Cnristmas Update ...

Well, we are nearly at the end of 2009. I remember in August thinking 'I think the rest of the year is going to fly by so fast' .. and it has!

Sefton has been a hive of activity in 2009. Despite many challenges - particularly financially - we have seen the amazing provision of the Lord and have seen many new and exciting things happen. The ministry has developed in many ways and we are so grateful for a wonderful group of people who we are privelilaged to call or staff. They are magnificent.

We have had so many visitors and teams this year. Each team and team member have added so much to Sefton Village and I know that they have gone back changed.

We had to go back to UK in February for 6 weeks after we heard the news that Mary's dad had cancer. It has been a tough year for them and even for Mary .. but God has answered our prayers and David has had some great results over the last few weeks. thanks for your prayers.

We have started some many wonderful minsitries this year - Theatre for Christ, New School Building, Powerhouse Schools Programme, Street Pastors ... if you want to see a short DVD that we made for a church in Hamilton please go to our blog www.markmaryritchie.blogspot.com

There are three things I want you to take note of:

1. Christmas Cards - If you are in UK, please note that you don't have to spend a fortune sending cards to the Philippines for us. Many of you did this last year. David Strachan and his family are coming out in Dec 17th, so if you want to send a card to us, save some money and send it to them and they will bring it out. His address is:

The Ritchies
c/o The Strachan Partnership
37 Hay Crescent,
Peterhead,
Aberdeenshire
AB42 1HH

If you in the Fraserburgh area you can drop it into my dad's house.

2. New Blog: We have decided to make a new blog for Sefton Village. In the past myself and Matthew have had the burden of blogging about all the news from Sefton. But now, hopefully every day, one of our staff will be writing about what's going on at Sefton.

Check it out - www.seftonsoundbites.blogspot.com

Please bookmark and leave a comment!

3. Christmas Expenses

Hate to repeat this again in 2009, but we always struggle at this time of year. By law, we have to pay all of our staff a 13th month pay in December. It's not an optional bonus ... it's law. We also have many extra expenses in December.

So basically, we need around 5000 pounds in the next two weeks! I know it seems impossible but if you can pray about it and help a little ... we can do it.

Please send any cheques to our agent (or email him if you want to put a gift directly into the Sefton RBS a/c):

Dr. Norman Reid
Hazelbank
83 Marjoribanks Street
Bathgate
West Lothian
Eh48 1QH

Tel: 01506 653366
Email: dr_n@btinternet.com

Thank you all so much for your interest and support regarding Sefton. We will be sending out a newsletter and gift in January. If you are not on the mailing list then please contact Norman on the above email address.

As you prepare for Christmas we pray that you will not get too stressed! Remember who it's all about ... Jesus.

We'd love to hear from you ...

All our love,

Mark, Mary, Lydia & Josiah
xxxx

Sefton Village 2009

What's been happening at the best place in the world...

Church Hopping

I was reading Roger Blackmore's blog today and came across this article about church hopping. Someone was talking to me today about a church that was growing so fast ... but mostly by Christians who wanted a change and wanted a new scene. This is common the world over. Seems like these are a million excuses to leave a church and any one will do. But anyway ...

These are the top ten things church hoppers say, as listed in Bob Franquiz’s excellent book, Zero To Sixty

1. “But my old church…” This usually means they want your church to be like their old church.

2. “I just need time to be fed.” This means, “I don’t want to do anything. I’m here just to sit and see what I can get out of this church, so don’t expect me to serve in any way, shape, or form.

3. “I’m looking for a church that teaches the Word.” This means, “I’m looking for a church that dispenses lots of information without challenging me to do anything.”

4. “We came here because we are looking for deep teaching.” This usually means their last church focused too much on actually obeying the Word. They want a church that just talks about the Rapture, the Second Coming, who the Hittites were and the identity of Theophilus.

5. “I should know my pastor.” This means, “In my last church, I got to know the pastor, but when the church grew, and the pastor couldn’t have dinner with us every Tuesday night, I left and came here.”

6. “We want a church that’s focused on discipling people.” This means, “I want a church that’s focused on me, not people who are lost.”

7. “I wish you wouldn’t focus so much on what people need to do.” This means they don’t like commitment, they don’t like to be told the Bible actually tells them how to live and follow Jesus. They want to come to church, live in their sin and have no one tell them this is wrong.

8. “I wish you wouldn’t talk about money.” This is the best way to tell a pastor “I don’t give.”

