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Last Tuesday, January 20th, San Fernando Christian Community was blessed to have David Beebout as special guest speaker during Praise & Prayer. 

David Beebout has been running God’s vision since 2003. He has traveled to different places around the world spreading the love of Jesus with an enthusiasm that is very infectious. Hearing him talk about God’s  goodness inspires and revives even the faintest of hearts. Here is a guy who really has experienced God’s awesomeness. The good thing about him is that he wants everyone to have a taste  of what he is enjoying and experiencing. He is a funny guy with a big heart. 

“Iron sharpens iron! (Prov. 27:17)”, David shares. “Other people help you develop your character.”   At Praise and Prayer, we celebrate wins and victories. “Rejoice with those who rejoice,” according to Romans 12:15.

Tita Mila shares her testimony of supernatural healing after previously being admitted at the hospital for hypertension. “Even small children are known by their actions.” (Prov. 20:11) Little Zion knows how to thank the Real Source of all the blessings he received during his 4th birthday.

“Don’t come from a place of worry. Your God doesn’t need you to defend Him. Let God be God. And let Him fight your battles for you.”

The network makes the net work. Disciples and disciple-makers gather together to lift up prayer concerns about the city, its people, the church, and everything in general.

“From the lips of children and infants You, Lord, have called forth Your praise.” (Mt. 21:16)

Where there is love, peace, and unity, the Holy Spirit dwells.

The steadily increasing attendance at Praise & Prayer is evidence that people are realizing the incredible power of prayer and of praying together.

How many lives have been changed? How may mindsets have been transformed? How many hearts have been cleaned out of useless debris and have experienced a complete overhaul? 

San Fernando Christian Community is thankful that God has led them into this new direction.  The PEPSOL Training has been running for almost two years now and the results and testimonies have been overwhelming. Arlene Mariñas Collado has been resistant to undergo the Pre-encounter training. But she confesses that all along, God has been melting her heart and has replaced her stubbornness with a desire to get to know God on a deeper level. Her son, Joseph, has gone ahead, and is now on his way to finishing the Post-encounter.  Teary-eyed with joy, he shares that during the worship part of the Sunday service, he could not stop crying. He is overwhelmed at the way that God is moving in their lives. “I am overjoyed that God is restoring my family. Now, we, including my relatives, are all here together, praising and serving God.” 

Joshua 24:15 “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” 

Mother & son Arlene & Joseph Collado: both undergoing PEPSOL Training. God is in the business of restoring families.

“Getting to know God is a privilege that He gives to us.”—Tim Warden

Mommy Arlene gets emotional during the post-discussion of the first day of Pre-encounter.

Ces Mabalot explains the 4 Wonderful Opportunities

Training hour is, indeed, a happy hour.  It is always a joyful thing to discover the things of God.

Writing down precious nuggets of wisdom that comes from Him. A disciple never stops learning.

Post-discussion: the attendance for Pre-encounter is overwhelming. To God be the glory!

San Fernando Christian Community is saturated with God’s love and grace which cannot be contained. God’s love, indeed, is so overflowing that one cannot help but pass it on. Thus, this holiday season, volunteers extended God’s love to the inmates of the La Union Provincial Jail. It was a simple Christmas Party with games, fellowship, and food.  But more importantly, there was worship time celebrating Jesus’ designated earthly birthday. R-jay dela Cruz, the team leader of the Jail Mission Team, shared the Word that Jesus is the real reason for the season.  

A certain inmate shared that he is happy about the Truth that he has just learned.  “Masaya ang Christmas ko.  Sa pagpunta niyo, marami akong natutunan (“I am happy this Christmas. Everytime you come to visit I learn and realize a lot of things.”),  he intimates. 

A certain John shares that he used to avoid this kind of event.  “Pero masaya ako ngayon. Lahat ng itinuturo niyo sa akin, pumapasok sa puso ko.” (“But  this time, I am overjoyed. Every message that you share with us goes straight to my heart.”) 

Kyle Diaz, an SFCC volunteer, is happy to note that he has seen the change in the mindset of the inmates who have been constantly reminded of God’s awesome love. “They are no longer sin-conscious. They are now grace-conscious. They know that there is forgiveness in Christ Jesus.” 

R-jay shares that sadness is not confined behind bars. The outside world is also full of sadness during Christmas.  “Pwede rin palang maging masaya kahit nakakulong.  Sa pisikal lang sila nakakakulong, pero malaya na ang kanilang mga puso dahil sa love ni Jesus.” (“There is still happiness even behind bars.  Physically, they are incarcerated, but in the spirit, they are set free because of Jesus’ love.”) 

After all, it is written that, “ nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) 

Feeling His presence and basking in it. One cannot help but worship His goodness.

