16 College Grads!

We used to have few college grads before. In the early days of PCF, you can count the college grads in the fingers of your hand every year. And that's one hand only. Then this year, boom! And these are not just mere members but leaders of the church. Some of them are floaters and losers before they know the Lord. Tambay na lang. Japayuki na lang. But they met Jesus, and He turned their lives and dreams upside down.

Jethro, a Care Group Leader and head of the Ambiance Team, when he enrolled in his very first semester, he said "ang baon ko, tiwala lang." Most of them didn't know where the money will come for their next tuition installment. A few of them at times walked far to go to school or can't submit a project because money was involved or miss lunch or miss a day in school totally because of lack of jeepney fare. Ruth and I struggled with them, shook the throne of grace with them, and looked for fund support for them. Now after all was said and done, they believe more than ever that God will never leave them nor forsake them.

During the start of our church ministry, I used to pray for the Lord to give us more leaders and generous givers. Slowly but surely, the Lord instead developed members to become the very people that we need. Batch 2014, with all that you've been through, I know that you believe that with the Lord, you are unbeatable, unstoppable, unbreakable! Let's continue to conquer for our King!

Most exciting Zambales Camp ever!

Opportunities are miracles as well.

January, I received news that we can't go to the Zambales youth camp which we have done for 7 consecutive summers. Our contact was not able to give us bus allotments. After a month, I came across a pastor, who is one of the main coordinators of Megacity Ministries, and he allotted 12 buses to our network of pastors! Once more, we were able to send youth seekers to the evangelistic camp. We used to send 2 buses, but this time, by faith PCF Nova filled up 3 buses. We had 107 first-timers and 16 were water baptized!

The bus I rode was also another miracle. It was driven by a cool pastor (later we learned he actually owned the bus, even much later we learned he owned a fleet). Riding back home, he generously allowed us to visit Subic Bay and wet our feet. When we hit the road again, he turned his bus into a moving party place complete with strobes and dancing lights, and the youth in our bus had the fun of their life. Afterwards, when all were tired and settled down, the pastor-driver shared his testimony of how Jesus transformed his life miraculously. Some of the youth said this was their highlight, having impact in their hearts even more than the Zambales camp itself.

This was my 8th Zambales camp. I was becoming tired of it already. But after the best camp/trip ever that God had gifted us with, I'm looking forward to next summer. We shall see greater things than these!

No pastor left alone, no church left behind

That's the motto of our group. That's how we minister to each other - pastors from different churches and denominations taking care of one another. We rejoice with each one's victory; we weep with each one's misery. I look forward to these twice-a-month meetings where we strengthen each other and share ideas and resources in building up the church of Jesus. If you want fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk with a group. It's an honor to walk farther, and also wiser and stronger, with these godly servants who have the same purpose in life - to honor God, love people, and make disciples.

Many are looking for rescue...

...and they are turning to Jesus.

In our overnight Encounter God Retreat on Aug. 25-26, 38 delegates attended. That was our largest, and most complicated EGR we ever had. We capitalized on a Monday holiday, and so we started it on Sunday side-by-side with our second worship service. Good thing we have the warehouse now to hold the worship service, and a chapel for the EGR. Problem was that the counselors in the EGR were also involved in the worship service (ex. sound system, Visitors Zone, etc.). We just did our best to accommodate the two events. We did our best, and God did the rest.

With 38 delegates, it was like A Series of Unfortunate Events. Insufficient plates and tables and bed mats, long lines in the toilet/bathroom, and the stove broke down because of giant cookwares. But those couldn't take away what the Holy Spirit has planned for the delegates. We served with joy, enthusiasm, and hope. We brought plates from our homes, counselors ate holding their plates, old worn-out mats were reused. Together with the Lord, we did everything possible in this rescue operation. The Lord did the impossible in changing their hearts.

In spite of the "harassment" from a large group, we promised the Lord - we're not backing down. And so we're preparing for even more. We plan to buy more tables, and plates, and bed mats, and build additional makeshift bathrooms. If the funds are available, we're not sparing any expense to rescue more people. The Lord gave his life for this. We're not doing any less.

By all possible means

Basketball should really be the national sport of the Philippines. Filipinos are crazy about it. And because of this fact, Brod Willie thought he could attract some male youth with an indoor basketball liga, right there in our new worship place in the warehouse! It seems like a crazy idea because we need to move the chairs after a worship service to clear the area for games. We hold the liga during Sundays so the players can also attend the worship service. What a great way to reach out to young men!

