UPDATE from WCG PHILIPPINES

An official weekly e-mail newsletter from the Worldwide Church of God in the Philippines

Kairos Course Goes to Trinidad & Tobago

For the very first time, the Kairos Course on World Christian Mission (formerly called the Condensed World Missions Course), was introduced in Trinidad and Tobago when 26 Worldwide Church of God members led by their senior pastor, Dr. Clifton Charles and his wife Pearl, completed all eight sessions including the integration session on September 11. Four other members from Barbados also took the course. A graduation ceremony was held the following day, September 12, in a worship service held at the WCG Service Center in Arima, Trinidad.

Dr. Rey Taniajura, WCG Philippines missions director, facilitated the course upon the invitation of Dr. Charles who came to know about the course when he met Dr. Taniajura at the Prison Fellowship International Convocation in Toronto, Canada in 2007. He and Dr. Taniajura were classmates in Ambassador College in Pasadena, California in the 1980s.

While in Trinidad, Dr. Taniajura also conducted a Restorative Justice seminar for some 150 prison officers of the Trinidad prison service. Several prison ministry volunteers of Prison Fellowship Trinidad (PFT) also attended. The seminar was jointly organized by the prison service of Trinidad and Tobago under the Ministry of National Security and Prison Fellowship Trinidad. Commissioner of Prisons, John P. Rougier, gave the keynote address and PFT executive director Leonard Calendar introduced Dr. Taniajura to the participants. Dr. Taniajura conducted the seminar for two batches of attendees on September 3 and 4 and September 8 and 9 respectively.

Missions Coordinating Team Head Attends Peacemaker Conference in Orlando

As member of the Peace building Commission of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), Dr. Rey Taniajura together with six other Filipinos represented the Philippines in the 2008 Peacemaker Conference held in Orlando, Florida on September 23 to 27. The conference was hosted by Peacemaker Ministries, an organization that was founded in 1982 to equip and assist Christians and churches to respond to conflict biblically. Ken Sande, author of the book “The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict” is president of Peacemaker Ministries.

While attending the conference, Dr. Taniajura also trained in Conflict Coaching and Mediation, the first of two levels of training offered by Peacemaker Ministries leading to a certification as a Certified Christian Conciliator. Peacemaker Ministries, in partnership with the Asian Graduate School of Theology (AGST) is running a Doctor of Ministry program in Peace building at the International Graduate School of Leadership (IGSL) in Quezon City. Chip Zimmer, Vice-President for International Ministries of Peacemaker, together with Karl Dortzbach and Dave Schlachter, will be teaching three courses on peacemaking at IGSL in October and November.

In photo at right: Filipino participants to the Peacemaker Conference with Chip Zimmer

Seminar on Discipling Through Mentoring this October 11

To all Pastors and Pastoral team members: Please join us on October 11 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. for our seminar on Discipling Through Mentoring. This is part of our pastoral team development and training. Pastor Roli of MentorLink will be our resource facilitator. Pastoral team members and ministry team leaders are highly encouraged to attend. See you there! --Rex Dela Pena

Children's Ministry, Feeding Program Continues at Lanipao Church

For a good number of years now, the Lanipao Church in Lanipao, Lala, Lanao del Norte has been reaching out to the children in this community. In the photo (right) are some of the children who attend a Children's Bible Study class every Saturday afternoon conducted by Mrs. Mryna Baclaan. All of the children come from poor families (non-WCG members) who are within the vicinity of the local church worship hall.

Also, for six months now, the Lanipao Church has continued its feeding program for at least 400 children in four separate locations in the town of Lala feeding the children twice a week. The Lanipao Church brethren hope to continue feeding these children from poor families until April of next year. --Celeste Estrera

Evangelism Training Started at Manil OBS

Fisher's of Men Christian Fellowship (Manil OBS), daughter church of WCG Ipil, started its own "in-house" evangelism training. After more than a year of existence Manil OBS, composed of 36 baptized members, launched an evangelism class for its interested members last Saturday night, September 27 and Sunday afternoon of the 28th. Eighteen members which is composed of 5 young people and 13 adults attended the two sessions.

Our teaching modules of 6 Cebuano lessons is programmed to run for six weekends and was developed based on the Evangelism Explosion materials and the Four Spiritual Laws of the Campus Crusade for Christ materials. The lessons are simple enough for the members to understand and use. The first lesson is about the Biblical basis of Evangelism and the second is on How to develop and use the Personal Testimony and it was facilitated by myself and my wife Gingging.