Shouts of celebration for the Real Reason for the Season

“Pwede rin palang maging masaya kahit nakakulong.  Sa pisikal lang sila nakakakulong, pero malaya na ang kanilang mga puso dahil sa love ni Jesus.”

Being creative in sending the message of God’s love. Whatever it takes, let us tell the world how much Jesus loves them!

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

The Rotary Club of San Fernando City (La Union) together with the Kids’ Ministry team of San Fernando Christian Community  put big smiles on children from all over San Fernando.  There was a big celebration  filled with games, worship, gift-giving, and feasting.  More than that, the kids felt Jesus’ love for them. 

Jerry, the newest Rotary Member, is very proud to be a part of this event.  He has only been in the Philippines for 7 months and has been with the Rotary for a month and a half.  He exclaims, “It is obviously wonderful to work with children.” 

Dec. 16, 2014 (Tue.)

SFCC celebrated the onset of this year’s Holiday Season with its very first  Simbang Gabi. It was a night filled with merriment, upbeat traditional songs, encouraging testimonies, and inspirational messages. Add to that was the unique presentation of the Christmas Nativity Story. It was a musical, comedic and dramatic story all rolled into one. Remembering how Christ came to earth for the salvation from our sins is always a moving, awakening moment.  Everyone was in tears after being reminded of what a great, selfless act it was to give up One’s life so we can be set free.

After the service and the show, everyone had a taste of the usual holiday fare of pancakes, barbecue, and puto bumbong. 

There are still 8 nights left. Let’s celebrate God’s goodness together. Come to San Fernando Christian Community at Santiago Norte along Ortega Highway, San Fernando City, La Union. Simbang Gabi is from Dec. 16-24. It starts at 6 pm. 

Here are some scenes from the Christmas play: 


 

 Soaking is simply spending time in God’s presence.  Soaking is not a conscious effort. It is a time of rest, of experiencing Him, and choosing to be intimate with Him.  

God made it possible for each of us to have a relationship with Him through His Son’s finished work on the cross. When we soak, we focus on Him.  It is magnifying Him so that everything else becomes insignificant. There is only you and Him. His voice becomes clearer and more distinct.  It is also a moment where we pour our hearts to Him and receive His love.  

As we soak in Him, our hearts experience profound changes. Revelations and visions become clear, fears are dispelled, fear and anxiety are conquered, burdens are lifted, and faith and hope are rejuvenated and refreshed. 

The last Soaking of this year ended impactfully.  In fact, all Soaking events this year have created such a powerful effect that the attendance has been steadily increasing.  Yes, the songs were great, the lights and effects were mesmerizing, but above all that, it was God’s presence that made a lasting impression. And that is why we keep coming back for more. 

Packed to the brim. The people could not get enough of God’s presence. 

Worship is a lifestyle.

Big finish: The SFCC Champion Dancers opened and closed the event.

soak
to become thoroughly wet, or saturated by immersion, to 

“So encourage each other and build each other up.”  (1 Thess. 5:11) 

SFCC’s vision is to be an excellent church of influence producing champions in life. Champions produce other champions.  With that conviction, SFCC, in partnership with New Love Ministries, recently sent a group of volunteers to mentor the Shekinah Jireh Community & Youth Ministries in San Antonio, Zambales.  

The team tackled on subjects like leadership, love languages, lifestyle of worship, “True Love Waits”, prayer, evangelism strategies, and financial literacy. 

“So encourage each other and build each other up.”  (1 Thess. 5:11)

SFCC’s resident soundman, Christopher Cornelio,   lends a few pointers on sound mixing.

Rizze Panit shared creative ways of sharing the Gospel.  This passionate young evangelist has many sharing tricks up her sleeve.

Josh Bartolome taught the Shekinah Jireh church how to do devotions using S.O.A.P. (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer)

Kiko Bartolome shared the importance of worship as a lifestyle.

Rich, practical tips: Che Bartolome teaches financial literacy

After the Zambales trip, 3 of the church’s youth leaders traveled back with the team to visit SFCC. 

Jeffrey Navarro, the church’s young worship team leader was especially inspired by the culture of worship that SFCC has.  He also intends to apply the concept of equipping his disciples to make disciples themselves.  Anton Navarro, the resident bassist admits that inviting is quite difficult. However, he got inspired that SFCC’s culture is by design, not by default and that inviting is also a culture that has spread throughout the members.  Carmela Callo, being a part of the kids’ ministry,  enjoyed observing the Champion Kids’ Fun Sunday at SFCC.  She picked up a lot of pointers on how to lead and teach the young ones int
o a lifestyle of following Jesus. 
During their last day at Praise & Prayer, the guests expressed their gratitude for the warm welcome. They say they feel like they are part of the family. Truly, SFCC is building bridges between churches. Romans 12: 5 says that we are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.