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An International Missionary Outreach Dedicated to Evangelizing the Lost By Sharing The Gospel According to the Scriptures
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Ongoing
Updates About Mission Philippines |
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Philippines March 2014 Grace to you! I am in receipt of UTTI support for the month of December-March sent monthly by Bro. Michael Miller, intended for Feeding Ministry, Bryce Homes, and Prison Ministry. With regards to our feeding ministry, I would like to inform you that the children are growing physically and spiritually. The children that formerly belong to the Primary Group have been transferred now to Junior Class and few more years and they will be in Young People Class. Truly, time flies so fast and let us continues to pray that these children abide with what they learned from the word of God that they may be used in God’s kingdom when they grow up. Thank you very much Bro. Mike and Bro. Roger and to all the supporters of UTTI ministry for your burden for the ministry of the Lord in reaching less fortunate people for Christ. May the Lord continue to bless UTTI ministry. In Christ, Richard
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Philippines March 2014
Dear Bro. Mike and Bro. Roger, I would like to give you an update with regards to the prison ministry here in the Philippines supported by Understand the Times Ministry. Once I have expressed my desire to quit prison ministry due to the fact that prison ministry is so laborious, hard, risky and demands more time. There comes a time that I stopped teaching in prison and I only went there to give their financial support courtesy of Understand The Times International ministry. Yet, all these changed when one Saturday an inmate in prison talked to me and opened his heart to me and express his deepest gratitude for time and effort that we are doing in prison. He is very thankful because for almost 15 years of prison ministry he saw how the grace of God sustained their need in prison. It was then I realized how the Lord’s love and mercy were felt in prison through this ministry. I realized also how I became selfish, thinking only my personal comfort and ease without realizing that these inmates are suffering and destined to eternal condemnation if nobody will share to them the gospel of salvation through faith in Christ alone. I became blind to the fact that seeing convicted criminals singing “amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me” is truly a wonderful sight to behold. Convicted criminals changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ are now preachers of the gospel that saved them. I would like also to inform you that two inmates that have been released from prison became a member of our church in Malanday Marikina. They are very faithful to the Lord and they are the one who come with me whenever I visit the prison. I was challenge to Michael Miller because every time he will spent his vacation here in the Philippines with his family, he always find time to visit our brethren in prison not just in Maximum and Medium Security Compound but also in Iwahig Penal Colony in Palawan which is a separate island from Luzon. As of now I continue my regular teaching in prison. I am teaching them spiritual discipline and Bible survey in the Book of Corinthians. I attached herewith undated photos of our Brethren in prison expressing their deepest gratitude to Understand The Times International Ministry. I attached here also pictures of Bro. Michael Miller during his visit in Medium Security compound and in Iwahig penal colony in Palawan. Thank you very much bro. Mike and Bro. Roger and may the Lord continue to put the burden in your hearts for the prison ministry. We will work till Jesus comes! In Christ,Richard
D 
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December 18, 2013
Bryce Homes Update
from Manila This update is coming to you from Manila where I am presently located. I arrived here late on the 15th of December and will be heading back to the USA on the 21st in time to be at home with my family for Christmas. While the Philippines has been in the world news lately because of the terrible typhoon that caused destruction and death in a wide area, all of our Bryce Homes were spared from this disaster in the Manila area. Before this disaster struck I had made plans to visit the Philippines while Mike and Becky Miller were here to visit their family for the Christmas season and to update myself on the progress of the Bryce Homes Program here as well as to look at the possibility of expanding the number of homes. Yesterday I met with, Rey and Gleceria Laoagan (Bryce Home One) and their five children. As well, the Laoagan family looks after Abner, an 18 year old boy from a remote tribe in the Philippines, who is receiving his High School education in Manila while living with the Laoagan family. Abner will be graduating from High School in March and has plans to continue his education at a Bible Seminary where he will be trained to become a Bible teacher and take the gospel in his native language to his home community.
