RYAN MANGAO

We learned this past week, that one of our former youth in our Novaliches Feeding Center, passed away suddenly. 

Ryan had just turned 17 in January.  He was rushed to the hospital with stomach pains and soon after, slipped into a coma and died. 

Ryan made a profession of faith 4 years ago and was faithful to attend the youth services at Faith Temple Baptist Church, Novaliches, Q.C., where our feeding center is located. 

He is one of 5 children that we have fed in our center, funded by MANNA Worldwide.  We still feed his two sisters and younger brother.  

Our heart goes out to his family.  The Mangao family live in an informal settler area called Tawad Sapa. They own and operate a small Sari Sari store. This was such a sudden event in their life and Ryan will be missed terribly.  

CAMP 2012

Every year, we cooperate with fellow missionary, Lance Gotcher and other national pastors to host an evangelistic youth camp.  This is no small endeavor and takes a tremendous amount of money and personel.

We present the Gospel through drama, preaching and in the small devotions during the day.

This year, we had over 1000 youth attend with over 240 receiving Christ as their Savior!

Over 100 made decisions in their walk with the Lord and 26 signed up to attend Baptist College of Leadership this year!

We would like to thank those of you who contributed financially and to our staff and members of our churches who worked hard to make the camp a success.

MONTALBAN

This past week, Executive Pastor Jun Mostrales and members of Bethel Baptist Church, made a visit to Montalban.  They looked for some of our families we had ministered to for 6 years on Agham Road.

The Esquierra and Moreno families were one of thousands, living in a slum in Quezon City.  The government relocated these families to outside of Metro Manila in a area called Montalban. 

The new place is so much better for the children.  They have homes made of concrete blocks and tin roofs that keep them dry and safe.  The air is cleaner and because they are removed away from town, they are not on the streets begging.

We started ministering to these families over 6 years ago, when Dolly (seen below) had started a Saturday Bible Club with the children on the streets.

We later started a feeding center inside the slum, funded by MANNA Worldwide.  During the year we had the center, we saw many families come to know Christ as their Savior. Philomina was one of the first young ladies to be saved. 

After the families were relocated, we lost track of them.  We knew the area they were relocated, but did not know where among the thousands each of the families lived. I knew their life would be improved, but my heart ached when they left. I had become so attached to the children.

A few months ago, Philomina came to Bethel to see us.  She, along with her parents and other families were asking when we would start a church where they live.  

Our desire is to get a church started in this area as soon as possible.  Please pray for Pastor Jun and us, as we get this new mission work started.

DECEMBER 2011 UPDATE

We have had a few hectic and stressful days in the last few months. Tears of sadness and tears of joy. Quite an emotional roller coaster.

Andy, Rebecca, Tyler, Brandon and Brianna

We received word in November that doctors treating our son-in-law, Andy Wileman, would be stopping treatment and turning him over to hospice.  They were giving him 2-3 months to live.

In light of this, we made the decision to change our tickets and return to the States a month sooner than we had planned.

We arrived December 14 and Andy passed away on the 17th. This has been a very hard post to write. Two months have passed, and it is still hard to put into words.

Andy, a Collinsville Police Officer, was very well like and respected in his community. Police officers from all over Oklahoma came to pay their respects.

Our daughter, Rebecca, works as a communications officer for Owasso Police Department and the City of Owasso went above and beyond any expecations we had in showing their respect and love for Andy and Rebecca.

Andy knew the Lord and was at peace, knowing he would eternity in Heaven. We know we will see him again one day. We would appreciate your continued prayers for Rebecca and our three grandchildren as they adjust to life without Andy.

BETHEL MISSIONS MONTH

This month at Bethel Baptist Church, Quezon City, we are having our Missions Emphasis time.  We focus on Missions and encourage every member to have a part in Faith Promise Missions Giving.

This Sunday, our Youth put on a drama depicting people in different walks of life, answering God's call to go as missionaries to different countries.

This young man was eager to go to another country to serve and waited impatiently for God to call him, only to find out that God did not want him going to another country, but to stay here and give so that others could go.

Gary and Executive Pastor, Jun Mostrales spoke on having a Passion for the Lost.

Our special missionary guest was Ricky Cuarterno, to South Africa. Ricky and his wife, Mary Grace have 5 children and are part of Asian Baptist Clearinghouse. You can see their profile HERE

 

SUMMER VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Every year, Bethel Baptist Church, Quezon City, holds Vacation Bible School. We go out into different Barangays (neighborhoods) in order to reach more children.

Our staff and many volunteers ranging from our youth to our widows, spend weeks preparing and putting in the time and effort to teach these children about Jesus.

We had a combined attendance of over 300 each day with 90 children making a profession of faith! We hold weekly Bible classes in these same barangays, trying to reach as many as we can before they become "street-wise" and get involved in petty crimes and gangs. Many parents have expressed their appreciation, as they see a difference in the attitude and behavior of their children. Thank you Bethel staff and volunteers for working so hard to make this year's VBS a success.

MISSIONARY TRAINING SCHOOL

For several years now, Gary and I have taught in Asian Baptist Clearing house yearly Missionary Training School (MTS). We have always enjoyed the time to meet the new Filipino missionary candidates and rejoice how the Philippines has now become a sending nation. This year, in the absence of missionary Lloyd Baker, Gary stepped in to help missionary Paul Byars, organize and direct the week of training.This year was the most enjoyable for us. We were able to spend the whole week with the group of missionary candidates, instead of just the days we came in to teach.
We had a great group of missionaries this year! They seemed to have really connected with each other and will have made bonds of friendship that will last for years. They love the Lord and love the people and countries He has called them to serve. Let me introduce you to:

Sara, Sopheap & Esther Srim - LaosFrancis & Daicelle Valasco - Cambodia

Felix & Rosalyn Armah - Ghana, AfricaLloyd & Nattalie Abiva - ThailandJunifer & Melva Cabanilas - CambodiaRoy & Shirley Tagarda - ThailandMark & Sarah Maglasan - IndiaElias & Bernadeth Bancale - EthiopiaMarlon & Joanah Paguntalan - Cambodia/ThailandLily Marie Menoza - East TimorRuvelyn Cacho - ThailandRicky & Mary Grace Cuarterno - South AfricaRicardo & Helen Mabazza - VietnamLeo & Myra Balonzo - IndonesiaMTS was a week of classes from 8am to 6pm. Paul, Gary and I did not do this alone. We had the help of other Baptist Bible Fellowship, Int. missionaries, who put in the time and expense to travel to Capas, Tarlac and teach because they, like us, have a desire to see missionaries sent out from the Philippines to share Christ to other nations.

Our thanks go to:

Mike & Sandie Reap, Dennis & Gloria Ebert, Lance Gotcher, Mark Johnson, Robert Phillips, and also to Marvin Escueta, M.D., who spent a day teaching what these missionaries will need to do to protect their health in the various countries they are going to.