12/1/11 – Exciting Missions Trip to Nepal!

Nepal…The name evokes images of majestic peaks, exotic peoples, and myriad shrines to strange gods.   Many people come for adventure; others come to explore and venerate ancient places of worship.  Missionary Paul Moorefield, Pastor Roberto Niño from the Philippines and I came to Nepal this November on a different kind of quest.

The onslaught of sights, sounds, and smells in Kathmandu were almost overwhelming.  Our senses were bombarded by terrible roads, crazy traffic, garbage piled in the streets, sidewalk venders, burning incense, peculiar music, sacred cows, and countless altars and shrines to Hindu and Buddhist deities.    We witnessed many paying homage to gods that can neither hear nor answer their prayers. Our Durbar square guide informed us that the Hindus worship 33 million gods! (I now have a new prospective on Oneness!) We even visited the house of the so called living goddess. Our hearts became burdened for a nation in great darkness.

Until recently, Nepal was a kingdom with Hinduism as the official religion. During that time Christians were persecuted. Many pastors were imprisoned and beaten by the authorities.  The King of Nepal was deposed in 2008, but the country has yet to adopt a constitution.   Maoists are marginally in power now through a weak coalition government.  Christianity is still technically illegal, but it is beginning to flourish.  It is also illegal to proselytize.  In spite of these things, and no doubt somewhat due to the almost non-existent government, churches of many different denominations are popping up throughout much of the country.    

We’re happy to report that the Apostolic church in Nepal is also beginning to blossom.  Brother Moorefield has established good relationships with a handful of pastors who are building good works and reaching into remote areas.  During our time in the country, we were blessed to visit 3 different congregations, one on the outskirts of Kathmandu, another 10 hours away (by bus) in the city of Ghorahi, and a mountaintop outreach about 5 km from Ghorahi.   In every case, we found the pastors and saints to be sweet, gracious, and hospitable. 

The services were of course, somewhat different than we are used to.  Ladies and men sit on opposite sides of the church, everyone sits on the floor, and an interpreter was needed in every service.  The worship however, was very familiar!  The saints of Nepal received the Word eagerly and responded with unrestrained worship.  This in turn resulted in wonderful down pourings of the Holy Spirit.  Hundreds of people received prayer for healing and we heard several testimonies of miraculous healings.  In one instance, a partially paralyzed woman received instantaneous healing before our eyes!   (See Brother Niño’s testimony below.)   In all, we give praise to God for the 30 souls who received the Holy Ghost and the 9 who were baptized in the matchless name of Jesus during our brief missionary tour to Nepal.

Please remember Nepal in your prayers.  I believe there is great potential for Apostolic revival there.  

Report of a Miracle in Nepal - By Rev. Roberto Niño
In Mark 16:17 Jesus said ”And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues……………. they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

Signs shall follow them who believe in Jesus wherever they are. During our recent trip to Nepal, I saw first hand how this promise worked in the midst of people who believed in Jesus. It was Wednesday morning. Pastor Baral brought us into the house of a woman requesting for prayer. Half of her body was paralyzed. Her face, hand and feet swollen, was not able to walk, and bed ridden for weeks already. Before we prayed pastor Baral recounted how this woman was baptized in Jesus name, served God for a while but due to pressures from her Hindu husband, was forced to offer yearly animal blood sacrifice to a Hindu god and obey family traditions and rituals that have been practiced by Hindus for hundreds of years. Repeated beatings and pressures from her husband and Hindu family, led her to return back to former old beliefs and even plunged deeper by being chosen as a Hindu living goddess so that she can  practice  healing rituals. Then  all of a sudden this disease struck her up to into her recent hopeless condition. She was brought to all known Hindu priests, spent fortunes to try many kinds of healing alternatives and lastly was put into I.C.U. in a hospital in India but her illness became more miserable. Doctors said her condition was hopeless and was sent home to wait for her time. Sometimes such condition will tempt us to pray for the Lord to put an end to her suffering by giving her R.I.P. but thanks be to God for people who put their trust in Jesus.  Mercy gripped our hearts as Bro. Naimy, Moorefield, Pastor Baral and myself laid hands on her.  We prayed for healing and deliverance from demonic oppression. The presence of the Lord moved in the room where we  prayed and touched her. Bro. Naimy through Bro. Barals translation in Nepalese language told her to repent, recant all her former beliefs, return back to serve Jesus and start calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Lord touched her heart, she cried and cried for repentance worshipping Jesus shouting “Allelujah Yesu” and Nepali praises to God we could not understand. After a little  while Bro. Naimy commanded her to rise up from her bed to walk on the floor and claim instant healing in the name of Jesus! He raised up her hands, then suddenly she rose up, went down on  the floor, with hands raised and whole bodyshaking, two feet leaping up and down, she mightily praised God for about 5 minutes! Praise the Lord!!! Then an eruption of worship among us followed. We left her house with peace and rest on her face.  Bro. Baral told her “We will have revival service this Saturday morning why don’t you come to our church and worship the Lord Jesus, start moving and doing your daily chores for Jesus already healed you!” 