T wo years ago when we started the Bryce Home Program in the Philippines we assisted the Laoagan family to build an addition to their house in order to accommodate the addition of Abner and one other boy. The second boy returned to his village as his mother was very ill and will not be returning.
While visiting Rey and his family I was informed that there are several children orphaned from the recent typhoon who are now attending the same school Abner is attending in Manila. I have asked that research be done and if there is a way we can add one or more of these orphans to our Bryce Homes program, we will offer to do so. On another note, funds for the Understand The Times/Lighthouse Trails Special Winter Building Program are coming in on a daily basis. Winter Offering Special Building Fund We are about half way to our goal and are trusting the Lord to provide through year end giving that often comes in the last week of the year. Over the next few days I will be sending more reports from Manila that will be posted at our Understand The Times website.
Sincerely,
Bryce Homes Update
from Manila From Roger Oakland Report 2 Yesterday was another great day here in Manila. Pastor Richard along with Mike Miller picked me up at my hotel in the afternoon and we headed for Malanday, a region where six Bryce Homes are located. We were greeted by an afternoon heavy downpour on the way as well as the traffic that clogs the Pasig City streets almost twenty-four hours every day. Finally after a full hour we arrived at our destination. The Malanday area is where Pastor Richard and his wife Bernadette have established a church among some of the poorest people in the Manila area. Most of the people that live in this region have been moved there by the government from shanty areas and given some assistance to construct shelters. Some of the shelters are acceptable by western standards but most are not. It is in this area that we have reached out to some of the poorest families attending Richard’s church for the purpose of establishing six more Bryce Homes. As darkness was approaching quickly we only had time to visit four of the six homes. Later today when we return to the area for the Understand The Times Christmas Program which will be for all the poor children in the area we will visit the remaining two homes. While the Philippine government provides free education for all children, the families in this area are so poor they are not able to send their children to school as they are not able to provide food and clothing. In some cases they will be able to send one child to school but the remaining children in the family must remain at home and work. The Bryce Homes Philippine Program comes along side families in situations like this and assists them financially on a monthly basis so the children can attend school. While all children in Bryce Homes Program have benefited spiritually and physically over the three full years the program has been in place, there is one handicapped boy who touched my heart from the beginning that I want to mention. Initially when I met Russel and his mother he was very withdrawn and frightened. He did not want to communicate in any way with me. It was obvious that he needed special education and care because of his condition. Now after three years you would hardly know he is the same boy. While clearly stating a number of English words he hugged me expressing his appreciation. In fact, he did not want to leave my side and followed me everywhere I went. His mother told me he is improving every day and loves to attend his special education classes. She also hugged me with appreciation and with tears in her eyes.
The children I visited in the remaining three homes we visited yesterday were also very grateful. One of the purposes of my trip here, this time, was to give the parents of each home a special Christmas gift from Understand The Times to assist their families at this special time of the year and to encourage them. These gifts were made possible by the generous donations we have received from donors through Understand The Times.
Several of our Bryce Homes are in dire need of physical reconstruction. While we do not have the funds to assist now we will look at this possibility in the future. As well, there are at least three other families who attend Richard’s church who are in great need of sending their children to school and would fit well into our program here. As our donors express their support we will pass these funds on to Pastor Richard who oversees our program here in the Philippines.
Later today we will be returning to Malanday for our Christmas Party. I brought, with me, several packages of Christmas candy which most of the children will have never experienced before. We will also provide bags of rice for their families so that many lives will be blessed. Just before we left, Mike Miller felt upon his heart to provide a special cash donation to the lady who volunteers her time to help cook every week for the feeding program. This has become a community that has become united together because of the goodness they have seen distributed from others around the world who have expressed their love and concern. It is because of Mike Miller and his love for the Lord that God led me to this area.
For me, the progress that I have seen as the gospel of Jesus Christ is being spread in the Philippines, is very gratifying. I know that my son Bryce would be excited and grateful to see what has been accomplished here in the Philippines in his memory. Tomorrow I will be reporting on the Christmas party for all the poor children in the Malanday region.