9. “My old church/pastor was…” The way people come to your church is how they will leave. If your first conversation with them is all about their last church and pastor, that is how they will leave your church and how they will go to their next church.

10. “Pastor, I’ve been talking to a lot of people and they all say…” Translation: “Me, my spouse and my mother think…” If they start this way, 99.9% of the time they have no one else who thinks this way, it is just the best way to complain. If someone has a complaint and uses this line with me, they need to list all of the names or my best assumption is they talked to the same person 10 times.

Mmmm ... sounds familiar! If we only moved when God said move we would always be in the right pace in the right time.

Rachel's Back ...

Hi everyone. Right now it is ultra busy at Sefton Village. This weekend we celebrate 10 years of the KMGLC school ... should be a great occasion. We also are opening our newest Cornerstone Church in Sta. Monica. It's all go!

We have a team here from Rotherham New Life. We are having a wonderful time with them and I have asked one of the team - Rachel Fields - to write a Guest blog for me. Rachel was here 18 months ago when she was a student at Mattersey. She is a wonderful lady and has a great attitude & spirit. Here is what she is thinking ...

"Wow, back in the Philippines 18 months later. It is great to be back and see the wonderful people of Sefton Village!

We are a team from Rotherham New Life Christian Centre with 3 adults and three 16 and under girls. We have come out with a view to serve the people of Sefton, but we have been so blessed being here with the generosity of the people here.

We have been here since Monday morning.. and thrown ourselves into the programme that Sefton village would normally carry out on a weekly basis. Feeding Programmes, Street Pastors, School Assemblies, Bible College Chapel Service, Praying for the sick in a local hospital, visiting a local prison… and this has only been three days.

The most incredible thing about Sefton has been the incredible number of ministries that have started up in the last 18 months. I was impressed last year when I came, because they were extending the Kingdom of God more than I could ever imagine, now they have just blown my brains away with, Echague, St Mateo, Elementary School, the radio station is being built.. (I don’t know the rest, but I am sure there is plenty more) oh and of course 2 new churches planted in the last couple of weeks and one more this Saturday!

I am amazed that got has enlarged the territory of Sefton Village in turn Sefton Village is extending the Kingdom of God!

The three teenage girls have experienced somethings they have never experienced before. My husband Stephen is experiencing his first ever missions trip (what a place to start!!!!) and Stephen Chambers, a senior leader from RNL has come back again this year!!

Pray for us as we continue to minister through the next week!!"

Thanks Rachel. Will get some pictures posted soon!

Talk soon ... goodnight!

Helga Mosey Children's Home ... the New Look!

Over the last few months our workmen have been hard at work in our Children's Home. We have two kids and two adults in our house ... and we know how much punishment a house can take with four living here. But can you imagine a house that has around 15- 22 kids living there with 8-10 adults ... for 13 years!!!

At the beginning of 2009 things were pretty bad. The vinyl tiles were coming up, the cupboards were falling apart, all the screens on the windows had huge holes in them, the toilets were all blocked - bar one, the paint was all faded, the play equipment outside was falling apart and ugly, curtains all torn ... etc. etc. I think you get the message. It all came to a head when we were showing an American Missionary couple around the home ... and we felt more than a little embarrassed!

Yup, it was time for a makeover ... big time! By faith, I asked Jonathan, Matthew and Marilyn to make an estimate of everything we need to do. Everything. We have been struggling so much with the finances in the last year that it was impossible to budget for anything like this.

We prayed and I felt we should first contact the Helga Mosey Trust, headed by Pastor John Mosey (Helga's father). I only wanted to make them aware of the condition of the Home and that we wanted to start raising money for a face lift ... that same day they contacted me to say they would pay for everything. It was a tearful moment. Couldn't believe it.

We started in September and for around a month all the kids were squashed together in a few rooms and the Nursery had to stay in the Guest house (not that they complained!!) ... a challenging time. But not a complaint. Because what was happening inside the Home was fantastic. You can endure a little bit of hardship when you know there is a whole lot of blessing ahead!

Finally, we finished the face lift. Matthew has dome a great job with the guys. There is new ceramic tiles in the Living area, kitchen and workers rooms. The whole place has been repainted - the kids and aunties chose the colours. All new mosquito screen on the windows. New kitchen units and lovely black marble worktop. New curtains in every room and new soft furnishings throughout. All the toilets were unblocked (from teddies, toys, books, cutlery - you name it!!) and new toilets put in. All the kids room have vinyl laminate flooring. The whole outside of the building has been repainted, including windows and roof. We have a new wiring and electrical system. The swings and playground equipment are repaired and repainted. Amazing. Talk about a transformation!


