Happy Birthday To Us!

Sorry for the lack of blogs this week. Been a touch manic. I was meant to go to a Leadership Conference in Palawan on Sunday but because of Mary's 'break' I decided it was far better to stay put and help out my family. Good decision! We are in Hong Kong right now enjoying a week's family holiday.

The extra couple of days were a blessing because it gave us time to tackle our newsletter. Sometimes it is so hard to do the 'extras' when you are busy with Sefton life. The constant heat just sucks the life and strength out of you and by night time very often we feel exhausted.

But .. let me tell you about our wonderful Cornerstone 3rd Anniversary last Sunday. First, I must say that the team of Pastors and leaders God has given us at Cornerstone did a magnificent job on Sunday. There was so much to prepare ... but they did it.

The fist part of the day was our Church Service. All of our six churches were there ... a great 'family time'. There were over 1000 people there - including over 500 kids! I think Pastor Jun and his team will need a week to recover!

The Praise & Worship team looked great in their new outfits - light brown for the musicians and white for the backing singers. And Cristina and her team brought us right into the presence of God. We are so blessed. The congregation were blessed (ahem) as all the Pastors sang a song during the offering. Well, we are meant to make a joyful noise .... we were happy, but it was a noise!

The guest speaker was a lovely man of God called Rick Zachary. He was over for a month in Singapore speaking at their Bible School. Pastor Yang invited him to come and speak at our Anniversary and he willingly came. He was a true gentleman. A great man to have in our home ... our kids loved him! He is married with two grown up sons and four grand kids - he is the youngest and most handsome granda I have ever met!

He is involved in a tremendous ministry. In the early days of hos ministry he was a missionary in Haiti and also in Nigeria. After 7 years he went back to Baton Rouge to help his pastor build up the church there - Bethany Prayer Center pastored by Larry Stockhill. Rick was missions director for 14 years and travelled all over the world. Bethany is now one of the best churches in the USA - in terms of prayer, cell church and missions.

Five years ago God gave rick a vision of reaching the nations of South Asia. So every year for the next 20 years his goal is to plant a church in a major city in Asia. So far they have planted four - including Sri Lanka, Pakistan & Nepal. He wants to raise up central/model churches that will plant churches in the villages around where they are. Great vision.

Anyway, we were so blessed to have Rick minister - both to the leaders on Saturday night and at our Anniversary on Sunday morning. He spoke about Vision on Sunday and gave us 7 steps to Living in Vision. At the end, he gave an altar call for 1st time commitments to Christ... and 50 people gave their hearts to the Lord (see picture at start)! Hallelujah! Fifty new believers around Santiago!

Jimmar, our new Christian & computer specialist made a 'Cornerstone So Far' video presentation (it took him 35 hours to make!). It was amazing! Three years ago we started with eight people in Pastor Marlou's garage ... and look how the Lord has blessed us! I gave a presentation about our future Vision ... but it wasn't near as flashy as Jimmar's effort!

We ate lunch and then enjoyed part 2 - songs & dramas! What a great time. Many of the church departments had songs and every church also had to sing a 'special number'. We had a Raffle ... but don't worry it was not for lottery money but for books and bibles! What joy as they received their gifts. After this we had part 3 - games and sports.


What a day! What a celebration! What a God we serve. As a Pastor, there are some nights you go to bed absolutely contended, happy and delighted at what God has done. Sunday was such a day for me.

Thank you for your prayers for Cornerstone. Please pray that at our 4th Anniversary there will still be 50 disciples who have been serving the Lord for a whole year ....

Selah.

P.s. - I just discovered that our youth leader at Santiago - Daben - has started a blog also. I looked at it ... pretty good! I need to speak to him about his English grammar - the use of full stops, sentences and actual paragraphs! - but you can feel his heart as he writes. Check it out for his view on our Anniversary and more news ..... www.ccsgenerations.blogspot.com

The Vineyard

Just thought I would give you a quick update on what is happening at Sefton ... starting with Cornerstone Church. Things are really happening here. Heidi Baker prophesied last year that 'the Lord had given us grapes ... but now he was about to give us a vineyard.' I really believe in my spirit that this was a word for the ministry of Cornerstone. We had one church -and the Lord clearly challenged us that this should be a model or central church - but now we have another 5 churches that have begun in the last 2 years!