Sincerely, From Roger Oakland Report 3 Final ReportWe arrived in the Malanday area of Manila early Saturday morning in plenty of time to visit the remaining two Bryce Homes that we had not visited. Already there were children gathering for the Christmas Party Understand The Times had planned for the children in the area who attended the feeding program during the year at Pastor Richard’s church. The mothers of several of the Bryce Homes, Pastor Richard’s wife Bernadette, and several volunteers were at the church preparing the food that would later be given out as part of the special Christmas celebration. For the vast majority of the children, this feast would be a dinner they had never before experienced – spaghetti with meat sauce along with plenty of chicken. The Christmas program began at about ten in the morning with Pastor Richard welcoming the seventy or more children from ages 5 to 17 who had assembled. Three age groups participated in the program reciting Bible verses and singing a number of Christmas hymns and songs. Pastor Richard asked me to share a short message based on scripture with regard to the meaning of Christmas explaining the importance of Jesus, the most important gift that has ever been given.
Following this message the children played a series of relay games according to age groups. Without question this was a delightful time as everyone was cheering for their own team and shouting loud enough to raise the tin roof of the church. Then came time for the handing out of gifts to every child that was in attendance. Each received a bag of candy, bag of rice for their families and an article of clothing. All of the volunteer helpers received gifts as well.
Finally it was time to eat. Individual plates full of food were handed out to everyone. I only wish our Understand The Times supporters could have been there to experience the joy that I experienced and the wonderful blessing I received to see firsthand what God is doing in the Philippines through the ministry that has been raised up.
The children who are part of this feeding program are all regular attendees of Sunday School and other Bible classes held at Pastor Richard’s church. They have all heard the gospel and know what it means to be “saved by grace.” I am grateful to Pastor Richard and his team for the great work they are doing in this poor community as they reach out to the hungry but more importantly to those who are spiritually lost. When I asked Richard about his assessment of the Understand The Times feeding program he told me that about fifty percent of the adult congregation were attending his church as the result of children in the program bringing their parents to church to hear the gospel. What God is doing through the ministry of Understand The Times under the guidance of Pastor Richard in the Philippines is truly exciting.
Dear Bro. Mike and Bro. Roger,
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Dear Bro. Mike and Bro. Roger,
Dear Bro. Mike and Bro. Roger,
Click On A Picture To View It Larger August, 2013 Letter 2
Dear Bro. Mike and Bro. Roger,
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Dear Bro. Mike and Bro. Roger,
Dear Bro. Mike and Bro. Roger, I am sending the pictures of Feeding and Rice Distribution of Understand The Times Ministry. We are giving a kilo of rice for every child under our feeding program at least once a month. I am in receipt of UTTI monthly support for the
month of March. On behalf of all the recipients of UTTI support to
children that benefits in our feeding ministry, inmates in prison
that are very thankful for your continuous support, and Bryce Homes
kids for food and school support.
March 6, 2013 Dear Bro. Mike and Bro. Roger, Grace to you! Sending you the latest pictures of Bryce Homes 2-7 giving school support and food for their daily sustenance. They are very grateful to the Lord for using UTTI as a means of grace through helping them to cope up with the daily struggle of living. These families are faithfully attending the church and let us continue to pray that the Lord will touch their hearts and open their minds so that they would come to the understanding of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Praise the Lord for using both of you and the ministry of Understand The Times in reaching less fortunate souls and bringing them to the Lord. We will continue to pray for God's provision for UTTI to be able to maintain all the necessary expenses for the ministry. Looking forward for the Great day of Christ coming! In Christ, Richard
January 12, 2013 Day five in Manila was another seminar day. This time the church in Malanday was packed, both the main floor and the balcony above. Youth groups had been invited from several churches. They had never heard anyone present the reasons why creation is the foundation of the Christian faith nor seen the evidence that exposed the Darwinian evolution view. I spoke three times during the day developing the case for creation. It seemed as if everyone was interested in the information. As on the previous day Michael Miller spoke and shared his testimony. His talk was appreciated by everyone. Michael is unique. Few that I know who suffer a disability like cerebral palsy are willing to stand up in front of a crowd and share how God has touched their lives . Mike does this in a very effective way.