Everyone is so happy now. I went to take pictures yesterday and the kids and staff were over the moon. Delighted. They are calling it 'Malacanyan' - the place where the President of the Philippines resides! Even I would love to live next door at HMCH!


Enjoy the pictures and video ... they all looked a million dollars! I did a bit of a photo shoot for the staff and kids after taking the Home because they looked so good! Be amazed at what has happened. These children are precious to the Lord and the ministry of Marilyn and the Aunties is second to none. I am so happy for them.

Sometimes, a positive change in the physical exterior can bring great joy and warmth to the whole ministry ... it has certainly happened at HMCH! Thank you Matthew & Jonathan. Thank you John & Lisa Mosey. Thank you Mary. Thank you staff. Thank you Lord.

Helga Mosey Children's Home ... Facelift!

Amos 9

The Lord speaks in many ways - through preaching, through the prophetic word, through dreams and visions, through circumstances, through words of knowledge ... and especially through His Word. I've learned that if the Lord wants me to take note of something or if He really wants to speak to me, He will let me hear or read the same passage of scripture three or four times. Same with you?

Two days ago I was reading my Bible and I was going through Amos. Sometimes it is good to read a whole book at once. Chapters are there to break things down but most of these books were written and meant to be read as one book or letter. We can sit and read a novel or auto biography for hours but when we are reading God's Word we read a couple of pages, two or three chapters and say, "Right, that's enough for today." It's good - especially with the minor prophets and the Epistles (letters) - to read the whole book.

Anyway, enough of me rambling on. I was reading Amos 9 and it hit me right between the eyes. I read it in the NLT and I wondered what it said in the Message translation. Yesterday, I was reading a blog and also a magazine ... and in both Amos 9 were used.

Today, whilst driving to Church, I was listening to Paul Scanlon's message "Understanding Transition" and he uses it as his text ... from the Message! I knew God was speaking to me. He is amazing. So often He is desperate to speak .. but are we listening?

Here is what it says in Amos 9:13-15, from the Message:

Yes indeed, it won't be long now. God's Decree.

Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won't be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills. I'll make everything right again for my people Israel:

They'll rebuild their ruined cities.
They'll plant vineyards and drink good wine.
They'll work their gardens and eat fresh vegetables.
And I'll plant them, plant them on their own land.
They'll never again be uprooted from the land I've given them.

God, your God, says so.

I don't want to elaborate or suggest anything right now. Maybe these verses are for one or some of you reading this. I believe they are for me .. I have read the words but now I have to ask God for the understanding.

Pray about it ... maybe this is for you. If you want to comment or send a wee message, would be great to hear from you.

Blog again soon ...

Selah

Cornerstone@5

A few weeks ago we had a tremendous weekend celebrating five years of Cornerstone Churches. We have been amazed at the goodness of the Lord and what He has done since 2004. We invited Pastor Yang Tuck Yoong and his wife Daphne to be our guest speakers - they are the Senior leaders of Cornerstone Singapore. They brought three other team members from Singapore.

What a weekend we had! On Friday we picked up the Team and on Saturday morning we did 'Street Pastors' in Santiago. On Saturday night we had 'Colours of Cornerstone' where every church and department gave a video or PowerPoint of their ministries and then did a song, dance or testimony as well. It was great! The Police sent representatives, as did the Bureau of Jail, politicians and business friends. So much effort had gone into organising the event - especially from Jane Mangadap and her team!

We now have 12 Cornerstone Churches and we are planning to plant 6 more in the next 6 months. Every church wore different colours - what a night!






On Sunday morning we had the Anniversary service and Pastor Yang spoke about being a prophetic church. He prayed for all our leaders and the praise & worship was wonderful - a taste of heaven! At the end of the service so many came forward for prayer and to be touched by the power of the Holy Spirit. Incredible morning!


After the service we had a baptismal service at the Sefton pool. We had four groups of pastors baptising because we had around 60 candidates to be baptised. What a wonderful time. In the evening Pastor Yang and Pastor Daphne spoke to our Cornerstone leaders and then at 730pm other leaders from nearby churches joined us for a leadership seminar.




