Prom and I want to share with you some news from a couple of islands after Typhoon Pablo (the typhoon that devastated the southern part of the Philippines a couple of weeks ago, leaving over a thousand people dead). Please pass on the news and our request for prayers to the GL family.

Thanks,

  

Pastor Luceno Pingkian reported that the typhoon went through Cebu but did not settle on land. There were strong winds and lots of rain in their area but there was no significant damage. Their newly-built church building is standing strong as ever.

  

He also reported that they continue with their Basic 10 small groups and have increased their participation in the community activities. They have separate monthly meetings with the parents of schoolchildren in three barangays and they also participate regularly in the health and wellness reform activities. These outreach activities have resulted in an increase in church membership.

  

Their greatest need at this time is funding for Cebuano Bibles for their new members as well as for the Basic 10 small groups (cost @ P350 each).

  

Please pray for Pastor Ceno, his wife Jerly, and their leadership team that  includes Bro. Jun and Herminia Amores and their twin daughters, Ida and Iris, and their small groups as well as their outreach activities. 

  

Pastor Ken Lacia, Lead Minister of GOGL Davao region, is the manager of three radio stations in Davao and Bukidnon. Last week, he went with the members of the media from Davao City to bring water, food, other supplies and volunteers/physical help to Compostela Valley (the province next to Davao Del Norte and Davao Del Sur). He said that there was a lot of damage to the banana and coconut plantations and there were still a lot of flooded areas.  

  

The worst part is that there are still areas with homes that have been covered by mud and rocks caused by the landslide. There are still rescue teams digging and trying to find survivors underneath the rubble. He could not sleep at night because of the smell of dead people all around them.

  

We have been to Compostela Valley province in February 2009 for a Basic 10 seminar attended by 92 pastors and leaders that represented 21 churches. Our hosts were Pastor and Mrs. Rudy Medalle and their children who live in Maragusan and New Bataan communities (this is the hardest hit area in the whole province).

  

Then in 2010, we went to Monte Vista with Pastors John and Jessie who conducted a 3-day seminar with about a hundred pastors and leaders of the Charismatic Gospel Ministries of Southeastern Mindanao, hosted by Pastor and Mrs. Mar Taran, the supervisor of pastors in that region. We remember the beautiful scenery and the many sites of banana plantations along the highway. We remember with fondness the kindness and Christian love bestowed on us by these members of the body of Christ.

  

Please remember these pastors and their families in your prayers. Pastor Ken  praises God that Typhoon Pablo just went through their area with strong winds and heavy rains but did not actually settle on land. The GOGL churches and members in their region are all right as they live out of the area of devastation caused by Typhoon Pablo.

  

However, some of the roads have been affected so that they are unable to visit a couple of churches in the mountains at this time. They are happy that they will be able to make their scheduled visit to Mabaha church in North Cotabato this coming weekend (Dec 15-16) but they will not take the women in the leadership team with them. They would like to spare the women from walking up the mountain roads that are thick with mud (knee-deep or more in some places).