“Every passion should be borne out of the love of God.” said Dr. Tom Roxas, guest speaker in CCC’s recently-concluded “Living with Passion” staff conference. Its theme “Living with Passion” was based on 1 John 4:19, “We love (passion) because He first loved us.” “His love should control us, motivate us, compel us to act, energize us, and give us life,” sums up his whole message. Living with passion also means we enjoy what God has entrusted to us and find fulfillment in what we do for His glory. Passion should characterize our movement and those who are called to take part in Christ’s great commission. I too have been set ablaze by the cause of Christ.
"The Cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, but we have to get near enough for its sparks to fall on us." I too have gotten near that blazing fire, and my desire is for its sparks to set others on fire too—for the glory and honour of my Lord and Master, King Jesus. As we are praying and aspiring for change in our country’s governance and in our people, pray with us in our mission: of bringing real change which is only possible through the transforming grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It’s difficult to imagine how someone like Jenny Dapar would end up as the Values Formation Coordinator of Touch of Hope Foundation, Inc., a holistic non-government organization (NGO) in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.
I pray too, that the stories of men and women whose lives have been characterized by their love for Christ and who passionately pursue Him and His mission inspire you.
But drinking, smoking and trash-talking Jenny underwent a radical life change— after she heard the gospel from Lee Beronio in 2004: broken family relationship healed; bible reading and praying now her lifestyle. And she became a staunch campus mover*. She’d been challenged. Her discipler, Aleth Lumayog, compelled her and members of her discipleship group to
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A disciple once asked me, “Boots, you have been in this ministry all these years, do you still see yourself doing it?” I replied, “ from the time I came to know the Lord in 1980 and when He called me to follow and join Him full time in 1990, it has always been my desire to honor God who passionately pursued me. Even when I was diagnosed with and treated for cancer five years ago, I have not doubted His love and plan for my life. Yes, there were difficulties. But God is real, showing me daily His abundant and wonderful plan for my life (John 10:10). With Him, the impossible becomes possible.
Transforming Barangays in Mindanao
not go to heaven without bringing someone. The 2006 Leadership Training Camp fuelled Jenny, with another mover Loudille Llanos, to start a campus movement in Davao del Norte State College of Panabo.
MD- Multiplying Disciples
When Jenny joined the River of Life Family Worship Center (RLFWC), she shared her CCC training with its life coaches and cell group leaders. Their pastor in turn applied these lessons to the church’s outreach programs. Touch of Hope Foundation Inc. birthed RLFWC.
Having survived cancer, I wake up excited every morning thanking Him for my extended life and for the opportunity to fulfill His purpose through me. Life is all about living Christ and the reality of what He has done on the Cross. John Stott wrote,
Where to begin was another issue. Then it hit her: start in Panabo! So Jenny joined Touch of Hope Foundation Inc. in 2010, encouraged by the organization’s commitment to evangelize, disciple, channel new believers to churches, and plant churches in farflung barangays. The foundation offered education, health and socio-economic programs in Panabo’s needy barangays through giving of food, clothing and medicines, and livelihood projects plus a student center which gives students free use of computers and tutorials. Bible studies have been incorporated in their holistic outreach so beneficiaries could develop their trust in Christ. The foundation maintains its Hang- Out Center Plus, a ministry for out-of-school youth and students. About 50 student leaders have on-going discipleship groups of their own. Meanwhile the Hang-Out Pro venue is a resting club—for businessmen, teachers, nurses, doctors, managers and other professionals—where guests too get to know more about the gospel. The Values Formation Class, another program of the foundation, uses leadership training to introduce the gospel to all
Jennifer shared the Gospel with a sick neighbor who passed away a month later.
public schools in Panabo. In three years, 2000 students have heard the gospel in the different Panabo schools alone. RLFWC has mission outreaches to 14 Muslim people groups all over Mindanao. It has partnered with the Lumad** ministry in the Arakan Valley. About 300 Aetas*** of Barangay Cabadiangan, Davao del Norte, heard the gospel last December.
Bible studies have been incorporated in their holistic outreach so beneficiaries could develop their trust in Christ. *Mover: one who shares his faith and leads a discipleship group of his own **Lumad: is a term being used to denote group of indigenous people in the Southern Philippines ***Aetas: indigenous people who live in scattered isolated mountainous parts of Luzon
Financial setbacks sent Jenny to work at the National Statistics Office. She transferred a year later to Sutherland Global Services as an MIS Specialist and Recruitment Assistant. This time she became a more faithful gospel sharer to her workmates.
