Visiting the Land of the Ilonggo

Greetings!

Last month, I visited our Coordinators in the Western Visayas, the land of the Ilonggo. My purpose was to attend a CCI graduation and also to see how our staff was doing and encourage them to persevere in these difficult times. Little did I know that I was the one who would receive much encouragement as I talked to our staff, the students, teachers, and the graduates. It was such a blessing to be with these people, to hear their stories, and witness God’s goodness and grace in their lives. I will try to share with you some of these stories in this and subsequent issues of this newsletter.

We appreciate your prayers and support. Henry Ventura CCI Philippines National Director

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Western Visayas Update

I went with our Coordinators Pastor Nonie Riconalla and Pastor Anthony Syjuco to a new class in Escalate City to encourage the students. Pastor Syjuco taught the class during our visit. The students were very excited as they learned the process of understanding the context of a passage in the Bible in order to arrive at its correct interpretation.

We also visited Pastor Syjuco’s class in Pahanocoy, Bacolod City. Pastor Syjuco taught about the principles of giving as they apply to Christians today. Many of these students practically live in the church as they are being trained. Pastor Nonie and I went to the daughter church in Guimaras and I shared a word of encouragement to the congregation during their mid-week worship and prayer meeting.

I visited the class at Iloilo Christian Mission Church and observed as Pastor Nonie taught the class. I also shared with the group a short word of encouragement to Learn, Apply and Pass on to others what they are learning from the Bible.

Graduations

Five students in Catigbian, Bohol under Pastor Balasanos, graduated in April under the banner of IMDP. The ceremony was held at Family Christian Fellowship in Tagbilaran.

After six years of equipping, seven students graduated at Ma-ao Sugar Central Evangelical Church in Bago City, Negros Occidental.

Testimony From a CCI Graduate

Testimony of Ofelia S. Agcamaran I have been a Christian for 47 years and I was also reading the Bible for so many years. But I admit that I did not understand many things written in the Bible. Before enrolling at CCI, I was already in a teaching ministry. I was regularly assigned to speak once a month to our congregation. In preparing my message, I would use and even copy material from different references and Bible Commentaries. I did not know how to make my own outline because in our Church, we were trained to deliver ready-made message outlines with explanations and illustrations. We just had to practice how we would deliver them. Sometimes I did not even understand what I have copied from the reference books and Bible commentaries.  CCI training made a big difference in my life. As a Christian, I was inspired to read and study more the Word of God. As I study and understand the Word, I became closer to God and more dependent on Him. I am now relieved of the fear of losing my salvation and worries that those whom I have shared the Gospel may also lose it.   As a teacher, I learned how to make Bible Study outlines using the Expository method because I learned how to observe and interpret the Word. I can now prepare messages without copying from Bible commentaries. I just use them and other references for more insights. I became more conscious of diligently studying the Word and learning the correct interpretations. As a teacher of the Word, I became more concerned with applying the Word and making it alive in my life in order to effectively preach and teach the Word of God.

God’s Handmaidens

Teresa Caindoy taught a one-day seminar taken from Genesis 1:2-28, 2:18 entitled “God’s Handmaidens”. She talked about the role of a woman as a woman of God, as a wife, as a mother in the household, and as a woman in the church and community. There were 30 women in attendance.

Help support New Coordinators & Ministry Needs in the Philippines

Prayer Requests & Praises ●     Praise God for the two new classes started in April with a total of 16 students. These classes are in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon and Norala, South Cotabato. ●     Please pray that our sons James and Melvyn will find jobs that they will enjoy, that will provide good income, and that will give opportunities for spiritual growth and service. ●     Please continue to pray for the health of our staff and families.

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