We have a lot of news to share this month and a few
pictures. Much of this is copied straight from emails and skypes we have had
with church leaders from Lapoc and also from Tumpagon and Cauyunan.
The
church leaders from Tumpagon and Cauyunan have increased their study time
together and are finding this very beneficial for their growth and unity. These
pictures were taken in the church building in Tumpagon where they were studying
together last week.
Prayer
and praise points from Tumpagon and Cauyunan are:
1.
Praise God for 8
believers baptized in Pigtau on August 7th.
2.
Praise God that Tituy,
one of the Tumpagon church elders who fell into sin some years ago, has been
fully restored and reinstated in ministry!
3.
Praise God that Udi, one
of the church elders from Cauyunan, was not hurt worse when the scythe used for
harvesting rambutan (a fruit) fell on his face.
Udi is our son-in-law and we are so thankful he didn’t lose an eye or
get hurt worse. In the past two years we have seen Udi on a very steady growth
time spiritually and we have been so thankful to the Lord for him and for his
steadiness and maturity.
4.
Praise God that His Holy
Spirit is moving in the churches in Tumpagon and Cauyunan in a powerful way.
5.
Please pray for the
Youth Conference being organized for October and for Melecio, Junjun, Aiza,
Floramae, Jòjò daw Jerrum who are the planning committee for this conference.
Pray that this time will be a great encouragement for the Youth and will spur
them on to growth and obedience to the Lord Jesus.
6.
Please pray for a church
building needed for the believers in Pinatagan as they have grown in numbers
and can no longer meet just in homes.
This concludes the news from the Tumpagon and Cauyunan
churches and we now move 120 km south-east to the area of Lapoc where God’s
Spirit is also moving in a powerful way!
Prayer
and Praise points from the Lapoc area are:
1.
Praise God that the
group of marauders who were terrorizing the villages and especially the women,
are now on the run and are being chased by military.
2.
Pray for the ladies who
teach scripture in the schools as they meet on Thursday, Sept 4th
and one of the things they will be talking about is when to resume the
scripture classes in the schools that were affected by these marauders.
3.
Pray urgently please for the latest Gospel
outreach into the villages that for now we will call “B” and “D”. There have
been some huge obstacles and attacks against the Gospel in these areas and even
a plan to kill the bible teachers from Lapoc but God protected them. They continue to endure these dangers each
week for the sake of the Gospel and of the twenty-five people who are receiving
the Words of the Lord with great hunger and eagerness in these areas.
4.
Praise God for Ronnie
and Aling’s faithfulness and endurance in this difficult time of Aling’s
sickness. She continues on the palliative morphine and is not in too much pain
apart from in her pelvic area. She is able to eat and get up but is confined to
her home.
5.
Praise God for the
passion in the hearts of the Lapoc church to spread the Gospel. Last Saturday,
several of the church leaders went to survey a new area where they had heard
that there are people wanting to be taught and they are making plans to open up
a new work in this new place.
6.
Praise God for 8 new
ladies who want to help teach scripture in the schools and have started training
this month! Judy and Chariza (also in this picture below) are experienced
scripture teachers who have taken on the responsibility of training and
discipling these 8 ladies. Some of these
ladies are married with children, others are newlywed, and others are teenagers
just finished school. Pray for them that
their lives will bear fruit as they serve our Lord Jesus.
