EIGHTH AND HARRISON CHURCH OF CHRIST
801
E. Harrison
Harlingen, Texas
(956) 423-3353
Mission News
Philippines Mission News Report March
Mission News from Cebu City, Philippines
One Soul Accepted the Lord:
At last the most awaited time has come. Reil
Enricoso was baptized last July 22 at the
pool of the VanDykes. After many series of Bible
study he finally decided to accept the LORD as his Lord and Savior. It was done
after the Tuesday youth devotional witnessed by many brethren including some
from other congregations.
Campus Ministry:
School year 2008-2009 started 2nd week of June.
This semester, the Students Activity Center has extended its outreach program at
the Cebu Normal University (CNU). Josue Duque and Joereil Libed (who is our CBC Intern) are focusing their attention
on reaching out to the students in that university. Bong Delos Santos (church
minister of the Talamban church of Christ), who is the president of the Graduate School, was the one who assisted us in the
application of Campus Life. Meanwhile Onassis, Rizal & Cheryl continue their work at the University of Cebu (UC). There are already existing
small groups for devotional Bible study inside the campus..
We are reminded of what Jesus said in John 4:35 (GNB), “But I tell you, take a good look
at the fields: the crops are now ripe and ready to be harvested!”
The Campus Life coordinators organized a seminar last July
27 at the downtown church. I was given the opportunity to speak again “The
7 Habits of a Highly Effective Students.” The youth in downtown got to meet the
new students from Cebu Normal University, Asian College of Technology, CIT, & UC. Some
of the Campus Life members also invited their friends from other schools. It is
always wonderful to meet new faces and make friends.
More activities followed the following weeks. Last August
2 we had another opportunity to conduct a seminar at the University of Cebu Main Campus. In coordination with the Guidance
Office, we conducted a seminar on “Winning With
People” with about 20 Peer Facilitators. We discussed with them 6 People
Principles and also had small group discussions. The next Saturday, August 9,
we had another activity with the students, a workshop on Teamwork from 10Am to 4PM at the Downtown church. Andrea VanDyke, eldest daughter of Mark & Debbie VanDyke, facilitated the entire workshop which was attended
by Campus Life officers and coordinators from different colleges and
universities in Cebu. The farthest delegate came from Bogo
(northern town of Cebu island) while the newest were from Cebu Normal University (CNU) where Campus Life was
recognized just last June. Andrea works with Dell and was here in the Philippines for a short vacation.
37th Church Anniversary:
Indeed, God is faithful and good to bless us with another
year. 124 brethren joined in praise, worship and fellowship in the 37th
church anniversary last June 29 with the theme “Big Dreams, Brave Hearts.”
This is a sort of building on last year’s theme which was “Great God, Big
Dreams.” Lively and encouraging singing led by Josue Duque was followed by a message by Mark VanDyke
where he emphasized the mnemonic CIA-WEB. Like the first Christians in
the book of Acts, we should also be Christians in Action – Witnesses,
Empowered and Bold in fulfilling the Great Commandments and the Great
Commission. A potluck lunch fellowship was held after the joint worship. After
that, many enjoyed the kid’s and young people’s role playing while the ladies
and men rendered a song “Hallelujah to the Lamb.” The church choir also
presented some of the new songs they learned after practicing the whole month
of May. This year the church may find unfamiliar territories, and face new
challenges, but God will give the victory. We will move forward with courage
and boldness in accomplishing the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
WBS student:
One Sunday morning of last month a young man came to church
with his girlfriend. He told us that he is a Word Bible School student for a year through the
internet. His name is Jeffrey John Hornada and his
WBS teacher is Tom Gelsinger from Valparaiso, Indiana a member of the Hilltop Church of
Christ. His WBS teacher told us in his email that he was immersed on June
15, 2008 at
the Mizpah Christian Fellowship. Tom told him to look
for a church of Christ and found us through the PLDT
telephone directory. We thank the LORD for leading Jeffrey to HIS church here
in downtown. We, his church family are here to help him in his spiritual
growth.
Visitors:
Around 30 brethren from Sugar Grove Church of Christ, Meadows Place, Texas with their Worship and Youth Minister,
Josh Kasinger, were here in Cebu as visitors of Richard and Becky Emperado. They went to Baybay,
Leyte to do mission work with the local
brethren and few CBC students. Before they left for Leyte
we had singing fellowship with them last July 3 held at Talamban
church with the brethren from Talamban, Downtown, Consolacion, Uptown and CBC students. We were uplifted by
songs of praise we gave to God led by Josh Kasinger.
The downtown church choir presented few songs as requested by Richard &
Becky Emperado.
The downtown ladies were privileged to hear Josie Mock
last July 27 where she shared the real good news - about Jesus. Last time Josie
was here was 6 years ago with her family. She is a teacher from San Diego, California, half Filipino/Mexican. Her husband,
Stevie Mock, do mission work in Mexico.
MORE NEWS:
Dolly Belo, daughter of Uncle Dominador Belo,
will move to Bangkok, Thailand on September 11 to work in another
American hotel. She has been with the downtown church since 1991 and has
contributed a lot in most of all the ministries that we have especially with
the kids, ladies and singles. Maricor is excited
about her new venture in life but at the same time sad to lose a partner in the
ministry. She is not just a cousin, but a very wonderful friend to us, a very
faithful child of God and a good encourager to her friends. We will surely miss
her. Jake and Marilyn please include her in your prayers. She wants to see
again the brethren in Vietnam because the church there really
needs help.
She has been working with Marriott Hotel since September
1, 1997 and
will leave on September 2, her 11th year with the company. She will
be working in another American hotel in Bangkok and with the opportunity of going to
more Asian countries in relation to her new job.
A friend, Captain Arthur Española,
recommended me to do the blessing ceremony of a new office, KGJSM Fleet
Management, own by a Filipino and Norwegian investors. Arthur is also a
friend of the President and General Manager of the said new office. Maricor and the church choir accompanied me and we led the
singing during the blessing ceremony. There were more than a hundred guests
present including Atty. Augusto God, owner of the
University of Cebu (UC)
where we have the campus life ministry. We are thankful to God for the
opportunity of sharing HIS word through the message shared and the songs of
praise we sang to those present during the occasion. We also had the
opportunity of meeting new friends with the thought of sharing God’s love and
grace to them in the near future, as our friendship develops.
In His name,
Joel and Maricor Talaver
For more information call or e-mail
the church office.
VISIT OUR MAIN PAGE
FAMILY NEWS
SUNDAY BULLETIN
Mesothelioma Counter