As we walked back to church about 2 kms with a river to cross from her house I told myself “ If she can walk this far and be in  church this Saturday, then healing must be for real! God have mercy on me, sometimes we hope against our hope but thank you Jesus Saturday came and there she was with her daughter worshiping the Lord, speaking in other tongues and was one of the 30 who received the Holy Ghost!!! Jesus indeed is the true Healer and Savior! And His Word is true.

11/5/11 - “The best conference ever!”
Such were the opinions being freely offered by several of the attendees of this year’s combined Women’s Espirit (WE) & National Youth Convention held in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines from Oct. 27 - 31, 2011.   And, perhaps they are right!

From the first session of the WE Conference on Wednesday afternoon, to the final night’s service of NYC on Monday, the meetings were blessed by gifted and anointed speakers and the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit.

We are so thankful for the sacrifices that our guests from the United States made to come all the way to the Philippines.  It was a great to have Sis Karen Farney (Sullivan, IL) and Sis Angelia Millican (Colo. Spgs., CO) as guests in our home and I know they were a big blessing to the Filipino saints as well.

Brothers Michael Jadrnicek and Josh Wilson ministered deeply to all of us (both on and off the platform) by the Word they preached and by their positive, uplifting, Christ centered ministries.

Most of all we give thanks for the 23 souls He filled with His Holy Spirit during the NYC services

10/5/11 - Working for the Lord
During weekdays, we teach at the Bible College in Manila.  We’re thrilled by the ministries we see developing in the 14 young men who are enrolled here.  We believe that a key part of God’s plan to reach the Philippines is developing national ministers who will in turn carry the gospel to their native peoples.  Lord willing, we will be opening a second branch of the Bible College in Kabankalan City in July 2012.

One possible development that we’re excited about involves using the Internet and video conferencing to conduct “virtual classroom” sessions.  The ability to conduct classes, with 2-way interaction, in multiple locations simultaneously, would greatly expand the reach of the Bible College.  One neat “side benefit” of virtual classroom technology would be the ability to invite guest lecturers from the US to teach in our classrooms, without needing them to leave their offices back home.

Many weekends find us traveling to our various churches located throughout the Philippines.  Travel here can be very taxing on the body.   Poor roads, crowded buses and boats, and tropical heat all take their toll, but it is worth it just to see the appreciation on the faces of our pastors when we show up to worship with them.

We are happy to report that God is still pouring out His Spirit in good measure in our churches.  At least 580 have received the Holy Ghost since 2009, our first year here, with a similar number being baptized.

We’re looking forward with excitement to our National WE and Youth Conferences, coming up at the end of October.  Please pray for these events to be a blessing to all in attendance.

9/5/11 – Packed Houses!

Thanks to the hard work and prayers of our pastors and saints, we’ve preached in a lot of places lately that were packed to, and even beyond, capacity.  More than 30 visitors attended the 1st Year Anniversary service of the outreach in Laguna Province, where Brother Alvin Alvarez is the pastor in charge.  Services are currently being held in Brother Alvarez’s apartment living room.  Even though the children were being tended to in a separate area, there was still not enough room inside to accommodate everyone. Several followed the entire 4 hour service from outside the building. Nonetheless, 3 souls received the Holy Ghost in that service!  Praise the Lord!

