PLANTING SEEDS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Transcription

1 MISSIONARIES OSCAR AND SHARMAYNE TIEMPO DE DISCERNIR We are excited about 2009! The Lord has already opened up doors for new places of outreach, new short-term summer mission groups and a new ministry team working with us. May God give each of you something new this year new vision, new souls, new passion for Him. It s a new year let us rejoice and be glad in it! AN INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH MINISTRY PLANTING SEEDS IN THE PHILIPPINES Don t mention the name of Jesus, don t read the Bible, don t look too obvious! This was our welcoming speech upon arriving on Mindanao, a southern Muslim controlled island in the Philippines. Nothing like a little challenge while sharing the Gospel in a land that has ties to Al Quaeda! But what seems impossible with man is possible with God. The Lord opened up the doors for the Americans to do a special program in many schools. Did we forget to mention to the officials that our program included the story of Spending Time on Mindanao Island JAN/FEB 2009 Jesus and His love? It was amazing to see the hungry look on the faces of these children as they absorbed every word. We have a lot of crazy stories to tell (better shared in person) but we praise God for the hundreds of seeds that were planted here in the young hearts by the Holy Fire mission team. Please pray for the few pastors working in this area of the Philippines. Their lives are constantly in danger as they stand up and share the Gospel. Inside this issue: The Hammer 2 Meet Jenna 3 Interesting transportation.. Thanks 3 Coming Events 3 Filipino elementary school students 4 Puppet shows.. Sharing the Gospel!

2 TIEMPO DE DISCERNIR Page 2 My Word is like a hammer, Jer. 23:29 Defeat is automatic when you run away and you become an exile of your purpose in God, your call, your very strength in your relationship with God. I Samuel speaks about that famous confrontation between David and Goliath: the giant against the child. I ve heard about this story since I was a child as I m sure you have also. One aspect that is intriguing is the name of Goliath. His name means, exile. Probably this had to do with him or his family having been exiled at some point into Philistia. However, this giant s name is an accurate description also of what he wanted to do to his enemies, the people of Israel. He wanted to exile them from their land, their possessions, their God, and even their freedom. This was not unique to Goliath since many battles were fought over the same issues the world over but what was significant was the daily challenge for one man to show himself and fight him for the right not to be exiled. Only David took on the challenge. He had much to be exiled from: his family, his job, his anointing by Samuel, his future. It was all on the line. One needs to fear this kind of spiritual exile more than death itself. The worst thing that the people of God could have done was to run from the fight but that is exactly what they did...literally. However, the Bible says that David ran to the fight. His young mind might not have understood everything but he knew this was a fight worth fighting. You know the end of the story. David won that great victory and then was attacked on every side for the next few years. Yet that day, he had by the power of God faced the giant and brought him down. David went on to live a full life with mistakes and all but no one could accuse him of trying to go through life cowering in a spiritual corner just trying to make it. I believe that all Christians will at some time or another face this particular giant. Sadly, I have also seen the ones who choose not to fight the battle as if doing that they avoid the battle altogether. David knew better. Defeat is automatic when you run away and you become an exile of your purpose in God, your call, your very strength in your relationship with God. Just follow the life of another man named Saul and you will see the beginning of the end start for him right then and there on the same day. It took some time but he died the death of the unfulfilled, stumbling in the dark house of a witch in a town called Endor. One day after Endor, his family was killed, his kingship taken away, even his valor in battle for which he had developed an early reputation for was long gone. Goliath truly exiled that man while he taunted him 80 times, twice a day for forty days. I still hear that taunt. And people of God still run scared but the power of God that helped David that day not become disassociated and spiritually displaced is still here with the same power for He is the same yesterday, today and forever. May God challenge you to be great in His presence in this hour of need. May you be in the center of His will even as the battle rages. Yes, run but TO, not away from the battle. God will do the rest. How do you run well? You have an intimate relationship with God. You seek Him til you find Him. You are personal with Him and you believe in Him for everything. He is great! Serving Him In This Last Hour, Oscar

3 INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH MINISTRY Page 3 Meet Jenna! When Jenna left her home in WA looking for a change of pace in life, she stopped to visit with her friend Claribel Brooks. Little did she know that s exactly what she d get! Jenna went on her first mission trip with us Jenna makes friends in Tampico, Mexico last summer and she s been serving full-time ever since. From assisting to coordinate programs, run the office, helping teach Kobe.. among a slew of other things, Jenna has been a huge blessing. We are happy to have her on the Time to Discern team! THANK YOU FRIENDS FOR GOING WITH US TO SO MANY NATIONS LAST YEAR! CENTRAL AMERICA AFRICA MEXICO Mrs. Walker (LA), Jueon (VA) and Claribel give their testimonies COMING EVENTS FEBRUARY Holiness Crusade with T.O.L.D. Nazarene Churches 2 Youth Conferences New outreach in Los Indios, Mexico with NWB church

4 MISSIONARIES OSCAR AND SHARMAYNE Strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, Your God will come to Save you. (Isaiah 35: 3,4) Please remember to pray for the ministry, as we preach Jesus and raise up ministers unto the Lord around the world! : Tiempo de Discernir P.O. Box 712 Hollywood, MD Thanks for praying!

5 TIEMPO DE DISCERNIR FALL 2003 INSERT My Word is like a hammer, Jer. 23:29 Serving Him In This Last Hour, Oscar A pastor weeps even before the service ends. : Tiempo de Discernir P.O. Box 712 Hollywood, MD MISSIONARIES OSCAR AND SHARMAYNE