Sunday, July 16, 2006
SPORTS AMBASSADORS: CEBU PROVINCE TOUR
Our SA team has been on the road games for the last 3 days. So far, we have been blessed by the positive response of the people who has witnessed our games and the opportunity to hear the testimonies and gospel from our players. We already have around 450 response coupons collected in 3 games (2 wins & 1 loss)which started last July 15, Saturday until today July 17, Monday. As of this writing, we will still have another game this afternoon at the San Jose Recoletos, another large university in Cebu.
Our players have really been responding well to the pressures of being on the road all time, less sleep and eating not their "normal meal" each day. Our church host Cebu City Gospel Center, pastored by Reverend Philip & Rebecah Angsanto has been so good to us and making sure our team has good accomodations.
After 5 more games in Cebu City, we will be travelling to Bantayan Island which has less than 2 percent evangelical presence.
Please continue to keep us in prayers...
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
SPORTS AMBASSADORS - CEBU PROVINCE TOUR
Another fast approaching Sports Ambassador's trip is the Cebu Province Tour, with nine (9) American players coming from the different parts of the United States.
The first five (5) days will be focused in the big city called Cebu, the queen capital of the south. History would tell us that this is the place where Magellan together with his forces landed and conquered the island bringing Roman Catholicism along with the Spanish friars. This resulted to the island's present 98% Roman Catholic.
We will then travel to Cebu Province including the tiny island of Bantayan, where evangelical presence is less than three (3) per cent only.
Our team will be in the island from July 15-26, 2006 where we are scheduled to play 20 to 22 games and 12 to 15 pastors working with us.
Please remember us in your prayers…
GAISANO SOUTH CUP 2006...
Once again it is school year time in Davao City, Philippines. It is also the start of the school based leagues in the city. One of the exciting leagues being participated by most schools is the Gaisano South Cup which close to 40-50 schoolbased teams are participating from the elementary, high school & college/university levels.
This year will be my second year as part of the Board of Commissioners of the league. Being a sports minister, My hearts desire is not only to help in the organization but also find an avenue for the sharing of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Last July 08, 2006 Saturday during the Coaches Meeting, I had the chance to share some spiritual values with regards to winning and losing in a game. What coaches should know when they coach their players and how they should act and react during a game. What values should coaches teach their players with regards to life application.
Pastor Sam Pascual, another member of the board of commissioners and I bowed to continue our burden of reaching out for the Lord to this young players participating in the ongoing league.
Another opportunity in sports ministry. Please remember us in your prayers!
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
A SPORTS AMBASSADORS TRIP TO REMEMBER...
Coming from a Sports Ambassadors trip with only one day rest, I was feeling tired already but I had a commitment to join the Sports Ambassadors Hardeman Family Team.
Our first day was really awesome, meeting for the first time the Hardeman family made me feel comfortable right away…the guys had wonderful attitudes and was very warm towards the local people, I was really blessed to see every Hardeman family spending time with the people after each game.
Since then, I was always looking forward to each game, Coach Tine “The Legend” Hardeman & Jan together with their boys T.J. & Cindy, Tom, Todd & sister Terri Lynn and the rest of the Hardeman family showed me maturity inside and outside of the court. That is what Ventures For Victory/Sports Ambassadors is all about.
Watching Coach Tine played for the last time was a dream come true for me, also watching him play with his boys and grandchildren was really great!
At the end of the trip, I had the chance to speak to all of them, thanking them for the love they have showed to the filipino people and most of all encouraging me most of the time…I almost forgot that I was very tired!
I will surely miss the gang: Dan & Heidi, Dave, Katie, Trent, Travis, Bennet, Kelly, Tasha, Elizabeth and Kelsey.
Hope to see you guys again in our future trips!