 

We were greeted to another capacity plus crowd at the 3rd Anniversary of our Taytay (Rizal Province) outreach, where Brother Napoleon Sullivan is the pastor.  Once again, many listened attentively from outside.  And, God blessed again as 6 more received the baptism of the Holy Spirit!

 

Once again, I want to thank those who have kept us, especially Sister Naimy, in their prayers.  Debra recently came down with Dengue Fever, a mosquito borne virus that comes with severe muscle / joint pain, headaches and high fever.  The disease normally runs its course in about 10 days. We praise the Lord that within minutes of a prayer request going out on day 5, all her symptoms disappeared for good!

 

8/5/11 – On the Go!

We are staying busy for the Lord!  While we teach in the Manila Bible College during the week, most weekends find us traveling to  minister at our churches throughout the Philippines. In just the last 3 months, I’ve preached in 12 different churches, scattered from Northern Luzon to Southern Mindanao!

 

It is always a blessing to visit these hard working and faithful pastors who are doing a tremendous work for the Lord!  

 

In the later part of the July we were blessed to visit Pastor Eldeflor Amores in Albuera, Leyte.  During our time there, Bro Amores conducted a “medical missions” outreach at his church, in conjunction with a local doctor and several nurses who all donated their time and services.  Over 125 patients from his community received free medical services and medicines donated by Bro Amores and his secular employer. (He is a pharmaceutical rep.)

 

In closing, Sister Naimy and I wish to thank the many who prayed for her, and all those who called and/or wrote, before, during, and after her recent surgery.   The outpouring of your love and concern touched us deeply.   We praise the Lord for a good report from the doctor, and that her recovery is progressing nicely.  

 

God bless you all!  We love you!

 

7/6/2011 – “A time to build…”

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1-3

 

Recent months have seen a marked increase in church building activity for the ALJC churches of the Philippines.  Right now, new construction is underway in Kabankalan, Cubao, & Nagsubu and will begin soon in Albuera.  Revival necessitates expansion!  God has been adding souls and many of our churches are simply outgrowing their current facilities.

 

I’m extremely proud of our local pastors and congregations for doing what they can to reach souls and to contribute to the current building efforts, in spite of very challenging financial realities. (A “good” wage here is $9 per day and unemployment is very high.)   Our church buildings are all humble, utilitarian structures.  Only a few are constructed of concrete blocks with metal roofs.  Many are made out of wood and bamboo with nipa (grass) roofs.  Some have dirt floors.  Too many are sitting on rented land.  But, everyone is genuinely happy just to have a place to come together to worship God!

 

Our sincerest thanks go out to all those who support the Philippines mission with your prayers and your finances!  May God bless you richly! 

 

6/1/2011 – Simply Amazing!

“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”  Acts 2:47

It feels like the book of Acts has reopened in the Philippines! We have entered into a season of the outpouring of God’s Spirit that exceeds anything we have ever witnessed before here.  Since April 1st, more than 140 souls have been filled with the Holy Ghost in services, conferences, and rallies throughout the country, and many have been baptized in Jesus name.   To God be the glory!

 

Amazing doors of opportunity are also opening.  In May, Pastor R. C. Nino and I taught a leadership seminar to a group of high school teachers in Hinigaran, Negros, inside the public High School!  At the conclusion, we were able to expound on God’s wonderful plan of salvation and many were visibly moved.  Many thanked us for sharing God’s Word with them.  We believe this is the beginning of good things to come in this city where we do not yet have a church.

 

There are many places throughout the Philippines where we have opportunities to start outreaches, but we need more workers and ministers, as well as finances. Please consider sponsoring a Bible College student. It is the quickest way we know to equip men to work in this very ripe harvest field.  Thank you!

 

5/1/2011– Revival in the Philippines!

