Miracles in Batam

Pastor Edward led a team of short term mission trippers to Batam, Indonesia. Apart from seeing growth from their previous trip there, they also saw first-hand miraculous healings by God over the people there:

We visited and prayed for the sick, which included those with colon cancer, heart problems, broken arms and legs. There was a brother who suffered from stroke, and when we first met him, he could not even bend his fingers. After we prayed for him, he experienced God's miraculous healing and started lifting his hands and praising God! Barren women that we prayed for in our last visit are now in advanced stages of their pregnancies.

In one of the services that we attended, people were so moved by God during the altar call, that many came forward weeping. It was an awesome time of communion with God.

Finally, we also met a brother who was in a car accident during a thunderstorm. Many had tried to spread the gospel with him to no avail. However as we shared with him of how God has preserved him from death, he was moved by the Spirit to salvation!

Sister Mavis Ho had this to add:

Overall, the Batam trip was indeed an eye opener for me as it was my first trip there. It was great to be surrounded by God’s people and as we sang and prayed earnestly. We also prayer walked at the new land parcel slated for a new church building, and made many house visitations.

The trip reminded me that my own problems are not the biggest things in my life, only Jesus is. I am also more mindful of the needs of people around me now, and also more confident that I can help others and how God can use me to help others.

Praise and worship in Batam

Harvest Time in Lapu Lapu

Earlier in June this year, a group of mission trippers got to see the fruit of the work that was started there from scratch three years ago.

Deacon Victor's connection with Pastor Cleto in Lapu Lapu, the Philippines, proved vital in expanding the church there, and extending their reach to the lost. What has followed is the church building, two bible schools, and two ARISE kindergartens (as with the ARISE kindergarten here in COS(BT)).

The church in Lapu Lapu now has 200 people attending two services every Sunday, with the vision to grow it beyond 500. 22 pastors have graduated from the bible schools and are now actively pastoring 18 churches throughout the region of Visayas. Another 18 will be graduating this November.

Sis Elizabeth Lim shares her experience:

I felt really comfortable in the Philippines even though it was my first time to the country, because of the hospitality and friendliness of the Filipinos, in particular the pastor and his family. On this mission trip, I did not need an interpreter, unlike in many other countries. I could express myself freely, accurately and directly to the people in English. They could understand me without any problem, and that was a real privilege for me.

I never dreamed that I would have to do any preaching, but by the grace of God my preaching during our first Sunday service was very well received. I have concluded that our church has done well in feeding us with God's word, therefore we can in due course use it to bless others in the mission field, and to make disciples of all nations.

Lapu Lapu is a beautiful place with beautiful people, and I praise God that the church has matured and multiplied so quickly.

Heartbeat of God

After months of preparation, we have finally begun the work on our next video production. On our previous project, we were tasked to put it together in about two months -- from the time that the team was formed to when the video was to be shown during our church's Missions Week -- which was insanely tight, to say the least.

This time, we hope to give ourselves a little more room to breathe, juggling this with our respective full-time jobs, and perhaps manage to have some fun along the way. ;)

For posterity's sake, I wanted to post our previous video up. This video was shown in all our church's congregations earlier in March, with the intent to give a light-hearted insight into the lives of our missionaries, and what they do so far away from home.

There's always room for improvement, but speaking as someone who's never been involved in a media project other than print, it was extremely fulfilling to see this come into fruition. :) We had so much fun interviewing the missionaries as well, and I believe I speak for the rest of the team when I say that they have inspired us. Our upcoming video aims to do something different, so look out for it in a couple of months, but for now, here's an intro to the people who are Making A Difference.