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Saturday, June 24, 2006
SPORTS AMBASSADORS HARDEMAN TEAM
God is good...God is great! We are experiencing the goodness of God in most of our games...The turn-out out of people during our games is really amazing; we average from 1,000 to 4,000 people in most of our games...almost 60% of our responses is that they want to be ministered, wants a bible study in their homes and wants to know more about Jesus Christ...This island is really ripe for the harvest...So far our Hardeman Family Team is hanging on, thanks to the leadership of the "bond of brothers" T.J., Tom, Todd and the only princess Terri, of course with the guidance of the Legend himself Tine & Jan...I am really blessed to be part of this tour...people are seeing a wonderful family playing basketball and at the same time sharing the love of Jesus Christ...
We still have six (6) more games to go before we end our trip and all of this games will be played starting on monday till wednesday morning at this tiny island called "Siquijor", known to be the haven of witchcraft and animistic practices here in the philippines...I know we will be in a great spiritual battle, we have a great God and the bible says "Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world"...
We look forward for the victories and the salvation we will have...continue to remember us in your prayers...
Shalom!
Thursday, June 22, 2006
SPORTS AMBASSADORS HARDEMAN TEAM
The Ventures For Victory/Sports Ambassadors Hardeman Family Team led by Coach Tine Hardeman is making waves in the island of Negros Oriental & Siquijor Island. So far most of our games are jampacked with people and students. We even had one game where our attendance was close to 5,000 students and staff. Our responses is really great, God is really touching the lives of many people. Please continue to pray for the Hardeman Family and me as we still have 6 more days to go on our trip.
Thanks for your support...
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
A VISIT FROM OUR AUSSIE FRIENDS...
Last June 5 & 6, our dear friends from Perth, Western Australia Greg Beacham and Mike Valenti came to visit the family. The last time we were together was during our trip to Negros and Cebu last December & January.
It was indeed a wonderful time of fellowship and the encouragement they have given to us. Greg has been a missionary/teacher at Faith Academy, Manila for the last one year. They are going back to Perth, WA this coming July 01, 2006. For sure, we will miss the family very much. Mike Valenti was just here for a missions trip with the Sports Ambassadors in Mindanao.
We are so blessed to have them as our ministry partners. Greg will be going back to Perth, WA bringing with him the burden of having more missions trip with SA Western Australia to the Philippines.
Thank you so much Greg & Rebekah for the love you have to my fellow countrymen. Indeed, you are real partners in the ministry.
We love you mate, hope to see you again soon…
Monday, June 12, 2006
Sports Ambassadors - Singapore Team
Hello from Cebu City, the queen city of the south...So far our ministry games have been very exciting and close games. Our Ventures for Victory/Sports Ambassadors High School team from Singapore have been a blessing to the differnt local churches who have coordinated the games especially the different chinese evangelical churches who have helped us organized the trip. They have done a great job in setting up the activities.
So far, we have played nine (9) games in the different schools, barangays and towns in the area. Most of our games were well attended by the local people. We still have six (6) more days to go with our trip before the boys will go back to Singapore.
We hope by the end of the trip, we will be able to reach close to 10,000 people for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Please continue to pray for us that God will give us extra energy we need during the last days of our trip.
To our SA team from Singapore, thank you for coming...
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Stephen's Voice Recital
Our graduation gift to Stephen Christian last March, 2006 was a 12 session voice lessons at the Patrick, The Music Studio.
Last June 04, Sunday the PTMS had their voice recital activity at the Grand Men Seng Hotel were Stephen Christian was one of the twelve participants.
Grace and I together with our other sons Brian & JJ attended this memorable activity in Stephen’s singing career being his first recital. We were just too excited to see him perform.
Stephen really did very well in his performance. We all went home feeling very proud that we saw how he has improved his singing ability. We encourage Stephen to continue with his training which he is looking forward to it for the next three (3) months.
We took some pictures of Stephen during his performance and also together with his voice professor Mr. Patrick L. Seras.
Keep it up son, we are so proud of you!
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Chaplain Service Award
Recently our Air Operations Wing/Auxiliary Tactical Operating Forces under the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary held their awarding ceremonies for deserving chaplains in the region.
