There had been many challenges in my life, but I am thanking God for giving me His word I can rely on and amazing people I can trust who are on my side when I need help. I am so thankful!!! Last year had been a hard year for me. I never thought I would have the strength to stand up again and move forward. Even people that were close to me were surprised that I would be able to face the challenges they thought would knock me down. But, here I am, standing strong and moving forward. It’s all by God’s grace!
I hold on to God’s grace. I remember what a pastor who is helping me said in his email to me, “In His mercy, He doesn’t give us what we deserve and in His grace, He gives us what we don’t deserve”. That is completely true to my life. Without His grace, I wouldn’t have the strength to stand up again and overcome any challenges, and I wouldn’t learn to humble myself. His grace removed every pride in my heart, bringing me to knees and surrendering my whole being. It enables and empowers me to be strong enough to face any kind of challenges.
Now, after a year, I am seeing myself again being trusted with a great responsibility that I believe I am inadequate to handle. I am overwhelmed to know that God finds me faithful enough that he is giving me this new responsibility. This is being the chairman of the board of trustees. The board of trustees is in-charge of making policies for our church. I am now, as the chairman, in-charge of leading the board meeting and setting up a quality leadership for our church. This is a huge responsibility for me knowing I am young for this kind of role in our church. Just what Solomon felt when David died and all the responsibility in leading the Israelites was on his shoulder. Just the same, I feel inadequate but I know with God’s strength, I can do it. I know God help me to fulfill my responsibility.
One piece of advice my mentor gave to me was to encircle myself with God-fearing people who I am comfortable with to talk about what I am feeling and not to forget to ask advice from people who are advanced in knowledge. That is wise advice and will surely be followed. I already sent emails to people who I think will be great people to have around. If you are interested in helping me out with this, please don’t hesitate to send me an email. I would love to hear from you.
Not only as the chairman of the board do I feel inadequate, but also I am leading Be:E again. There are more students added now than in the previous session, which means more pressure in leading and leveling it up. But I will keep on believing and trusting God in every privilege on my end. This is because I know He who started a good work in me will be faithful to complete it in me. It is not about what I cannot do, but what God can do in my life. As what Solomon prayed to God in 1 Kings 3:7-9, I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties…so give your servant a discerning heart…to distinguish between right and wrong.
Monday, August 9, 2010
five things on my mind right now.
1. Teachers’ Clinic. This is a new ministry that started last week. It is a hands-on training that aims to develop potential teachers/preachers in our church. We just had our second session this week and it was a fun learning experience. I know that each person attending this clinic can learn a lot, and I know someday they will use what they have learned. How to lead a bible study group, to share your devotion and to give an exhortation are the first subjects. Next will be, how to teach and preach the word.
2. Daycare: Since I volunteered to be a teacher in Daycare, it has been a wonderful experience for me. Thursday is my day to teach in Daycare, and every Thursday since I joined has been great, fun and exciting. I love to teach kids, most especially when most of them show a lot of interest to learn. Yes, there will be young students who are playing around, running, screaming and crying at times when we are teaching, but I wouldn’t mind because most of them are happy listening and learning from Daycare. I remember when Toph (our Daycare Principal), shared to me what the mother of one of our students wrote. She expressed her gratitude to us because her daughter is learning a lot. Since she doesn’t have the money to send her daughter to school, this daycare became a huge blessing for her. We (the teachers of Daycare) are thanking God for this wonderful opportunity to be blessing.
3. Be:E. I will be handling this discipleship program again this coming term. I am praising God for giving us more students who are eager to undergo Be:E: 5 more students were added in our 11 regular students. I am still in a state of shock until now because I couldn’t imagine how this program became such a powerful tool that develops members of our church to be more effective in ministry. They have learned so much, and the perspectives of their Christian lives have been enlightened.
4. Training Department. We will be busy these coming months because there are many churches requesting us to train their youth. Our schedules are fully packed, and that’s why we need to put off some churches' requests for trainings until next year. Because of the demand, I need to rearrange my schedule and list of priorities.
5. Communication. This month, we had a college student who worked with our team as her on-the-job training. She helped not only me as the person in-charge of the communication department but also some of our team members. She helped in making brochures, a fanpage in online networking sites and some print ads to promote our ministry. Right now, I am asking a few people who can help me develop the communication department by making a video presentation and print ads, and entering in networking sites. YM needs to keep updated the people who are interested to know what we are up. I think networking sites will be a great tool for it.
