People would always think of sunsets as a signal that ends the day. And usually, everyone would look forward to the beauty of what sunrise brings. I think otherwise. Sunsets for me mean the start of something new it doesn’t always mean the end. It signals that after a period of rest, a new day will come that brings new challenges, new opportunities and a reminder of hope and God’s deliverance through the night.

It is summertime in the Philippines, and it is when the sun shines the hottest. It usually begins in the month of March each year, which is also the end of academic calendars in major educational institutions in the country – thus graduation happens.

Linao Team Graduates. Incidentally, the church planting team in Linao just graduated and ending their two-year church planting training with ECPM was a recognition ceremony held together with CTC graduation in Brooke’s Point Palawan last May 1. This may be a time of moving up or going forward for the new congregation in Linao, it has shown the wonders the Lord has done in this area. We in ECPM are more in awe seeing right before our very eyes how despite struggles, health problems and other trials, the Lord is really keen in watching and carrying the team making everything possible for them. Ronnie had his last module last February though he was still grieving because of the demise of the former member of the team, Vivencia Amoto. He is contemplating on whether to stay in Linao after the training. (Read more on how God is guiding the team in Linao)

Aborlan Campus Ministry Recognition. After a year of campus training, the Aborlan (Palawan) Youth Campus Leaders also had their recognition day alongside the graduation of Linao church planting team last May 1. This is a different campus ministry since this is the strategy in the approach of church planting of the Aborlan Church Planting Team. We at ECPM and those in Palawan are amazed of God’s wonderful ways for this team. During the Christian Training Center Camp graduation at Brooke’s Point, we witnessed new believers testify of how the Lord changed their lives through the campus ministry in Aborlan. What we all did to put this together is n-o-t-h-i-n-g compared to how the Lord transform the lives of young people and make them feel His great love. We are truly in awe! (Read more about the transformed lives of young people in Aborlan)

Bentat Cariz’ (Bintat Cariz) Tribal School. Named Bintat Karis Iskula’t Palawan, teacher’s Anna Pearl and Analisa uses the ACE curriculum for education and were able to hold their first recognition day last March. 18 students ranging from 5-14 years old expressed during that day what they all dream to be when they grow up. It gave hope to their parents who were as well impressed by how these kids are starting to read and write. Through this tribal school in bintat kariz not only did Job & Anna, Jacob & Analisa discover more about the Palawano culture in this area but they saw God’s way of empowering them to contextualize the lessons that the kids up this mountain may very well understand. (read more of God’s provision through “Jacob’s well” in Bintat)

Ibaan Team’s New Church – the structure & the people. The team had finally started building their bamboo-structured chapel in Panghayaan where they hold their worship services and most of their fellowships and other activities. The couple (Allan & Cora) reported what God is doing in Panghayaan after their 5th module at the ECPM office last February 20 – 21. The Lord has used them through their bible studies where many neighbors and friends were able to hear the gospel and with the community school recognizing them doing as such. The team has helped the community in relationship issues and has held a valentines fellowship where they showed a Christian film about husbands & wives. As a result, two live-in couples are scheduled to be married this May. They were able to establish four cell groups and each of them holds individual Bible Studies, and it is wonderful to know that last April 20 new believers were baptized and what’s more is that God has entrusted upon them even more persons to disciple. (read more about people coming to the Lord in Panghayaan)

Guinsorongan Team’s Going go! go! The team praises the Lord for giving them more people to minister to. The number of children who attended their Bible class is increasing as well as those attending the youth fellowship. Their high school student contacts are also inviting friends to join their regular fellowship. They have full-pack regular Bible Studies and they don’t only reach out to the young people but the Lord has been guiding them as they reach out too to couples and families. They are now planning to reach more families in the area not just for establishing values but to help them have a meaningful relationship with the Lord. The Lord is truly gracious with all these and He has blessed the team as well with supporting seminars that can help them more in contextualizing their approach for the community in Guinsorongan by addressing their needs. They were even allowed by the Barangay Captain to hold computer tutorials and the team sees this as a very great opportunity to bring more people to Christ. (read more about God’s blessing upon the team and their Bible Study schedules)

Himamaylan Team jumps up through the hurdles. The couple praises the Lord for sustaining them in the ministry in spite of the many problems and challenges that they’ve faced. During the regular visit of ECPM staff, Brother Vic was able to identify other important areas that the couple needs to be enhanced with, yet he saw their commitment and willingness to be trained more to be able to help in the kingdom building and help in bringing more souls to the Lord. Pray for the couple that they experience joy in serving and that their passion in the ministry increase. (read more on how God can use you to pray for the Himamaylan team)

These past few months ECPM have been busy visiting church planting sites all over the Philippines. Even YMC staff has been very helpful in providing care and counsel for the teams aside from conducting their regular training modules. One of the major areas the training team would like to enhance is the pastoral care program for the church planters.

Visiting them, as testified by the team has proved to be really helpful in encouraging them as they do their mission work. There are pressures, there are technical stuff to do and there are objectives and time lines to beat, but behind all this, the personal lives and daily journeys of the church planters are also needed to be given attention. After all, their well being is still a valuable part of the whole process of church planting.

Our visit, together with the training module of the Himamaylan team held in Iloilo, was a great time for sharing visions and talking about areas where the team needs help. The module being held away from their church planting site was a breather for them in some way. (read more)

The visit to the Salipsip team gave opportunity to ECPM & YMC staff join them in their bible study groups and listen to the stories of the team, and hearing how we can pray for their objectives, in a way relaxing them a bit from the many tasks they are to accomplish. (read more)

Meriam, a church planter in Catbalogan was very pleased during the visit being the only woman in the team together with her husband. She said that the mere fact that there are pastoral care persons that will listen to their stories and spend time with them have encouraged them a lot as they go through their day to day lives. (read more)

There are more doors opening for ECPM but we don’t consider it as our own effort but the product of God’s grace and power. We don’t have anything to boast but we are very grateful for the partnership people around the world and in the Philippines have shared with ECPM. As our partners, please continue to pray for us in all aspects. We may never be perfect servants but we are assured of God’s continuous moulding in our lives and in how we do our ministry. Please do read our director’s prayer letter so you may be more updated on how you can pray more for us.
Thank You dear partners for keeping us in prayer and that the Lord may truly uphold us as we continue the journey the He has called us to do.

Posted by:

Ella Abigail Santos for ECPM - YMC