THE OFFICIAL QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF IVCF CENTRAL AND EASTERN VISAYAS REGIONAL UNIT
REBUILDING THE REBUILDERS “…build my house…”
God commanded the Israelite remnants through the prophet Haggai to rebuild the temple. Capturing the vision, the Israelites did. That was several millennia ago. More recently, God used the same prophet to show a similar vision to a different group of people in a different set of circumstances. After seeking God’s vision and direction anew, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Philippines received a call to rebuild. It is a task not involving stones and bricks and timber to build a battered temple; rather, it is one constituting prayer, evangelism, discipleship, and fellowship to strengthen a growing ministry. It is a task that needs time, resources and manpower to be completed. Most importantly, it is a task that needs the Master Builder to rebuild what is broken and to strengthen what is weak.
personal level. True, the region has experienced God’s rebuilding power in the last school year, as evidenced by 6 ISCF and 19 college chapters ministered to during the previous school year. CEV has even witnessed the revival of EVSU Tacloban as God instilled a “Work, for I am with you…” vision in the hearts of graduates from The Master Builder did not promise an easy work, the said city. But rebuilding should because the task of rebuilding the temple was anything start with every individual. but easy. He did, however, promise His presence, which As regional director Eleazar Canonigo would make work not necessarily light but worth doing. stressed, it is the rebuilding of everyone’s IVCF also embraces the same promise; the task of spiritual life and character that should rebuilding the movement will be challenging, but God be foremost in our minds, and the will be there, supervising, building, encouraging, rebuilding of campus chapters will providing—and that makes it worth doing. follow. The strength of the ministry does not come from the programs Here in Central and Eastern Visayas, and activities alone, but more rebuilding is not just a regional endeavor, but more importantly, it comes from the persons importantly, it is (and must be) happening on a
and their attitudes. Each individual, from the regional director to the student leader, should experience rebuilding first, not with flimsy scaffolds of plans and events (although they are good things), but he or she must be shored up with a sturdy wood – the wooden cross of Jesus Christ. As for the rebuilding of the campus chapters? Everyone has a task to do, be he/she a brick-maker, a concrete-mixer, a brick-layer, a water-bearer, a finance officer, or any other worker needed. What is important, according to Eli, is that “all stakeholders – students, graduates, and staff – should have the same vision and desire.”
Rebuilding the Rebuilders
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Regional Review
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CONTRIBUTORS Eleazar Canonigo Kenny Ebo
Faith over Fear
Faith Harmony Macabenta
(Faith Harmony Macabenta)
Laura Pla
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Lala’s Story (Laura Pla)
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Teachers and Students Debriefing
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EDITOR Kenny Ebo
A Faithful and Never-Changing God 9
LAYOUT ARTIST
Financial Report
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tasyo
Kini si Kenny (KENNY EBO)
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Upcoming Events
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(Eleazar Canonigo)
LINKER is the official quarterly publication of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Central and Eastern Visayas Regional Unit
80-2 Junquera St., Cebu City
(032) 253-5875 intervarsitycev@yahoo.com
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by Faith Harmony Macabenta, Field Staff (Cebu)
It's now my fifth academic year
the guard told me that she is suspicious of me for going to the Accounting Department weekly. I as IVCF staff worker. The students that I did go to the Accounting Office, but decided not journeyed with since they were freshmen are to enter the school again for the meantime that mostly fresh graduates now. In a prayer walk in my fear is still fresh. My knees and hands quiver one campus, a fresh graduate of that school in fear of being noticed suspiciously by the guard. joined us. She then treated me with snacks saying I still meet the students, but now in a foodshoppe that it was now her turn to treat me. She also outside the school. said that when she would start working, she "Faith over Fear" was the theme of my desired to give more because of the blessings that Leadersip Camp/Discipleship Camp (LCDC) she has received from IVCF. I experienced the 2004 as a counselor. I'm reminded to have faith joy of seeing a student I journeyed with in her in the Lord's power over my fears. On the other college years give back with a grateful heart to hand, I can easily enter the grounds of my two IVCF upon graduating. other campuses. One is having the favor of an Lately, that fresh graduate informed me Alumni ID of the school, and another is having a that while she and her friends are studying for student ID for my masters class of another their coming board exam, they continue to meet school. Hope fills my heart as I see the studentin sharing their praises and prayer concerns. She leaders actively participating and leading in their said that they carry on what we did during cell chapters. Joy replaces my sorrow as I see them group meetings in the campus. One of her give their free time of school for prayer meetings, friends said that she hungers to know God more Bible studies and fellowships. Faith slowly because of our IVCF cell group meetings during disperses my fears, but only by the grace of God. college. It is really such a joy and reward to me! Daily, I cling on to His strength, grace, mercy and In that same campus, I experienced the fear of love. facing school authorities. The administration Thank you for continuing to journey with does not allow outsiders to enter the institution me in prayers and financial support. Here's how for strict protection of its many international you can pray for me: students. I would say an alibi of going to the Accounting Department to assess the tuition fee Pray for proper time management in my work as staff worker and my class in masters of of one IVCF student so that I can enter the institution. After a month of visiting the school, nursing. I will be taking the comprehensive
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CELL GROUP AT SOUTH WESTERN UNIVERSITY
examination this October. Pray for zeal as I serve as staff-in-charge in the preparation of Discipleship Leadership Training Camp 2017. Pray for unity, wisdom and joy as I serve with the student exec and fellow staff workers. Pray for efficiency of our fundraising schemes to reach the camp subsidy. Pray for good health to my eyes. I will have my next eye check-up this August. Pray for sustainable staff salary. Thank you so much and God bless you. Please let me know how I can pray for you too. In His service with you,
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School year 2017-18
by Laura Pla, Field Staff (Leyte)
began with God inviting me to GO to Him humbly, LISTEN to HIS instruction attentively, SEEK His face genuinely and OBEY His commands fully.
