Envisioning the SMO Training and Recreation Center

Markers were finally placed at the Promised Land of SMO as land surveyors defined the three-hectare property where the future SMO Training and Recreation Center (SMO-TRC) will be constructed. The structures to be done in phases will start with the construction of the Main Conference Hall which will accommodate at least 500 people. Architect Faith Joy Lumauag designed the open circular structure of the hall (shown above). The property will house the SMO Bible Training Institute, National Office, Camp and Recreation Facility, and Livelihood Facility. The site is located along the national highway at Brgy. Silos, Murcia, Negros Occidental, which is a 45-minute trip from Bacolod City.

In the meantime, while waiting for the funds to start coming in, the ministry maximized the use of the agricultural property by planting sugarcane and fruit trees to help start-up the funds.

We encourage churches and Christian individuals, especially the alumni to help raise the needed funds. SMO is praying and trusting God for His provision to this project.

Some members of the SMO Staff and Board with locals and the former owner at the future site of the SMO Training and Recreation Center in Brgy. Silos, Murcia.

 

The Thriving Work in Mindanao

My first visit to our mission work in Mindanao as SMO National Director was on January 20-23, 2012. The purpose of this visit is two-fold: First, to fellowship personally with our workers, supporters, and students in Gen. Santos City; and second, to discuss current and future plans of the ministry there and in general as a whole.

Let me give you an overview of our work there.

Pastor Elmer Polo, one of our dynamic workers in Gen. Santos City, first started his campus ministry at Gen. Santos City High School (GSCHS). With the partnership of Ms. Sioderly Barieses, one of the faculty members of that school, a Bible study group was formed. Starting from a few number of students, this grew into a bigger group through constant evangelization, follow-up, and discipleship. Eventually, some of the students became baptized members of Grace Gospel Baptist Church, the church where Pastor Polo works. Today, these students play an active part in the growth of the SMO and church work there as they lead Bible studies in their schools; while those who graduated from high school continue to do campus ministry in the colleges and universities they attend to. The work that once started at one high school has expanded to five more schools in the city, namely: Mindanao State University, Gen. Santos Academy, Mindanao Polytechnic College, Crown Asia College, and Gen. Santos Foundation College.

Those who have finished their college degrees and are now working professionals continue to play an active role in the church as zealous leaders and faithful givers of the Lord.

The field is wide and white for harvest in Mindanao.

Over in another campus, the Fatima National High School, Christian teacher Ms. Jocelyn Asparagoza, have been faithfully supporting the work of SMO in the school by giving time for her students to know the Gospel through Bible studies and Moral Values Program conducted by our workers Pastor Ener Gamolo and his wife Veronica, and also Pastor Bienvenido Flores. Each year level in the campus gets the time to have a Bible study and values formation lessons. Some of these students undergo follow-up lessons and discipleship and have become regular attendees of SMO’s fellowships, trainings, and camps. These activities are done at SMO’s campsite, which is just a 20-minute trip from the school through a tricycle. The campsite needs a generator to supply for its electricity. They are also praying for a second hand vehicle van to transport many students from the school going to the SMO Center for their bible studies and regular activities.

Some students have been baptized and became active members of our workers’ local churches. Some of them went into full-time service in the ministry while others are still being trained to become future campus ministry and church leaders.

Aside from campus ministry, our workers were also given opportunities to conduct Moral Values Program to government workers, among the policemen and local community leaders at least once a week.

The progress made in the work in Mindanao is very encouraging. My visit gave me a first-hand glimpse of the joy and hardship of our fellow workers in doing the ministry of the Lord. Despite the limited resources, they have managed to continue the mission work and their labor is paying off. The time I spent with our workers gave me the opportunity to get to know them better as I pray with them, and encourage them to be faithful to the Lord. I also spent some few hours ministering to young men and women who were all so excited to hear me speak to them about love, courtship, and marriage. I gained new friends mostly among these young people. It’s very important for me to talk to them about relationship that should be based on God’s word, and with their testimonies, I believed the message impacted them greatly.

