Ministry Moments with Ezra

What can we learn from Ezra?

Ezra lived during the time when Israel lived in captivity in Babylon because of their unfaithfulness to God. Now God has made a way for the remaining citizens of Israel to return to their city Jerusalem by favor of the Babylonian king:

Ezra 7:9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

- God planted a vision in the heart of Ezra, to establish the saturation and practice of God’s word in his city Jerusalem … What is the vision God has placed in your heart for your campus/city?

- God was with Ezra’s team throughout their journey from Babylon to Jerusalem “for the gracious hand of God was on him.” – Recognize that as you obey and pursue God’s vision for your campus, God’s presence will go with you.

- Recognize also that two heads are better than one. Ezra didn’t come to Jerusalem alone, but a team went with him. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers to the mission field! (Matthew 9)

- Ezra did his part – He continued his devotion to God. Devotion is not defined by keeping yourself from breaking the law. Devotion is giving more than the bare minimum:

1. Ezra devoted to study God’s Word – How’s your Time Alone with God (Seek Christ First)?

After a day of ministry Jesus’ disciples came back rejoicing because God gave them victory in their journey. But this is what Jesus reminded them: “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). – Let us not forsake cultivating our personal intimacy/relationship with God (your names are written in heaven) over ministry (spirit’s submitting to you). A ministry/service apart from genuine love and devotion to Christ is empty and lacking.

The Apostle Paul says, “I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Co 9:27).

2. Ezra observed the Law of the Lord – Every revelation must have an application. Are you living it out?

Don’t allow a disconnect between studying and observing God’s Word. They must be seamless.

3. Ezra taught to the law to Israel – Commit to discipling the next generation.

Reaching your generation may well be adding up to God’s kingdom, nothing wrong with that. But if you want a multiplication of harvest, commit to reach to next generation.

New Office

So I got a new place at my second office ICI Ministries. Started today. Since March 2010, I started working in APMedia and ICI, but my office is based in APMedia. But now ICI has expanded their office, so I got my own place. It's clean and it's new. My desktop computer is fast, powerful and new. And for an added bonus, a window view. Sigh, I'm not sure if I will enjoy you for much longer. Praying ...

The Power of Writing It Down

Thinking about problems in our head only feeds it. It seems to get bigger the more you think about it. The keyword here is "seems". But how smaller our problems become when we put it on paper. When you write it for what it really is. Suddenly it becomes manageable, the solution attainable. Yes the problem doesn't get solved by writing it down, just like when you let it run on your head, but it puts them in the right perspective--in the birds eye view. I remember how a joke goes like this:  How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time. The problem can be big. It may take more than one solution to solve it. But when we act one step at a time, it takes us closer to the solution, closer than if we didn't move.

It's amazing how God even prepared me for this. Earlier he spoke through His Word: Do not worry about anything ... because my heavenly Father knows my needs. Worry doesn't add a single hour to my life. So take life one day at a time (Paraphrased).

When bad things happen to good people

So Manny Pacquiao lost to Bradley on a shady unanimous decision. Social media had been on outrage mode past few hours. And like something we can see coming, people started blaming his loss to his change of faith. I think now the world is watching, in and out of church-world, whether his newfound faith will stand the test of unpopularity.

I am reminded by what I read from the Bible today: Luke 13:1-5 ...

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

Even in Bible times people had been wondering about the age old question. Do people always deserve the bad things that happen to them? Jesus confronts this issue amidst the events of his day: News of his fellowmen killed by the Roman prefect; 18 people died when a tower fell on them. He exposes the critical hearts of the people: "Do you think they were worse sinners because they suffered this way?" "Do you think they were more guilty than all the others?"

Did Pacquiao deserve the loss that befell him? Isn't it true, that sometimes we associate a person's misfortune for their sins?

Coffee Break with Kuya A & Ate Anj

This photo was taken Saturday after our student rally held in ICS. The one day event called Student:Missionary We Engage was attended by 139 youths from Southern Tagalog region. It was a great time of visioneering for this year's campus outreach. So much after a tiring day of ministry, Kuya A(lvin) & Ate Angie treated us at SB to kill some time. You can call this couple a power couple of campus ministry, they've started doing campus ministry back in the 80s in UP Diliman, and then focused on local church ministry. But they are back again in Diliman to do campus ministry since last year. It was a great time of fellowship and encouragement.

Praying Bold Prayers

Awesome word this morning by Ptr Sur del Rosario our National Youth Director about Praying Bold Prayers .. let's relate it to reaching our campus ..

Topic: Praying Bold Prayers
Story of Elijah vs. Prophets of Baal - 1 Kings 18:17-40

What Bold Prayer does ...
1. BOLD PRAYER MAKES GOD KNOWN - Elijah's prayer was so bold that for him it was all or nothing. He put all his bet on God, and God did not disappoint. It was God's altar that He set on fire, not Baal's. Pray bold prayers for your campus, prayers fit for a mighty answering God.

2. BOLD PRAYER MARKS GOD'S SERVANTS - God's servants are marked by their intimacy to listen, hear and pray God's will. Elijah's prayer was not like the prophets of Baal, it was short and simple, but earnest. As God's servants in the campus we should be marked by a passion to intercede in behalf of our classmates and campus.

XA Luzon Team @Megamall

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So yesterday, our Chi Alpha Luzon Team had a get together at SM Megamall to meet and celebrate. Meet to plan for the Saturday district event called "Student: Missionary--We Engage". And celebrate to just hang out and celebrate what God has done throughout this summer during our Chi Alpha trainings. One of the best teams I've had the privilege of serving and leading. We decided to have milk tea at Gong-Cha and someone bought pizza for the team. And we just reminisce and laugh about some memorable experiences during our trainings. I enjoy a good laugh. Thanking God for the things He has doing through Chi Alpha ministry.