On Monday we went to the jail and had a great service there. Pastor Yang spoke ... and the fire of God fell!! We baptised 15 new believers after the service.








So we thank God for his faithfulness to Cornerstone in the last 5 years. It's incredible to see what He has done with a group of willing and surrendered leaders. Our theme was taken from 1 Samuel 7:12- "Ebeneezer - God has helped us every step of the way."

And He has. And He is. And He always will.

Selah

Comeback ...

... I am making a comeback in blogworld! It seems that a few folk are missing the blog...

Check it out again next week! This week is unbelievably busy. We are going to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of Cornerstone this weekend and Pastor Yang and his lovely wife Daphne are bringing a small team to speak and share for the occasion. Wow ... should be amazing. Will blog about it soon.

So many things to share ... next week! If you have any comments, pls write below. If you really would like the Sefton blog to continue ... let me know.

Until next week ... blessings upon blessings!

Bye ...

Bit of a Nothing Blog ... but at least you know I am Alive!

Sorry ...

... I really hoped to get some momentum with my blogs. Truth is that there is so much to blog about! So many things have happened and are happening around our lives and ministry. BIG problem is our Internet. In the last month it has been on around 5 or 6 part-days!! Even Mary is beginning to complain ... and that's something! We are looking fir different options but o far there are none. Aaaaaaggggghhhh..

I am sitting in an Internet cafe again, but it is not the nicest of places with so many teenage guys blowing up and shooting the enemy playing their crazy violent games! Hard to get some decent thought processes going! Whatever brain I have after 39.99 years of use is finding it hard to put some words together!

What's been happening here?

* Just back from AoG National Conference
* Many kids discharged from HMCH ... Ryan going to Italy!
* SBTC Week of Refreshing
* SBTC Graduation

I only have a few days left of being in my thirties!!! I will be 40 on Thursday 28th May!! I am looking back, planning ahead and working out my life!

Blog soon ... promise! Just pray for good Internet!!!! Thanks

Iron Shrpens Iron

Over the last weeks, I have had the amazing privilege of listening to three great men of God - Reinhard Bonkke, Ed Silvoso and David Shearman. All of them have done a significant work for the Lord in different ways.

Reinhard Bonkke - Incredible evangelist to Africa. I first heard about him as a teenager at an AoG conference. At that time he was making a 34000-seater tent that was going to touch Africa. Little did he know that the tent was far too small! Now he sees literally millions of people come to his evangelistic crusades and in 2009 alone, more than 2 million people have accepted Christ through his ministry. Incredible.

I was honoured to go with David Strachan to Singapore for the celebration of Reinhard's 50 years in the ministry ... what a weekend! Planetshakers were the worship leaders, so you can imagine how powerful the services were!

As I listened and watched this great man, what did I learn?

* Passion for souls. He has an incredible passion to 'plunder hell and populate heaven.'

* Integrity - He has not been tarnished by scandal or accusations. He has been a man of honour for many years and does not strive after worldly possessions. He even sold his house in the states to pay for an evangelistic crusade!

* Focus - He knows who he is, where he is an where he is going

* Mentor - He is mentoring young men to work with him and one day he will release them into what he ha started. The work will go on.

I was invited by Brian Burton - a British AoG Missionary in Thailand - to go to a 'Transform Our World' Conference in Phuket last month. The main speaker was Ed Silvoso. I felt it was very strategic for where we are at Cornerstone so I brought our three leaders with me. I had met and heard Ed Silvoso in the 90's because there was a strong link made with his ministry and my home church in Fraserburgh. He has recently written a book about Transformation and I felt that we needed to be there. We had a great conference and I had the opportunity to spend some time with Ed, his wife and his world team.

He is still an excellent communicator and his heart is to see Marketplace Ministers throughout the world in our churches. His presentations were excellent and very challenging.

What did I learn from this man?

* Loves people - seemed to me like he really genuinely loves people. There were many of his team there and they testified about how Ed had really poured his life into theirs. Again, he was a mentorer.

* Burden - He has a tremendous burden to see Christians raised up to minister on the fields of work they live in. The world will only be transformed when the Pastors and Christian leaders raise up and recognise that not every person in their church needs to go to the ministry via Bible School! Teachers can reach teachers, shopkeepers can reach shopkeepers ... we need to raise up Marketplace Ministers.

