We continue to hold worship services and a catechism class on Sunday afternoons at a rented office space about 20 minutes from our home. We average about 10-13 faithful adults and 5 children every Lord’s Day. I planned to start family visitation last week, but had prior commitments, so I plan to visit one family this week. I am praying for guidance on a prospective Bible study for several poor mostly Roman Catholic families about an hour away from our home.

My one class at Presbyterian Theological Seminary, about 1-1/2 hours away, is ending in two weeks. Since I only travel there one day a week, I am considering teaching a couple of classes next semester to maximize my time there. I also continue to preach and lead worship services in a Reformed church in a province about five hours by bus from our home. This church is part of the United Covenant Reformed Church in the Philippines (UCRCP), a federation of one organized church and two church plants. The church plant that I am laboring in now will eventually be part of this federation.

Because of our financial difficulties, I have minimized my activities related to Mars Hill Study Center. I have also given a notice to cancel my lease at the office by the end of March, but the landlord was gracious enough to extend my lease for free for one more month and offered to lower the rent. This is also the place where we hold our worship services. I am now talking with a retreat center operated by the United Methodists to rent a space there for half the rent I am paying now. My activities in promoting the church plant have also been limited to word of mouth, again because of our finances.

Regarding our search for a mission organization, Mission East Asian National Support (MEANS), a Chicago-based sending and partnering board, has temporarily accepted our application. I will be sending letters to all our other supporters that they can now send their tax-deductible gifts to MEANS, which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation.

MEANS was founded in 1971, and two years later was granted federal tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It has been a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) since 2000. Because their staff is made up of volunteers, 93 percent of donations to MEANS go towards their mission partners and projects. You can view their latest financial report at the ECFA website.

You can now send your tax-deductible gift to our ministry through MEANS, using the address above. Please remember to write a note saying that the gift is for us. Thank you for bearing with us throughout this difficult and confusing transition period.

If you want to know more about MEANS, here are some contact information:

Mission: East Asian National Support
PO Box 8434, Bartlett, IL 60103
Tel. no.: 1-630-542-2168
Email: info@meansusa.org
Website: http://www.meansusa.org/

I also have a one-page information sheet about MEANS available for download here.

Last Saturday, December 27, Evelyn and I drove from our place in Antipolo to Baclaran Unida Church for a first-year memorial service for Bishop Alfredo Reyes, which was also designed in part to be an Unida reunion.

I’m posting several pictures here for Unida members to see, so that next year you might consider attending the second year memorial service and fellowship. Click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures.

For Rev. Gamaliel Filio’s account of the service and fellowship, click here.

In the Philippines, they’re called tricycle drivers, ubiquitous by the hundreds in many places, notorious for their peculiar driving habits, their loud air-polluting machines, and for causing chaotic traffic conditions.

But for Pastor Expedito P. Macarine, a tricycle or “rickshaw,” a motorcycle with a sidecar for passengers, means survival of his family and of his church. Christianity Today has a short feature on this man of God serving His people in an unimaginably impoverished garbage dump area. See also the accompanying photo essay.

I just received this email from an elder of a church in San Carlos City in Pangasinan province, five hours north of Manila. Like Myanmar, the northern region of the Philippines was ravaged by a typhoon (cyclone) codenamed “Halong” (“Cosme” in the Philippines). This is the same church where I go to preach once a month. See also this BBC News video.

For more information on how to help, please contact Pastor Gil Baloy in the United States or Jose Cabugao in the Philippines.

(message condensed and edited)
From: Jose Jr. Cabugao
Subject: Re: Fw: Please Help if you can!
To: g_baloyatyahoodotcom
Date: Monday, June 2, 2008, 3:41 AM

Christian Greetings!

The recent cyclone codenamed “Cosme” which happened last May 17, 2008 left numerous families homeless and caused much damage to the livelihood of our people – agriculture and aquaculture. Post cyclone reports revealed that the estimated damage in our province totalled 200 Billion Pesos while in San Carlos City alone amounts to 32 Billion Pesos and even more.

Onset and Aftermath of the Cyclone

At the onset of Typhoon “Cosme”, the UCRCP leaders were having a meeting…. It was during the meeting that the gustiness of the winds started. After the meeting [some of the brethren] hurriedly left the church. Along the way, they encountered falling trees, debris and toppled electrical poles. Their travel going home was a dangerous trip but by God’s grace, they arrived safely.

By Sunday morning the 18th of May, the province was virtually devastated. Roads were not passable due to fallen trees, toppled electrical poles and debris on the roads, and the city was without electrical power.

Despite the cyclone’s evening onslaught, the church here in San Carlos City held its regular Sunday service. Although painted in the faces of the members were the agony and horrible experience (the elderly said it was the strongest ever) of the super typhoon in the whole evening of Saturday, still, God’s people were faithful honoring and thanking God during the Lord’s Day.

The Church

The church here, thru its leaders extended some help to the affected families. Relief goods consisting of rice, canned sardines and noodles were distributed to the community. Counselling was also done by the leaders to remind them of God’s sovereignty and ease the fear amongst our people and to instill assurance that our God in His infinite mercy and grace is very much in control.

Cyclone Damage to Members

Cyclone Cosme left damages to houses and properties of the UCRCP brethren. The church facilitated the visits of the members’ houses and found at least ten (10) were found to be from totally to partially damaged.

Today, the weather bureau sighted another low pressure area in the Pacific Ocean. It is expected within a few days to enter the Philippines. As of now, most of the Province of Pangasinan including San Carlos City are still in the dark. It will take more than a month to fully restore the electrical power.

Our Prayers

Brethren, we thank you for your sincere prayers and your deepest concern for us. In this time of distress, any help from you will be greatly appreciated: Our present needs include: foods, blankets, tarpauline sheets/tents for temporary shelter, flashlights, candles, construction tools and financial assistance for the purchase of construction materials for damaged houses.

Thank you and SOLI DEO GLORIA.

Very truly Yours,
UCRCP Brethren