The day was long and very hot. When the question period that ended the conference was over we still had time to visit the remaining Bryce Homes in the area. A month ago, a sponsor contacted me letting me know that he would commit to sponsoring an additional Bryce Home in the Philippines. This brings our total number to seven.
The Bryce Homes Program in the Philippines assists poor Christian parents to send their children to school and to also provide clothes and food. This can be done for as little as $100 per month. There are no administrative costs as Pastor Richard implements this program voluntarily though his church. Many of the children in his church started to attend regularly because they were being fed twice a week by the feeding program we support. Eventually, one parent or sometimes both parents starts attending and they hear the gospel and become Christians. As you can see this is not just the “rice gospel.” This is the gospel according to the scriptures. Not only will lives be changed for “the here and now” but for “eternity”. It is our hope and prayer that at least some of these children will continue their education and become leaders that will impact their country for Jesus. All of the families that we are supporting that have been designated as Bryce Homes are moving ahead with Christ leaps and bounds. If you are participating as a donor in any way to the program we want to thank you for what you are doing. God is at work in one of the poorest areas of the Philippines and people like you are making a difference.
January 11, 2013 It has been several years since I have spoken three times in one day on the topic of creation. Yesterday I had that opportunity. While the heat and humidity was somewhat challenging at times, by the grace of God the task at hand was accomplished. The group in attendance was made up of a mixture of pastors and church workers from several churches. I must say that getting back to the subject of the importance of biblical creation was invigorating for me. For the last decade the discernment side of the ministry has overshadowed the basic creation-evolution ministry that was the foundation of my call into ministry .It seems that discernment is a battlefield with so-called believers who seem bent on heading down the road of apostasy. Continuous conflict has consequences. There are very few rewarding experiences that accompany this kind of ministry. However, worldwide, I have found that in most cases, when the evidence is presented to support the biblical creation view, people are blessed and encouraged. This was certainly the case yesterday. As the day unfolded, the topic reinforced the concept that faith in the Word of God is dependent on hearing the Word of God. By showing evidence from the facts we find in biology, geology and archaeology supporting the Bible, faith was built up. A number of the attendees were excited about the meetings and thanked me for coming. We also handed out a number of Evidence for Creation books and Searching for the Truth on Origins DVD packets.
Following the completion of the conference there was time to visit three Bryce Homes in the Malanday area. The last time I was there was during the flood caused by the typhoon last August when the area was devastated. The area looked so much better I could hardly believe my eyes. For those who donated to assist our Bryce Homes during this time, we express our gratitude to you. You have no idea what a difference you made in the lives of these families.
I got back to my hotel room late in the afternoon completely exhausted. Tomorrow will be another interesting day as we are scheduled to speak to a group of students, many of them who have been already indoctrinated by evolution by their education.
January 10 2013 Yesterday was a partial day of rest while the rest of the day was spent visiting Bryce Home One. This is the first home we established here in the Manila area. The caretaker and overseer is Rebecca Miller’s brother Ray who I have known since the first time I came to Manila five years ago. It was Ray’s vision to provide education for at least two poor native children from a remote area of the Philippines. The two boys are Joseph and Abner. They attend school nearby with his own children and stay with his family. As Ray’s family live in a very small home, UTT was able to provide funds for him to build a small addition to his house where they can have their own room. It was very encouraging to see what is happening through Ray’s mentorship. The boys have learned about the Christian faith and know the Lord and read the Bible. They attend church with Ray’s family on a regular basis and have a desire to attend a Bible School when they finish school so they can effectively share the gospel when the go back to their village. I was able to speak to the two boys as they are learning English in school. They both had printed out a thank you note to give me expressing their appreciation for the chance they had been given to improve their lives.