* Networking - Ed and his ministry is known all over the world. He knows the power of networking and synergy. He knows what he needs to become and needs to say to get his message through to a lot of leaders from a lot of backgrounds in a lot of nations.

* Transformation - At eth end of the day, Ed longs for societies and cities to be transformed. It is great to have a revival in church but far better to see a transformation in the community! We need both! If Christians touch God in the church, reach and bless people in their work places.. transformation will come!

This week I am attending the Philippine General Council of the AoG Conference in Cebu, Philippines. One of the speakers in David Shearman from Nottingham, UK. David has been one of our national AoG Leaders for many years and is very respected in the movement. He has built a great church in Nottingham of around 1500 people. He has wonderful gifts in teaching and preaching with a strong prophetic edge.

When I know he was coming, I decided to email and ask if I could spend time with him and even help him while he was here. Si this week has been great for me. We have spent a lot of time together and I really am challenged by this man. What have I leaned so far?

* Commitment and resilience - This man has been in Nottingham for 44 years - around 38 as the Senior Leader. Say no more. That's commitment. Many struggles over the years, but here he is still serving God and overseeing His work. He is committed to British AoG, his local church, to missions and to his family. God, make me passionately committed!

* Prophetic - over here in the Philippines, the gifts of the Hole Spirit are not taught about much. You would never go to an AoG church and hear a prophetic word. But David has an amazing gift of prophecy - not only as words but also when he ministers the word of God. When he was preaching yesterday, I was thinking, "Wow, you are saying and touching things in your message that you know nothing about but are significant words from God." God, make me prophetic!

* Mentoring - David has been known as a man who mentors the next generation. I love that. His heart is to train those coming behind. He does this at a local, national and international level. This makes him a great man.

* Humility - when you speak and share with David Shearman for any length of time you will see tears. This week I have seen him kneel in the services in times of consecration. As we speak together I have seen his compassion. His interest as I simply share my life and heart with him. It is so easy to get a hard heart in the ministry. But David has reminded me again of the importance of humility and compassion. Of we don't have these in our lives ... we might as well give up!

So these three men have impacted me in many ways. I feel that God has been bringing me on a crash course this year to learn from these men and to sharpen my life and ministry. You may say,” Well, what a waste of your time, effort and money. Why can't you just listen to CD's and stay at home?"

Sometimes you have to be where the men of God are. There is something called Impartation ... when a man or woman of God lays hands on you, prays for you and imparts things of God into your life. You can't get this from buying a CD. You gotta go. Actually, going in itself is a sign to God that you are serious about what He wants to bring us into. You will never waste money of your goal is to receive from the Lord. He will always bless your life in so many ways. God loves "Those who have set their hearts to pilgrimage" Chasing the blessings? No. Cherishing the anointing? Yes.

I am a blessed man. I feel challenged and refreshed by what these men have said, but also how they have lived and are living. They are all, I think, in their 60's and I can see that the fire and passion of God is alive and well in each of them. I pray that they all 'Finish Well."

And how about you? Well, my advice is to get around men and women of God who can impart something into your life. Get around people who will speak truth to you. Get around people who have proved themselves to be faithful. Get around people who can pour what they have into you. Get around people who will stretch you and challenge you. Get around people who are changing our world for God.

You can sit in a church all your life and never be challenged. You plan your vacations to go to places where your soul will be happy but where your spirit is never fed. Why don't you change your heart? Why not, for maybe the first time, say, "God, I want to go and see what you are doing in this world. I want to go and spend time with a person who is making an impact for you. I want to experience you at work. I want to be challenged. I want to be refreshed. I want to learn new things."

If you have the heart to go ... God will have the heart to bless. And your life will be changed ... forever!

Michael Angelo said, "The problem for most of us is not that we aim too high and miss, but that we aim too low ... and hit."

Selah

Crazy River in Santiago

Here is the river in Santiago last week! Unbelievable. See the power lines ... they are usually 15-20ft in the air. That's how high we are talking about. Scary stuff.

How Can a City Be Changed?

Over the last week I have been really challenged by what I have seen, heard and experienced. What we think changes us; but also what wee see, hear and experience moulds and shapes our lives. No matter how much philosophy we know or ideas we may hold on to ... when disaster comes, what we go through and how we respond to what we go through shows what we really believe and trust in.

Last week I watched my friends and fellow workers homes go under a deluge of water and mud. I saw it. I also saw for myself how they reacted. My aunty Betty emailed me and said,"I cannot believe their faces (smiles)" I heard what they said and I experienced their deep emotions and positive attitude. They have preached louder last week than in the last 5 years behind a pulpit.