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Jennifer sharing the gospel with Tinonanon Tribe of North Cotabato
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Benjie with CCC Missionaries he is supporting
Serving in Tandem
Through Wilderness & Back Benjie with his wife, Mariel and two sons Benjamin Jr. and Cholo
Benjie Rosal―then a hopeful sophomore at the Bicol University (BU) in Legaspi City―got involved with Campus Crusade for Christ in 1995. That was where he met his would-be discipler, Al Dela Torre, a CCC missionary. Al knew right away that Benjie had the makings of a good leader, so he watched him closely. Benjie thought his involvement with Campus Crusade for Christ made his student life different, productive and exciting. Commitment and zeal for the ministry groomed him to eventually serve as CCC president, with the movement growing significantly under his two-year leadership. His term was marked by sponsored seminars and events such as the Freshmen Treat*, the Why Wait Seminar*, a concert by the Convertibles*, Witnessing Blitz*, Operation Jabez*, and leadership training conferences as avenues for students to know Christ. CCC received the Best University-based Organization award for two consecutive years. Benjie and other CCC movers consider lives won for Christ as their greatest rewards. As Benjie grew in his relationship with God, his commitment to his local church also deepened; so he used his CCC training to disciple church members to be more effective witnesses for Christ. But Benjie’s priorities changed when he entered the corporate world. His career demanded a large portion of his time and attention. Mostly when he was alone, he remembered his college group, sorely missing their fellowship and camaraderie.
Church partners of Campus Crusade for Christ in Laguna recently held an evangelistic event for students and other members of their communities at the Pulo National High School in Cabuyao―with CCC’s Jomer Gallana serving as the conduit between Cabuyao Christian Community (CCBC, led by Ezra Brion) and Gateway Baptist Church (GBC, under Pastor Mike Quilas).
Olin Galan (Left) with Benjie Rosal
God took care of that longing, but not too quickly. It took almost twenty years! This time, he had his wife and two kids, and his own pharmaceutical company. Thanks to Facebook, Al easily got hold of him and invited him to PCCC’s 50th anniversary late last year. Benjie was ecstatic, planning three months ahead of the big day. Since learning about the anniversary, his passion to share Christ was reignited. He longed to hear what God has been doing through PCCC while he was busy building his career. Nonetheless, he was thrilled to reunite with Al and introduce his family. (His wife happened to be the CCC secretary in their school during their college days.) Benjie brought along to the event not only his family but employees as well. A couple who recently came to know the Lord. At the celebration, Benjie’s joy was uncontainable. He listened to testimonies about how God used CCC to build leaders and transform lives in his former school. He took pride in being part of CCC, especially upon hearing Al de la Torre’s sharing on how the movement has grown and remained strong. “God rekindled my desire to commit again in whatever capacity I can,” Benjie said. A month later, he became a ministry partner of Olin, a CCC missionary―an answered prayer after the commitment he made to the Lord during the 50th anniversary. He told Olin that he also wanted to do more for his alma mater.
It was a beautiful picture of members of the body of Christ cooperating and bringing to fruition the Lord’s prayer that His disciples may be one to fulfil the great commission.
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These church groups, though only four-kilometers apart―and sharing the same passion and vision―never had a chance to work together. Yet both wanted to see the Southern Tagalog region reached for Christ. But this was God’s perfect timing. In partnership with CCC,
they caught the vision of pioneering ministries in campuses in their vicinity believing that they could do
an even bigger task if they collaborated. This one-day evangelistic event saw the gospel shared with 800 students, with 300 affirming they prayed to receive Christ. This is just the start as far as CCBC and GBC’s partnership is concerned. Having been fired up to be actively involved in sharing the gospel, they have agreed to establish a ministry in this very same school as the new school year opens.
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Right now, Benjie is pursuing his passion―discipling students at the Bicol University in Tabaco City. He also signed up to be a resource speaker in their campus events. *Evangelistic tool & strategies used by CCC to share Christ.
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A Big Catch Belly Tecson’s encounter with 21 yearold Nathaniel “Nate” Rodriguez could be likened to Simon Peter meeting Jesus for the first time. Nate is a fisherman like Peter. He fishes with his father on weekends to help his family survive. Fishing is their only source of income. On weekdays, Nate works in a Catholic seminary so that he can attend school. With his father contracting tuberculosis, Nate has found life more challenging. Belly and Nate’s paths crossed August 2015 in a week-long PCCC Hybrid Project* in Dipolog . When Belly challenged him to be a key volunteer in Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU) campus, Nathaniel readily said yes. Belly taught him how to share the gospel and disciple others—the ingredients for starting a movement. A week after Belly trained him, many of those he shared the gospel with came back for follow-up. They wanted to be discipled too. In a month, spiritual multiplication was taking place, with Nate’s “disciples” sharing the gospel and following up those who committed their lives to Christ. One of his “disciples” is Michael Hidalgo who came to know Christ through Nate’s witness. Michael has been very teachable though he is older than Nate. They discovered they share a common passion: spreading the gospel and discipling students.