2. Daycare: Since I volunteered to be a teacher in Daycare, it has been a wonderful experience for me. Thursday is my day to teach in Daycare, and every Thursday since I joined has been great, fun and exciting. I love to teach kids, most especially when most of them show a lot of interest to learn. Yes, there will be young students who are playing around, running, screaming and crying at times when we are teaching, but I wouldn’t mind because most of them are happy listening and learning from Daycare. I remember when Toph (our Daycare Principal), shared to me what the mother of one of our students wrote. She expressed her gratitude to us because her daughter is learning a lot. Since she doesn’t have the money to send her daughter to school, this daycare became a huge blessing for her. We (the teachers of Daycare) are thanking God for this wonderful opportunity to be blessing.
3. Be:E. I will be handling this discipleship program again this coming term. I am praising God for giving us more students who are eager to undergo Be:E: 5 more students were added in our 11 regular students. I am still in a state of shock until now because I couldn’t imagine how this program became such a powerful tool that develops members of our church to be more effective in ministry. They have learned so much, and the perspectives of their Christian lives have been enlightened.
4. Training Department. We will be busy these coming months because there are many churches requesting us to train their youth. Our schedules are fully packed, and that’s why we need to put off some churches' requests for trainings until next year. Because of the demand, I need to rearrange my schedule and list of priorities.
5. Communication. This month, we had a college student who worked with our team as her on-the-job training. She helped not only me as the person in-charge of the communication department but also some of our team members. She helped in making brochures, a fanpage in online networking sites and some print ads to promote our ministry. Right now, I am asking a few people who can help me develop the communication department by making a video presentation and print ads, and entering in networking sites. YM needs to keep updated the people who are interested to know what we are up. I think networking sites will be a great tool for it.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
a blessing that will forever cherish.
i am so overwhelm to see my little one moving inside Lerma's womb. I am so excited. This is so precious for a soon to dad like me. A gift from God that I will cherish forever.
he/she is 14 weeks and 2 days. we dont know the gender yet. but i am very excited and honored to be his/her dad.
Thank you Lord for a great and wonderful blessing!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
a great treat
Joshua, our YM team leader treated us for a great fun with giant slides outdoor. We enjoyed our time in Splash Island together with his family and a couple friends. We didn’t mind the heat of the sun rather we enjoyed pools with waves, giant slides and delicious food. I can say, Joshua spoiled us to the max. He paid for all of it.
My wife and I are very grateful to know that we have friends who are so good to us. They are huge blessings from God. I couldn’t imagine myself to bring my wife in a water park like Splash Island. That’s a way over to our budget. But God knows how to treat us by using people like our friends to rejuvenate and to unwind from our stressful work. Out from all of it hard days to enjoy a relaxing yet full of fun times.
A big thank you to Benavidez family from the bottom of our hearts!
HARDSHIP
"I didn’t read the bible, nor pray. I didn’t even look for God. I am looking for my son."
Last May 9, a son of a pastor died of an internal hemorrhage. He dived into a river, but it was a bad dive that caused him his life. He was rushed to the hospital but was dead on arrival. Pastor and his family were greatly distressed and in so much pain in losing a son.
We (the YM Team) went to visit the family to extend our condolences. We heard the story straight from the pastor. As he was telling it, he seemed so meek and discouraged as he described how the incident cost his son’s life. The whole team felt his agony in losing a child.
He was honest in telling us, “I didn’t read the bible, nor pray. I didn’t even look for God. I am looking for my son.” We knew, out of the abundance of pain in his heart that he intended to let us know actually how he felt in still looking for a chance to see his son. It is so hard to let go, most especially when it was your son. We comforted the pastor, but we know words are not enough to cease the pain cause by losing a love one. Before we left, we prayed for peace and comfort for his whole family.
As we were all thinking about it, we arrived at the thought of allowing the pain to take it's course. Sometime we just need to get through all the pain, hardship and trial. Those times sometimes compliment the joy and let us appreciate the help and comfort from God. Just like a caterpillar needs to go through a painful stage inside the cocoon, we endure the hardship, because after that a beautiful butterfly will soon come out and will enjoy flying high.
God didn’t promise smooth sailing in our ministries or even in our personal lives. However, He did promise that He will be with us through tough times in our lives. And that will ensure a great life ahead of us, because being with Him through all of it surpasses all kinds of hardships.
Last May 9, a son of a pastor died of an internal hemorrhage. He dived into a river, but it was a bad dive that caused him his life. He was rushed to the hospital but was dead on arrival. Pastor and his family were greatly distressed and in so much pain in losing a son.
We (the YM Team) went to visit the family to extend our condolences. We heard the story straight from the pastor. As he was telling it, he seemed so meek and discouraged as he described how the incident cost his son’s life. The whole team felt his agony in losing a child.
