Click here to watch Josh's "global" cover video of Good Grace that included scenes from this retreat.
The foundation has been sending care packages through the Balikbayan Box Ministry to support their outreach activities.
Attendees from the mission area participating in this year's retreat and fellowship
This year's theme:
Navigating Faith, Friendship, Finances, and the Future
This was developed from feedback from the previous year's retreats identifying need for topics on practical application of Christian principles to day-to-day situations.
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Click here for video highlights of this mission trip. |
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Anticipating arrival of hungry attendees, special boxed dinner from Jollibee were prepared. We're again thankful for the Cebu Conference Minister for allowing us to use the office conference room to serve dinner for the attendees. |
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Tentative schedule; on the first day, all sessions were held at the CENDET funtion rooms. |
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After some ice breakers, Joshua lead the group in praise worship singing, |
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... then attendees dove into learning and discussing the various subjects of this year's retreat. |
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Attendees were broken into groups and were assigned specific subjects to deep dive. |
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Josh, Tim and Susan facilitated group discussions. |
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The following day, the sessions were held at the Shalom function rooms. |
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And after some ice breakers and action songs, |
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attendees jump right back into group study. |
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In line with theme, topics discussed includes application of Christian principles.... |
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... in school, work, finances, friendships and faith. |
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And now, time to summarize lessons learned, |
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... and develop presentation materials |
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... to share to the rest of the attendees. |
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Tim's group shared principles applicable to school and work, |
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while Susan's team shared lessons learned on friendships, |
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and Josh's team presented lessons learned on finances. |
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In the afternoon, discussion was focused on our faith. |
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Josh teaching the group the song "Good Grace"(Hillsong United).
Click here to watch Josh's "global" cover video of Good Grace that included scenes from this retreat. |
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A group selfie before going back to the real world hoping to apply what was learned in this retreat. |
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Sometimes, getting around in the Philppines requires taking whatever transportation option is available, including riding at the back of a pickup truck, |
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...or good ole tricycle... |
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... or even on a motorized outrigger (bangka!). |
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And getting around was needed to visit our ministry supporters and partners such as Pastors Roy and Ludy Berame in Dumaguete City. Pastor Roy was instrumental in coordinating the Zeal Band praise and worship concert to Dumaguete in 2015. We continue to pray for Pastors Roy and Ludy's healing with their on-going health challenges. |
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Family of Pastor James Sarcos, the Asian coordinator of Operations Christmas Child. |
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And we're blessed to visit the Church So Blessed, Iligan City. And inspired by the passion in their ministry.
The church was just formed 6 years ago, and they already have 11 satellite churches all over Mindanao.
They even have a cross-cultural outreach in Marawi City serving mostly from the Maranao tribe.
The foundation has been sending care packages through the Balikbayan Box Ministry to support their outreach activities. |
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Pastor Marben Maglipac with wife and ministry partner Gladys of Church So Blessed. |
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Also passed by the Oslob UCCP Church; Alex had been in this church during his youth attending conferences. |
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As usual, we wished we had more time to do more; so, we'll try to take care of those in the next Philippine mission trip. |