I was one of the recipients in receiving the Long Service Ribbon and Good Conduct Ribbon (with one start) from Commodore Antonio T. Uy PCGA, AOW Wing Commander for Mindanao together with Capt Reynaldo C. Quilaton PCGA, Deputy Wing Commander concurrent 817th Squadron Commander, PCGA-CGAD-SEM.
This activity meant so much to us as volunteer chaplains because the PCGA-AOW organization recognizes the following officers who have rendered service to the organization and community.
Grace and I together with our son Brian continues to conduct chaplaincy work in the different civilian and military institutions in the Philippines.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Family Medical Mission
Last May 29, 2006 my wife Grace led our children JJ & Stephen in assisting a medical mission activity in one of the depressed area in our community. The Foursquare Gospel Church who hosted the activity was able to gather fifty (50) families who needed medical attention.
Grace who has some experience in medical mission administration helped in dispensing medicines to the patients, John Paul, who is on his final year as a student Nurse assisted the doctor in checking the patients while Stephen was in-charge of calling the names of the patients.
This was one of the activities that our family really enjoyed. I was even blessed to see our children get in involved in this ministry.
I’m sure there will be more medical mission activity in the future.
Sports Ambassadors - Hardeman Team
One of the athletes who made a name for himself with the Ventures for Victory/Sports Ambassadors team is Coach Tine “The Legend” Hardeman, currently the Spiritual Sports Director of Faith Academy, Manila. In fact, most of his life as a missionary athlete in the Philippines has been dedicated in coaching young kids and making sure they have heard the gospel and has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
I had the chance of working with Coach Tine for the last five (5) years now. Together we have been doing Coaching Clinics and has helped him with the Hardeman Cup held every February at Faith Academy, Manila.
This coming June 19-29, 2006, I will have the privilege of being part of Venture For Victory/Sports Ambassadors Hardeman Team, composed of his children and grandchildren with an average height of 6’4. This is the first time that this has happened with the Hardeman family. Gathering all his children and grandchildren who some are now living abroad.
I had the chance to helped in the setting-up of the trip in Negros Oriental and Siquijor Island. To me this is one trip that I don’t want to miss, I am looking forward for the historic trip with Coach Tine.
To Coach Tine, I salute you sir!!!
Sports Ambassadors - Singapore Team
On June 07 to 18, 2006 in Cebu City, Visayas I will be leading a Ventures for Victory Sports Ambassadors Juniors Team from Singapore. David Erickson, a former SA player and now a missionary to Singapore will be joined by ten (10) junior & two (2) adult players.
Most of our games will be played in the different junior high schools and barangays (a small communities) in Cebu City. A committee mostly members coming from the different chinese evangelical churches is helping us set up the games.
We are estimated to play around twenty-five (25) games, reach 10,000 to 15,000 people. This is really going to be exciting because we are going there not just to play but to share our testimonies, give away gospel tracts and be a blessing to the christian community.
My Friend Richard...
It has been almost six (6) years that my friend Richard Henderson and I have been working together with Philippine Challenge doing Sports & Recreation Ministry.
Our relationship as partners in our ministry has gone a long way. We both are passionate in our line of work. And one thing I like very much with my friend Richard is that he has really adapted to the culture especially how ministry is done in the Philippines. I know sometimes as a missionary to the Philippines, he continue to face some culture shock. With Richard flexibility is always part of his system that’s why he and his family has stayed in our country for more than fifteen (15) years now.
Richard and I already had so much experience doing sports ministry together but we still believe we have so much more to learn.
Last week, Richard and family went back to the United States of America for their regular furlough. Which means that I would be handling our sports ministry alone for awhile. Usually things are not the same without Richard but I have to face reality. I know he will be back early next year, so I would be looking forward to his return.
I’m really going to miss my partner, but for sure both of us will be praying for each other.
So to my friend Richard & Marla, thanks for the love and friendship…
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