It's not even a well planned event. The players were not even in uniform that one team in every game needed to remove their upper shirts. Good thing we have lights, so games can still proceed until around 8 pm. No matter how messed up our worship service area was, I can say it worked! We have turned a holy place to a playing area so that by all possible means we might save some. (1Cor. 9:22)

I saw players attending in their basketball attires, and some attended small groups as well during midweeks. And so Sunday after Sunday, the Word of God was being planted in the hearts of around 40 young men. In our last Encounter God Retreat, 7 of them joined. Hopefully we will have a good harvest sooner or later.

PCF: Pang-espirituwal na, pang-sports pa!

Let there be light!

We know we're going there. We just lack the funds to provide electrical wirings for the 550-sqm warehouse and strong lights to brighten the place. Before our 7th church anniversary in June 2013, someone gifted us with P100,000 and told us... move!

And so, since our anniversary, we've been holding our 2 worship services there. We bought 8 LED lights and run wirings and outlets at the perimeter of the warehouse. We leveled some holes and cracks on the cemented ground and put up decorated blocks for the air to flow. We added industrial fans to make the place more comfortable.

Since the anniversary, we averaged 235 attenders with a high of 280, 23 first timers per week and 17 returners. In the beginning, when God wants to fill up, he first creates space. God has prepared a big place for growth. It's time to go and multiply...

Christmas Sunday, etc.

Two days after the supposed end of the world, PCF Nova had a great special day!

The roof is repainted. Insulation is provided. Stage is assembled. Only 10% of the ground is not yet cemented. So for 3 Sundays starting December 23, we temporarily held our worship service in the warehouse to see what else is needed so the church can move there permanently. We still lack lights, electrical wiring, industrial fans, band instrument covers, echo minimizer, etc. But one more thing I discovered, I still need to adjust to talk to a large crowd. Somehow I was uncomfortable when I couldn't make eye contact with the people somewhere at the back.

December 23 was also our Christmas Sunday where we spent the rest of the afternoon with a dance showdown among the Care Groups. We call it CG Festival. It was a full house of talents - fun, riotous, creative. It was great bonding time as well for the Care Groups. Whatever the result was with the judging, I felt everybody won. Before that day, I was asking God for some giveaways, as we had done for the past Christmas Sundays. Fortunately, a friend contacted me if someone can pick-up some Johnson&Johnson products in the morning of that day. But of course!

The first test drive was special to me in a different way. December 23 was the 25th wedding anniversary with my life partner, Ruth, and I can't let that pass without something different for her. So before I delivered the sermon, I surprised her with a dozen roses. She is my loving and humble supporter in everything that I do. She deserves every petal of that bouquet and every bit of my love.

What a productive and meaningful day! Thank God for his favor!

Best season break

Armies attack with a shout of "charge!" Our youth warriors retreated with a whisper of "recharge".

At the last week of every year, youth leaders and potential leaders in PCF Nova gather together for a 3-day camp in Bulacan. It's a time for strengthening, fellowship and getting further directions from the Lord. It's a balance of wackiness, work and Word. Youth leaders, including my family and me, are always excited for this annual event.

Last December was our 6th Bulacan Camp, and 30 youth delegates raised funds for their camp fees through many small contributions from church members. It was a good mix of Care Group Leaders, Star Awardees, and Top 3 in the Praise School of Leaders. I've discovered that this mix is fruitful as potential leaders get to establish relationships with long time leaders that hopefully will be a bridge for further mentoring throughout the year. I wish the unity of these youth leaders will be strong enough to victoriously face their temptations later.

Amazingly, as it was in the previous years, Lectio Divina had the greatest impact among the campers. And this is the time when there's no human speaker - only plain reading of the Word, silent meditation and sharing of insights. This is the time when we claim that the Holy Spirit will be the speaker himself. As expected, he never fails to convict people in fresh new ways.

Campers, be strong, remain faithful to the Lord, and I hope to see you all next camp!

Star Awardee

May Anne (center) along with
Julie (left), her discipler & Ptr. Sandy

Give honor to whom honor is due. This year, we honored 39 on two separate occasions.

Twice a year, we honor those who have excelled in winning people, making disciples, doing ministry, and character growth. It is a source of jubilation for most of us, and these awardees make their leaders proud. Among those who have received awards was May Anne Bernardo.

Eldest in a brood of 4 girls, she gave way for the second girl in family to go to college because of financial constraints. She became a member of PCF Nova on April 1 just last year. Last month, she already has 4 girls whom she is discipling in her Care Group, kind of unusual for a new member. 

