In Jesus' Name Ministries
"As it is written: 'For your sake we face
death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'
No,
in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved
us."
The Apostle Paul
Dear
(Contact First Name)
Twice over the past two years, I was blessed to be on Mindanao Island, the Philippines, and visit with Pastor Corneta, his wife Ruth (above left), and Ruth's father and mother, Pastor DeAsis and Sister Potenciana (above right). Together they pastored "Smokey Mountain Church" serving the poorest of the poor living at the city garbage dump. The church is also located at the garbage dump and is called "Smokey Mountain Church" because of constantly burning garbage.
On Saturday, I received word from the Philippines that Pastor Corneta had died suddenly from a virus after an illness of only several days. An inability to pay necessary hospital bills prevented his receiving care that probably would have saved his life. In Jesus' Name Ministries had just wired a gift for his medial care but it did not reach his family in time. In the Philippines, and in most of our our world, medical treatment is only available if full payment is made in advance.
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Please join with us in praying
for, and if possible helping Pastor Corneta's wife, Ruth. She is now a widow
with six young children under fifteen (Robert, Albert, Shem, Japeth, Ashley and
Neneng). These precious saints are very close to my heart, as are the beautiful
Christians under their care - the poorest of the poor at "Smokey Mountain
Church"
Just outside
"Smokey Mountain Church" children play near their homes at the dump.
Just four days ago, I received the following word from our primary contact on Mindanao in the Philippines, Pastor Alex Montanano:
"Pastor Corneta just passed away
leaving six young children, a widowed wife Ruth, and a bereaved congregation
at the garbage dump. He was in critical condition at the hospital for several
days from a virus that spread throughout his body to his kidney and internal
organs. Please pray for the bereaved family, especially for Ruth as she has been
in shock at the sudden death. We never expected him to die. He seemed to be fighting,
and not giving up with a good spirit. When I visited him he even talked to me.
One hour later he just went with the Lord.
Please pray for Ruth and their six children, all under 15. Ruth is
struggling with the uncertainties of how she can support the family and church without a
job, or any kind of business. The congregation are all scavengers of the garbage
dump they can barely provide food for their own families. Please
pray especially for Ruth. I feel pity for her and we hope you can include them
in your prayers for their daily needs as they struggle now to survive."
Pastor Corneta with his father-in-law Pastor DeAsis
Children and church family at Smokey Mountain Church. Ruth can be seen in the back near the middle with glasses.
Pastor Corneta preaching the
gospel at Smokey Mountain Church.
Pastor DeAsis and his wife are seated in the left front row.
"Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God." Isaiah 40:1
The homes at Smokey Mountain just outside the church
 
A precious young mother at Smokey Mountain Church gratefully receiving a little help.
A young man seeking the Lord.
Our brethren at Smokey Mountain are so thankful for help from their American brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ
Our Humble and very poor brethren praying to the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Is not this the kind of
fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of
the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share
your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when
you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and
blood?" Isaiah 58:6-7
Pastor DeAsis, founder of Smokey Mountain Church with his dear wife Potenciana.
She is physically blind but sees the Lord Jesus Christ very clearly.
Court with Pastor
Corneta and his wife Ruth during my recent visits to the Philippines. Brother
Corneta is now with the Lord but his precious wife Ruth, their six young
children, and the brethren of Smokey Mountain Church need our love, prayers,
and help.
Thank you for taking a few minutes of your time to see the beautiful and faithful saints of "Smokey Mountain Church."
Thank you for allowing me to share their need of our love, especially the need for Ruth and her children to hear an encouraging word from their bothers and sisters in Jesus Christ in America.
Sandy and I are praying the Lord would guide and enable five precious saints among our friends to each give $50 a month to help our sister Ruth and her children to survive, and to continue to shepherd and help the believers at Smokey Mountain Church in the Philippines. If you are not able to help Ruth monthly, please prayerfully consider a one time gift to strengthen her and her children, and our family in Christ at Smokey Mountain Church.
If you would like to send a note of encouragement to Ruth you may send it care of Pastor Alex Montanao our dear brother in the Philippines. Just address your message "To Sister Ruth Corneta" and address it to: avmont63@gmail.com
"Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land."
Proverbs 25:25
"....if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." Isaiah 58:10-12
Gratefully yours in Jesus Christ,
Court and Sandy Wood
I am fully persuaded that helping our brethren, indeed "the brethren of the Lord," who are facing great suffering and persecution, is the most important step of obedience we can take to prepare for
the imminent persecution of Biblical Christians in America. It also could be that our obedience, in "laying down our lives for our brethren," would lead to God's mercifully and graciously restoring of America as a Christian
nation, and to her "blessing" as "a nation whose God is the Lord." Psalm 33:12
Whatever does befall us as a people, we have a duty to persevere as faithful saints and soldiers of Jesus Christ. Let us daily take up our cross, and follow Him. There is no greater joy; no greater life than "knowing" Jesus Christ our Lord, and "loving one another."
"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.
He who loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I too will love him and show myself to him."
The Lord Jesus Christ
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100% of Gifts sent to In Jesus' Name Ministries,
designated to help our brethren in any country
we are presently working in,
are delivered directly to our brethren.
All designated gifts
are given as directed, in full, to the Body of Christ.
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In Jesus' Name Ministries
PO Box 1059, Bristol, VA 24203
Phone: 1-276-644-1089
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