It has been a year already that I
have been able to be with my father and mother, reaching out to a little far
too distant from home. My father and mother started to go to Apalan last year
without even a sure back-up or support, nevertheless they went. Knowing their
desire to reach out to people who needs to grow in the knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ, I gave my support by voluntarily going with them and
of course, some financial needs. Year 2011 of January, I committed myself in
fully going with them and leave my home church as well as some of my
ministries. I was given the task to teach young people by first leading them to
know Christ as their Lord and Savior; Afterwhich, to teach and train them in
the principles of God. To be honest, it was my father still who mostly have led
them to know Christ, whereas, I continue to be a discipler or a teacher of God’s
Word.
There I saw the need for others
to know Christ more and I have seen how many are eager also to learn of the Lord
Jesus Christ. I usually compare my home church from that I see and experience
in the mission field, and truly made me see broadly the blessing and advantages
of a nearby home church. Sadly, sometimes these blessings or advantages are
merely taken for granted. And most often, are only kept and only shared within
the walls of the church building, never to abound and bless others by it. If it
does bless others, it is but a taste.
Training young people have been
such more struggling than I've ever encountered, probably because I only see them
once every week. Nevertheless, I thank God for His continuing guidance, wisdom,
empowerment and everything I ever need to continue to do His work. To impart
everything I know in a little span of time is such a tremendous task but maybe
fulfilling if such has been acquired or accomplished. Although I too have to
put in mind, spiritual growth is never my work to do, but of the Holy Spirit.
That is why making sure one has truly come to know Christ as their Lord and
Savior is essential and very important.
Most often, the struggle we often
deal with is of course are finances. With the increasing difficulty of living
here on earth due to economic crisis, such as fuel consumption, food and other
demands; such were hindrances. But thank God for people who continuously are
used by God to help in this ministry. God has been able to provide what is
needed at its appointed time. Insomuch we are so in great thanksgiving for
people who have been willing to be used by God through this aspect of ministry.
He provides simply enough. And, may God be glorified by those things!
After the month of April 2011, I
fully gave up all ministries I've been handling at our home church at the same
time my home church accepted my father as a missionary to the province of
Benguet and where ever God may lead. At that point, Guesset has been also a
place of which we ministered to and by request; we decided to have our services
interchangeably every Sunday. Even before Apalan, my father was already
preaching to Daclan, the adopted Mission point of Loakan Baptist Church. And
added to this is, my father also made to a point to go to the place called
Cubabeng, wherein relatives of 1 member from Apalan and 1 from Daclan resides.
With the desires of these members that their relatives will also hear God's
Word and the gospel, they requested my father to go to that place. Therefore,
he made schedule once every month; having therefore, me as to handle the
services in Apalan or Guesset, with the help of volunteer servants of the Lord.
As we went along, my father
realized the importance of prayer meeting in the ministry. Therefore he decided
to have prayer meeting in the place called Beckel, where some members of the
Apalan-Guesset Fellowship reside. I too requested to have a young people
fellowship, to add more time in teaching and training young people, therefore
we had to take Sunday afternoon for that at the same time, my father decided to
set a prayer meeting for adults.
So to summarize our activities in
a regular month: Every Sunday we go interchangeably either Apalan or Guesset to
have our Sunday Services; Worship Service in the morning, while Young people
fellowship / training and adult's prayer meeting in the afternoon. Since at
times, our vehicle is not enough for all to ride on, the vehicle has to go back
and fetch out the others. Then, my father goes to Daclan every second Sunday
and to Cubabeng on fourth Sunday of the month, while I stay and handle things
in Apalan or Guesset. But since as of this moment, Daclan has been able to have
a new Pastor, in the person of Ptr. Lowell Achedera, my father is now relieved
of going to Daclan. We still go to Beckel every Wednesday night for a prayer
meeting, and my Father recently have also started having Bible Studies in
Beckel every Saturday.
As for now, there is a lot of
things going on, planning to pursue a new church or Body of Christ in Beckel at the same
time in Cubabeng, while we train young people in Apalan-Guesset, with the hope
that in a few span of time, they could stand on their own and start to do the
Will of God as well. Surely these are great opportunities and tasks to pursue,
but it never means it’s an easy task. All throughout, there has been a growing
struggle and battle wherever and whenever we minister for the Lord. As my father envisions
pursuing these things, there are so many great needs, hindrances and struggles waiting
ahead. And perhaps all we can only do is ask God to be on our side and let His
Holy Spirit work through us and to His people.