Bondtier June

JULY 2015

VOLUME 1, ISSUE NO. 1

P H I L I P P I N E S

CENTRAL AND EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL UNIT

BONDTIER

BOHOL INTERVARSITY GRADUATES UPDATE

Why the Bondtier?

JUNE 2015

Photo Courtesy: ishareimage.com

Besides the LINKER, our regional newsletter, which presents our quarterly report and update, we are releasing a monthly update starting this school year which will enable our constituents, donors, partner churches and friends to be updated of the events and activities of IVCF Central and Eastern Visayas Regional Unit. On a monthly basis, we would like to share to everyone what the Lord is doing in and through the movement. Our desire is that through this monthly newsletter, we would be able to connect and bond with each other. Thus, we are having the Bondtier. The name, though, is not

original. This was first coined way back in the 1990’s by members of the Graduates Team of IVCF Dumaguete and was used in their regular update.

With their permission and blessings, we are officially using it starting this month.

Welcome everyone to this monthly update. We hope and pray that you would be blest, encouraged, and challenged to support the movement in many ways the Lord would like you to.

LAURA I. PLA CEVRU Regional Director

Jesus said to His disciples, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34. May the Lord Jesus’ passion be ours, too, as we continue his work in IVCF Bohol.

In one of our prayer times, my prayer partner, Dr. Gloria Casabal, and I, envisioned an IVCF graduate’s fellowship.

Our desire for this fellowship was first, to minister to one another and, second, to create a support system for IVCF work.

So, I personally initiated in sharing that vision to some of our former students and graduate partners who I used to work with when I was still with the staff.

Finally, I praise God that in May 7 this year, there were 14 graduates from Tagbilaran, Talibon, Trinidad and Ubay who came together for fellowship. Together, we sought God’s direction for IVCF Bohol, especially for the graduates. We were also blessed to hear from Thesse, a vibrant student leader in Tagbilaran who was also with us that time. She shared to us her passion and her amazing work in 3 high school campuses despite her busy schedule. That testimony of hers woke us up and stirred our passion for the student ministry. Some were reminded of the past, and were emotionally moved, because we could relate with her experience. That instance made us realize that the Lord is at work and will continue to work if we make ourselves available in whatever capacity for the expansion of His kingdom. Praise God for that.

We came up with our own name, BIG (Bohol Intervarsity Graduates). We defined who we are and why we exist. We had to divide ourselves into four clusters because of distance and to strengthen the groups in the different towns which we represented. Our core leaders became our cluster heads and I was appointed as the team leader, and March, our treasurer. (cont., p.2)

“I believe that this movement was already started 2 decades ago.

Celgen listening to the delegates from Bohol during the quiet time together at the Regional leadership Summit 2015.

We are only continuing it. Indeed this is not merely an IVCF (people) movement but God’s movement among us.”

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JULY 2015 P H I L I P P I N E S

CENTRAL AND EASTERN VISAYAS

BONDTIER (cont’d.)

I praise God that from then, we also resolved to contribute towards the financial needs of the local ministry, the regional unit and a portion for staff support thru the national office. We also wanted to be a praying movement, first and foremost, and so our cluster heads are tasked to mobilize each area to create a regular HOP or DOP with other graduates and students. I believe that this movement was already started 2 decades ago. We are only continuing it.

Indeed, this is not merely an IVCF (people) movement but God’s movement among us. May the Lord continue to go before us, show us His next direction, inspire us to follow and involve us in His unfinished work in making disciples starting with where we are and to the ends of the earth.

Please pray that we can meet quarterly to strengthen our bond. Our next BIG meeting will be on August 1 in Talibon.

Pray that our student leaders will continue to be faithful in their divine assignment in their respective campuses with the help of more GT volunteers.

Also, that our BIG will become faithful disciples/disciplers in their respective work places. I pray that at the end of this month June, we could enlist new members and we can start our HOP/ DOP by cluster and be able to start contributing towards the need of IVCF movement.

The Lord be glorified!

CELGEN A. AURESTILA was a former IVCF staff who served the movement for 12 years and is presently serving as GT (Graduate Team) member in Bohol IVCF.

For pledges, pls. contact our landline no. or you may deposit to: Account Name : IVCF CEVRU Depository Bank : BPI Mango Branch Peso Savings Account No. : 1023-1874-65

O

ur mission to

INTERVARSITY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CENTRAL AND EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL UNIT 80-2 Junquera St. Cebu City 6000 Philippines (032) 253 5875

The passionate and committed ISCF Counselors and student leaders:

lead small groups (from left to right: Vajeane, Thesse, Jinnoh and Venice. started when we motivate us to continue to press on with were still in high school. The four of us the things that we do.

Venice, Thesse, Jinnoh, and Vajeane were Above all, this ministry shaped and former ISCFers. Ate Faith Verano Coremo molded us as Christian students. We introduced ISCF and eventually she remember one quote that we’ve learned became our GT Volunteer that time. We from DLTC and which became our motto were also able to attend the ISCF Regional “We are Christians who happened to be Camp in 2009 with the theme U-turn and in students, not students who happened to 2010: Faithbook. But the fellowship was be Christians”. We are happy that we stopped. In October 2014, during the became a blessing to our family as son DLTC, the Lord spoke to us and told us to and daughter’s, to the church as youth continue the mission that we’ve started. leaders, to the campuses as the missional Since ISCF is close to our hearts, we were students and for the opportunity to serve able to pioneer three small groups in because out of billions of people in the different schools namely Dr. Cecilio world, we were chosen by the Lord to Putong National High School (Morning continue His mission. and Afternoon shift) and Tabalong National High School. Now, we also handle two small groups for the out of schools - one in Corella and the other is in THESSE DALAPO Totolan. Last February 2015, we had our ISCF Counselor Acquaintance Party where the Lord had Tagbilaran City showed His great favor to us. We actually had two prayer concerns that time. First was to raise up P20, 000.00 for the fund and to have 100 participants. Indeed, the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective, because even though we were only able to raise P18, 000.00, yet the Lord blessed us with 101 participants.

I admit that handling this ministry is not easy because it really requires time, effort and even money. Though we had STAY IN TOUCH sponsors for the snacks and gasoline but months ago, it was stopped so we have to IVCF Central and Eastern use our own money just to continue with Visayas our small group meetings. But the Lord sustained and continued to bless us on intervarsitycev@yahoo.com the things that we needed. He inspires us through the lives of the students who actively participate in our small group discussions and their testimonies

UPCOMING SCHEDULE JUL 25

CEV Regional Assembly

AUG 29

IVCF Corporation Meeting

OCT 19-27

Discipleship-Leadership Training Camp (DLTC)

P H I L I P P I N E S

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