We are fervently praying that this very simple equipping will be used by God to empower these members for the advancement of the Gospel in this area. For His Glory and Honor! --Bert and Be colona, WCG Ipil

Kalibo Brethren Received Relief Goods, Share it with Other Typhoon Victims

Kalibo, AKLAN -- Last Sunday, September 21, 2008, three months after the flash floods, the Kalibo brethren received relief goods (primarily used clothing) from the US, donated by three churches namely: Fellowship Church, Chase Oaks & Pathway of Grace (WCG). This was coordinated by Johann & Loma, the daughters of Ptr. & Mrs. George R. Escara.

The 500 plus kilos of unexpected goods were delivered from Cebu via the private plane of Ptr. Jessup Bahinting. An additional three (3) boxes of used clothing from Cebu brethren were part of the delivered items last September 19, 2008.

In July, 2008, we were overwhelmed that Ptr. Bahinting flew in three times to deliver goods/supplies consisting of assorted groceries, rice, used clothing/foot wears/kitchen wares and other household items from Cebu area congregations.

As suggested by ND Eugene Guzon, we decided to bless other typhoon victims, too. Hence, in coordination with the barangay officials who identified the needy families in the vicinity of our house church, we reached out to them. The overall total of the beneficiaries including the extended families, friends, neighbors of brethren reached to 52 households consisting of 290 family members. In our house-to-house distribution, we briefly introduced Jesus Christ, His love and the denomination we belong to.

As we blessed others of what God has blessed us with, more blessings were received! Ptr. Laurencio Sabanal of Jesus Living Word of San Carlos, Negros Occidental Church sent a box of used clothing, too. Similarly, on September 22, 2008, a box of personal items via door-to-door shipment arrived from the U.S., specifically from the members of the MOM team namely: Mr. & Mrs. Ruel Ongchanco and Mr. Omar Hilario.

Days after, big boxes of assorted goods/supplies, procured and packed by the pastoral team of Iloilo Church were delivered by the pastoral team chairman, Ptr. Elmer Melendres with wife Nenet and son Alvin.

To top it all, some brethren whose houses were damaged or destroyed by the typhoon received shelter-fund assistance from our National Office, coordinated by Ptr. Elmer Melendres. According to our National Director, the assistance came from the brethren overseas thru the WCG disaster fund.

In a capsule, the tough times that God allowed us to undergo made us experience not only His amazing grace, comforting presence and abiding peace; but likewise the blessedness of receiving His provisions.

In behalf of the Kalibo Church, to all of you with the WCG Family as well as from other churches here and abroad, our heartfelt gratitude for your prayers, love, compassion and generosity! We cherish the lasting impact of your gesture, and may God bless and reward you all! --Fe T. Martinez

2008 Festival Sites

These festivals are not commanded assemblies found in Leviticus 23. We are not keeping "old covenant" practices. This is not the Feast of Tabernacles. Rather, these festivals are opportunities for brethren to gather together as one big family, some kind of a big family reunion. This is also an opportunity for brethren to worship God together as a big group, one big family. Thanks be to God we have this freedom to do so. Have a wonderful family reunion with the brethren and with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Kiara, Bukidnon - October 23 - 26 at the WCG Kiara Church Building, Kiara, Don Carlos, Bukidnon. Contact person: Ruben Carmelotes at +63921-404-3487.

Bicol Region - October 24-26 at Viento Del Mar Beach Resort, Sogod, Bacacay, Albay. Contact person: Dr. Jose Manzano at +63918-518-8835.

Cebu City - October 24-26 at Club Ultima, Jones Avenue, Cebu City. Contact Person: Ptr. James Boone at +63927-433-8491.

Dumaguete City - October 24 -26. Le Toundra Peak, Bacong, Negros Oriental. Contact person: Ptr. Angelo Ouano at +63915-804-4740.

Ipil - October 24 -26 at Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. Contact person: Ptr. Bert Colona at +63919-209-5540 or (062) 333-2539 (during office hours only).

Tacloban City - October 18-20. Pawing Christian Center, Pawing, Palo, Leyte. Contact person: Ptr. Arturo M. Reyes at (053) 321-2989 or (053) 524-9228.

Tagbilaran City - October 26. FAD Beach Resort, Baclayon, Bohol. Contact person: Ptr. Romy Pusta at +63917-241-3980.

Motiong, Western Samar - October 30 - November 2 at Ygrubay Family Compound, Motiong, Western Samar. Contact person: Ptr. Danny de Guia at +63919-539-5397.

Cagayan de Oro City - October 31 - November 2. Contact person: Ptr. Rollen Olango at +63927-345-5522.

