The prayer of a child
is often answered.
It is answered
because it is pure.
It is answered
because it has no fear.
It does not think about the past,
it does not worry about the future.
It is not ashamed to express the truth,
it is not ashamed to express how it feels.
The prayer of a child
goes right up to heaven,
unto the ears of God
who hears it,
because it wants to be heard.
The prayer of a child
is answered
even before it has been uttered.
It was answered
when the child started to pray
with her heart.
Even though IRC Sagay is in the more remote area of Sagay City, where a nearly impassable road (that turns into a knee deep layer of mud when it rains) is the only way into Purok Bangkal, we are able to bring this community of about ninety families to the world (and vice versa) because we are connected to the internet.
And because of this we are able to share the stories of how God is moving in this farming and fishing community where He has led us to the ministry He has prepared us for. We use "kingdom technology" to advance the Kingdom of God for His glory and His glory alone. Changing communication paradigms present to us new ways of bringing the message of hope we have in Jesus Christ to a world that now more than ever needs this Hope. We are able to share stories of the lives here in Purok Bangkal with our friends far beyond our reach with the use of "kingdom technologies".
We see the needs of Purok Bangkal and share this with friends and family (and whoever else wants to lend us an ear) so that together we could move to meet those needs. We are just beginning but God is already putting compassionate people together so that the needs in Purok Bangkal could be addressed. We know that partnerships are important in our labor for the Lord and it is His desire that we labor in His harvest field with many others because the harvest is great. Through "social networking" we are matching resources with needs in our efforts at "transformational community development". Partner with us in this endeavor at transforming our nation one community at a time. Together let us build God centered and God dependent communities to transform our nation. Please PM us and we could discuss ways on how you could help us make a difference in Purok Bangkal and even the world. IRC Sagay is bringing Purok Bangkal to the world and the world to Purok Bangkal. Thank you Lord.
Our Australian partners Paul Beecham and Linda Roney both from Christian schools in Australia came to Purok Bangkal the other day to see what they can do to help us in our efforts at "transformational community development".
The two belong to an association of Australian Christian schools that have sent their students for short term missions' exposure trips to the Philippines through the global ministry of Pastor Gary Visitacion that match resources with the needs of partner communities.
This is the second visit of Paul to our place and this time the IRC Sagay Children's Center/ Office & Living Quarters now stand. When he was here about a couple of months ago, we were just beginning to build. Southern Hills Christian School to which Paul belongs will be sending 35 students and 10 school officials this last week of November to Purok Bangkal where they will for a few days experience working on projects that we are in the process of finalizing not to mention the interaction with the local residents of Purok Bangkal as they imbibe local culture.
Linda sees the same opportunity for her students next year. Pastor Gary has been tireless in his efforts at bringing foreign partners to Christian organizations such as Ikthus Redeemed Community that works in the front lines of social betterment. In a very real sense, Pastor Gary is helping build our nation through the partnerships he forges by which we are able to meet the needs of the communities we serve.
Thank you very much Paul and Linda for seeing the needs of our community here in Purok Bangkal and for moving to meet those needs. Thank you Pastor Gary for being our partner in our efforts at making a difference in the lives of the people of Purok Bangkal. God bless you all.
IRC is here in Purok Bangkal for the children, believing that we should make a difference in their lives as we share the love of our Father with the most precious of His blessings. IRC stands as a father to these children and as a father, IRC moves to meet their needs. Let us feed and clothe them...let us send them to school..let us keep them healthy...let us guide them and nurture them in the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us care for these children and bring them to a brighter future. Partner with us in this endeavor. Join us in this effort of "transformational community development" as we share the message of hope we have in Jesus Christ. PM us if you want to be part of our efforts to care for the children of Purok Bangkal. Thank you Lord
I was not much of a father to my children in my previous life: that is my life before I had a relationship with Jesus Christ. In fact, I was not only remiss as a father, I was a complete failure and this failure caused great suffering to my children. Even now knowing the deep seated pain I caused them I continue to pray that God completely heal their wounds.
How could I even hope to be a good father to my children then, when I did not even have a relationship with God, our Father in heaven? But then we have a God that redeems and restores making it possible for me to experience being a father (the right father) all over again as His grace finds me in Purok Bangkal. Here, I am present as a father to many. The truth is I look at these children as my own.