November 8, 2013, during the super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). With the power June 2017 supply in Leyte failing right after the The school year started with the joint Visayas earthquake, I justified to myself having more Staff and GT Conference. The conference was a time license to worry. But the Lord, through His word, reminded me that through these all, He is still in of listening to the Lord through His word, setting full control and that I can trust Him for protection. new direction and having a renewed vision. He has reminded me, again and again, that He is Evaluation and planning for this school year was held during the said event. Looking back on what the my only HOPE in every, seemingly, hopeless Lord has done during the past school year, I can only situation. I thank Him for such a reminder. say that indeed, all the challenges, blessings, the The ISCF chapter in Seguinon National High good and not so good experiences and the lessons School, Albuera, Leyte is one of the things that we’ve learned were all manifestations of His excites me this year. The core of teachable faithfulness, goodness, mercy and grace. He has students, a hardworking ISCF adviser, sustained us all – the students, volunteers and staff supportive ministry partners and a considerate workers. I am, personally, grateful to the Lord for all principal gives me joy and encouragement every those experiences and I am encouraged by His time I visit the campus. However, the knowledge unrelenting grace which brings promise that He will that some of the students were “traumatized” by sustain the movement. their experience with the recent earthquake saddened me. Upon knowing their condition, I Few days after the Staff and GT conference, we had our own CEV regional staff retreat in the cool together with the ISCF adviser decided to plan a place of Sagada and Baguio. I thank the Lord for the debriefing activity with the ISCF students. Yet the time spent with my fellow staff workers, both during Lord has another plan. A bigger plan. Instead of formal and informal times, because it has taught me conducting a debriefing only for the ISCF students and MEANS USA scholars, He opened the door for a lot of important lessons for my personal and ministry life. These things, I am sure, will help me in us to have the entire school, both students and teachers, go through a debriefing. At first, I was my journey this school year and even, beyond. excited of the opportunity. A day after, July 2017 however, I realized how big the The July 6, 2017 Leyte earthquake reminded responsibility was even as the actual activity demanded that we plan me of the reality that calamities can strike anytime, especially when it is least expected. Knowing that the properly and intensively. It required that I talk with epicenter of the 6.5 magnitude quake was a town some people to help me, next to my hometown made me worry about my siblings. Somehow, it brought memories of the experience we went through in
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Pray that I would be able to regularly form a meet the students and graduates in Leyte and will not team to go with me during the get weary of presenting to them my desire to revive debriefing, coordinate with the ISCF adviser the student ministry in Tacloban City. and the sponsoring organizations and a lot more Pray, too, for graduates who will partner and preparations. I thank God because it was He who will serve as Graduate Team (GT) volunteers in the has given us – the team – the burden to help both different schools in Tacloban City. Pray for the students and the sponsoring organization. The Lord blessed us with sufficient finances and passionate graduates who will have compassion to reach out students. prepared the hearts of everyone concerned. Praise the Lord because the debriefing was Pray for churches that will support and successful – we were able to spend time with partner with us in reaching out to students in Leyte. the students and help them process what Pray for financial provision. Pray that we will happened to them. On top of all these, we were continue to trust God for His provision for all our able to share the Gospel to them. Thank God that indeed, calamities, negative as they are, can be activities. avenues in presenting to the people the ONLY ONE Pray for wisdom, strength and joy for me. who can be their source of real COMFORT, PEACE Pray that I would be disciplined and will be a good and HOPE in difficult times. Listening to the steward of my body as I minister to both students and students as they shared their desire and hope for graduates. their lives encouraged and challenged me to be Pray for guidance, protection and for God’s faithful to Him who has called me. travelling mercy as I also go to Cebu and Bohol to do Please uphold me once again: campus work. I am also tasked to do area visits once in a while. Please pray for continued comfort and peace for the students in Leyte who have Thank you so much for all your prayers. experienced that strong earthquake and The LORD bless and keep you always in His sovereign aftershocks. Pray that they may come to care! know the source of hope, comfort and peace amidst all these happenings. Pray, too, for passionate students and Sustained by His grace, graduates who will have the desire in reaching out to their fellow students and graduates in the workplace.
