Word Circular 2016 - November

NOV-DEC 2016

IN FLUEN CE

YO U T H

MODERN DAY CRUSADERs

BULLETIN BOARD

Missions Report: Philippine Campus Crusade for Christ

Introducing the newest section in the zine

emember when we looked into genuine life-changing encounters with God in the CLOSER series, we also set out to establish our identity as a 'SENT' people, not just a saved people—and that's what this next series is all about.

True change doesn’t really come unless we encounter Christ. And every time people come closer, we’ve noticed one overarching response: To go and tell people about him!

We're pushed out to the world as we're pulled in.

The actual context of the word "sent" in the Gospels is a violent one, it means to “throw you out.” Unlikely of the wellmannered Jesus you're used to imagining? This may scare us to the core of our beings, but for the very same reason, it embraces our humanity.

As we gather these next four weeks, we'll see how our sense of identity, rooted in the Great Commission, is equivocal to who Christ is.

"The same way the Father sends me, I send you..."

Sent where? Exactly to where there's persecution. Sent how? With peculiar commands sans the 5-year plan or a neat outline of instructions; sent radically, often times beyond rhyme or reason. *freaks out* But let's look at the space between God telling us what to do and us actually doing them. There's a lot of second-guessing and doubtful contentions that trip people up— "Go & give your money"; "Go and stand next to the chariot"; "Give whatever you have and we'll feed 10k people"; "Go and serve with Campus Crusade for Christ"; Yet, it's in this exact setting that we discover the wonders God creates with ordinary people like us. And that is true for every Christian! (He sent the 72, not just the 12.)

We pray each of us will grow to embrace our 'sent' identity.

Even the stories featured in this issue spurs us—from the veteran Campus Crusaders to the New Breed of Chrsitian Youth—on to the greatest adventure known to mankind: Living in & with Christ. //KS

2

EDITOR'S NOTE

VENUES NOV 20-27 . Bayanihan Annex DEC 4-JAN 1 . Crowne Plaza SENT:

ANNOUNCEMENTS knowing who

NOV 27 . Youth Christmas Party

Mcdo Pioneer, 10:30am

we are as a 'sent' people

DEC 09 . Deadline for gifts:

Pick-a-Name Bless-a-Child

and obeying

IDEAL GIFTS: toys, clothes, books, NOT food DROP OFF: during Sunday Gatherings, or at the WordComm Office in RFM (Tue-Sat).

the call no matter how counter-intuitive the command may

DEC 11 . Kids' Worship DEC 18 . Extended Worship DEC 24 . Christmas Eve Service

be

Photos © JAMES LONTOC

ANNOUNCEMENTS

3

NOVEMBER 20 . Pastor Dave

OUR IDENTITY AS A SENT PEOPLE

I LOVE JESUS & SALVATION BUT HOW CAN MY FRIENDS BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL THEM?

4

INTIMACY

J O H N 17 : 2 0 - 2 3 M S G

APPLICATION ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

PRAYER ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

OBSERVATION

The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind— Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you. So they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. The same glory you gave me, I gave them. So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—I in them and you in me. Then they’ll be mature in this oneness. And give the godless world evidence that you’ve sent me and loved them. In the same way you’ve loved me.

: Highlight what struck you

SCRIPTURE

NOVEMBER 27 . Pastor Woolim

PECULIAR COMMANDS: THE HUMAN ELEMENT TO OBEDIENCE

CATCH THAT HIGH SPEEDING MOTOR BIKE TO SAY WHAT???

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS, GOD

6

INTIMACY

ACTS 8:26-30 MSG

APPLICATION ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

PRAYER ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

OBSERVATION

Later God’s angel spoke to Philip: “At noon today I want you to walk over to that desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza.”

He got up and went. He met an Ethiopian eunuch coming down the road. ... He was riding in a chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah.

The Spirit told Philip, “Climb into the chariot.” Running up alongside, Philip heard the eunuch reading Isaiah and asked, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”

: Highlight what struck you

SCRIPTURE

DECEMBER 4 . Ding Halili

PECULIAR COMMANDS: OBEDIENCE AMIDST UNCERTAINTY HOW CAN THE LITTLE THAT I HAVE HELP ANYONE, LET ALONE ALL THESE PEOPLE?

8

INTIMACY

M A T T H E W 14 : 16 - 21 M S G

APPLICATION ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

PRAYER ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

OBSERVATION

But Jesus said, “There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper.” “All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish,” they said.