I want to share Jessa Balidio’s testimony, a second year student from the College of Education at Mindanao State University. Here, she writes:

Life is full of uncertainty for it is a constant change. As I looked back on my past, I see myself like a fallen leaf that goes wherever the wind blows. Praise God because He used the SMO campus ministry as a means for me to hear the Gospel. Through our Bible studies, I came to understand His Word better and knew life’s meaning and purpose. By God’s grace, I became a member of the family of God despite the oppositions and persecutions of my family members. As I live my Christian life, I experienced moments of doubt and fear, joy and pain, times of victory and regret, hope and despair. And through all these, God had shown His unfailing love, His amazing grace and mercy. By His power, he taught me how to rise above my circumstances. Living the Christian life maybe filled with tests and challenges, but it is surely the most fulfilling and meaningful life.

(Nenita S. del Mundo, SMO National Director)

 

New Churches Open

A new church was established early this year in Brgy. Bata, Bacolod City called as, “The Gospel of Grace Community Church”. Pastor Al Calixtro, an elder of Lifespring Fundamental Baptist Church and an SMO worker, managed to conduct Bible studies three times a week at Bata National High School where he gets to minister to high school students and invite them to attend church. The new church that was established was a product of his visits to the school and to homes in the community. He is being assisted by three youth leaders who are also SMO Bible study leaders.

In line with SMO’s commitment in partnering with pastors in campus ministry, the Bible study group at Negros Occidental High School (NOHS) led by Pastor Regie Tibulan is gaining ground. Pastor Regie has also started inviting the students to attend church at the newly established Hope Church which is just a few blocks away from the school. Pastor Regie is a graduate of SMO Bible Training Institute in 2010 and is serving a local church in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental. The Bible study group in NOHS is an outreach activity of his local church.

 

Flood Relief Operation

On December 16, 2011, tropical storm Sendong (international name is Washi) dumped heavy rainfall in Mindanao. A huge area in Cagayan de Oro City was deeply flooded which brought massive destruction to properties and thousands of lives lost. This came as a surprise to many Filipinos because it’s the first time that Cagayan de Oro experienced such kind of flooding. Many individuals and organizations here and abroad responded quickly for aid and assistance to those who were affected. Among them are the generous brethren of Christ Fellowship Church (CFC) in Davao City who extended financial aid to hundreds of families in Cagayan de Oro. CFC channelled the funds through Student Missionary Outreach, which in turn, forwarded it to Pastor Luther Villaester of Fundamental Baptist Church, our point man in the devastated area. Here’s what Pastor Luther Villaester, our contact, testified:

I would like to praise and thank God for the immediate help extended to us by the brethren of Christ Fellowship Church (CFC) in Davao City, also to generous brethren and individuals, and to Student Missionary Outreach for being a bridge to their assistance.

Through your financial support, we were able to give monetary assistance to 10 pastors and their families directly affected by the devastation. They have used the funds to purchase food and water and to buy materials to fix their homes.

We were able to purchase and distribute canned goods to 135 families in barangays Carmen, Kala-Kala, Makasandig, Balua, and in a nearby community near Isla de Oro. These Christian gestures of giving and sharing made an impact to the local communities there. We were able to tell them the Gospel and ministered to their spiritual needs.

The remaining funds were used during our New Year’s Day service at our church to feed poor families.

The help you have extended to us became an opportunity for us to reach out to our unbelieving neighbors sharing to them God’s grace through faithful brethren like you. This calamity is being used by God to be a witness to the unbelievers on how brethren in the Lord love one another even if we are not truly brothers in the flesh and were not even personally acquainted with one another.

