first step.  

    God does wonders to an available, willing heart.  1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”  If anyone cared to notice, the Bible did not post a list of prerequisites in order to be eligible to fulfill the great commission.  (Matt. 28:18-20) There are no age prerequisites, no gender preferences, and definitely no I.Q. prerequisites.  Anyone who feels ill-equipped to speak, or has terrible people skills will simply have to trust that God will take their willingness and do the impossible.  We have all the senses (sight, hearing, etc.) to be made aware that the harvest is great and that there is a great demand for workers.  The question is are you willing to respond to the call? Are you willing to not trust in your own abilities and to put your trust in God alone? 



    Age does not matter.  God sees the heart. =)

     (Photos by : Hazel Joice Paras)
  • Pre-encounter Classes Continue to Change Lives

    Already on its 2nd week, the pre-encounter participants grow more and more excited as the lessons become more exciting and more challenging.  Volunteers willingly sacrifice their Sunday afternoons to becoming guides and facilitators.  The objective is  to help the new believer begin his new life in Christ and prepare him for a life-changing encounter with God at the Encounter Weekend. “Naliwanagan ako. Gumaan ang pakiramdam ko.  Hindi pala kailangang pagtrabahuan ang salvation.  Kailangan lang tanggapin,” Christian Cruz, a pre-encounter student,  declares.  “Lumakas ang loob ko sa paglapit sa Diyos because of grace.”  

    Imee Sanchez speaks about “The New Birth” 
       

  • Extreme Saturday Jam at San Fernando Christian Community

    Sat. Jammers intent on winning during an ice breaker. 

    Extreme Saturday Jam is a high-energy weekend service that is contemporary and fit to the youth  and to the “young at heart”.  It starts with an ice breaker (always fun) and an expressive worship celebration. This is followed by a practical teaching that is relevant and applicable to one’s life.  The atmosphere is safe, positive, and encouraging.  People exude warmth and a friendly vibe is in the air.

    After the service, VIPs or those who attended for the first time will get a gift from the church.  They will also have a chance to ask any questions or hear more about who we are during the VIP Time. Free merienda is offered to everyone. 


    Free “Block Courses” offer training in various musical instruments, singing, sound & stage technicals, and creative arts.  Many young lives have enjoyed life-changing experiences and have grown to the next level of faith.  They are on their way to realizing God’s purpose in their lives.

    Extreme Saturday Jam is every Saturday at 10 am to 12 noon. 

    An expressive worship celebration

    Tim Warden shares practical teaching that is relevant and applicable to one’s life. 


  • Pre-encounter—A Huge Turnout

    22 September 2013 (Sunday)

    From a measly headcount of 4 registrants, the pre-encounter participants ballooned to a total of 82 in a matter of days! Truly, God is moving to consolidate the church and to make each member not just a member but as a leader and a game-changer.  The network and cell group leaders were really inspired to do whatever it takes to get everyone in their network to join the pre-encounter.  Eager participants were also proactive and came up with ways to produce the required registration fee.  R-jay dela Cruz’s network sold ‘taho’ in between the Sunday services.  Joana Imperial’s network sold ‘lumpia’. Those who could afford it paid for their network members.  It was such an encouraging and festive atmosphere that Sunday.   Victory is evident as the participants attended their first lesson that will truly change their lives.  Nobody who has ever gone through an encounter with God will ever be the same again.


    ‘Taho for a Cause’—R-jay dela Cruz’s network raised enough funds to accomodate all the participants in their network.

    Praise and Worship—already you can feel the victory in the lives of the participants.
     Bambi Warden makes the roll call. 

     Ms Ces Myra Mabalot talked about ‘The 4 Wonderful Opportunities’. 
    Group discussion: A lot of the leaders happily volunteered as facilitators.  It was truly a fruitful Sunday!

  • Display Christ's Compassion

    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.”

  • The Power of Prayer

    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)







    “…if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19)





    “16… Rejoice always, 17 pray continually…” (1 Thess. 5:16-17)



  • The End of the 90-Day Challenge


    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.  


    The 90-Day Challengers 

    Julie Madriaga finally learns how to ride on two wheels


    Dada Raquepo finished reading the entire New Testament within 90 days! Nothing is impossible! 

    The body is a temple.
     Ces Myra Mabalot is running to keep a fit and healthy lifestyle.  


    The birth of a new campaign—True Love Waits (spearheaded by Dhang Bumachi) invades the campuses—bringing the new category of ‘cool’  to the young ones. 


    Pre-encounter, Encounter, and Post-encounter training classes get everyone to a new level.  Every member is a leader.

  • Making a Difference


    Friday, September 13, 2013 
    Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Seminar

    The San Fernando Christian Community Moral Recovery Program Team was invited by the Rotary Club of San Fernando City to conduct a seminar on teenage pregnancy and its prevention.  It was held at the San Agustin Elementary School.  There were approximately 80  young and expectant mothers who attended.  The goal is to disseminate vital information on the repercussions of bearing a child too soon.  For the single moms, Vikki Cayago shared her testimony on how she survived the stigma of being a single mother and how God made all things work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28)   Tim Warden also shared a Word of encouragement to the women while the Worship Team encouraged the young mothers about the importance of waiting patiently for the right time.  




    Vikki Cayago shares how God took her wrong choices and turned things around.

     

    Tim Warden shares the advantages of quality marriage, which means God is at the center. 


     The SFCC Worship Team sings “Huwag Na Muna Ngayon”—a song about waiting on the Lord for His perfect time. 
    The young, expectant, and some single mothers who attended the seminar 

      The Rotarians distributing snacks to the young mothers and their children.

  • The Heart to Do Missions

    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.

    Destination: Catbangen 1
    Reaching into homes and helping them understand the privilege to pray and talk to God



    Destination: Ilocanos 
    It’s never boring to do missions.  It’s always a privilege to make them feel loved.


    Destination: Namtutan

    Memory verse in action: “Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”  (John 14:6)
     “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who 


    brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good 

    news of happiness, who publishes salvation.” (Isaiah 52:7)

  • True Love Waits Campaign: Setting a Trend Among the Young Ones

    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.  



     Rizze facilitates the ice breaker

    The ice breaker winner gets a free True Love Waits music cd 

    Serenading the DMMMSU-CAM crowd

    Mark Henry shares his personal testimony:  “God has a wonderful plan for your future marriage.  He does not want it stained and tainted with your wrong choices”

    Rhudalyn Bumachi shares that “True Love” is not found in man, education, money, etc. It is found in Jesus alone.
    Pastor Tim presents bible-based principles on waiting for the right time.