What an awesome privilege it was to minister to the beautiful children of the Philippines! Last week, through the ministry of Shiloh Bible Training Ministries, we brought SonForce Kids Vacation Bible School and touched the lives of over 70 children.

We began first with a VBS for Pastor Millet Buenafe at her pioneer church at Christian Development Centre. Although this church just began 2 months ago, about 20 children participated in this 3-day VBS.

Our second VBS for Pastor Mao Hernandez’s church was a 5-day VBS. Pastor Mao sent his jeepney out and brought in children from all around the city, and each day they came to sing songs, play games, make crafts and listen to God’s Word. Through the lives of Moses, Esther, Daniel, Jeremiah, Joshua and Caleb, our Bible times ’special agents’, they learned to 1) Trust in God’s plans for their lives, 2) Unite with God’s people, 3) Train for God’s service, 4) Follow in God’s path, and 5) Lead others to God’s promises! Each day they came, not wanting to miss out on their badges and shiny ID tags displaying each day’s mission and memory verses. I will never forget the sound of their voices singing, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise” (Prov. 19:20), or repeating their memory verses one at a time to Mama Opal! The joy and delight on their faces as they sang and danced (hmmm…maybe they were laughing at my dancing!) is something that will remain with me always, as well as their faces as they said goodbye, they will miss me, touching my hand to their foreheads in blessing (a filipino sign of respect). Please pray with me that the seeds that were planted in their hearts will bear good fruit and that, God willing, I will return to the Philippines and see them again!

As soon as Pastors Simeli, Junior and Phil arrived here in Tagaytay, we began our leadership conference at Pastor Mao’s church. The presence of the Lord was obvious from the beginning. Worship was good and most of our graduates from Shiloh Bible Training Center were present, coming from Manila and Marikina and even further. The new students were also there. Pastor Phil began the conference speaking on fatherhood ministries. Pastor Junior taught on the kingdom and leadership, encouraging the leaders to continue in their ministries. Pastor Simeli also taught on leadership. On Saturday morning, we prayed and laid hands on each of the leaders. It was an incredible presbytery! Personal words were given for each and every leader, and there was much emotion as we prayed and rejoiced together. Our people were built up and encouraged and there was much excitement that day as we prayed and God was with us. There are many discouraged leaders here and it is good and very necessary that we encourage and lift up one another in these kind of conferences. Thank you to the men of God from the US and Fiji who are willing to come and share their gifts of encouragement and bring the Word of the Lord to the filipinos!

It was especially rewarding to me this last month, to have my daughter Judy come with me to this country. God used her to teach on prophecy to our students here and I truly love having my family minister with me!