The last few weeks have been simply amazing!  Here are some of the great things God has done for in the Philippines recently:

 

- Visiting missionary Paul Moorefield (India) evangelized among our churches in Luzon and Negros. 39 received the Holy Ghost during those services!

 

- The first Asia/Pacific Regional Conference of the ALJC was held in Bacolod City.  We were honored to have some of most amazing people on earth in attendance!  These included our missionaries Bro & Sis Edmonds from Taiwan, Bro & Sis Barnett (plus 8 others!) from Papua New Guinea, & Bro Moorefield from India, visiting minister Bro Bruce Glass from Australia, plus Bishop M. L. Walls, Bro Curtis Harris, Bro Matthew Ball and the Ed MacDonald family from the USA!   Everyone in attendance was uplifted, encouraged, and renewed by the ministries of these wonderful men and women of God!  We rejoice over the 41 who received the Holy Ghost during the Conference!

 

-  We issued Diplomas in Biblical Studies to the 7 students who completed their first year in the Bible College.   This is a vision coming to fruition!  Please join us in praying for God’s help in preparing many more laborers for His harvest.   Thank you!  Bro & Sis Naimy  

 

4/1/2011– Expanding Our Reach!

March was a busy outreach month for the ALJC churches of the Philippines.   The Cubao, Manila church conducted two Saturday night crusades with the theme “Jesus is Coming”.   These events featured great music followed by “End Times” prophecy news and evangelistic preaching. The rallies were conducted in areas where we already have small groups meeting regularly. We are thrilled that each event had over 100 visitors from the respective local areas in attendance!  We were very happy to have a very special guest preacher for the Novaliches meeting, Missionary Paul Moorefield (India) who will be spending the next month evangelizing and teaching in several our ALJC Philippines churches.

 

In Kabankalan, pastor R. Nino reports that more than 500 area High Schoolers attended a weekend Bible retreat his church sponsored! 

 

We’ve witnessed many hearts being touched by the Spirit of the Lord and the ministry of the Word in recent weeks and believe with all of our hearts that God is preparing a great harvest of souls to be with Him in eternity, from the Philippines. Please continue to pray for  revival in the Philippines!  

 

2/26/2011 – Sarah Visits the Philippines!

Our daughter, Sarah, recently made her first visit to the Philippines.  During the 6 weeks she was here, she got to see a lot of new and interesting places and she made lots of new friends!  Debra and I are extremely  grateful for all the kindness that our  Filipino brothers and sisters showed Sarah while she was here.  Everyone went out of their way to make her feel welcome and part of their family.  Sarah had a great time, and we can’t  wait till she comes back again!

1/6/2011 – Thank you!

During the holiday season we all tend to reflect on the things for which we are thankful.  Debra and I wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who have been supporting us and the work of God in the Philippines with their prayers and their finances.   We could not do this without you!   We consider it a tremendous honor to be your missionaries to the Philippines!

 

Ministry Opportunities Opening

God is opening many doors in the Philippines.   Lately, several of our ministers and workers have been invited by their local PUBLIC High Schools to teach Bible studies as part of their REGULAR curriculum! (Values and Ethics classes).  Needless to say, our people are tremendously excited about these opportunities to teach the Word of God to so many young people at such a key time in their lives!  

 

12/12/2010 - Overflow Crowd at Kabankalan Anniversary Service

We were honored to preach the 12th anniversary service of the church in Kabankalan, Negros Occ., on December 12th.  This great church is blessed to be under the leadership of Pastor Roberto Nino, Jr., and his precious wife Michelle.   We were thrilled at the overflow crowd (over 250) that came to celebrate this occasion in worship to the Lord.  We rejoice even more over the 4 souls that decided to be baptized that day and the one other that received the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost that day!  Praise the Lord!

 

12/8/2010 – Another Eventful Month!

