Happy New Year to all of our family, friends and faithful supporters. Stand with us in believing that this year will be a most blessed year in the Lord. We pray that you embrace His presence and we pray that you cherish His life giving hope! We are looking forward to an exciting ministry filled year that will reveal His glory to the nations.
Last year was an amazing year as the Lord blessed us with the ability and provision to officially plant and launch a church. Our chapel is located in Sitio Panas, Barangay Bilibol, Maasin City, Southern Leyte, which is located about 40 minutes from our house. Through hard work and God’s grace we have steadily claimed ground back from the enemy; our congregation currently stands at 58 members.
We have a Sunday morning service, two weeknight cell group meetings, a Friday night teaching and prayer meeting and a Saturday morning youth devotional. The purpose behind the cell group meetings are three fold. We are there for the fellowship of the brethren, evangelism by inviting non-believers to the meeting and training the Brethren for evangelism.
We continue to reach out and try to help with the community’s needs. We are trying to help with various livelihood needs such as building small fishing boats, raising pigs for breeding and providing needed schooling materials. We have seen success in all areas of this ministry; families are becoming self-supportive and they are in turn passing the blessings on to other families. We have seen a drastic improvement in the lives of the youth as it pertains to schooling. As we continue to encourage them about their schooling and as we supply the needed materials their attitudes about school and their grades have improved. This is an area of great importance to us for we know the youth are the leaders of tomorrow and we also know that an education is their way out of poverty.
We are also involved with the Fedelis Legis Assemblies of God (FLAG) Organization. This is a group of 14 Assembly of God Churches located throughout the Island of Leyte that have come together to continue the Lord’s work. As an organization we are committed to evangelism, edifying the brethren and to continue to plant churches. This group also operates and supports a small Bible School.
As part of our commitment to our local organization David continues to teach one day a week at the Institute of Biblical Ministries School in Baybay City, Leyte. We are also financially sponsoring four students that attend this school. Sponsorship includes room, food, uniform, I.D., books, transportation, school supplies and a small amount of money (50Php or $1.25) for snacks. We started off by taking a financial step of faith by agreeing to financially support two students, then a need arose for another student and yet another and we felt that we were led to sponsor those students. We stand in faith of who God is and that He will supply all of our needs as He has done in the past.
Our vision for the purchase of property for Tower of Refuge Ministry is still alive in our hearts and prayers. Once we can purchase property we will be able to greatly expand our livelihood program and we would also be able to start building a permanent orphanage. The purchase of property will also help us become more self-sufficient by allowing us to raise pigs, chickens, turkeys etc. which in turn we could sell to support our programs. We continue to pray for property and the funds for that property so that we may have a permanent home for Tower of Refuge Ministries.
So as we begin the New Year we pray that all of your prayers will be answered and that you will embrace the presence of Jesus. Stand with us as we believe that God has great amazing plans for this ministry this year! We believe that many will come to know Jesus here in Panas and throughout the world.
We also ask that you pray about providing financial support for this ministry. As with all ministries it takes compassionate people to respond in obedience to God’s will in their lives to provide financial support for His Kingdom. As a reminder all monies received by this ministry go directly into our various programs. We do not use ministry money for our personal support! God has blessed us with an ample retirement and a beautiful house with property so we are able to use ministry monies for ministry!
We ask that you continue to pray not only for us and the Philippine people but for all of those throughout the world who are doing God’s work. Pray for their safety and provision for their ministries!
We also invite you to check out our Facebook page. As time allows we will be posting new pictures and videos on our FB page.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tower-of-Refuge-Ministries/1478435052443152
We again thank all of you for your prayers and support.
Love David & Vicenta