Jesus said, “Bring them here.” Then he had the people sit on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples.

The disciples then gave the food to the congregation.

They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers.

About five thousand were fed.

: Highlight what struck you

SCRIPTURE

DECEMBER 11 . Pastor Woolim

EVERY BELIEVER IS SENT

10

INTIMACY

L U K E 1 0 : 2 - 3 ; 17 - 2 0 M S G

APPLICATION ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

PRAYER ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

OBSERVATION

He gave them this charge: “What a huge harvest! And how few the harvest hands. So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands.

“On your way! But be careful—this is hazardous work. You’re like lambs in a wolf pack. ... The seventy came back triumphant. “Master, even the demons danced to your tune!” Jesus said, “I know. I saw Satan fall, a bolt of lightning out of the sky. See what I’ve given you? Safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy. No one can put a hand on you. All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God’s authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you—that’s the agenda for rejoicing.”

: Highlight what struck you

SCRIPTURE

servant

LEADER IN FOCUS "If our serving is fueled by our love for Jesus, we can lovingly and faithfully persevere whether people respond with gratitude or indifference."

FULL NAME

Efigenio Cayabyab Fermin Jr. FATHER OF

MISSION/MINISTRY

Patricia Grace and Ezekiel John

Leadership Development and Human Resource,

HUSBAND TO

Elinor Rono

PHILIPPINE CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST

YEARS IN VOLUNTEER SERVICE

By God’s grace, 27 years

Kindly share with us a brief story of how you got into the mission field / ministry. What made you consider volunteering?

I came to know Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord when I was in third year high school at UP Integrated School. A college student who was involved with UP Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) shared The Four Spiritual Laws with me. This started me in my Christian life and in my involvement with the movement.

God used Campus Crusade for Christ to help me grow in my relationship with Him and develop as a person. I learned how to share Christ and help others grow in their relationship with God. I was actively involved with CCC throughout my college years at the University of the Philippines.

Our mission was to proclaim Christ to the entire campus, giving everyone an opportunity to hear the life-changing message of God’s love and forgiveness.

Because I committed to seek God’s kingdom first, it was natural for me to consider fulltime ministry as an option after my graduation from the School of Economics. Christ changed my life and I wanted others to experience His transforming love and grace. In addition,

I wanted to invest my life in something eternal and be part of helping fulfill the Great Commission.

What do you most love about servanthood? / What could make a servant leader's heart melt?

Serving others is tranformational.

I am being transformed from being self-centered to othercentered whenever I serve others. I am learning to be humble and selfless like Christ.

But I am not the only one being changed. Those I serve are also encouraged and affirmed of God’s love and care for them.

It brings joy to my heart when God graciously uses me to meet others’s needs.

Tell us, what is the most important thing to remember when you are serving other people?

It is important to remember why we are doing it and who we are doing it for. Serving people is not always easy since we also have our own needs. But if our serving is fueled by our love for Jesus, we can lovingly and faithfully persevere whether people respond with gratitude or indifference.

INFLUENCE

13

MODERN DAY CRUSADERs MISSIONS REPORT Ellen and I are grateful for the opportunity to be part of a Leadership Training Conference in La Trinidad, Benguet last October 29 to 31. 100 students from 9 provinces of Northern Luzon converged to be trained in sharing the gospel, helping new believers grow, and leading multiplying discipleship groups.

When we arrived, we met a group of students who travelled all the way from storm-ravaged Cagayan.

Most of them were studying at Cagayan State University.

I told them that we traveled to Tuguegarao many years ago and shared the gospel to some Engineering faculty and students in their campus.

Guess what we discovered?

Audrey and some others are attending a church that is being pastored by Larry, one of the students we shared the gospel with in our mission trip to Cagayan in 1996!

Ellen and I joined the conference to show support to our team in Northern Luzon.

We were tasked to teach during the training sessions on discipleship. I was also asked to speak during the plenary

14

sessions on Grace of God, Biblical Call to Make Disciples, and Speak Up, Speak Life.

I thoroughly enjoyed speaking! I really felt stretched preparing for and delivering 5 messages in 3 days. I had to depend on God's strength, wisdom, and power to see me through. I gave my best as I prepared because it was my way of serving the students.

Seeing how students were impacted by the messages was rewarding. I celebrated the opportunity to use my gift of speaking to inspire others to speak up and speak life.