Lola "The Evangelist" Nathaniel at the Student Congress
Belly was not surprised when the “three” from Dipolog committed to be lifetime laborers in the harvest field not just in Dipolog. With their vision of establishing a campus ministry in Dapitan, another town in Zamboanga, they made plans for a once-a-week campus ministry to find key disciples there too.
Meet Lola Dolores―faithful member of the Life Giver Church in Bulan, Camarines Sur. At 74, Nanay Dolores has become a permanent figure in her church.
Holy Week this year found Nate and Michael joining Operation Jabez** in Central Mindanao. God indeed moved in what many may consider as an unsafe place for Christians. Nate dreams of joining a team soon to launch a movement in Zamboanga City. He believes that God will raise leaders even in far-flung and unlikely places. Nate the fisherman has truly become a fisher of men.
Nathaniel sharing his faith to students
*Hybrid Project: short term mission to open campus ministries by raising key volunteers ** Operation Jabez is a strategy to reach people in the rural areas through the Jesus film, medical and dental services, relief distribution and other evangelistic tools
The movement has spread on campus, with Nate, Michael and another mover, Cy-may Fernandez, at the forefront. They joined student leaders from Metro Manila for a congress in Baguio City last January where emerging leaders were equipped in building spiritual movements in their own campuses.
But when Operation Jabez Manila team arrived for a week-long project in Bulan, Lola Dolores refused to attend the training. “Previous church seminars asked us to memorize a lot of stuff, so I had hypertension,” she confided. All she wanted this time was to be part of the kitchen staff.
old lady―quietly seated in the corner―while reading her training manual. Just amazing! Part of the training assignment was to make a list of people each trainee wished to share (and disciple) the gospel with. Lola Dolores enthusiastically wrote the names of her friends and neighbors―excitement written all over her face as she fervently prayed for each name. Age is but a number, indeed. As long as one is willing to obey God, discipleship could not be inhibited even if the one doing it is someone way advanced in years. Lola Dolores is a living proof. An extraordinary woman who sincerely desired for everyone to follow Jesus.
So she stayed in the kitchen on the first session; but checked the seminar’s progress with the team as it progressed. Overhearing portions of the discussion fueled her interest. By the second session, she was totally captivated, prompting her to take a seat and be immersed in the training. She listened and learned, absorbing the how-to’s of gospel sharing using the Four Spiritual Laws booklet along with the other trainees. The younger trainees marvelled at her responsiveness during the discussions. On the second day of training, a passionate Lola Dolores took the opportunity to share the gospel with a young man.
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She made it too to the third day of training, arriving earlier than the others. One could not miss the sight of this 74-year
Lola Dolores sharing the gospel to a young man in Bulan, Camarines Sur.
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Dr. Peter Tan-chi: one of the main speakers at 50th Grand Celebration
Special Guest performer Gary V at CCF Main
Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. Psalm 145:3-5
How does one recount every story of a changed life, event, heart-warming experience, or every person’s spiritual journey? Yes, this is what five decades of Philippine Campus Crusade has been all about― Christ’s ministry reaching millions of people. Recalling each story would not be possible. But we can attempt to paint the big picture. The details are better left in God’s infinite data bank. In an entire year of thanksgiving, CCC erupted with mini-celebrations in key cities all over the country, providing perfect occasions for disciples, movers and ministry partners to testify of God’s wonderful works. Faces lit up seeing old friends. Workers got re-connected and challenged. Many were re-ignited in their erstwhile passionate relationship with God. We are grateful that God has mightily used PCCC in the last 50 years. Our eyes are set on Jesus. Yes, the best is yet to come. Afterall, it was He who started this movement. Greater things will yet happen in our country and the world, so we surrender to Him our plans, expectations and even now, the results, as we continually worship and praise Him with our lives. See more photos at fb.me/cccphil
Fun Run & Zumba at Quezon City Memorial Circle
Dumaguete CCC Caravan
Cebu CCC Caravan
Iloilo CCC Caravan
Real Connections: Kick off Celebration at Greenhills Christian Fellowship, Ortigas
Data from November 2015 to May 2016