AUGUST 2017
embrace, Jap-jap, Vanie, and Ann-ann encounter classmates and friends who label the Bible as an outdated, outmoded, and irrelevant medium, eschewing it for more modern concepts as their guide to life and living. They also meet groupmates who don’t believe in the deity of Jesus, saying that he is just a mere mortal. Some, though, really seek to know the truth, and they are challenged to study and research for the answers to the questions asked.
BIBLE STUDY GROUPS AT NORSU-BSC
As I consider all that is happening in the ministry, I could not help but ponder in wonder and amazement at what God has been doing in and through these studentleaders’ lives. He has molded them to become attractive testimonies to His faithfulness, goodness and power that students surrounding them take notice and start to ask about this God. I could only marvel, humbled at the fact that God has allowed me to witness His stirring of these students’ spirits, moving them to share the gospel. Indeed, students like them really make IVCF a student-led, Spirit-stirred movement.
When the Spirit Stirs the Students Some one hundred kilometers from Dumaguete City lies a quaint campus that straddles the boundary of the city of Bayawan and the town of Sta. Catalina. Negros Oriental State University Bayawan-Sta. Catalina Campus, or better known by its acronym NORSU-BSC, is characterized by lush trees, knee-high grass, and a few white-clad buildings trimmed with NORSU blue. It is a home to students from the surrounding areas, students like Chang, Irish, Bel, Ledy, Jayza, and Roselyn. They are typical college students, each with his/her own set of subject loads and teachers and concerns. What sets them apart from other students is that they are also studentleaders, forming the backbone of their IVCF chapter. Since June, they have been meeting for Bible studies during lunch time, every day. Every day. Although their number varies because of the availability of their attendees, they faithfully follow them up, and their contacts show up. What’s more, they see new faces almost every day, as some would notice them and be interested in joining them. Some have even received Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Much closer to home, just an eight-minute motorcycle drive, is my alma mater, Foundation University. With its manicured grass and excellently landscaped surroundings, FU is an ideal school for those who enjoy a serene environment, quality education, and amiable people. Such spirit of friendship is being used by senior high school students Marco and Bless as they conduct Bible studies with their classmates. Motivated by their desire to reach out to their fellow students, they take turns in leading the fellowship, at times singing worship songs accompanied by Marco’s playing with his ukulele. And yes, they also meet every day. Still in Dumaguete, at world-renowned Silliman University, three engineering students form their own Bible study groups. At a school where students are more exposed to liberal thinking and other school of thoughts, not to mention the different religious beliefs the students
Join me in praising God for His faithfulness and pleading with Him for His favor… Thank God for the students that He adds to the ministry at NORSU-BSC. Please pray that more student-leaders will be raised and trained to help the six existing leaders in handling Bible study groups. Praise God for Viz who has committed as an ISCF counselor at Foundation University (Viz is my fellow leader during our student days). Please pray for his availability during Bible studies as his work schedule varies weekly. Praise God for the student-leaders at Silliman University for their passion and courage in sharing the gospel. Please pray that they will be able to disciple and train new leaders as two of them are graduating seniors. Thank God for His provision last month. Please pray for His continued bounty for the area’s expenses and for the students considering to be trained through the Discipleship-Leadership Training Camp (DLTC, formerly LCDC) in October.
July 2017 Financial Report 6,000.00
4,670.00
4,000.00
1,453.25 2,000.00 0.00 Total Receipts
Total Disbursements
KENNY D. EBO Field Staff, Negros Oriental | (0906) 511-7301