who among of these 3 mighty of men of David you identify yourself better?

This week's church staff meeting started with the question, who among of these 3 mighty of men of David you identify yourself better? cited in the verses in 2 Samuel 23:8-12

Josheb-Basshebeth
 - chief of the three
- killed 800 men in one encouter

*he fight and finished his task, no wonder he became the leader of others


Eleazar
- was with the David, The Israelites retreated but he stood in his ground
- his hands grew tired and frost to the sword

* He fight even people who were with him left him, he still stood in his ground

Shammah
- He too his tsand in the middle of the field
- He defended and struck the Philistines.

* He fight even no one wants to.


I meditated their actions, situations and their stand. I chose and thought that I identified myself with Eleazer. Because there were times in my life when numbers of people cheer me up, join me in my venture in serving God in His ministry, work with me, in the start. But in during the hardest days of ministry, when the going gets tough, people deserted me and I found myself with few people standing with me in the field. I was very discouraging. I cannot forced people to move to another calling, it's their personal dealing with the Lord and I cannot hold them back.

The feeling of being alone and deserted by people is my biggest challenge, I could say. But I didnt take this against those people, it is something I deal personally with God who called me to do this calling.

But on those times when I felt discourage. the grace of God overwhelmed me with His' promises and vision He put in my heart. I found myself on those times, I am so blessed because I still have this opportunity to run this vision. to carry the good news of hope and love and faith.

As we end our time of sharing, Pastor Joshua said, each one of us have choice. It is a matter of choosing what God can do to our lives, it is a matter of what God called you to do. As he sharing his heart regarding this matter, two words came to my mind.

CHOICE - everyone of us have choices. You can choose and believe what can you be. When opportunity comes and you decide what path you will take, it is CHOICE

TIME - Everyone of us have time. It is one of the great resources we have in our life. Question is how wise we spend our time.

This is just my thought  this day.

YM Newsletter September 2013

EMPOWERING CHURCHES

Youth Mobilization

Newsletter September 2013

I-B.I.K.E.

(I Believe In Kids Education)

A Three Wheel Mobile School

“From 3 wheels to their dreams”

A  worker of Youth Mobilization, Raymond, had a dream in his heart to bring education in front of kids' houses. Since the Daycare stopped, He felt God was bringing a new thing in his heart and that is to use a sidecar bike also known as pedicab to transport educational materials to places where his church ministers. This pedicab will stop over in a place, will bring out chairs, a table and educational materials like books, and they will invite children who would love to learn how to read and write.

Youth Mobilization Children Empowerment embraced this idea and made a project proposal and passed it to Extreme Response Asia. And praise God, just last week, on August 5th God provided a pedicab and school materials to start this project. With the help of the team from Coast Hills Community Church, this project, “I-BIKE” will be ready to go to places to teach kids on the streets in a week from now.

I-BIKE envisions educating kids by bringing school in front of their house. This project is aiming to reach out to kids, ages 4-7 years old who aren't going to a formal school.

Big vision yet small beginnings. This project will start with 3 workers and few school materials. But we are trusting God will provide teachers, workers and materials to this project. As we have been reminded by His' word, Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin  Zechariah 4:10

If God is leading you to help this project out through volunteer works like teaching, assisting kids and others, and/or through financial giving, you can contact Raymond.

EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS

Just recently, the Youth Mobilization (YM) team presented to the new vision of empowering churches to their partners. The highlight of the presentation is about the Empowerment Programs YM has for them. There are four (4) categories in this program, (Children, Youth, Leaders and Women). Each categories is aiming to empower each churches to reach out to their communities.

Here are the details of the empowerment programs and activities that we do for us to achieve its vision

Children Empowerment

Aims to empower children through education, health and recreational activities, and provide avenues where they can enjoy their childhood while they are being cared of.

Activities:

- Hygiene Day Clinic

- Vacation Bible School

- Christmas Party

We also aim to develop leaders involved in children outreach by providing strategic training, mentoring and coaching through an annual gathering.

Youth Empowerment

Aims to empower youth by providing training and mentoring on how they can effectively lead youth outreach.  We are also providing coaching focusing on enhancing their leadership capability through an annual leadership summit and by giving them opportunity to experience dynamic missions.

Activities:

- Overnight Modular Training (OMT)

- Youth Leadership Summit

- Windows YP

(Youth Missions Conference)

- Mobilization

 (Through Touch Trips)

Leaders Empowerment

Aims to empower leaders by guiding, training and mentoring them, by helping them develop their leadership, by giving them a community, and by letting them know that they are not alone.

Activities:

 - Leadership Training

- Leader Mundial Manila Summit

Women Empowerment

Aims to empower women by training and by giving them opportunity to know their value in life and in Christ.

We are praying and planning to hold a livelihood seminar that includes skills training, and any other training that will benefit women in the community.

PRAISE ITEMS:

1. Praise God for guiding and leading the team. God is giving us new ways to empower churches and to change people lives. It is God who enables us to serve with partner churches. Praise God also for churches who continually partnering with us.

2. Praise God for providing a pedicab, chairs and tables, and school materials for the “I-B.I.K.E.” mobile school project. This will surely help us to empower children thru education.

3. Praise God for sending teams to visit and bless the YM ministries and projects. These teams built friendship among the YM team and tremendously encouraged us to continue on what we are doing.

PRAYER REQUESTS.

1. Please pray for God’s provision of office for Youth Mob. We are in need of office. Please pray that God will lead us to a new place that we can use for office operations.

2. Please pray for the upcoming Christmas Parties with partner churches. Please pray for God's leading. Also, please pray for provision of people who will help in the program/activities and provisions of funds to buy Christmas gifts for kids. May this party will bring joy to hundreds of kids these year.

3. Please pray for the Empowerment Programs of Youth Mobilization. Some of them are new to us, but we are trusting God for His' grace to enable us to lead these programs. Also, please pray that these programs will surely empower churches to reach out to their communities.

Perfect day off

 Today is my day-off and this afternoon I had a great time with my three ladies (My wife and my two daughters).  We went to a mall to unwind and have a quality time. My wife and I just let Micah  play, run and enjoy herself. It was fun. We enjoyed it.

As we are having a relaxing time in a bay, watching sunset, and as I am looking to my family, I just can’t help but to say “Thank You, Lord”.  I am so grateful of having a great family. I felt so much gratitude because I know in my heart, my family is part of God’s grace to me.

I treasure Lerma, my wife, and my two daughters as special gifts to me. And I love them : )