January 9 2013 Prison Ministry in Manila My entire day yesterday was spent visiting the Medium Security Prison here in Manila speaking to a group of about 35 pastors. One of the ministries, that Understand The Times supports financially here in Manila, is to take the gospel message to prisoners. Last year when I was here we visited the Maximum Security Prison. This year we did a daylong session at the Medium Security Prison that houses about 6500 men. No matter how many times I have visited a prison, each new visit provides new feelings and emotions that I never experienced before. Yesterday was no exception. The prison is not confined to a few buildings – it is an entire city. After clearing security at the gate we made a long walk through the prison grounds. As we were not allowed to take in anything with us but our Bibles and our notes I have no photographs to visually illustrate the many memorable sights along the way. Finally we ended up in a room open to the outside but surrounded by barbwire. I had never had the experience of speaking in a cage before. Pastor Richard, who is in charge of the prison ministry, shared the first session by giving an excellent message based on Chapter 40 from the Book of Isaiah. In the second session, I shared my testimony and explained my own personal journey from believing in evolution to creation. Following a break for lunch for the prisoners (pastors), Mike Miller shared his testimony and challenged the men to share the gospel with their inmates. His messages are always inspirational. Mike is handicapped with cerebral palsy but his handicap does not limit his ability and gift of being able to point people to Jesus Christ and his Word. In the final session I spoke of the topic of how creation is the foundation of the Christian faith and how creation can be used as a means of evangelism giving facts supporting the biblical creation view along with a number of scriptures. Following that there was a question period that lasted for about half an hour. About ten different Christian denominations were represented. These men have become believers and pastors while incarcerated in jail and are now reaching out and sharing their faith with others. The next time that Richard visits the prison he will bring with him a number of Evidence for Creation books that will provide more factual information these men can use to point unbelievers to the Creator, Jesus Christ. The journey back to my hotel through the heavy traffic was long and tiring. Tomorrow I will spend the day visiting Bryce Home One as well as meeting with Mike and Becky Miller who coordinate the ministry here in the Philippines.
January 8, 2013 I am writing this update from Manila, Philippines. I arrived here late last night after a long trip via San Francisco and Guam. I will be here for one very busy week. My plan is to post a few reports to let our readers know our activities. Mike Miller and his wife Becky are here as well. Mike will be involved in several of the meetings. We will be speaking to prisoners in jail, pastors and church leaders and students. The major theme of my topics will be the importance of biblical creation and how it can be used as a tool for evangelism. We will also checking on the Bryce Homes Philippines Program and adding an additional Bryce Home, Bryce Home 7, while we are here. We are grateful to those who have caught our vision and have come alongside the ministry of Understand The Times by support the Bryce Home Program here in the Philippines. As a side note, Becky Miller will be sending out receipts to donors who donated during the month of December when she and Mike return from the Philippines about the middle of the month. If you were a December donor and did not receive a receipt and thank you note from us it was because Mike and Becky have here in the Philippines visiting relatives. As another side note, Wade and Lisa Oakland who live in Canada had an addition to their family in the early morning hours of January 6 – Caitlin Rae. As you can see Elizabeth Ann is a very proud sister. Myrna and I now have four grandchildren – one boy and three girls.
August 12, 2012 The sun shone in Manila on Sunday morning and we headed off to Malanday where five of our Bryce Homes are located. Pastor Richard had called me late Saturday night indicating they were planning to hold a service at his church and asked me if I would speak. He also told me that the clean-up was a long way from being complete and to expect the same devastation we had observed two days earlier. As Sunday was to be my last full day here in the Manila area it was important that we do our best to visit the Malanday area with the purpose of speaking to the fellowship of believers and to visit the Bryce Homes. We arrived in the Malanday area but Richard was only able to find a place to park that was about a block and a half from the church. The last time I had been there was at night and there were no lights to see. This time it was broad daylight. We put on our boots and headed towards the church. The following photos will give you an idea the conditions the poor people of Malanday are facing. The water has subsided but the damage remains. The smell is unbearable. Disease threatens their lives.