I lost my father when I was a young man and for me it has been a long, hard search for a father, many times in the wrong places. I was angry at my father for dying on me and blamed God for bringing about his death. The day my father died was also the day I stopped believing in God. It took a long time before I accepted the grace of God and to have once again a relationship with God my Father in heaven.
I now realize that the presence or the absence of a father in the life of a child makes or breaks the child. It is the father, more than anyone else that establishes the identity of a child. If he is not present to do so, the child suffers life-long wounds that may never completely heal.
The legitimate child carries the name of the father and when a child bears the mother’s name we know right away there is something wrong. The stigma of illegitimacy is a heavy burden to carry and the terrible hurt it causes is hard to overcome. Children born out of wedlock suffer much.
Illegitimacy is the failure of the father to be responsible for a child. But even if a child is from a legitimate union, if the father does not take responsibility to be a father, be present to his children, to guide them even discipline them; to provide for them adequately and give the sense of security a child needs, then the child suffers equally grievous wounds.
We need fathers to be fathers to their children and not just father children. Any fool can be a father but being a father to a child requires much from a man and the real father takes after our Father in heaven who is out for the interest of His children. God desires to share the goodness only He could bring. Our Father in heaven is for us and this is how our earthly fathers should be.
God our Father loves unconditionally and forgives all. This is the relationship we should realize: the identity only God could give. We are His children. God calls us son…God calls us daughter and only this identity could set us right with all the other relationships we have or will have.
My children are all grown up now with lives of their own. I have asked forgiveness from them for the hurt and pain I caused them. All live apart from me. My eldest son (who is thirty years old) and daughter are in the US and have been for these past twenty years.
My other son and youngest daughter (who is twenty-four) are here in the Philippines. My youngest daughter lives in Bacolod and has a daughter who will be two years old this November. My granddaughter gives me so much happiness. She is such a blessing to me.
My youngest daughter is closest to me because of the time we have spent together. It was difficult at first but God has restored our relationship as father and daughter. My granddaughter has even brought my daughter and I closer.
But my youngest son still bears much resentment and anger towards me and our failed relationship. Our attempt at a father and son relationship after an absence of over seventeen years ended in dismal failure. We cannot live together. He is hell bent on self-destruction. There is so much hate in him and this is all because I abandoned him. I was not present as a father to him.
He blames me for his continued suffering in life. His only hope is a relationship with Jesus Christ and I pray that he too will one day find this greatest need of his life. Until he establishes this relationship and know his identity from God our Father, he could never be a good father to his children. He could never be good to anyone.
I missed out being a father to my own children. But here in Purok Bangkal, God has so blessed me by giving me this opportunity to experience being a father in its real sense. What I missed out on, God brings back to me in full measure and this time He has prepared me for the role.
In Purok Bangkal, I have simply decided to be a father to these children not in any way trying to replace their fathers (for those who have fathers) but establishing and building a relationship with them in a way a good father should.
I have decided to love these children and I will move to meet their needs. Because I have a relationship with Jesus Christ and I know my Father in Heaven, I too am able to extend love to these children. God is good and I am being a father in Purok Bangkal only because He is.
I miss having coffee at the Market Mall with my regular native brew imbibing buddies at His Life Sagay. Coffee time remains for us the time to share what God is doing in our lives. Pastor Jonas this morning brings us encouragement as he urged us to continue in the His Life Vision "to glorify God a and make disciples".
For a very long time I lived a life without purpose, without meaning. Now, I have found the life the Lord has prepared me for...the long years of wandering the desert paths of life, the meanderings that left me only empty. I have been redeemed from all the evil of my past into a new life of purpose and meaning. Such is the grace of God and this grace finds me laboring for the Lord of the Harvest. My life is in His hands.
Last Thursday I picked up from the office of Vice Governor Bong Lacson a donation of two hundred notebooks for our IRC elementary school children. The gift of the notebooks was facilitated by my friend Sir Francis Velez who is an assistant to the vice governor. God is bringing people together so that the children in Purok Bangkal could be blessed. Two Sundays ago after preaching at His Life Main's 10:15 AM service, Sir Francis came up to me and asked how their office could help our ministry in Purok Bangkal resulting in this gift of two hundred notebooks. We appreciate this kind gesture from VG Bong Lacson and of course Sir Francis who made possible this gift. From IRC Sagay and the children of Purok Bangkal we thank you.
