A Day to Remember

We'll be leaving the Philippines in a few hours...I've been coming here every year since 1999, and I think I can honestly say that this was the very best trip yet...last night's ministry in Iligan City was amazing, and today's visit to the incarcerated children at the Ozamiz Youth Detention Center was heartbreaking (they actually put these beautiful little kids behind bars in hot, overcrowded cells)...I'll tell you about it all when I get home, and I'll post the rest of the pics on Facebook...but the shots below show what was probably my favorite part of the whole trip...

The UNITE 2010 conference was held at the Chinese church retreat center in Ozamiz City which was started by Watchman Nee's congregation back in the 30's...to be in a place that was connected with Nee was cool enough, in and of itself, but the church's pastor (Pastor Ting) invited us to stay and combine our Sunday service with them, and what happened in that service was (for me) even cooler...the man in the picture is Chua Behong, and he is an elder in the church...he is 100 years old...I had the privilege of helping him serve communion to the three nations represented in the service (China, Philippines, USA)...

There's no way to describe how awesome this man is...he has all of his faculties, but more importantly, he's just completely filled with the Spirit...and with love...and with wisdom...he's everything you would hope that a spiritual man would be at 100...just being in his presence affected me, and touched me very deeply...

Here he is looking out over the international congregation, clapping his hands and saying "So many people together!"

One thing that really impressed me was the way he worshipped...Pastor Jimmie was leading some very loud and upbeat praise, and this centenarian stood and clapped his hands and joined in on every song...

As the service was coming to a close, we took some pictures together...

This is Pastor Ting, one of the sweetest guys you could ever meet...he interpreted for me when I preached (in Chinese), while another pastor interpreted in Cebuano...here he is explaining the Chinese Bible to me...

Here we are after church with Bishop Tom...

Then Chua Behong invited us to lunch...he gave me a very generous offering, and then for an hour just poured out amazing wisdom to all of us...he shared with us the secret of his long life (basically it's just being happy, according to him), and he really sort of transformed us all...well, I can't speak for everyone else, but he certainly made an impact on me...meeting him was such a blessing...I don't think I'll be the same...I certainly won't forget that day...

More later...

UNITE 2010 First Pics

Pastor Jun from the Sanctuary Interpreting








The Jimmies Mayo (IV and V) Leading Worship


Bringing Pastors from Different Denominations Together


Pastor Chad Smith Sharing



A Morning Session



Bible School Graduation


Ordaining Pastors


Celebration!

Everything is beautiful in this conference...His kingdom continues to come, as His will is done on earth as it is in heaven...God is very real, and His presence is tangible in Ozamiz City this week...

I heard dad did great Wednesday night...thanks for the reports...

All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
(Colossians 3:11 - The Message)

Stay Connected

Hey bloggers...

First, I want to thank CITN for your recent giving and generosity...the offering to Haiti has been sent (if you want to give more through the church, you may still do so...and, by the way, as far as I know none of the many Haitians in the church lost any loved ones in the earthquake, for which we are very grateful!).

I also want to thank many of you for stepping up in the last few weeks and helping us to turn a corner in our financial situation. As you know, to do that we were required by our lenders to get caught up and have all payments in on time for three consecutive months, and we have been able to do that for two of those three. But this month is equally important, so please keep embracing your responsibility to the continued success of our ministry (remember...we didn't need a miracle...we need YOU...YOU are the miracle!)

We're leaving today for the Philippines, and will be gone for 11 days. I'm taking my computer with me, so I assume that I'll be able to communicate with you and to keep up with the blog and Facebook. If for some reason I'm not, just keep us in your prayers, and please be sure to participate in the services (and give!). My dad will be ministering this coming Wednesday night, Pastor Michael Person will be ministering in the 9 AM service next Sunday, and P. Judah and Project 404 will be doing a special service in the 11 AM.

And remember that the just shall live by their faith...so keep believing!

And stay strong...


I love you all...