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Mars Hill Study Center

Nollie — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:28:51 +0000

Lord willing, Mars Hill Study Center will open its doors to the public on July 31, 2008. Since our target communities are in Pasig, Mandaluyong, Cainta, Taytay, and Antipolo, it will be centrally located in Ortigas Avenue Extension in the heart of Pasig. In reasonable traffic, it is only 20 minutes from downtown Antipolo and 15 minutes from Ortigas Center. Our address is: RCJ Building Room 305, Ortigas Ave. Ext. corner Countryside Ave., Pasig City, Metro Manila. See location map on the left. UPDATE: OPENING DAY IS JULY 31, 2008.

Our Name
Upon his arrival in Athens (Acts 17:16-34) on his second missionary journey, one of Paul’s first destinations was the Areopagus, the “Hill of Ares,” the Greek god of war, known by Romans as Mars. Proud of their great artists, writers and thinkers, Athens was also the cradle of democracy and the center of learning. It was in the Areopagus where the best philosophers of the civilized world – Stoics and Epicureans – discussed their “latest and greatest” ideas.

Sensing that Paul was bringing some new “philosophy” and “a preacher of foreign divinities,” the Athenians asked him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” And day by day, as in the synagogue and in the marketplace, Paul reasoned with them, using their own poets and philosophers to preach the gospel of the risen Christ against their many idols.

Our Purpose
Mars Hill Study Center is a Christian study and teaching center seeking to glorify God through pastoral education and training. Its primary task is to provide free resources to pastors in nearby communities, including:

Printed and electronic media such as books, commentaries, journals, magazines and periodicals;
Audiovisual electronic media such as DVDs, CDs, and tapes;
Seminars and workshops on various topics necessary to be effective in church ministry; and
Internet resources.

These resources will cover biblical, theological, and ministerial disciplines to help pastors to develop intellectually and spiritually as leaders. While the focus of the study center is to to educate and prepare men for office-bearing ordained ministries of instruction and leadership as pastors, it will also make its resources available for other men and women who desire to serve the church so that the whole body of Christ may be enriched through the diverse gifts bestowed by Godâ€™s Spirit.

The mission of Mars Hill Study Center is to assist churches in preparing and training their pastors for leadership and ministry by providing substantive resources and curriculum. It seeks to develop in its students a balanced combination of knowledge (scholarship) and zeal (Christ-like piety) by expanding their Biblical knowledge, stimulate analytical and critical thinking, and challenge them to cultivate godly and righteous lives in order to present a credible testimony to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

You are warmly invited to visit Mars Hill Study Center: to glorify Christ, to teach his Gospel, to serve his Church. Tell your friends! Download an announcement or a needs flyer.

An Urgent Appeal from Filipino Brethren

Nollie — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:23:53 +0000

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.

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(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

Then MKs… now PKs too

Nollie — Wed, 14 May 2008 01:07:39 +0000

That’s how our three “boys” described themselves after my ordination. They’re missionary kids, now they’re also pastor’s kids.

The ordination service was a very solemn gathering of the congregation of Trinity United Reformed Church in Walnut Creek, California plus many of my family and friends from around the SF Bay Area, some of whom I haven’t seen for many years. Several pastors and elders from our Pacific NW Classis also attended.

Rev. Joghinda Gangar officiated, and Rev. Steve Donovan of Escondido URC preached on “Apostolic Preachers” from 1 Corinthians 4:1-5. He explained that Christ has vested the apostles with authority “as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God”; but Paul was also aware that ultimately, he was not accountable to man, but to God, “It is the Lord who judges me.” Since the apostles handed this servanthood and stewardship down to ministers through the ages, ministers also have authority in the church as well as accountability to Christ the coming King. Click on thumbnails to enlarge, or view as slideshow.

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