GOOD NEWS

What a wonderful privilege it is to be ambassadors of the gospel! We are so thankful for opportunities to share good news. In this journal entry we will be sharing praise reports, and giving the Lord glory for He is truly great, and does great things!

SOME SCRIPTURES ABOUT SHARING “GOOD NEWS“

Psalm 40:9; 96:2 – I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness… Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. ( alsoI Chronicles 16:25)

• Special note: We are called to proclaim the good news about righteousness through Jesus continually, and wherever we go.

Isaiah 52:7 – How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

• Special note: Sharing good news is beautiful, and a good thing to do. It pleases the Lord, and exalts His rule and reign.

Proverbs 25:25 – As cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country.

• Special note: Good news about what the Lord is doing around the world in other places brings joy, and is refreshing.

Isaiah 61:1 – “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound…

• Special note: Jesus anoints us to follow in His steps, and to continue His ministry to the poor, bringing healing and freedom.

I Thessalonians 3:6 – But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you.

• Special note:Timothy was a bearer of good news. News about the continuance of faith and love is good news. It is good to have good remembrance of one another, and look forward to seeing one another again in the Lord’s good timing…

A CALL TO MISSIONS

Jesus said to His disciples – “As my Father sent me, so send I you.“ (John 20:21) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19) “Go into all the world and preach the gospel… (Mark 16:15)

We have a call to share the good news to the nations. We are to “show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. (I Peter 2:9)

THE PHILIPPINES

Many years ago the Lord called us to the Philippines. It was like a Macedonian call for help. We were specifically to go to unreached areas that had no other church, and share the gospel. We give praise that we have had the privilege to share the good news about Jesus to people who have desperately needed to hear this life-transforming message.

I will highlight 3 locations we have penetrated, where initially there was no other evangelical church.

MORIONES

A number of years ago we went to this area that locally only had Catholic and cultish influences. We set up the Jesus film and shared it one day, and followed up with some that responded. Today there is a church plant continuing to be a light to that zonal area. We give the Lord praise!

Polillio Islands

One of the islands in the Polillio Islands (located off the eastern coast of Luzon) is called Patnanungn. We originally went there with a Flying Medical Samaritan team, and discovered an area that at the that time had no other evangelical church. We went back to it a number of times, showing the Jesus film, and following up with those interested to accept the Lord and pursue discipleship training. Today we have a missions base there, and local congregation that continues to meet regularly in fellowship. We give the Lord praise!

BALANTI

In a nearby Zonal part of Tarlac City, we found an area that locally had no other evangelical church. It was rather remote, and we needed to cross the river over and over, sometimes by boat, and at times using a vehicle driving across the dry river bed when it was dry enough. We showed the Jesus film, and then continued to follow up those interested to receive the Lord with Bible studies, regular services, and discipleship training. Today there is a church located there with regular fellowship gatherings, and continued ministry. We give the Lord praise!

REPORTS OF INVOLVEMENTS AND PROGRESS THIS YEAR (2025)

• Developments – Patnanungan, Polillio Islands... continued development of the mission base and the congregational ministry.
• Children’s Ministries – Sunday classes, Weekly Kids Clubs in various locations and Kids Camp for all! It’s great to see the children growing in the Lord!
• Youth Ministries – Regular Youth Fellowships in different locations. Some of the Youth are also involved in helping with children’s ministry.
• Prison Ministries – Monthly Prison Ministry – sometimes with around 75-100 in attendance. We are currently repeating the “Light Brings Freedom” series, with good response.
• Men’s Ministries – Twice a month there is a fellowship & Bible study for the Men in various areas.
• Leadership Training Modules – During the past few months there were 5 all-day Leadership Training Modules, as well as approximately 7 hours of leadership training when our missions team was at our missions base in Polillio – raising up more leaders in the Ministry.
• Online Ministries – The regular Sunday on-line service continues…touching many lives in different places as well.
• “Light Brings Freedom” – on YouTube and Facebook continues to bless many.
• “Righteousness Exalts a Nation” project – We are in the process of developing this new discipleship and teaching series that helps bring increased enlightenment about the importance of righteousness, as revealed in Scripture.
• Targeting Radio Ministry – We have had a the burden to multiply the sharing of the gospel over the air and via the internet for many years.There are some unique doors that are in the process of opening to become more involved with doing that, and we are excited about it.
• Regular, Weekly Services in various Locations. We’re so thankful for each of the members who help lead these services.
• Weekly Small Group Bible studies in various locations – also meeting in the homes for regular fellowship and prayer.
• Regular Prayer meetings – these are gatherings intentionally focused on prayer and intercession. The church is called to be a house of prayer for all nations. This is a very vital part of the ministry.
• Women’s Ministry – The Mother/Daughter event was a joyful time.
• Counseling – Helping mentor, train, and counsel in the ways of the Lord, assist with marriages, funerals, etc.
• Visitation – Showing personal interest, nurturing relationships, comforting, encouraging, strengthening…
• Worship Ministry – It’s great to see quite a number involved playing instruments and leading worship.
• Administration – Oversight, accountability, planning, and scheduling with the team is an important part of the ministry. It is needed to be progressive, effective, and fruitful.
• Ordination Service – We ordained into the ministry some who have been faithfully serving.
• Lucena City – We enjoyed a recent visit and ministry time with our brethren in Lucena City – where we previously lived. It was a delightful time together. They invited us to minister at their primary church location on Father’s Day. We were able to also share some helpful Biblical resources for them to distribute to some of the other pastors in their various churches and districts.
• “Encounter God Saturday” Retreat. This was a very special time encouraging a closer relationship with the Lord, especially targeting the youth with the desire to inspire them to encounter God and seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
• Jesus Film Showing – Friday evening before Easter we showed the Jesus Film along with doing open-air evangelistic outreach at one of the neighboring Balanti areas near our church location. It was quite the dramatic contrast! We were sharing the good news that Jesus took the beatings and stripes for us as our substitute sacrifice for sins, as compared to the flagellation and mournful sounds of people right next to us there near the basketball court where we were set up. Group after group of young men came by who were being whipped. No doubt, by intense suffering many of them were trying to earn God’s favor and do penitence for their sins by being beaten with whips. They had bloody backs from the whips, and sometimes lying prostrate on the ground they received blow after blow… There is a desperate need for people to receive the good news about the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus, not by their own works.

A SPECIAL HEALING TESTIMONY

A few months ago at one of our prayer meetings we sang Don Moen’s song “I Am The God That Health Thee” (Exodus 15:26).  One of our ministers followed that with an exciting testimony about her sister who was healed. Her sister was hospitalized. She lost so much weight and had become so thin that she was almost like skin and bones. The Doctors were only giving her a few more weeks to live. They didn’t know what the problem was with her. She prayerfully listened to this little chorus over and over, and was encouraged to believe for her healing. This Scripture chorus was used by the Lord to help her have faith that the Lord was going to heal her, and He did! The Doctors called her a “Miracle Woman” because they had expected her to die. Praise the Lord for answering her prayers!