He was honest in telling us, “I didn’t read the bible, nor pray. I didn’t even look for God. I am looking for my son.” We knew, out of the abundance of pain in his heart that he intended to let us know actually how he felt in still looking for a chance to see his son. It is so hard to let go, most especially when it was your son. We comforted the pastor, but we know words are not enough to cease the pain cause by losing a love one. Before we left, we prayed for peace and comfort for his whole family.
As we were all thinking about it, we arrived at the thought of allowing the pain to take it's course. Sometime we just need to get through all the pain, hardship and trial. Those times sometimes compliment the joy and let us appreciate the help and comfort from God. Just like a caterpillar needs to go through a painful stage inside the cocoon, we endure the hardship, because after that a beautiful butterfly will soon come out and will enjoy flying high.
God didn’t promise smooth sailing in our ministries or even in our personal lives. However, He did promise that He will be with us through tough times in our lives. And that will ensure a great life ahead of us, because being with Him through all of it surpasses all kinds of hardships.
Monday, April 12, 2010
VBS in Kanawan is awesome!
I’ve been in Kanawan for 3 three times, but, still it was an awesome experience everytime I go there. It seems I couldn’t get enough of fun, excitement and touching experience of being a blessing to kids, to church and to the community of Magbukon tribe on the top of the mountain.
Last April 5-9, BK ministry of Youth Mobilization(YM) together with 9 youth leaders went to hold a VBS for kids in Kanawan Christian Church. It is located on the top of the mountain in Bataan (4 hour drive from Manila and an hour hike). A week before, the Training Department of YM held a training for youth leaders who will join the VBS. Youth leaders shown excitements as they prepare for VBS. They were all excited as they made crafts for kids, lesson plans, and materials for the entire VBS.
The VBS theme for this year is entitled, “HOME PLANET”. It is about caring for our planet, nature and communities. It is fun to see kids learning how to care for our environment.
I was the host of every session. I love doing it. I love seeing kids enjoying, shouting, singing, dancing and learning from the lessons we prepared. I even lost my voice in the last day. It was painful yet I love do it again and again. I love firing their excitement up and making them ready to sing, dance and listen to bible stories. It was totally fun!
What touching part of the trip in Kanawan is when we had a farewell party in our last night because we will be heading home (Manila) in the morning, both kids in Kanawan and youth leaders are crying while saying goodbyes to each other. That is a big proof that we made big impact in the lives of the kids. We made long lasting impressions, built relationships and communicated a very special message. Kids gave many souvenirs to the youth leaders and wanting to get connected with them as much as possible. The 9 youth leaders we brought there were all blessed. They gave testimonies to church and the church were blessed by their testimony their experience in VBS in Kanawan.
Me. I have great stories to tell but to be honest until now I am still mesmerized by my experience there and I don’t know where can I start telling those great stories. I can let pictures to tell you all of it.
making their ID's before the session starts
/>
youth leaders telling bible story
telling story of Joseph the Dreamer
pledge allegiance to the filipino flag, christian flag and for the bible
Last April 5-9, BK ministry of Youth Mobilization(YM) together with 9 youth leaders went to hold a VBS for kids in Kanawan Christian Church. It is located on the top of the mountain in Bataan (4 hour drive from Manila and an hour hike). A week before, the Training Department of YM held a training for youth leaders who will join the VBS. Youth leaders shown excitements as they prepare for VBS. They were all excited as they made crafts for kids, lesson plans, and materials for the entire VBS.
The VBS theme for this year is entitled, “HOME PLANET”. It is about caring for our planet, nature and communities. It is fun to see kids learning how to care for our environment.
I was the host of every session. I love doing it. I love seeing kids enjoying, shouting, singing, dancing and learning from the lessons we prepared. I even lost my voice in the last day. It was painful yet I love do it again and again. I love firing their excitement up and making them ready to sing, dance and listen to bible stories. It was totally fun!
What touching part of the trip in Kanawan is when we had a farewell party in our last night because we will be heading home (Manila) in the morning, both kids in Kanawan and youth leaders are crying while saying goodbyes to each other. That is a big proof that we made big impact in the lives of the kids. We made long lasting impressions, built relationships and communicated a very special message. Kids gave many souvenirs to the youth leaders and wanting to get connected with them as much as possible. The 9 youth leaders we brought there were all blessed. They gave testimonies to church and the church were blessed by their testimony their experience in VBS in Kanawan.
Me. I have great stories to tell but to be honest until now I am still mesmerized by my experience there and I don’t know where can I start telling those great stories. I can let pictures to tell you all of it.
making their ID's before the session starts
/>youth leaders telling bible story
telling story of Joseph the Dreamer
pledge allegiance to the filipino flag, christian flag and for the bible
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