The special lunch with 24 graduating students was also a highlight for Ellen and myself. We asked the seniors to briefly share about their dreams and where

INFLUENCE

they think God is leading them after college. Then we invited them to prayerfully consider serving God with Campus Crusade for Christ.

It was encouraging to hear Ate Estrelle, our oldest missionary at age 67 who is still reaching out to students in La Union and Wel, one of our younger missionaries who is presently undergoing New Staff Training, share about their calling to serve with Campus Crusade for Christ. During the Commitment Night, 15 students indicated their desire to join the Campus Crusade for Christ as missionaries, interns, or volunteers!

Another meaningful and refreshing experience for us was the witnessing time in the nearby community. Ellen and I joined the students in knocking on doors and talking to people on the street. In 2 hours, 109 individuals were exposed to the gospel. 74 of them prayed to receive Christ as their Savior while 18 were assured of their salvation.

"I really felt stretched preparing for and delivering 5 messages in 3 days. I had to depend on God's strength, wisdom, and power to see me through.

OUR OLDEST ESTRELLE, 67 AND YOUNGEST WEN SHARE ABOUT THEIR CALLING TO SERVE WITH CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST (CCC)

Ellen and I went home grateful for a few realizations.

God continues to draw college students to Himself and is still in the business of changing lives.

God continues to raise up young leaders in the campuses to build spiritual movements that proclaim the name of Jesus.

We are called to be ambassadors of Christ and each of us has been entrusted with the message of reconciliation. We were reminded that we should be willing to be inconvenienced if we are to make any difference in peoples' lives.

What a privilege to be able to contribute to the training and development of young leaders of God's movement! Thank you for believing in what we are doing. Ellen and I are forever grateful for your partnership in our ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ.

By His grace,

Efi and Ellen Fermin Leadership Development and Human Resource PHILIPPINE CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST

15/24 students

desired to join

74/109 in 2hrs new believers 18 assured of their salvation

LEARN MORE ABOUT CCC AT:

http://www.movementlife.org/ INFLUENCE

17

A lof of the adults criticize the views of millenials now, for being too vocal or being so against recent events. They usually just tell us to accept things because it's God's will. Voicing out my opinion may result to rejection or criticism.

Christian life is more than just church, although church is important

Top Dreams

SHIPS - SATISFYING RELATION NS - PURSUING PASSIO - CLOSER TO GOD -

18

YOUTH

NAKAKAINIS LANG BAKIT

Top Fears

- FAILURE - ISOLATION - REJECTION -

NAPAKA-CLOSE MINDED NG CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

What if the church could be the safest place I can discover my identity as a millenial in Christ?

Do you think voicing out your thoughts in church would make any difference in your Christian journey?

YES (unanimous)

The team behind Word Circular believes that the Youth of WordComm has a powerful say in defining our church identity. That’s why we’re passing them the mike (pen in this case) to get to know this #crazynotcrazy bunch, and begin a culture of acceptance, with the Spirit of Grace—one conversation at a time.

To start things off on the right foot, we asked them some (almost) deep stuff.

And honestly, each

response is unique and utterly beautiful.

This debut spread features some of the can't-ignore ones.

Shout out to James Lontoc for the lovely original portraits! His detz below.

And! For all the hungry/passionate fellas out there: WE

LOVE COLLABS! Message me for anything you want done, and let's do it!

Not your thesis, okay? //KS (kyleen.sayas@ gmail.com)

Photos © JAMES LONTOC IG: @jameslontoc | PORTFOLIO: jamesphoto.space | TUMBLER: jameslontoc.tumblr.com

19

Follow us on social media @wordcommunity @wordcommchurch @wordcommunitychurch

JOIN OUR SUNDAY GATHERINGS UNILAB Bayanihan Center Open Life Groups 09:00 - 10:20 Coffee Fellowship 10:15-10:30

am

am

Worship Service & Kids Church 10:30-12:00 Youth Service 10:30-12:00

pm

pm (every 2nd & 4th Sunday)

Community Site Churches WORDCOMM ORANBO 5:00-6:30 pm Kid’s Church 4:00-5:00 pm Rizal and Metro Manila Public School Teachers Association Inc., Center, Oranbo, Pasig City

WORDCOMM CAINTA 10:00-12:00 am Dahlia St., Greenland Subdivision, Cainta, Rizal

WORDCOMM OLONGAPO 5:00-7:00 pm 1395 Rizal Avenue Corner 14th St. West Tapinac, Olongapo City