November was another busy and blessed month for the ALJC Philippines team!  We were honored to attend and preach the 24th Anniversary of the church in Cadalian which is located in a beautiful part of Davao del Sur, and is pastored by Rev. Ruben Labawan.  There was a tremendous overflow crowd for the service (actually more people outside than inside)!  We enjoyed a great time in the Lord and in fellowship with God’s people!  Our next stop was in Bacolod City for a 2 day rally during where we were blessed once again by the ministries of the “Bingham clan”.  6 more received the Holy Ghost there!   Later in the month, a special service was held at Nagsubu, Batangas to commemorate the first anniversary of that outreach.  That work is on a farm about a kilometer off the closest road.  It was a muddy, but scenic walk in, and well worth it!  We had a wonderful service outdoors under a tarp.  We were delighted to have  many visitors in attendance.  I preached on “The Necessity of the Holy Ghost” and 2 received it!   We were also blessed to  attend and preach the 14th Anniversary service for Pastor Le of the Apostolic Churches of Jesus Christ in Cavite where we enjoyed yet another tremendous time in the Lord and with God’s precious people.  Hallelujah!

 

NYC Outpouring!

The annual National Youth Convention of the ALJC-PI held in Davao City over Oct 30 - Nov 1 2010, was a tremendous blessing to all in attendance.   We were all inspired, uplifted, and motivated by the anointed ministries  and the Word of God delivered by our beloved brethren from the United States — Brothers R. B. and Michael Bingham, Luke St. Clair, and Jeff Brantley. The Spirit of the Lord met with us in every service in a very special way, and we rejoice over 22 souls who received the glorious baptism of the Holy Spirit during this time!

 

10/27/2010 - Busy for Jesus!

Though at times we feel almost overwhelmed by our “workload” and the responsibilities of overseeing the missions work in the Philippines, we count it a tremendous blessing to be able to dedicate our time and efforts to reaching precious souls with the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ!   During the week our duties include teaching classes in the Bible College, grading papers and tests, and preparing the curriculum for the next term.  Sister Naimy is teaching a weekly piano class to our first year students, and is also giving private lessons to about a dozen people.  Most weekends find us traveling to preach at various sites throughout the country.  In just the past 2 months we’ve preached anniversary services at our works in Taytay, Bacolod City, and Cubao, and we’ve dedicated new churches in Bago City, Bulacan, and Mindoro.  Though it is spiritually, physically and emotionally taxing at times, it is more than worth it to see souls being born into the Kingdom!

 

Gospel Tracts Being Produced!

We are now producing our own gospel tracts in the Philippines!  Our goal is to print these in all the major languages and distribute millions of them.  People here gladly receive them, and we have the willing manpower to distribute them.   All we lack is the funds to print them in large volumes.  Please believe God with us to meet this need.  

 

9/27/2010 - Birthday Serenade!

It’s 4:40 a.m. and we are awakened by what sounds like angels singing outside our window!  It is still dark outside.  Lo and behold, it is a group of about  a dozen young people from the Cubao church singing Happy Birthday songs to Sis. Naimy.  I think this is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen anyone do to celebrate a birthday!  

 

9/01/2010 - For souls

100,000,000 souls in the Philippines and every one of them is going to spend eternity in only one of two places...heaven or hell.   This is the stark reality that motivates us every day.  We must do everything we can to reach them before it is too late.   I know we can do it, because Jesus would never give us a mission without giving us the ability to accomplish it!   How?   I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I may have a few pieces of the puzzle.   First, we must believe we can (and must!).  Edison said “There IS a way.  Find it.”   God’s way might not have yet entered my mind.  His way will no doubt stretch me way out of my comfort zone.   But there IS a way!   Secondly, we must learn to really work together.  The early church was unified and they turned their world upside down.  We have the resources (ministries, talents, finances, & everything  else we need) within the body.  These just need to be employed where and how Jesus would truly have them to be.  My pastor taught me to ask this question when a blessing came my way, “Lord, what would you have me to do with this that you’ve put in my hand?”  Third, we must train and equip thousands of workers and ministers.   This is the aim of our newly opened Bible College.   Fourth, we need to live and walk in the Holy Ghost.   There’s nothing like a notable miracle to turn people’s attention to God.   This was a hallmark of the early church, and it is also in many of our foreign mission fields today.