CCI Philippines February 2021 Update

Joy In The Ministry

“Support development means educating people so they will get the chance to experience
the joy of participating in God's work.” These are the words that struck me during one of the training sessions that David Nelson and Glenn Kurka held for the international staff of CCI in February. And indeed, we do experience ups and downs in our ministry (who doesn’t?), but we are nevertheless full of joy as we serve the Lord through CCI. As the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 7:4, “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.”

Let me tell you about some of the joyful developments in the ministry of CCI Philippines in the month of February:

We started 5 new classes with a total of more than 50 new students in Bohol, Cotabato and Negros Occidental. One of these classes meets at Canhayupon Bible Fellowship Church in Dimiao, Bohol. This church was started by a CCI graduate named Terso Egam and is currently being pastored by Pastor Castor, another CCI graduate.

New class at Canhayupon Bible Fellowship Church

Pastor Manny Gocon together with Ed Edosur and Eloi Cabillan held a Teacher Training Workshop (TTW) online with seven pastors on February 11. This TTW was organized by Pastor Jaime Luban. These pastors hopefully will start four or more CCI classes in their churches.

Pastor Manny Gocon helping to lead a TTW

Camp Karis is now able to accept bookings for events. We hosted a wedding and a seminar in February. Please pray that God will bring more camps this year. We praise the Lord for the new water pump. We are praying for new water tanks for our reservoir.
I was given the chance to preach at Grace Community Gospel Church in Plaridel, Bulacan. This church was planted and is being pastored by CCI students and graduates.
Mission Church of Tagbilaran baptized 11 believers in February. They have 3 daughter churches. The church was planted and is being pastored by CCI graduates and students.

Mission Church of Tagbilaran baptisms

The students and graduates of Believers of King Jesus Christ class pile into the back of a pickup truck to travel for one-and-a-half hours to share the gospel in remote villages of Zamboanga del Sur.

Preparing to share the gospel

Testimony

Testimony of a CCI student in Mambajao, Camiguin

"My name is Pastor Raymund P. Abacahin and I am a pastor of a church in Mambajao, Camiguin. Pastoring without formal training from Bible School is really challenging. But I assumed this office with a deep conviction that God is calling me to the ministry. Lack of formal training really hindered me to effectively preach and teach the Word of God. However, God provided me with the way and met my desire to carry out my job as pastor effectively. My enrollment at Crossing Cultures International using the BTCP curriculum really help me a lot. We are about to finish Book 3 as of this writing but the knowledge that was imparted to me was very amazing. In Book 1 alone I learned so much about Rules of Interpretation which was unknown to me in the past. What was surprising to me when I discovered that the ultimate goal in our Bible Study is how we are going to apply what we have learned because this makes our bible study complete. Since then, I see to it that the truth of God’s message is true to my life before I preach and teach it to the people.
With great enthusiasm and determination, I look forward to graduating this course and I would like to express my profound gratitude to the men and women behind the ministry of Crossing Cultures International. To God be the glory."

Family Update and Prayer Requests

From Henry Ventura - National Director of CCI Philippines

We are thankful that we were able to acquire some ducks to be raised for their eggs. Lord willing, this will produce additional income for our family and a source of fresh eggs every morning.
We thank the Lord for providing us with a car. Our family put our savings together, we got an interest-free loan, and together with the gifts that the Lord provided through friends, we were able to buy a second-hand car that we can use for the ministry. We trust that the Lord will provide the money to pay back that loan. Thank you for praying and giving.

Thank you for praying and for giving!
Through your prayers and the help of the Holy Spirit (Phil. 1:19), the CCI ministry is growing and is effectively equipping God’s servants to make a difference in their communities for the glory of God.