Simply powerful!

We deemed it the right time to conduct an Encounter God Retreat among the leaders of PCF Nova. And what a first! Breakthroughs and freedoms and outpouring of the Holy Spirit highlighted the event.

There is this one couple who have been under poverty for a long time, but were Christians for a long time as well. The wife has committed abortion, and she hasn't told about it to her husband for 8 years. She has been under financial debts without the knowledge and consent of her husband. She confessed these sins to her husband. Now their relationship has been more intimate than ever! They are now more positive about their finances - the best is yet to come from God.

This is just one of many life-changing stories from our retreat. Truly God has visited us!

Baptismal pool right in our backyard!

We used to rent a resort or the barangay pool to baptize new converts. Booking the place was a challenge to find an agreeable schedule. We brought along sound system, musical instruments, food, chairs, people, and P5000 rental fee.

Now we don't need to do that anymore. With the help of a long time IVCF friend, PCF has built a concrete baptismal pool at the back of the worship center. First Sunday of October, we baptized 5 people to kickoff the use of the new pool. Now we were able to concentrate on the converts to make it a touching celebration for them. With the baptismal pool, we can obey the Great Commission as frequently as we can.

The Spirit filled the place and filled their hearts!

They invited. They worshipped. They danced and had fun. The YouthAblaze celebrated their second anniversary, and wow, it was a great experience to all - both visitors and presentors! There were about 100 visitors, and half of them were first timers who appreciated the good news of Jesus. The place was so crowded and so humid, but it didn't stop hearts to be warmed by the Spirit. Some of the visitors are now regular attenders in the worship service.

God is awesome for two years!

I don't want to celebrate an anniversary only because a year has passed. I want to celebrate because I know God has been good to us and has worked in us and through us. In PCF Nova, that's the way it was.

On June 8, 2008, we celebrated the message the we can be heroes through the powerful help of the Spirit. As I look at the people that God has brought to PCF Nova, I felt awe. Each one is a miracle of God. I can't help but wonder at the amazing things God can do to a person. The message of Ptr. Loi Gatchalian, head pastor of PCF Tondo, echoed the fact that through Christ, we can dream again and dream bigger this time. With past years like these with God, I look forward with excitement to our third year as we face our new theme - Heroes: Ordinary People with Extraordinary Power.

Youth Camps 2006!

We came. We saw. We befriended.

Camps bring the youth to a mountain top experience. They enjoyed the company of new friends, and the ministry of Jesus, and they don't want to break it off.

In the Heroes Camp in Tarlac, about 45 youth leaders attended from the four PCF churches. This was a time to develop camaraderie and the hero spirit among them. One boy lost his wallet in the camp, and he was really miserable. The rest of the boys took out from their meager money and gave to him. Perhaps God wanted to prove to that boy that some things could be lost for us to realize our true treasures. He lost his wallet, but gained true friends. I hope to see more heroes in the days to come.

On the later part of summer, about 50 youth from Nova composed mostly of unchurched people joined the Transformer Camp in Zambales. They were the youth from our communities. They went primarily to check out the fun, but ended up knowing the grace of Jesus. Today, nearly half of our attendees are youth, and they are the fastest growing segment in our church. Let's pray that they will continue to love Jesus and love His church as well.

Baptism is always a party to us!

This is our 4th water baptism party since we started two years ago. Ten people were baptized this time. We have baptized close to 40 people already, and we never tire of doing it. Jesus declared, "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:10) In baptisms, we feel that joy as well. It's actually a source of energy for us to move on and be used by God.

Street Concert

It was their first street concert. For the YouthAblaze Nova and the residents of Damong Maliit, the first may not be excellent, but it was good enough to have. Barely two years old, YouthAblaze mustered enough guts and faith in God to go and make disciples in their own style. They provided gospel songs, dances, and dramas to perk up the audience (the pastor gave the gospel message). Some mothers were happily surprised to see their teen children performing on a level they didn't expect.

Being a first, it was not without slip ups, and there were many! Nevertheless, they declared undauntingly - "Next time, we know better. That won't happen again." May God continue to use their creativity and courage. May their attitude be like that of the English missionary to India who said "Attempt great things for God. Expect great things from God."

Ukay-ukay generates visitors!

The Women's Ministry of PCF Los Angeles sent a big balikbayan box of goodies as giveaways for members of PCF Nova. Well, instead of merely giving these, the church agreed to put up an effort to earn these. For every visitor a member invites, he or she will be entitled to get one goody. If the visitor returns the next Sunday, the member gets another goody. I told my members, invite others and dare them with these words - "if you won't feel the presence of God in the gathering, don't come back."

It has been working so far! We were averaging around 8 visitors every Sunday! Some members even gave away their own goodies to their visitors. It was a small opportunity that turned into something great. I pray that the habit of inviting persists and a belief that God's powerful word can work in the hearts of people. I wish if won't be a bad case of "the offer is good while supply lasts."

Slowly but surely

Being a young church, it's hard to develop leaders, more so from the poor and less educated. But we're seeing the fruits of establishing the ministry. I started teaching CLASS 301, Discovering My Ministry. I started to assign people into various relevant ministries according to their spiritual gifts, and other parameters. New ministries arose because of availability of new leaders. So we have the Welcome Team for practicing hospitality to Sunday visitors, PrayerWarriors for interceding for ministries especially the worship service, and TheaterACTS for dramas and dances. This year we started the monthly leadership training, and I taught them how to evaluate and plan for their ministries.

I know what we just have may not be much yet, but I trust the Lord that our small efforts will be graciously rewarded with more wisdom, passion, and tremendous growth. For at any rate, it's all about God.