Davao City - November 1-2. Contact person: Dr. Boy Garcia at +63916-267-3168.

Singles Conference in Cebu this December 26-29

What: Singles' Conference. Theme: Back2Basics. When: December 26-29, 2008. Where: Somewhere in Cebu. Registration Fee: P2,500. Contact Person: Momee Vee at 0906-295-9974 and/or at 0919-625-6438. You may deposit your payments to: Missions Move Inc., BPI #9051-0005-84. --Andy Calope

Dr. Joseph Tkach

Speaking of Life 107: In His Name
"Whatever you ask in my name," Jesus said, "I will do it" (John 14:13).

Some people seem to think that Jesus is giving us a blank check—as though there is no request that the Father will refuse, as long as we ask in the name of Jesus.

We all know that this doesn’t work—and it’s a good thing it doesn’t! If the Father had to answer every request he was given in the name of Jesus, the world would be in chaos, driven by the conflicting whims of billions of well-meaning but foolish people.

Praying in Jesus’ name has to do with praying in accord with his will and his nature. In other words, our requests should befit Jesus’ character.

Let’s use an analogy. Suppose a police officer says, "Stop in the name of the law." It means that the officer has the force of law behind the command. But suppose that same officer says: "Give me all your cash in the name of the law." Using the words "in the name of the law" does not automatically give the officer legal support, does it? When the officer says "in the name of the law," he is to be acting within the rules of the law.

In the same way, when we use Jesus’ name, we are not obligating him to support our whims and desires. Instead, we are saying that our will is in accord with what he wants.

Rather than forcing him to conform to our wishes, "in his name" means exactly the opposite: We are conforming to his wishes, we are acting within his will.

However, if we pray according to God’s will, what’s the point of praying? Isn’t he going to do his will whether we ask for it or not?

Remember that God is the one who is telling us to pray. In his wisdom, God has decided to do certain things only in answer to prayer. Sometimes this is so that we will learn, in the process of prayer in fellowship with God, what his will is, and whether our request is for selfish purposes.

We don’t always understand what God’s will is, but praying can help us come to a better understanding of his will.

Paul says, "In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6)

Jesus has given us the authority to directly ask the Father whatever is on our hearts. And we can trust God to answer in the best possible way, at the best possible time.

But whatever we do (prayer included), we are to do it for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). When we do that, we can be confident that we are praying in Jesus’ name.

I’m Joseph Tkach, speaking of LIFE.

Speaking of Life 108: New Start

What wouldn’t we give for a fresh start, a new beginning? The good news is that a new beginning is exactly what Jesus gives us. In fact, he gives us a new birth.

In John 3:3, Jesus told a member of the Jewish high council named Nicodemus, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

Nicodemus knew that Jesus’ statement could not be taken literally, so he asked Jesus, “How can a man be born when he is old?... Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” (verse 4).

So Jesus explained: “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (verse 6).

For physical life, a person needs a physical birth. For spiritual life, a person needs a spiritual birth.

Nicodemus, and Judaism in general, focused on the physical. They were concerned about purity laws, time and place, rules and rituals. Although they knew that God was Spirit, they expected his kingdom to be a physical kingdom like the kingdoms of this world, with geographic territory, agriculture and the enforcement of laws.

The Holy Spirit, like wind, cannot be seen, but the results of the Spirit’s work can be seen. The Spirit changes people, and the change, although sometimes slower than we would like, is evidence that the Spirit is working.

This new birth, this life in the Spirit, is God’s gift to us. In John 3:16-18, Jesus tells us:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.”

When, we are “born of the Spirit” we enter nothing less than a new life, a life in Jesus, a life led by the Spirit, a life in fellowship with the Father.

As we read in 1 John 2:2, Jesus’ death atoned for all humanity, but only those who believe can enjoy the life of divine fellowship that characterizes the age to come.

If we believe in Christ, we have fellowship with him and the Father. But if we do not put our faith in Christ, then we “stand condemned”, as John 3:18 puts it, because, we haven’t accepted the only rescue that there is -- God’s own Son.

The atoning and reconciling work has already been done, but the benefits of that atoning work are not forced on anyone who doesn’t want them.

Still, as Jesus said in John 6:40, “…my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Our new life in Christ is a wonderful, yet sometimes frightening journey—an odyssey of faith – filled with many ups and downs, but always strengthened by the confidence that Jesus is with us, and that he will help us weather all the storms.

I’m Joseph Tkach, speaking of LIFE.

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you." (2 Thessalonians 3:1)