Prayer Board

December 21, 2009

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matthew 21: 22)

1. End of October I was with a group of 16 members of Union Church for a 3- day Mission Trip to Bawing, General Santos City. There are 75 High Schools and College Student under the Scholarship Program supported by individuals from Union Church. The Scholarship Program has resulted to the increase of church attendance. During this recent visit, we conducted teachers' training with the existing Sunday School Teachers and other prospective teachers. The sponsored students were divided into groups and assigned members of our Team to each group for a time of prayer and fellowship. All the Prayer Houses at the Rivera Prayer Mountain was occupied. It was a beautiful experienced for the Bawing Alliance Evangelical Church. Pray that Union Church will continue to be involve in the scholarship program and livelihood program for the poor families. –-- Pastora Ruth Tablada, Hong Kong

2. Problem with health is one of the major reasons for missionary attrition. Due to a health issue with Rev. Ekarin Khamsiang, he and his wife returned home to Thailand on September 13, 2009 after almost 3 years of faithful service as missionaries among the Thai contract workers in Taiwan. Presently, he is undergoing regular medical treatment. Despite this set back, God used them to encourage hundreds of believers during the annual Missions gathering of the churches in Central Bangkok on September 27, and we are confident that He will continue to use both of them with the rest of the GCT churches once Pastor Ekarin's health is back to normal. Their hearts still beat for Missions. The church ministry that they have left in Taiwan is continuing under the supervision of 4 church leaders so the GCT Missions will keep supporting the ministry financially. Please pray for God's healing of Pastor Ekarins hyperthyroidism and his heart problem. --- Roland & Nancy Lumawag, Thailand

3. This afternoon the Field Directors and their wives in the Asia Pacific region of the C&MA were on an outing in the middle of a week of meetings in Bangkok when an unfortunate event occurred. While feeding elephants after an elephant show and having our pictures taken with the elephants, one big elephant threw Richard Herring and Peter Theron probably up in the air about 10 feet or so and they came down hard on the concrete. Peter's scull was < and immediately began to bleed. Richard seemed to be in shock and was in pain but no bleeding. We immediately tried to provide first aid in terms of stopping the bleeding and asked the park manager to call ambulances. Two ambulances came about 30-40 minutes later to pick up Peter and Richard. Our personnel and a couple of Thai bystanders who were nurses assisted us as we waited for the ambulances. Peter was put in ICU in a nearby Thai hospital and Richard was also admitted for observation. The latest update we have had is that Peter is conscious and talking and the doctors are encouraged by that. He will be transferred to a Bangkok hospital in about one hour for a neuro surgeon to exam him and possibly to operate on him. Please be in prayer for Peter Theron, the team leader in Mongolia, that God would heal him and guide the doctors who care for him. Please pray for healing for Richard Herring, the Regional Director for the Asia Pacific Region too.

4. A few weeks ago our team doctor (who is still waiting for a new clinic licence) phoned me at 3:25 AM. A pipe had burst in the basement below my apartment – and there was much hissing and steaming! I moved all the electrical items and packed up my laptop, passport, and grammar books in case of a hasty retreat. I even grabbed my winter boots in case I needed to wade through scalding water to get out the front door. But, after about 3 hours, some workmen arrived and plugged the pipe. This last month we had new hot and cold water meters installed in the apartments. One of mine leaked for a few weeks – so various plumbers have been trying to stop water flowing out. Meanwhile the hot water (which I enjoyed for 2 weeks) got switched off – but, after numerous phone calls (from kind team mates) and more workmen visits, the water is now back on. I’m learning to be thankful for each hot drop! –-- Alison Dench, Mongolia

5. Winter season has set in. Today Kathmandu's temperature is 4°C and its coldest temperature of -2°C will go down in a few days. My family’s first winter experience brought our kids and Carol some discomfort. For a few days, they were down due to the winter bug –stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. Now they have somehow adjusted to the weather. To keep me fit for the ministry, I had also gone for a general physical check up. Although findings may not sound good but we are sure God will take control of everything. I have to undergo minor operation for my gall stones. Thank God for allowing it to happen here where hospitalization is much cheaper than in the Philippines. God has provided a very accommodating physician who is going to take charge of me. We covet your prayers for the peace and order in Nepal and our ministry as well as our personal concerns. –-- Rev. James Sarenas, Nepal

6. Sierra Leone....a country I didn't know even existed and came to know about about 3 years ago. Now I am here and it is like back to the ancient ages as in my childhood in the Philippines. More like life in the tribal areas. It was long time that I haven't been cooking by charcoal and pulling water out of a deep well. And this is life on a daily basis and then have to be on the move for ministry. Challenging but possible by the grace of God. Continue to pray for me/us. –-- Lorena Cardenas, Sierra Leone

7. Our Church Planting Program, "HARVEST 658" seeks to plant 658 churches from 2006-2010 and "Project 3000 Churches by 2010." In the past four years, we have planted 504 churches already. PRAISE THE LORD! We still have 168 churches to plant in 2010. Our total number of churches is now 2,832. Aside from planting churches, we also are projecting 502,000 inclusive members by 2010. This is a 10% growth in membership every year. The approximate number of inclusive members in CAMACOP now is 400,000. Please pray that we will achieve our projections with the help of our Lord! –-- Bishop Reniel Joel A. Nebab, Philippines