Dear Bro. Mike and Bro. Roger,

 

Grace to you!

 

I want to give you an update regarding Feeding Ministry, Bryce Homes and Prison Ministry.

 

Prison Ministry

First of all the situation in the prison compound is still the same.  The Bureau of prison is implementing tight security strict regulations for the visitors.  It started last year December 2014 and until now the situation inside the prison in not far better since you are here last month of January.  However, the good thing is that in spite of turmoil the Lord’s work continues to flourish inside the prison.  Our brethren took the current situation in prison as a challenge to continue to persevere to share the gospel of Christ to their fellow inmates.  They have been more zealous in the Lord’s work in spite of all the turmoil.  Let us continue to pray for them that the Lord will continue to show his grace and mercy for the salvation of these prisoners.

 

Feeding Ministry

With regards to the feeding ministry.  Twice a week we do feeding ministry for the children.  On Sunday morning and in Friday evening.  Prior to the feeding is the preaching of the Word of God.  We all know that our main purpose for this ministry is not just to feed their physical body with the food that will perish but more importantly to feed their souls with imperishable Word of God.  to be able to monitor the growth of the children in the knowledge of the Scriptures, we divided the children into three groups.  The Primary Class which is children ages 3-6 years old.  The Junior Class ages 7-11 years old and the Young People Class ages 12-19 years old.  In the primary and junior class, we are teaching the subject of creation while in the young people class I am teaching them the subject of Christology.

 

Bryce Homes

Last month (January 2015) we distributed rice for each family and cash for educational allowance for each child under Bryce homes program.  They were very thankful for all the supporters of Understand The Times Ministry and through this letter they want to express their heartfelt gratitude to all the generous souls that were used by God to sustain His ministry.  Truly, God is good and God is great and He continues to use UTT ministry as a means of grace to reach these less fortunate families.  I would like also to inform you that these families are faithfully attending the church and they were much involved in feeding ministry through cooking and serving the children.  You have seen it personally during your visit here last month. 

 

Finally, more than physical and material blessings I want you to know that the children and their the parents are growing in the Lord.  Hearing the Word of God twice on Sunday and once every Friday helps them a lot in their growth in the knowledge of God and Savior Jesus Christ. 

 

Let us continue to pray for the Lord’s work here in the Philippines.  You can rest assured that we will continue to stand on our ground and remain faithful to the ministry of the Lord.    

 

May we be encouraged by the hymn written by Fanny J. Crosby to remain steadfast in our calling.

 

To the work! To the work! We are servants of God;
Let us follow the path that our Master has trod;
With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew,
Let us do with our might what our hands find to do.

Refrain:
Toiling on, toiling on,
Toiling on, toiling on;
Let us hope, let us watch,
And labor till the Master comes.

To the work! To the work! Let the hungry be fed;
To the fountain of life let the weary be led;
In the cross and its banner our glory shall be,
While we herald the tidings, “Salvation is free!”

 

Sincerely in Christ,

Richard