Last week we started a brand new church in a town called Ramon, just outside Santiago. Two of our pastors have had a burden for Ramon and so we have been working hard setting things up to give birth to our newest 'baby'! Pastor Winston is actually from Ramon and has had a real desire to reach his friends & family. In the Philippines most Christians have a tremendous burden to go back to wherever their family is located to win them for Christ. This is the heart of Winston. Pastor James Bastian ministered in a Bible School in Ramon for 3 years and built up relationships with many of the young people in the town. Sadly, when he left ... the work with the young people was dropped. So he has a burden to find and shepherd these young people again.

We have found tremendous favour with many of the people in Ramon. We found a small (and I mean small!) hall to rent ... but it is right in the heart of the town. As they say on TV, "Location, Location, Location" Last week they had a 'pre-launch' and next week we will officially open the new church. I was the speaker last week and I told the people, "You are History Makers!" Students from the Bible School supported us as well as some young people from Cornerstone San Isidro. A great morning and a good start ...

So now we have 6 churches ... Santiago, Nagassican, San Isidro, Pangal, Ramon and Cauayan. The leadership team are doing well and we are adjusting to the continual unfolding vision given by the Holy Spirit.

We have started a new evening service in Santiago which is open for all the churches. Last Sunday there was a tremendous outpouring of the Holy Spirit! The ministries within the churches are doing great - we are seeing such a blessing in the Hospital Ministry and the jail ministry. The picture below was taken inside the jail when the Holy Spirit began to minster to the inmates!The feeding Programme has seen over 8000 kids given a meal this year and the Powerhouse Kids Club is reaching a whole new generation of children in Santiago. The fields are ripe, ready and waiting to be harvested!

Probably 60-70% of our members are involved in one of our local church ministries. We are training an army ... not an audience!


Pray for us on Sunday ... it is our 3rd Anniversary! We will gather all the churches together in the Fire Center and have a day of worship, impartation, prayer, fellowship and fun! We have an excellent speaker coming from the USA (via Cornerstone Singapore!). His name is Rick Zachary and he has been a missionary in Haiti and Nigeria for 7 years and is the former mission pastor at Bethany World Prayer Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA for 14 years. (Check out his website - www.rickzachary.com) He now runs his own missions organization and has planted successful churches in India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. He has authored several books on the subject of Discipleship and Relationships and has a strong passion in this area. I have never met him but I feel this is a divine appointment!

Pray for Cornerstone. We are in the process of change at different levels and I am being released more and more from the main church in Santiago in order to minister to the other churches. The Lord has placed other places in Isabela where He wants us to plant His vineyard ... all in his perfect time.

People Who Need Your Prayers ...

I have come across and visited a number of people in the last few weeks who really need a touch from the Lord. Of course, every day we meet people here with deep needs, and every week when we go to pray for the sick at the Government Hospital we are faced with horrendous situations.

Get this ... the Social Worker told us this week that they are only given enough funding and equipment for 25 patients. On Tuesday there were over 130 people crammed into the hospital. They were everywhere - in the corridors, outside along the pavement. Unbelievable. The unofficial motto of the hospital is, "We will never turn you away - but you have to bring your own bed!" And food. And blankets. And medicines. And faith.

But here are a few folk who could do with your prayers right now:

1. Winston Co (19 yrs old)
Winston is the son of Albert & Josie Co who live around 30 mins from Santiago. Josie is an amazing woman who used to be the Governor of the whole of Quirino province. She met the Lord and her life was changed. After a few years God called her to the ministry and she is pastoring a church and planted around 4 more!

Her son Winston was driving his motorbike in January and he was overtaking a truck. Out of the blue another truck tried to overtake him and he was sandwiched between them. He fell off his motorbike and was dragged along by the truck. His left foot was badly damaged. He lay in agony on the road, screaming. The truck driver stopped and looked back. He saw that Winston was still alive and, what is a terrible normality here, he was going to reverse over him at speed to make sure he would die. It is far less expensive to pay out for a dead person than to pay for someone to spend months of expensive recovery. So sad but true. Anyway, the first truck driver stopped him from killing Winston and said, "Stop, this is the son of our Governor!" Instead, they brought him to hospital.