Lala
STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DEBRIEFING
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Teachers and students debriefing Seguinon National High School
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by Eleazar Canonigo, Regional Director
As a staff worker, I am thankful and honored to be part of this movement and for the opportunity to serve Him through this ministry. The joy that comes to me cannot be bought by any monetary value upon seeing students grow in Christ and become “missional.” For me, it is fulfilling. He moves and works through us and in us and uses us for His glory and for His Kingdom. Since my assignment here in CEVRU, I have had many experiences of His goodness and grace to me and to IVCF CEVRU. God revealed Himself in so many ways through His words and through His people. Indeed He is the same God who uses and empowers people and blesses them to do the task assigned to them. In Hebrews 13:8 (NIV), “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Here are some of my reflections for the past months. First, He is a pro-active God. Du r ing the January Staff Conference, upon hearing Ate Annette Arulrajah’s (IFES-South East Asia Secretary) exposition on the whole book of Haggai, I was reminded that God is involved in our movement despite the problems and the difficulties. He enables us (the Staff Team) to do extraordinary things and to go extra miles of our faith in Him. I know He will not turn His back on us as a movement and as we seek and obey Him in rebuilding His movement. I was challenged to pursue His agenda in the campuses regardless of the many challenges that we are facing in our region. Second, He is the God of surprises. Last May, as the academic year 2016-2017 ended, I was tasked to make an annual regional report. After
consolidating the reports, I’ve noticed that the ministry was not progressing well but declining. I know there were so many factors that led to this decline, like most of our student leaders graduated last March, few GTs and counselors served in the campuses, and many other reasons. In my campuses, the decline is real and inevitable. I was perplexed on what to do because for me, I’m doing my best but still, the reality was all of them were leaving their chapters. I am certain that some chapters will become pioneering again. With that, I was praying for wisdom, right decision, and conviction on what to do for my campuses. I’m thinking of closing some chapters and focusing on the active ones. Before Regional Leadership Summit 2017 (RLS) started, God moved in mysterious way gyud. I was surprised because God sent a leader for His ministry. I’ve met Steve Solana, a student at the University of the Visayas who has a vision for the campus. So, I invited him to attend the RLS and he attended. And the impact of RLS to him was overwhelming. He said in one of our text conversations, “My RLS experience was so worth it Kuya and I’m thankful to God because I was challenged to share His word by inviting my friends and classmates.” Right now, Steve’s group is continuously growing from 5 members to 11 members. Indeed our God is the God full of surprises! Kung ako mutan-aw ug mo-decide iclose na but God sends people for His kingdom so that His glory will continue to shine in the campus. Praise God! Lastly, for all of the things that unfolded in our midst, I am overwhelmed with what I’ve seen. God moves extraordinarily in His best and perfect way. This year after RLS, the students were challenged to be “Wall Builders,” to share the gospel with their fellow students. I know that Holy Spirit enables them to share the good news with boldness. Praise be to our God!
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Join with me in praying for the following concerns:
1. Success for the ongoing processing of requirements in UV and CTU IVCF Chapters for recognition. 2. Effectiveness of the Cebu City Leaders Council (CCLC) on their campuses. 3. Revival of graduates fellowship and the challenge to pioneer an International Students Ministry.