Previously she didn't accept a job that will make her unavailable to do her church responsibilities. Now she works as a helper in a family who goes to PCF as well, removing any problem with church schedule. She is simple, has a servant heart, prayerful, and reliable in the Usher Ministry and PEP Team. She is the living proof that being poor or uneducated is no reason not to make disciples. She loves her Savior too much to make excuses. As such, she earned the distinguished Warrior Award. May Anne lived with this word... "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed..." (2Tim. 2:15)

Laban kung laban!

In 2007, a lady pastor visited us and saw the warehouse beside our church. It occurred to her that the warehouse will be the new site of PCF Nova. It didn't happen that year. We were about 70 people during that time, and the 550 sqm warehouse was just too big for us. Besides, we didn't have the money to do it.

This year, by the grace and power of God, we average 230 people in Sunday attendance. Now the warehouse is just about enough for the church, with more room for growth. So we started renovating and preparing for the warehouse move after the Lord has provided sufficient funds from sources we were not expecting. We bought more stackable chairs, industrial fans, more appropriate sound system, and built a stage which doubles as scaffolding. The roof was repainted, those with big leaks replaced, and insulation was provided.

We're still waiting for God for some more funds to come to pave the cracked and dusty floor. We're still waiting for God to raise more leaders to disciple people. We're praying, working, expecting, and we're not holding back from the gargantuan challenges ahead of us. This year, we celebrated our 6th church anniversary with the continuous battle cry "Laban Kung Laban!"

V-Zone

I must admit, we were poor hosts of our guests during Sundays. We just let things happen and see what will come out of it. At times, I saw visitors just hanging aorund by themselves. I didn't think it projected friendliness and warmth. So this year, we made solid changes. We made hosting of visitors intentional. After each worship service, we invite them on tables, and we have 4 of such for 1st timers up to 4th timers. We added a trained host in each table, a topic for spiritual conversation, and a team to prepare and serve snacks. I hope this intention comes out of our V-Zone -  to "welcome one another... as Christ has welcomed you..." (Romans 15:7)

EGR for Juniors

Our regular Encounter God Retreat is for people 15 years old and above. But we've noticed that there are some 13 and 14 year olds who were ready to undergo the retreat. I felt God doesn't want anything bad to happen to them before they can go to such event. So this year, for the first time, we organized one for them, and tweaked the EGR a bit to suit the junior age. It remained to be a powerful message for the pre-teens. It proved to us once again, Jesus is able to minister to all people, no matter what the age.

History makers

Encounter God Retreat is our first big step for Jesus-seekers. In 2008, we had 2 EGRs; in 2009, we had 3; in 2010, we had 4. Then this year, amazingly, we had 7! In all EGRs, we average 15 delegates, and never reached 20. Then in our latest EGR, we had 31! Delegates, counselors old and new, and Care Group leaders who have invited in the 16th EGR, they are my history makers!

The 5th year of PCF Nova will be remembered as the year of the youth, the year of record breakers, the year of level up for many, and the year we believed for even greater & even more. Thank you, warriors! You're so dear to me.

Lord, "You see everything that people do. You give a reward to those who do good things." (Jeremiah 32.19 TEV) Please, don't forget my warriors.

One more round

I heard of a boxing practice wherein the fighter was too tired and worn out to go on, but the coach often shouted at him, "Just one more round! Just one more round!" In the real fight, the voice reverberated on his mind even when he was beaten and battered, "Just one more round!" This helped him to stay in the fight and finish the game.

Last year, after  4 years of existence, PCF Nova has provided two worship services to accommodate the growing Sunday attendance. It was accompanied by much fear and praying and being desperate for God to make sure this was what He wanted. This year, we added a third service, not knowing if it can be sustained.

To date, 250 people grace our worship center every Sunday. It turned out the third service is at the right time. But with that many people, it has become more complicated yet fulfilling, tiring yet satisfying, privileged yet overwhelmed. As the responsibility grows bigger, I feel more limited and more desperate for God. I'm so blessed with a core team of leaders who are willing to rise up to the challenge of caring and raising more leaders.

The Word of the Lord is clear to us. "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back." (Isaiah 54:2) We often look at ourselves as warriors, and we find opportunities to shout this, "Laban kung laban!" We're not holding back for Jesus. Just one more round.

Excellent student, passionate discipler

Chara Mae San Diego

The group that she led won 1st place in Biological Sciences Category, in the 2011 Science Fair, both in the Division of City Schools and Regional level. She will go to Thailand next year to defend their research project. She is entered as a candidate of the Division's Academic Excellence and gearing up for the Noli de Castro Scholarship Foundation. Last school year, she was at the top 5 of the school's Science section.