According to reports the government will not be able to clean up the area for at least one week and the power will be off for at least one month. We visited all five Bryce Homes before the service and tried to encourage the parents of the homes and the children. We also committed to continue to provide them with resources so they can get back on their feet.
As you are reading this report, try to imagine what it would be like to live in this location during this time. This morning the weather report indicates there is another monsoon in the making and Manila is expected to face more flooding in the near future. My topic for the morning service was intended to be an encouragement to those who were there. Before the adult service over 50 children from the area met and sang songs, recited Bible verses and had a Bible Study. Afterwards the children were fed and given a packet of rice and noodles to take home.
If you were here to see this situation as I was I am sure you would be deeply impacted. We who have so much have no idea what it would be like to be faced with a situation like the one that has been experienced here. If you can help in any way it will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
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August 11, 2012 The rain stopped today but the whole day was spent waiting to see if we could enter into the Malanday area to visit our Bryce Homes and take in relief. It was not until late in the evening that I heard from Richard. He notified me that we would attempt to hold a service at his church on Sunday morning and that I should be ready to be picked up early Sunday morning. Apparently the conditions are still very bad and the streets have not been cleared. I will know more in a few hours and will write another report as soon as I know more. Please continue to pray for all of our Bryce Homes in the Manila area and the people of Richard’s church in Malanday. This is a crisis that is beyond anything I have ever experienced first-hand. We will do all we can while we are here with the resources we have and then follow up with more supplies to be distributed later when I return to Canada.
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August 10, 2012 Since turning the focus of the ministry of Understand The Times towards sharing the gospel to the needy in poor countries I have witnessed and experienced many things that have been etched into my mind for as long as I live. More and more it becomes obvious to me that this is the direction the Lord has called us to go in this phase of my life. Yesterday, while here in Manila, it was once more confirmed that reaching out and helping the poor and orphaned is truly what the Bible calls “real Christianity” (James 1:27). As I mentioned in my previous report I arrived at the Manila Airport in the midst of one of the heaviest continuous downpours the city has ever experienced. All rivers had over flown their banks and low lying areas nearby had been flooded. Over 1 million people have been impacted by this disaster and the loss of human life is now over sixty. The first day I was here it was not possible to go to the area where our Bryce Homes are located because it was completely underwater. Yesterday there was a let up in the rain and we set out around noon to take food and necessities to as many of the six homes we are supporting here. Pastor Richard picked me up and we went to a large market where we purchased rice, noodles, sardines and soap. Our first stop was Bryce Home One in the region of Pasig City. While the water here had been chest high it was one of the first areas to subside. Our caretakers there are Rey Loaogan and his family. Earlier this year UTT had assisted Rey to add a room to his humble home to take in two children, to care for them and give them an education. After dropping off some goods we proceeded on our way to the area where the remaining Bryce Homes are located – Malanday.