How can we change city? The same way in which I have been changed. Seeing. Experiencing. Hearing.

There are a few basic things that you see in the first few chapters of Acts - the beginning, the blueprint for the church.

1. Prayer
2. Power
3. Presence
4. Provision
5. Proclamation

Why is this still so important today? How can we still follow this simple example?

1. Prayer - believe it or not, prayer is still the key that will unlock doors and open the way for a clear vision. If we pray ... He will answer. In this age of ready made videos & DVD's, there is still no shortcut to revival or transformed societies. It starts with a group of people who are desperate for God to do something and even more desperate to be used by Him. Many churches are doing everything EXCEPT pray. Our fruit will be little and our vision will be good ideas.

2. Power - I am a Pentecostal, and I have preached so many times about the miracles, signs and wonders. We need them today etc. etc. And we do. this unbelieving generation demands a sign that God is alive and sometimes only a miracle will prove He is there and He has power.

We have been faced with many challenges in the past 9 years and we could tell you story after story of the miraculous power of God. When you trust Him ... He turns up. Back in the UK I believe that people need to experience the power of God. Not just read about it or hear about it ... but experience it. Trouble is that very few Pastors and leaders see a true miracle from one years end to another. We need to experience the power of God.

3. Presence - and where do we need this power? On the streets. In the hospitals. In our homes. In our workplace. Church was not made to be in church building alone. Church was designed to be where the people were. My views on church have changed so much in my few years here.

A few months ago God spoke to me. He said, "Mark, 99% of people in this city will never come to Cornerstone." What an encouraging word! Thanks Lord. He lead me to read the Gospel of Mark. Then I realised. Probably 90% of the ministry of Christ was done on the streets - in people's homes, in the market, in the Fields, in the villages. When I looked at my church experience over the years, I realised that 90% of all ministry in most churches is done INSIDE the church building. We gather a few but multitudes outside never hear.

God designed the church to have presence in the marketplace. this is where we belong. What about a church that never goes on to the streets, never reaches out to the strangers, never touches the poor? What kind of a church is that? That, my friend is not a church as God designed; it is a group of Christians who meet together for the sake of meeting together. We are right when we call it 'Meetings" - we meet and leave. The church is not an end ... but a means to an end. Church without evangelism is not a church at all. A church with no presence on the streets is a church that needs to wake up and smell the harvest.

4. Provision - the early church ministered to the poor, fed the widows and found themselves reaching out into the felt needs of Jerusalem. This is so importance. I am really beginning to see that there is an invisible secret that we know little about by reading the book of Acts. Yes, power and miracles are important for people to experience. But I believe that many accepted Christ because they SAW a church that ministered to the poor day in day out. Not a fortnightly rota with a few buns and soup, but a group of people who cared consistently and selflessly.

They gave. They fed. They prayed for people. They clothed. The sacrificed what they had. They ministered. Every day.

I have seen the power of kindness last week. By giving out a few cakes and noodles last week I felt true appreciation from people whose lives were falling apart. They said things like, :I will never forget your kindness." Or "No-one cares for us apart from Cornerstone." or "Nobody came but you." They SAW something. Their felt need was met. Random acts of loving kindness can break the hardest heart.

When we schedule evangelistic programmes and powerful events, let us remember that a simple act of kindness and love can be just as powerful as the most wonderful message! Yes, we need people to experience the power. But just as important, we need people to SEE that we really care. We provide. We give. We sacrifice.

5. Proclamation - Our mission at Cornerstone is "to Make Jesus Famous" People in Santiago need to be connected to Him ... the source of life and everything we need. In the early church, it was all about Jesus. In every message in Acts, the Apostles preached Jesus.

Today, we still need people to HEAR that Jesus is the only one that can save, heal, deliver and bring joy, purpose and life! We still have a message to proclaim! Praise God, the way in which we can share the message has changed - blogs, podcasts, internet, powerpoints etc. etc ... but the basic message is still the same. Amazing.

I believe the people in Jerusalem SAW the care and compassion of these young Christians; They experience the miraculous power of God and they heard the message of Christ. They believed, repented, were baptised ... and the church grew from strength to strength, from street to street, family to family. News about what was happening was the talk of the town. Being with Christians was the place to be. The whole city was filled with awe and great joy.