In Him,
Eli
WITH STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE VISAYAS
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InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Central and Eastern Visayas Regional Unit
FINANCIAL REPORT Jun 2017
INCOME INCOME General Fund 24,900.00 Designated Donations 19,900.00 General Fund Designated Camps & Confer3,707.00 Designated Donations ences Bank Interest 143.36 Designated Camps & ConferFacilities 2,505.00 ences TOTAL INCOME 51,155.36
Bank Interest EXPENSES Facilities Camp Subsidies & Expenses TOTAL INCOME Designated Donations Others
7,307.70 12,316.50 Travels & Accomodations 21,137.20 Staff Training & Development 0 EXPENSES Meetings, Networking & Rep. 3,177.50 Communications 1,680.83 Camp Subsidies & Expenses Utilities 16,032.39 Designated Donations Others 0 Supplies Special Projects (Means MinTravels & Accomodations 0 istry) Bank Service Charges & Development 28.67 Staff Training TOTAL EXPENSES 61,680.79
July 1-23, 2017 June 2017
July 1-23, 2017
4,450.00 23,849.00 24,900.00 2,500.00 19,900.00 0 0 30,799.00
3,707.00
2,500.00
143.36 2,505.00 51,155.36
0 0 30,799.00
0 0 9,361.00 1,000.00 0 1,691.00 7,307.70 14,465.00 12,316.50 956.75
21,137.20 48,643.00 0 0 76,116.75 Meetings, Networking & Rep. 3,177.50 Communications 1,680.83 OVERALL TOTAL -10,525.43 -45,317.75 Utilities Cash in Bank 218,143.9916,032.39 Supplies 0 Special Projects (Means Min0 istry) Bank Service Charges 28.67 TOTAL EXPENSES 61,680.79 OVERALL TOTAL Cash in Bank
4,450.00 23,849.00
-10,525.43
0 0 9,361.00 1,000.00 0 1,691.00 14,465.00 956.75 48,643.00 0 76,116.75 -45,317.75
218,143.99
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by Kenny Ebo, Field Staff (Negros Oriental)
“There And Back Again” No, this is not a tale of hobbits and
waited, I gave my best in my studies and in my teaching task. The experiences really enriched me to dwarves and wizards and elves and dragons many levels, and they have helped me grow and and magic. I am not writing of the adventures of mature in many more. Because by nature I love to an imaginary creature in an imaginary place, nor explore new ideas and improve on existing ones, I am I attempting to create my own version of it. had a great time developing syllabi, modules, and I am, however, as I begin this journey, creative techniques in teaching. I would get excited recounting an unfolding story that in many ways before a school year or a semester began because of have taken me “there and back again.” I have the new and inventive ideas that I would implement been there, eight years ago, serving the Lord as when school started. a staff worker in IVCF. For two years, I was a As school year 2016-2017 started, I started to staff intern here in Dumaguete, ministering to assess myself with regards to the direction I was students and partnering with graduates. And heading. So I asked myself: How is my professional now, I am back again, to staff work. life? Is teaching a satisfying career? Six years spanned the gap between my first Have I made an impact to my students? To the staff years and now. During those six years, I was university? Do I still have the same passion as when I in the academe, first as an AB English student and first taught? Will I still continue down this path? then as an instructor in college and high school. More importantly: Is this still God’s direction for me? Those years were a lot of fun, full of learning, and In His sovereignty, God led me to a series of rich in discovery and innovation. To any quiet times that had a single overarching theme: regular guy, it would have been a fulfilling profession, a means to settle down and enjoy leave. While I would have, on my own, answered until retirement or a new opportunity came. questions 2 through 6 with a yes, God’s answer to To me, it was. But. But I quit from work. And question number 7 was just the opposite. There was no promise on where He would lead me; He just said now I am back to staff work. “leave.” Why, you might ask, did I do that? And so I did. I resigned from the university, The answer? Calling. Burden. Even before I resigned from staff work in 2011, I expressed and I knew not where I would go, although I was thinking that God might lead me back to staff work. that I wanted to be back. So when I studied and later taught in the ensuing years, the desire And so I continued to pray for God’s leading, and at to be a missionary to students was always there. Kawayan Camp in Davao, He answered my query. He I just didn't know when I would get back; that I led me back to staff work. And now, I am back again. would get back was a given. For Bilbo Baggins, he may have recounted his And so I waited. And while I
tale of “an unexpected journey,” but for me, I am looking forward to a God-directed one.
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Dear friends, I invite you to journey with me as I embark on this new chapter in my life. As I minister to the students and graduates, please pray for
continued joy and passion in serving the Lord
strength and safety as I travel to the campuses
fruitful reconnection and partnership with the graduates
Thank you.
All for His glory,
DURING THE NEGROS ORIENTAL AREA ASSEMBLY
Kenny
UPCOMING EVENTS IFES-East Asia Regional Conference South Korea (August 3-9, 2017)
Discipleship-Leadership Training Camp (October 23 - 30, 2017)
Graduates Retreat
IV Day Celebration
Facilitator: Herman Moldez Bohol Paradise Hills Resorts and Hotel (August 19, 2017) Contact: Edward Sampaga: 0920 557 6070 or Celgen Aurestela: 0919 314 0456
Corporation Meeting (August 26, 2017) Corporation membership Fee: 1 Year
2 Years
Students
P 75.00
150.00
Graduates
P 500.00
800.00
Junior Staff Training 1
(November 2017)
National Conference 2017 (December 27-30, 2017) Plenary Speakers Daniel Bourdanne, IFES General Secretary Lisa Espineli Chinn, Fo rm er Internatio nal Students Ministry, Intervarsity USA Bishop Efrain Tendero, Secretary General, World Evangelical Alliance Breakout Sessions Speaker Bishop Noel Pantoja Registration Fee for Visayas Students- P 3,000.00 Graduates- P 4,000.00
(August 30 - September 2, 2017)
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