As I sit here in the office with my wife Barbra, of one of our pastors in Bacolod City, I am reminded once again of the purpose of Gods' calling and ministry for our lives here in the Philippines. This pastor and his wife pastor a great church and Christian School of over 200 students, have been under fire for the last six months, but are still standing strong. God has used both Barbra and I to speak into their lives for the last several years. Through this, our relationship with them has grown to a father, mother, son, and daughter experience. It is very true as we look back on the years of ministering here, Father has used us over and over to help restore and mature the leadership of the local churches to become stronger in their ability to minister to the local congregation.
Because of this, LGA Ministries and our Fellowship of churches continues to grow, and with that greater responsibilities are placed upon us, therefore the need of your prayers and support becomes more prevelant. Both Barbra and I are fulfilled in our ministries to the pastors and wives here.
We have just completed our 2008 LGA and River of Life Network meetings. Only eternity will tell of the complete success of the five meetings that we held on several Islands. We can attest of the things that we know were accomplished during this time. Truely the ministry team that God put together became a great blessing to the Kingdom of God here in the Philippines. Therefore, we recognize and give our appreciation to all the team members, Glen and Helen Richards, Ron and Susan Sprouse, and Al Keech. Also it was great to have the sister of Pastor Glen, Ruth, to travel with us and she was a real trooper. I know it was very difficult for the team who came from Kansas, Colorado, and Hawaii, to leave the comforts of their home and travel almost non stop for 18 days ministering under third world conditions. Meaning to say, not always having the comforts of home, like a good bed to sleep in, or food that they are accustomed to eating. Just traveling here in the Philippines by cars, barges, and boats, is difficult within it's self. One of the greatest things I appreciated personally was I never heard any complaining when difficulties and challenges sprung up in front of us. I know that the church here in the Philippines was not only ministered to, but changed by the affectiveness of the teaching and personal lives of this years team. We are excited and looking forward to the time they can return again.
We also want to thank those who have been praying for these meetings and helping to support financially. About $3,000.00 came in before the meeting started. The overall meeting expenses were somewhere near $5,000.00, but glory be to God He supplied all the needs.
The building and restoration of church buildings is continuing on and two of them are finished and another almost completely finished while two others are under construction. We have been blessed by the faithfulness of two business men who have caught the vision with us and have been helping to supply the necessary funds to get us to where we are. We know that others in the past have also been used to invest in the Kingdom of God here and we know that Father will continue to use these people and others because the task in front of us is still great. But we, having begun a good work surely have vision and desire to finish it. The revelation of the need of both priest and kings, to develop the Kingdom of God, has never been more clear to me. For you that may not understand this revelation, God raises up Kings such as business and financially enabled people to supply the finances Priest need, who are the ministers, to continue the work. Both are equally important and are laying up treasures in Heaven.
Both Barbra and I are excited about our remaining time here for this season as our plane is scheduled to fly out on May 25. We will be traveling and ministering these next two months to many of our Fellowship churches. Again this reflects the calling of God upon our lives and the reason he sent us to this great nation. This coming May 5 and 6 we will be holding our first annual Pastor and wives retreat for all LGA churches. We will be traveling also to two church thanksgiving services and to another church in Cantilan, Mindanao to receive them in as our newest addition to LGA's Fellowship of churches. It is not an attempt on our part to develop into a denomination or a large group; everything that we are focusing on is through relationship.
Barbra has been doing very well here with her new hip and says a big thanks to all who support her in love and prayers. In closing I would like you to understand the principle of reaping what you sow. Many of you are continually praying for us and giving from your financial substance. May I remind you and exhort you every cent you give and every prayer that you pray is being laid up in Heaven for eternal rewards that will never be taken away.