He has been there for four months now and has found it so hard. I have visited him an several occasions and gave him my PS2 to help with the boredom. He has had several operations to his leg and foot and at last he is making progress. Above all, please pray that he finds the Lord through this terrible situation. He once walked with the Lord but he got involved with the wrong people at the wrong time in the wrong place. I feel he was really heading for trouble ... maybe God has stopped him in his tracks. Pray also for Josie & Albert as they went through a terrible few months where different members of their family passed away or were very sick.

2. Sheryl Cagatao (33 years old)
Last week Winston asked me to visit and pray for a lady who has been to Cornerstone a few times. Her brother in law is very active in the church and wanted me to meet her. She is only 33 years old and has found out that she has stage 2 lymphatic cancer in several parts of her body. She has had an operation and undergone 2 sessions of Chemotherapy.

But last week her body really reacted against the chemo. She ended up being in bed, unable to move and being sick all the time. Amazingly, after our prayer meeting for her at church, next morning she was up walking and eating again.

I have to laugh. I was telling her about how we are spirit, soul and body and was emphasising the need to get right with God spiritually. Winston pops into our conversation and starts talking away on Tagalog for 5 minutes. Next I know, we all have our eyes closed and Sheryl is praying a prayer of repentance to the Lord.

Please pray for a miracle. I talked to all her family outside the house and I KNOW that all it takes is a touch from God to show them that He is alive!

3. Selina (6 years old)
We have finally found out the latest about Selina. Winston & James Bastian went to visit last Friday, but Selina and her mum were out. But they had a great opportunity to speak to Selina's dad, who was a bit 'under the influence'. He has really turned to drink since his wee boy was killed. He has also become very aggressive and violent towards his wife - even in public. But our two pastors had a real heart to heart with him and he really opened up.

Next day they saw Selina. She is so beautiful with her new haircut. The scabs and infection on her arm has healed up but it has left a huge scar. We took her to the Doctor and he said that this is quite normal with a bad burn. He said it should turn darker as time goes on. We are still waiting to find out if she needs an operation, but now she can move and bend her arm freely.

Pray for Selina and her arm. Pray for the father with his alcohol problems. Pray for the mum as she tried to hold it all together. A few week ago she went to one of our members' house. "Can I wash any clothes for you?", Selina's mum said. Our member said that she did not need any clothes washed and asked 'Why do you ask me?" Selina's mum just said, "because if I don't get any money today I have no food for my children." Our member was touched and gave them a big bag of rice.

So many needs. So many desperate people. The more I live on this earth, the more I realise just how unbelievably and undeservedly blessed I am. And yet, why do I moan so much? Why is it that those who have the most complain the most, and those who have nothing suffer in silence?

To those who have been given much ... much will be expected.

Selah ......

Can I Have a 'Normal' Week Please?

This morning I was having a laugh with Keith & Anne because I keep telling them that 'next week we will have more of a normal week'. They have taken a few weeks to realise that there is no such a thing as a normal week at Sefton Village. You just never actually know what is going to happen and sometimes 'the best laid plans of men gang aft aglay'.

This last week has been a stotter. We had Cornerstone United on Sunday, a FEBC Programmers Training Seminar from Monday-Wednesday, we had to go and pray for the sick in hospital at 7am on Tuesday, we had our annual 'week of refreshing' for all SBTC students and alumni from Tuesday-Friday lunchtime and on Friday afternoon we had our Bible School Graduation and meal. Managed to squeeze in a Cornerstone Leaders Meeting on Saturday morning and today we celebrated Mothers Day in all our church services. Phew. Now compared to that ... this week will be a 'normal' week!


So I have so much stuff to inform you about, but not so much time to write it. Tomorrow is Election Day here in the Philippines ... a crazy, crazy time. There are more murders and shoot outs at this time than any other time. You can feel the tension in the air. In Santiago there are three candidates for Mayor and they have been holding crusades over the last few weeks. Here, nearly all political candidates are involved in 'vote buying', where they will give the people a weeks salary in exchange for an assurance of their vote. Crazy ... because most families get the money from all the candidates!! MMmmm....