Finally by dark we arrived at Malanday but were unable to get within a block and a half of the church. There are no words to properly describe the conditions we saw. What made it worse is that there was no power and we were submersed in compete darkness. A group of children from Pastor Richard’s church in Malanday met us and told us the best route we could go to make it to the church on foot. We put on our knee high boots and slopped our way through the muck carrying the produce we had purchased to the church. Some of the older children helped us carry the smaller packages. I cannot describe in words the conditions we saw in this area. The streets were completely buried in mud and garbage three of more feet high. As you can understand the smell of this rotting garbage was unbearable. It is hard to imagine how the people living here would be able to recover. I have been to this area several times before in the past. In my wildest dreams I could have never imaged the devastation I saw this time. After dropping of the produce at the church there was not much else we could do. As we were leaving the area the sky opened up again with another deluge and there was a tremendous amount of lighting and thunder. As we headed back to the hotel Pastor Richard received word that government officials had warned those who remained in the Malanday area to leave immediately as an overflow from a dam holding back a river running through the area was about to be released. Today the rain has subsided and I am waiting word whether we will be able to go back tomorrow. I desperately want to see the remaining five Bryce Homes and find out what we can do to assist them in this time of need. I am also thankful I was here to be able to see first-hand what our brothers and sisters in Manila are facing and to find ways to help them in this time of great need. While it is not our custom to appeal for funds every time we see a need, I feel that this is an exception. If you feel led to contribute to assist in this situation you can do so through Understand The Times. Pastor Richard is a totally trustable brother who will administer the distribution of all resources. Your gifts will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
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Approximately two months ago were led to the Philippines to minister to a group of Philippino pastors. This speaking tour was arranged by Mike Miller and his wife Rebecca who are residents of the USA. Mike and Rebecca have a burden for sharing the gospel in the Philippines. While there, it did not take long to see that the Lord had opened a huge door for the ministry of Understand The Times to come along like-minded brothers and sisters who God had already raised up to minister to children and adults as ambassadors of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Since returning home, we have received several reports of how the ministry continues to grow. We were amazed at the support that we received from our commentary titled “From Garbage to God.” These funds have been invested in the leaders and projects that we have chosen. It is our desire to reach out with humanitarian aid along with the gospel as well as providing education for children and adults to be better messengers of the gospel. The following photos show the fruit of the outreach we have to the poor families near Antipollo. This project is being implemented by Pastor Rusidel Danan. The children involved here are from the families we reported on previously in our commentary “From Garbage to God.” The photos need no explanation.
Letter From Pastor Paul - UTT Philippines Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The attached photos were taken during the regular UTT Feeding Program for the month of August. We prepare breakfast every Tuesday morning. Their meal is a hot chocolate drink, bread with spread and a hotdog alternated with boiled eggs. Before 6:00a.m. breakfast is ready because most of the children are going to study in secular school at 7:00a.m. But before they take their breakfast we have a minute of prayer to the Lord. Regular attendance is about 25 to 35 children. Sister Annabel is always helping me in preparing and cleaning. My son, Israel, is assigned in cleaning the area before and after the program. The feeding program is twice a week, the second day is every Saturday. The meal is for lunch. WE cook rice and adobo pork, sometimes chicken tinola. The regular attendance is 25-30 children. Before they have their lunch, we do the main objective- Teaching the Word of God. The past lesson is "Knowing the Books of the Bible", the ongoing lesson is "Showing God's Love." Lessons are written by Sheila Scroggins. I teach children ages 8-12 yrs old while my daughter Grace teaches those who are ages 4-7 yrs old. I have a vision for the children from the Lord. In the future they will be in service for the Lord, by God’s grace. I have advised Israel, my son, to teach children how to play guitar. We have a standby second hand electronic organ. it was donated by Bro Rey Laoagan and we are praying for an adaptor. We are also praying for a second hand computer. My daughter, Grace, is now ready to teach the children how to play the organ and how to use the computer. Please bear with me in prayer for them. Thank you very much for all the goodness. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always. In
Christ’s Service,
Another report sent to us by Pastor Richard explains how Pastor Reuben and Pastor Richard have been taking the message of creation to students in the Philippines. The students who are being shown the documentary “ A Question of Origins” and also taught about the importance of creation as the basis of Christianity. Here is what Pastor Richard wrote:
Grace to you and peace be multiplied upon your
hearts. I want to send you a good report on how the Lord works at
the young hearts of grade VI graduating students of God's Grace
Christian School.
After the question and answer which last for 30 minutes I ask them to write a reaction regarding the movie and the lecture. It is really a blessing to see how the Lord works in the young hearts of these students as I read their papers in their written reaction. I attached here the pictures and reactions of these students.
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Understand The Times is an independent non-profit organization in
Canada and the United States.
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