2007 Children Christmas Party!

Weekly children's ministry

Preparations for Children Christmas party on the way!

Missionary feature of the month

Everyone has a story to tell, this month, we feature one of our missionary families, The Tedjaindras. Raymond from Indonesia and Joy from the Philippines. Married in December 2004, they and their 18-month old twin daughters live in the community together with other married couples and single brothers and sisters in Christ. Here's their story.

JOY- “COMING HOME”
I was raised by devout Catholic parents who trained us to attend Sunday masses and do other Catholic practices. Until I went college where I have met new friends and have more freedom to choose belief that has sense and personal touch to me. It was then that I committed myself to a group of “Born Again” brethren who introduced me to a personal relationship with Jesus. I thought that this is my destiny, to leave the Catholic Faith for another faith. But God in His wisdom brought me back to my Home- the Catholic Church of whom I now love dearly. Being in ICPE Mission helped me a lot to understand and realize that indeed the fullness of Truth is in the Catholic Church.

RAY - FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT
I’m Raymond from Indonesia. I was a drug addict for five years and at that time, I experienced how to be in the state of “dead life”. Life for me before was meaningless and had no direction. My emotions were numb, I could not feel sadness nor happiness. Everything is flat. I even did not know how to receive love from my family. All I wanted is drugs….drugs…it was the only thing that was important to me. My relationships were in a mess, my life was in a mess…I attempted suicide a few times. I thought I can never escape from this state until I came to experience the loving touch of the Lord in year 2001. Since then I decided to seek more of Him even though at first it was with a lot of hesitation and struggle. I went for the School of Evangelization in India (note: the School is one of the many programs organized by the ICPE mission) and there I received a lot of God’s healing in my life. I managed to stop taking drugs (with a lot of struggle) and continued to be in ICPE Mission till now. I’m still in the process of healing and growing in my relationship with the Lord and I would like to share to others this healing and love that I have experienced and most of all the meaningful life that I’ve found in Jesus.

GOD’S PROVISION ON OUR LITTLE FAMILY
Having no salary as a missionary is very challenging. It was easier to trust God when we were still singles but the moment we came to know that we will be having twins, our faith was shaken. We felt fear and anxiety not knowing how we can provide for the needs of these babies. This can be financially, physically and emotionally demanding. Deep in us we had this question; “Will God really provide for these needs?”

But God has been very kind and faithful to His promise. Despite our doubts, He has been faithfully providing for us by touching generous sponsors who willingly supported our missionary call. From the very first day, all the necessary things that we need had been provided. We can say that we have not lacked any single necessity in our daily life. All Glory to God!!

Although our family is young, we continue to trust in God, do keep us in your prayers.

Life in the Spirit Seminars - MAY 2007

We had an amazing month of May. Three Life in the Spirit Seminars back to back (almost). One for the Balikatan ministry (literally means 'shoulder to shoulder' supporting each other), one in Batangas (a 2 hour ride from Manila), Baguio (3 hour ride from Manila).

We have been privileged to witness big changes in the faces of all the participants. Their lives transformed, they are so much more joyful and enthusiastic about life!

There's so much to say, but a picture speaks a thousand words, so here it is, more later!

New course in July! Emmaus Experience 2007!

Click to see enlarged flyer. For more details or application form, email us.

Apply by: 15 June 2007. For overseas applicants, to facilitate visa applications, it would be advisable to apply by 15 May 2007.

What happened at Emmaus Experience 2006

We had 8 participants from countries like Korea, Slovakia and Myanmar. Drawing from the different themes of the story of the Emmaus Experience, it was a 2-week journey of encountering the Lord in a new way and responding to that encounter in mission. The programme consisted of lectures, small group sharings, prayers and reflections, culminating in 4 days of mission exposure and service to the poor and to a group of prison inmates.

During the course, there was also ample opportunity to experience community living in an international setting, learning and working side by side with missionaries from Czech Republic, Malaysia, Singapore, Poland, Indonesia, Philippines and Korea. Sharing times of prayer, worship, intercession and fellowship.

"Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was speaking the scriptures to us." Luke 24:32

For the full story: http://icpe.org/MC_News_Detail.php?MCID=6&NewsID=114

Easter in Manila !

After a few feverish weeks of Lenten preparation, we suddenly landed ourselves a part in the Holy Family Parish, Kapitolyo Village, Easter Vigil celebrations. We were invited to dance during the mass, as part of a bigger group consisting of youth from the parish's youth ministry. Once the choreography was introduced to us, we put our heart and bodies into it. It was great fun and practically the whole church was set dancing, even the communion ministers, priests, altar servers, everyone were on their feet. These collaborations are part and parcel of our missionary work here in the Philippines.

Glory of God ministry

The opportunity came for us to serve at the Parish Church of St Joseph located in Las Piñas City, on 10 February 2007. This parish is home to the Bamboo Organ, one of the Philippines' national treasures in Manila. At the invitation from one of our friends, we led an hour of praise and worship at her prayer group. The program started with praise and worship and continued with the Lectio Divina (reflection and meditation) of the gospel of Sunday. Raymond led the praise and worship together with the support of the music team comprising of Celine, Karolina, Jeanny, Theresa, Erwin and Kunardi. Around 40 young adult professionals came.

Singing, clapping, dancing with grateful hearts; adoring, boasting His name, opening our hearts to welcome Him and responding to His invitation to learn the beatitudes, poor in spirit, with humble and contrite hearts. It was a fruitful time.

Life in the Spirit Seminar 2007

On 3-4 February 2007, the ICPE Philippines centre was privileged to organize and host a group of women and their children for a weekend retreat. All 7 of the retreat participants were regulars of the Balikatan group, an adult ministry run by the ICPE Philippines. The ministry began in March 2006 with the aim of helping adults grow in faith and obtain economic support. Called Balikatan (literally meaning ‘shoulder to shoulder’ in Filipino), the group consists mainly of women who live below the poverty line at ERAP City, Montalban.

With the theme “Come- I have called you by name. You are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1), the goal of the retreat was to help them encounter God’s unique love for them in a deeper way. Each participant was encouraged to recognize God’s call to a life of a relationship of love with them, to choose to commit to that call and to live a life empowered by the Holy Spirit.

At the retreat, they participated in lectures, prayer sessions, songs and worship sessions. The lectures focused on topics like God’s love, Sin and Salvation in Jesus, New Life in Christ and the Holy Spirit. At the end of the first day of the retreat, all of the participants responded joyfully to the call to new life in Jesus, making their act of faith and will to choose Jesus. On the following day, the retreat ended with the celebration of the Eucharist where each participant offered up a symbol of their decision to commit to new life in Jesus.

For many of the women, the retreat was the first time in many years when something was done solely for them. With the daily challenge of trying to make ends meet, they arrived at the centre burdened with many anxieties and worries. But at the end of the retreat, we saw joy in their faces and heard their laughter. They shared that they experienced God’s love and peace at the retreat and they would take home with them the joy of that experience.

For us, it was a beautiful time of serving the poor- the group of people whom God holds close to His heart. We felt God stirring in our hearts His compassionate love for the marginalized and reminding us of the dignity that He bestows on each of us as His sons and daughters.

“While working at the rubbish dumpsite, I am often discouraged by my difficult working and living conditions. However, since the retreat, I have found God’s comforting presence lifting my spirits as I sing to Him while working.”
Noraleen, a mother of 5, who scavages for recycleable materials at the rubbish dumpsite of Payatas.