Thank you for your prayers for our MD meetings and the opportunity for us to visit churches in Canada and California. As I write, we are already on our trip home. We had a wonderful time in Ottawa for meetings with Dr. Tkach and the Mission Developers from other regions around the world. Meetings like these give us perspective of the greater work that the Lord is doing in our church, and a feeling being interconnected as a denomination. It is inspiring to hear of, and pray for the many things that the Lord is doing in the different areas. The session with John McLaine (ND – Australia) on Appreciative Inquiry and MD Charles Fleming of the Carribean and parts of South America) on Community of Practice were likewise profitable. These tools are additional templates which we can use in helping our pastors equip their churches towards the direction that God is leading them to be and to do.
We also joined the Canadian pastors for their three-day conference from August 9-12. Dr. Elmer Colyer was guest speaker. He discussed how we can embody the Trinitarian Christ- Centered Theology in our daily lives and ministries. Dr. Elmer Colyer gave us helpful insights and challenged the group in living a life of prayer, always seeking to discern the leading of the Holy Spirit, and promoting environments that will deepen relationships through small groups, etc. Dr. Joseph Tkach gave us updates about our denomination.
On Saturday, August 13, we visited the Toronto East Church which is comprised of a significant number of Filipinos. We appreciate Pastor Alvaro Palacio for allowing us to speak at their service. Toronto East Church has been our partner for Philippine church development programs including disaster and relief, youth camps, and Ambassador School. Aside from my message and updates about God’s work in the Philippines and the North East Asian region, I also got to thank the brethren there on behalf of the Philippine churches for their continuing support to us. We enjoyed the barbeque get-togethers and the small group meetings of fellowship and prayer with brethren during that week. Community life experiences like these affirm the role of small groups as a source of encouragement, strengthening our faith and deepening our love for each other. We pray that more of us will take advantage of life-on-life events in our local churches and communities so we can benefit from an enriching community life.
On the following Sunday, August 21, I was privileged to visit and speak at GCI Toronto West, now called Cornerstone Christian Fellowship. We appreciate their warm welcome and prayers for us in the Philippines and North East Asia-Dubai. This is the first time I was able to visit this church and they were very encouraged about the work of the Lord in our part of the world. We also appreciated them praying for us after the service.
On our way to Los Angeles, we had a few days stop over at Calgary to meet with our pastor and brethren there. Mr. Patrick Mella, who used to be the pastoral team leader in Batangas City, Philippines now serves as one of their elders. One thing that inspired us was meeting with almost two dozen Filipino overseas workers who have been attending regular Bible Studies in Patrick’s home. Because of their work schedules, not many can attend regular church service, and Bible Study sessions provide the much-needed discipleship and fellowship to them. These are mostly office mates of Patrick’s at the Canadian Tire Company. These OFWs were drawn to the authenticity, warmth and encouragement they are experiencing in their BS group, having found a home away from home in the company of people of like minds. To see our brethren reaching out to fellow Filipinos in a foreign land is an inspiring testimony, a ministry model that can be replicated in areas around the world where millions of Filipinos are deployed either temporarily as foreign workers or permanently as immigrants. Please pray for Patrick and his family, that these initiatives of extending God’s love to other people will lead to new churches planted across Canada.
We spent our last weekend in Los Angeles where I spoke at New Life Church. The venue for service was the lovely Legg Lake, where we had a picnic and extended fellowship after service. It was good to have visited with the brethren there, reminiscing on our journey together and catching up on each other, several of whom we have not seen in many years. Such life-on-life experiences are truly great blessings to us in church. We also got to follow up on the progress of our Destiny USA mission project.
Among the things we enjoyed were opportunities to behold God’s awesome greatness in His creation. The beautiful lakes, majestic mountains, even the variety and exquisite beauty of the flowers and stately trees. The amusing behaviors of animals and birds of varying colors were awesome, reminding us and assuring us about God’s generosity and tenderness, and His loving provision for all. He takes care of His creation and not one perishes without His knowledge. Luke 12:6-7 says: “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Wherever we may be and in whatever circumstance we may be going through, we can claim God’s promise that because He takes care of even tiny birds, how much more mindful will He be in caring for us. He provides for our needs and sustains us in the different seasons of life. We do not need to be afraid!
On the day before we left, we had the chance to visit the headquarters office to meet with some of our leaders there. It is very likely that Dr. Tkach will be joining us for the 50th year celebration of the church in the Philippines early in 2012. More on this as information become available.
Thank you, brethren, for your love, prayers and faithful ministry in the Lord. Lulu and I look forward to seeing you soon. May we all experience grace, peace and growth in increasing measure, the kind that only comes from our Lord Jesus, as we continue to abide in Him.
God bless,
Ka Eugene
Ephesians 3:14-18
14 “When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.”
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