Everything and nearly everyone is so steeped in corruption ... the good seems bad, the right seems wrong and the lines of integrity can no longer be seen. We need you to pray for the Philippines. Only a true genuine move of God can change the situation we are in. Praise God, there are many prayer movements in the Philippines and there is a general feeling of discontent and desperation amongst God's people. Pray for unity, integrity and for Godly men and women to be voted into many positions

Tomorrow ... I will begin to look back over the last few weeks and bring you all the exciting events, news and updates. I leave you with a beautiful picture. At the end of our Graduation, I had to wrap the service up and close in prayer. Just when I was beginning my short challenge, I see my wee boy Josiah running towards the stage. Before anyone could catch him he was almost up the steps. I heard him say, "I want to hold my daddy's hand'. So he climbed up and grabbed my hand. As I spoke I was aware that this little boy just wanted to be with his dad ... no matter who was watching on. He just kept looking up at me as I spoke. For me, a lovely moment.


I pray that this will be the challenge of my life. That I can take the hands of Filipinos and bring them challenge and vision. The inheritance I want to leave is not vehicles or houses, perishable things or material possessions that will pass away. I want to leave people who will change the world; for if we do not invest in people, what we have in God will die with us. Like Paul, what I have received from the Lord ... I want to to pass on.

More about 'inheritance' next week ... in one of my 'normal' days!

Selah...

Easter Weekend Remembered!

Wow, right now the heat is killing us over here. I know that it has been hot back home .. an answer to prayer to many of you! But here, we are praying for clouds and rain ... funny world eh? Keith was telling me today that his thermometer touched 40C (104F) inside!

I know that Easter has come and gone, but I forgot to share about the wonderful Cornerstone weekend we had at Sefton Village on April 7-8. We met on Sunday afternoon and had an afternoon of games and sports. The Helga Mosey aunties won the volleyball tournament ... but I did point out that they were playing 'at home!!'


The church supplied the meals for our members and we enjoyed fellowship. On the Saturday night we had great Celebration in the Fire Centre and Keith preached. Afterwards, we had a fun/talent night followed by a bonfire. Check out our Cornerstone actors!


We woke up at 4:30am and started our Sunrise service at 5:15am. The guys took up all the instruments and we had a great worship time on the volleyball court! The sun rose and we were filled with thankfulness and awe. We went straight to the pool for our Easter Sunday Baptismal service... yup, at 6am!!!


I had the joy of baptising around 20 new believers. Fantastic. One funny moment ... one of the guys getting baptised had just come from the hospital where he had a small operation to his arm. He was desperate to get baptised but wanted to make sure his arm did not go under the water! (see pic below) I told him we believed in total submersion and that we would baptise his left arm at the next baptismal service!! Pastor Marlou dunked him while I held his hand in the air...the things they didn't teach you at Bible School!


After breakfast we had our Easter celebration and it was full of testimonies, songs and drama. I preached about the Power of the Cross, and around 12 people responded to the Lord for salvation. I have discovered that when I preach about the cross ... amazing things happen and people always respond to the message. We prayed for many who were sick. What a wonderful weekend we had. What a celebration!

Jesus .. STILL IS the resurrection and the Life! Let me share an amazing story that proves that there are no hopeless cases with God! In one of my first ever blogs, I asked you all to pray for a lady called Pastora Julie ... remember her? She ministered in the mountains around an hour from where we lived and had planted a church there. She became very sick after the birth of her 3rd child and the pain would not go away.

She went for tests at the beginning of 2006 and they found a huge malignant tumour. She underwent two sessions of Chemotherapy, but her body was too weak. In April, the Doctor sent her home to die. he wrote in her records that she was a 'hopeless case' and that he did not expect her to live very long.

When I found this out, I felt in my spirit that she would be healed! We texted her to come to the House of Refuge in the Fire Centre. They had to carry her in - she could barely speak and was so weak. As me and two other Pastors prayed, God showed us we must rebuke the spirit of death. As we did this, Pastora Julie felt something happen in her body.

For three months we prayed and prayed ... and she got stronger and stronger! She began to walk, her hair began to grow and her appetite returned. When we came back to Scotland last July .. she went back to her family ... healed!

Well, I hadn't seen Pastora Julie for nine months - but at the Easter Convention we saw her again! She said to me, "Do you know who I am" This threw me, as I did not have a clue. But when she smiled, I knew. I could not believe it! Her hair was beautiful and she had put on weight. She was doing great and feeling strong. Isn't that amazing?

He was, still is and always will be ... the resurrection and the Life! Trust Him....