Guess Who Showed Up

So I was recently tagged by my cousin of this old pic that was supposed to be my father's would-be-parents wedding. And check-out who decided to make a cameo: Fernando Poe Jr. and Helen Gamboa. Yes they were sort of friends in the past.

When Tempted Not to Tithe

Early in our marriage, we have decided that we will make tithing a non-negotiable spiritual discipline in our life. It's good to establish what you believe, and what the Bible says about tithing. So that when a situation comes that challenges us to disobey God's command, we can go back to what we believe and that settles it for us:

• We settled between ourselves that tithing is a clear command in the Bible and it is non-negotiable (Mal 3:10). And we are even challenged to give above it with joy (2 Co 9)


• We believe that God is the owner of all our possessions and what he is actually asking is small compared to what we are receiving.

Chi Alpha Newsletter: 2012 Summer Trainings Completed

Dear Friends and Partners of Chi Alpha,

Thank you for your continuous prayer and support for Chi Alpha Student Ministries. We have recently concluded our summer trainings for 2012. It was a great time visiting different places and training the youth, seeing their hunger for God and to learn from our trainings. The following were the places we have conducted Chi Alpha trainings:

- Oriental Mindoro - 170+ delegates
- El Nido Palawan
- Legaspi City - 20+ delegates
- Lagawe, Ifugao - 100+ delegates
- San Fernando, Pampanga - 25 delegates
- Calbayog, Samar - 40+ delegates

On our last Luzon training held in San Fernando, Pampanga last May 30-June 1, we are rejoicing because even though we have a small number, the group's passion to reach the campus was just as stronger. First night started with a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 3 groups were represented in the training: San Fernando, Pampanga, Sta. Maria, Bulacan, and Mariveles and Balanga, Bataan. Each targeting a nearby university, college or high school. On the 3rd day, we visited Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University in Bacolor, Pampanga to do prayerwalking and evangelism exposure. Pray with us that Chi Alpha will be fully established in this prime and only state university in the province.

Delegates from XALT Pampanga & Calbayog

Prayerwalking in Bicol University, Legaspi City

Getting People to Care

Last night, my wife and I watched Snow White and the Huntsman. Despite the hype that it's better than the other Snow White movie, tt fell short for me (Being a self-proclaimed amateur movie critic that I am). Make no mistake this one's way better than the other by eons (I haven't seen it but upon seeing the trailer I already crossed it out. My wife saw it and didn't like it also). So here's why it fell short. The movie couldn't make me care enough. Despite the awesome CG effects, the dark twists and the hype, the story telling was unevenly paced and wanting even for a good two movie hours. The acting was forgivable, but I always look for the story. Is there something worthwhile to tell? And how well you tell it.

Then I begin to think about how it relates to doing campus ministry. Particularly, how you encourage leaders and pastors to "care" for the campus. A fellow campus worker by the name of Joe Bonifacio observed that it's not that our leaders do not care for campus ministry. Put yourself in a minister's shoes. Imagine, the people and things that are begging for his attention daily. Visitation in the morning, a baby dedication at lunch, a counseling session in the afternoon, a prayer meeting in the evening. As much as he wants to get involved in campus ministry, sometimes he's just too busy, or don't know where to begin.

So the challenge for us who rally our local churches to do campus ministry is to get them to see and catch the vision, and more importantly, get involved. Here are some ways to get people to "care" (in no particular order):

1. Simplify and streamline - Simple is always better. Simple does not mean cheap. Your audience will ignore your presentation, much less get involved if it's too complicated and unclear. Simplify and clarify your message, focus on the "most important thing". Streamline and standardize the way you do things so it can be easily followed.


2. Market the product with excellence - Ministry and volunteerism is not an excuse for a lousy, ill-presented message. In fact, if we think that the gospel is the world's ultimate need, we need to present it with utmost relevance, creativity and excellence. I think it's time to move out from a mindset of immediately pulling the plug on any idea that is new, creative, means are outside of our personal preference, things we don't immediately comprehend, or ways unlike what we've done in the past. Only the Message is unchangeable and timeless, not our methods.


3. Rally behind a powerful message - Bank on the timelessness of our Message. What I appreciate about the ministry of Chi Alpha is that it runs, operates, lives and breathes on the power of vision. It always amazes me how our teams serve as volunteers, campus workers, who raise their own funds to travel or board a plane to go to a place where the message is needed. It isn't even primarily because of our relationships in the teams that got us together. We were drawn by a cause that is worth our life and resources.


4. Sample by Stories - One way to incarnate an abstract message is by telling stories. First, know the core values of your organization. And when you find true stories from the field that clearly illustrates one of these core values, make a mental note of it, or better yet, write it down. Share it. Tell how the ministry is touching real lives. I'm currently reading Revolutions in World Missions and the stories are so real that it compels me to care. Rather than just having them listen to the things that should be done, throw in there how the ministry is touching lives.


5. Build relationships - This I think is the most potent means to get our message across. Build and nurture your relationship with your audience. John Maxwell said it, "People don't care how much you know, until people know how much you care." Chi Alpha US director Scott Martin emphasizes that the kingdom of God is built on relationships. Our message caters to real people, they are not ministry projects. There's a way of softening hearts when you level with them, listen, and find a common ground. Seek and build relationship while you're at it. It will take you farther than any kind of ministry strategy can.