God’s love is always reaching out, always seeking those who are lost, always seeking to restore people to fellowship with their Creator. And we really saw this in February of this year.
February was, as all months, overflowing with activity. And yet this month in more ways than usual, we saw God stretch out His love here in Bicol.
Sharing about God’s love at our Valentines Student Round-up
In Legazpi, we were well into the second semester of school. Up to now most of our college-student contacts had already been made, and most of our ministry was simply following up and discipling them. However, we were surprised in February when God did a fresh work of connecting us with more students.
Posing with Krisel, Gab,a nd Jenny at one of our student gatherings in February
What a joy it is to see these new students grow in interest in the Lord and begin to attend various ministries!
These new students came across our paths in a few different ways. First, two groups moved in near our student center. One of the students in one of these groups was already attending our church, and so she served as a natural bridge to the others. Other students came also by invitation of classmates who were attending our activities.
One of the first mid-week Bible studies at our Legazpi Student Center
In an effort to respond to these students, we began a mid-week Bible study in our boarding house / student center. We had expected this to be a small group of 7-10 students, but many more attended than we expected, sometimes bringing the attendance past 20. Working through the book of 1 John chapter by chapter, I began repeating this study as well on campus at Bicol University campus for other students who could not attend in the evening. Overall we usually have a combined attendance of 20-30 students each week.
Students interacting during our Valentines Day Round-up
God also opened the doors for more contact to students through an evangelism training we began holding before our church services on Sunday. Covering the basics of contact evangelism, the evangelism training inspired some of the students to start making outreach a weekly part of their schedule. As a result a number of students received the Lord in February. This is what also led to other students in the evangelism training inviting classmates to activities in the church at student ministry, ASC.
Mike and Maggie Cano sharing at our Valentines Day Round-up
Of course the heart of February is Valentines Day, and we didn’t miss that opportunity. By God’s grace we were able to hold a Valentines Day “Round-up” for students at our student center.
Besides games, worship, and special numbers, the program also included a panel discussion on God’s desire for love, courtship and marriage, led by Mike and Maggie Cano, good friends of mine, who carved out time in busy schedules to join us. What a blessing to have them join us! (Mike and Maggie were two who really encouraged me to start ministry in Legazpi. Maggie serves as the faculty advisor at BU for our campus ministry.)
Talking with students at our Valentines Round-up
The Valentines Day Round-up ended with my giving a short message/presentation about God’s amazing love.
But Valentines Day was hardly the end of the February activites. Hardly had we finished with our Valentines round-up, when a group of 12 from Calvary Chapel – Chino Hills arrived to help us out for the next weekend. Since we only had them for a couple days, we didn’t waste any time putting them to work.
Rommel from CC Chino Hills sharing the gospel with a group of students at BU.
Their first activity was more outreach at Bicol University. It was a great experience, and they came back with more than 50 names of students interested in knowing more about Jesus or who had prayed to receive Christ.
The same night we held a Post Valentines-day Dinner for some of the older members of our new church here, as well as friends who we or they had invited. All in all over 20 accepted the invitation.
CC Chino Hills group singing at the Post Valentines Day Dinner.
The dinner involved time for those in the church, as well as on the team from California, to interact and share with the visitors. Pastor Joe de Jesus, a friend from Manila and also connected with CC Chino Hills gave a great message, and the response was great.
Having never done anything like this before, we weren’t sure how it would go. However, God was good. It was reported to me that there were some decisions for Christ right at the tables, and a few of the visitors have shown up at our Sunday service over the past couple weeks as well!
CC Chino Hills sharing at one of the kids’ outreaches on San Miguel Island.
After the team finished in Legazpi, we swept them away to the islands, where we held a Saturday full of children’s ministry both on San Miguel Island and on Cagraray. All in all about 130 children attended the four outreaches.
The CC Chino Hills ministry ended with Pastor Jeff Kerns and Pastor Joe de Jesus sharing at a joint Sunday service at our campsite in the morning, and at our Legazpi church in the afternoon.
Posing with CC Chino Hills group at the pier.
It was a busy month without question. But what better way to use the Month of Hearts than to share God’s love with people who need it so badly?
News from the Islands 