How I wish one day people will write this about Santiago!

Can a city be changed? Yes. Absolutely. But somehow we have to allow the people to see, experience and hear what God is all about. He needs no props. When He turns up things will never be the same again. I feel we have to change the way we think. Allow God to show us new paradigms. New levels.

Gotta go and catch my bus!

What do yo think? Please leave a comment and lets get talking!

Selah

It Is Well ...

Yesterday was was one of the most incredible days I have lived! I went to bed and it seemed as though the water was in my brain and between my ears .. I had seen so much of the stuff! Every time I closed my eyes I saw fast, muddy water that looked like coffee!

It was heavy rain again last night and I feared the worst. I left St James Subdivision and literally hundreds of people were sitting on their tricycles or standing in the mud waiting for the water to subside. With the heavy rain I thought that they would have to wait a long time. But praise God ... I found out this morning that the water finally subsided in Pastor Adonis' house at 1am!

Mary & I went to St James this morning to see the pastors and their families .. as well as many families who have sent their kids to our school in the past or at the present. A lovely christian lady texted us to swing by her house to take some food for the people. She gave us ten big boxes of noodles, two boxes of Coffee sachets and hundreds of buns. My car was full.




When we entered St James, it was like a war zone! Che, one of our members, showed me how high the water came in her house (above) and look at her belongings! Everyone, and I mean everyone, had all their earthly possessions out on the street or in their garden and all of them were busy cleaning their furniture and possessions. We saw mattresses that were drenched... sofas that were soaking... everywhere!

We visited Pastor Jun and he had already cleaned his house and had gone to help Pastor Adonis. Pastor Marlou was almost finished his house. We went to Pastor Adonis' house ... what an absolute mess! His whole house had been caked in mud. The mud was around a foot deep and the water was about 7 feet - touching the ceiling! When we saw him he was busy washing his furniture ... with a toothbrush. I told him he'd better not brush his teeth tonight! How can this man smile when everything he has has been under the water? Incredible.


Pastor Adonis took a step of faith three months ago and rented the house next to his to start a new Cornerstone Church. He pays for the rent himself and he and his family, along with some neighbours, really sacrifices to make this simple house into a place of worship. I went there a few weeks ago and there was around 60-70 people attending! Below are the photos before the typhoon.


But when I saw the devastation in the church .. I was so sad. All the PA equipment was covered in mud. The musical instruments - drums, keyboard, guitars - looked as if they were pretty much destroyed. The floor of the church was covered in mud. I just felt in the spirit, " We will get this place more beautiful than before!"



Some of our Cornerstone members' houses are in a bad way too. I said to one member, "Yesterday was a terrible day for you." His response? "Yes, but today is a day of challenge and opportunity for me and for us." In all of my travels in these last two days I have never heard one complaint or angry word. Filipinos are people of resilience, respect and gratitude ... and I admire and love them more and more.

I was so proud of our Cornerstone Pastors and workers. Yesterday, Henry told me they fed 2000 people with Congee! He was so tired. But he asked if I had any money to give him ingredients to make another 1000 meals today! So he rose at 4am and started making food for everyone again. I met them going around every street in St James with free food. People came with huge pots ... and we filled them. These people were so busy cleaning they had no time to cook ... but thanks to Henry and the team a great need was met. We also went round on tricycles giving out coffee, noodles and buns! Meals on wheels ... Cornerstone style!




I heard on the news that 24 people died in Isabela. When I saw the river yesterday, I knew that some people would have had no chance. Please pray for those who have lost so much. Pray for our Pastors as they try and get back to a normal life in their homes. Pray that we westerners could learn from these Filipinos about how to live by faith, how to respond to difficulty and how to smile. Pray for many Muslim families who had their homes completely destroyed. Pray for our Cornerstone churches .. that they would reach out and touch lives in this hour of need. Pray for all our Pastors and staff and all the people we know in Santiago who are going to bed in wet homes with no electricity tonight.

Thanks for all your prayers. If you have only started reading the blog in the last day or two, why don't you bookmark this page and check it out from time to time. Please sign our Guestbook on the right and leave a message or comment.

I leave you with the words of an old hymn that I have been singing away over the last few days:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul...

... and that, my friend, is the most important thing.

Selah

P.s. - there is one good thing that came out of the typhoon. Pastor Winston found two fish in his living room as he was cleaning it out! Will make a nice snack!