All the while she is a worship leader and a leader of 11 girls in her Care Group and 33 in her Network. She sleeps almost every night on the table beside her notes and books. She won't go to her bed, otherwise she won't be able to wake up in the early morning to continue studying. In her limited time, she meets her Care Group on Thursday nights. She spends every Saturday afternoon until evening in the church for the prayer meeting, core leaders meeting, and worship team practice. Entire Sunday is unquestionably the Lord's day.

She is a diligent student and a passionate worker of the Lord. It's her life and calling. No complaining. No arguing. She is my princess, God's precious, and undoubtedly, a warrior of Jesus!

God visited us...

Pastor Nelson, senior pastor of Bible Believer Church & Ministry of Balagtas, invited PCF Nova to conduct a 2-day Encounter God Retreat in their church. It was our first time to do so. Towards the end of the event, during the testimony time, he declared "God has visited us!" Wow! It's truly an honor to usher the presence of our loving God and be used in His kingdom! It was life-changing to our host, and life-changing to us as well. Let me share what I've written them after the EGR...

Dear BBCM, it's an honor to our church PCF Nova to be of service to you. You don't know how much the event has blessed and challenged us to a different level. We don't belong to the same denomination, yet the bond that the Spirit has formed has made us far more than what a denomination can give. We're truly a family.

Ptr. Nelson, your passion is contagious, your prayers are heavenly, your ambition is God-centered. I declare multitudes of disciplers of Jesus, and a church so exciting and warm that other people will be so attracted. Our journey may be rough and tough, rest assured, Jesus is building His church.

To the leaders of BBCM, never back down, support and honor your pastor, seek and save the lost, let no one be left alone, and you will appreciate the church of Jesus even more. Sow goodness, reap greatness.

I wasn't there in that ministry, and I was happy

Sometimes absence is bliss.

PCF received a significant amount of money for the children, and we told our young youth leaders to provide a summer program for the community children. And they did. With flying colors. About 55 children, ages 5-11, joined. The youth leaders organized everything - from the preparations of the gifts, props, venue and food, to the games and singing and teaching the Word. The leaders even dragged their high school cell group members to provide crowd control and distribution assistance. For one-year old leaders, entrusting an event like this meant a lot to them. And them taking it and doing it, meant a lot to me. The children were happy, the youth leaders were fulfilled, I was proud of them, and our Heavenly Father smiled. Who can ask for more?

Can't get enough of it

I almost pulled out at the last minute. But my heart's desire is to get every opportunity to invest in the hearts of these youth seekers, and perhaps some of them will embrace Jesus. So in spite of coordination mishaps, we proceeded with two buses carrying about 100 seekers, and went to the Zambales Youth Camp (sponsored by MegaCity Ministries).

After that camp, we baptized 10 youth. I see other delegates coming back to our worship services. Some of our new youth members have leveled up. One bus carried 50 delegates from one nearby college, and is now a new target for harvest. So happy we persevered.

Till next year...

300!

It was the largest crowd I've preached to.

It was overwhelming. Combining the two services won't fit our regular chapel. So we celebrated in a nearby warehouse. Many visitors were invited, and most of them if not all, were non-church goers. My parents and all siblings were there too. We had worship service in the morning, lunch, CareGroup Festival (small groups doing talent presentations), raffles, and gift-giving courtesy of Johnson&Johnson.

A large crowd posed tremendous challenges - cleaning a large place, feeding a large crowd, providing sufficient ventilation, sound system not enough. At any rate, I got all the help from our leaders, and they were worn out afterwards. 

God allowed us to have a taste of what's up ahead, and I was so privileged to see the leaders rose up to the challenge. I've seen their mettle and unity. Nobody's backing down. Laban kung laban!

With God, who needs Santa Claus?

God is full of surprises. That's why He never fails to amaze me.

Christmas, and I was wondering if there will be material blessings to the church members just like in the previous years. A sister-in-law called and recommended that I wrote to Johnson&Johnson for some giveaways. And they gave! And not some, but several boxes of their products - mouthwash, lotion, soap, napkin, etc. We gave to members and visitors alike.

As if that's not enough, PCF Los Angeles gave a huge amount (it was huge to us) of cash. I used it to bless my leaders in form of awards, to recognize their efforts and dedication to the work of Jesus. Among there were the Invest&Invite Award, for the person who invited the most visitors to church; Service Awards, for those who labored in the 'dirty' works of the church; and the Fruitful Awards, for those who discipled the most in their CareGroups.

We truly serve a God who wants to bless very much.