As the clock ticks down there are a few specific things that we could use prayer for. First of all for healthy and safe travel over for all parties. Second, there have been some new and difficult developments in a relationship with one of the Tagbanwas who sees us primarily as a source of financial gain; please pray that God would give Pops wisdom and grace in his interactions with this individual. Third, that the remainder of the financial support needed for this trip would come in. Finally, please pray that God would use Pops, Ty and Mike in significant ways on this trip!
Regarding financial support, God has blessed us tremendously with continued giving throughout the past year and we've been able to finance the travel and the first half of Pop's income loss compensation already. On top of this there is still about $1000 in the Philippine account. However, we do still need to raise about $3500 by mid to late February in order to cover all of the expenses for this trip. Your help in this is very much appreciated and is a real blessing to the Tagbanwas.
In closing, Pops wrote the following letter to those who have financially supported this ministry and I thought that you all might enjoy reading it as well:
I have a list from my church which says that you've contributed to the Tagbanwa
church minsitry that we've been part of. It feels very impersonal, but I would like to say that you are not part of a list, you are a child of God who has
warmly respnded to His prompting. You've invested, ...you've chosen to
invest in the expansion of His kingdom."
For that, I am deeply grateful. It enables me to go, to continue long-term, and deep
relationships. ...To troubleshoot church leadership issues, to challenge,
to encourage, to disciple. I love it! And, I would love for you to
participate more personally...to smell, hear, feel, and see the church in that
culture. It has been very fulfilling to participate cross-culturally in
the expansion of God's kingdom as I have, and I'd love to share that fulfillment
with you who've contributed.
By God's grace, I am returning to the Tagbanwa church ministry departing next Monday. I plan to teach Ephesians, challenging the church to "...walk worthy of our
high calling..." in Christ. ...with particular and prayerful attention to
an ongoing rift in the church community which negates its effectiveness in
representing Christ.
Ty Grossman (son) and Mike McMahon will join me for ten days in February. Mike was there as an admittedly ungodly Marine about 20 years ago, and is so excited to go back as a testimony to God's transforming power. Ty desires to be a stimulus to the young men in the church who have been his childhood playmates...challenging them to step up spiritually. He has two unique gifts. First, the ability to speak
Tagbanwa...probably more fluently than I. Second, God has gifted him with
the ability to challenge guy friends without threatening them. He just
makes people around him better. I feel incredibly blessed to have him
(them) along.
I'm praying for God's Spirit to purify the church starting with the leadership. And through it to conquer spiritual darkness in the culture as it emerges from the 19th century into the 21st. (This is not a literary flourish. They've been behind the
times, and the times have moved in on and affect them. I could attempt to
explain, but will only do that upon your request.)
Due to the length of time I have away from my normal work and income, my budget includes make-up income for which my church, Bay Area Community Church (BACC) issues me a Misc-1099. That BACC account is still lacking sufficient funds for this year's budget. You may contribute, if so led, by making a notation on your gift, "Philippine ministry."
Bay Area Community Church
884 Chesterfield Road, Annapolis, MD 21401
410.544.2222 www.bayareacc.org
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