 

From the Director: Living and Serving for God’s Glory

For more than twenty five years in my Christian service, I have experienced and have proven that living and serving for God’s glory is the chief end of man as what the Westminster Confessions says. I Corinthians 10:31 exhorts us that whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we must do it all for the glory of God. To integrate this principle into our theology and daily practice would likely result in humility, unity among fellow servants of the Lord, personal contentment and joy. Here are three ways on how we must seriously consider “God’s glory” in our lives and service:

1. Make “God’s glory” our PURPOSE. With this, SELF or the FLESH will just slip in oblivion. There will be no room for PRIDE as we learn to humble ourselves before God and acknowledge that everything comes from Him – our spiritual gifts, talents, resources, even our faith and the strength to obey & fulfil His commands. Phil. 2:13 says, “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure”. Knowing then that the purpose of our life and service is the glory of God, it would develop in us humility, as we realize that we are only God’s channel or instruments to make Him known and to proclaim and manifest His Glory in all the earth.

2. Make “God’s Glory” our PRIORITY. As we allow God’s glory to be our primary concern, this will teach us to become fully dependent only on Him for His direction and guidance. We must always seek His will, His way and terms, His time and plan in every decisions, activities, programs, events, and details in our lives. Making God’s glory our priority will produce unity, order, harmony, peace, love & beauty in our relationships with fellow workers as we do God’s ministry together.

3. Make “God’s Glory” our PASSION. God’s glory must be our motivation in everything we do. If this is true in our lives and ministry, our view of Christian service will be different from the concept of the worldly, materialistic values. For us who passionately pursue God’s glory, hard work is preferred over mediocrity. Longer hours spent with God in prayer will no longer be as boredom, but a delight. “Low pay”, “No pay”, or a mere “Thank you” in return for our service, will not be considered unfair. Nothing will be too difficult, too long, or too painful that we cannot bear. Just like what the Apostle Paul says,“ …for I have learned in every situation I am to be content.”  Making God’s glory our Passion would lead us to contentment. It is not impossible then to be ever rejoicing in the Lord at all times, because our every service to God becomes an enjoyment, fulfilment, and excitement as we wait for God’s Glory to unfold and be revealed right before our eyes.

There is no greater privilege than to proclaim and manifest the glory of God in our lives. There is no greater joy than to be called His servants. May we be found wise and faithful stewards as we honor  God in our lives and service.

(The message was delivered by Mrs. Nenita S. del Mundo, SMO National Director and SMO-BTI Dean of Students, during SMO-BTI’s 7^th Commencement Exercises).

 

Rest and Recreation

SMO-BTI Faculty and Students took a whole day timeout for rest and recreation during the annual Water games, this time held at The Quiet Place in Bago, Negros Occidental last February 25, 2011. Everyone enjoyed moments of fun and games including some who took a brief stop learning how to do the real “Farmville” as they learn how to till the rice fields with the help from a water buffalo.

 

Evangelistic Meetings Held

SMO Bacolod Staff, Workers, and Volunteers visited three schools early this year for evangelism. “Don’t Waste your Life,” SMO’s evangelistic campaign, were held in Negros Occidental High School and Sum-ag National High School in January 21 and 28, 2011, respectively. The students were visited in their classrooms where they heard the Gospel preached to them. A documentary film on drug addiction was also shown. Students who were reached out during these events were now attending the regular bible studies at the SMO Student Center and in their schools.

SMO facilitated also a youth retreat for college students of Fortress College in Kabankalan City last February 21-22, 2011.

 

Hermeneutics and Church Disicpline Lecture Set

Rev. Larry John Sy conducted a two-day Lecture Series on Hermeneutics and Church Discipline at the SMO Youth Center on January 24-25, 2011 in Bacolod. SMO Staff, Workers, BTI Students, and youth leaders joined the exciting lectures. Rev. Sy has been a regular lecturer of the ministry since he and his team used to conduct Shepherd’s Conference Philippines in Bacolod.

 

Welcome our New SMO Worker

SMO has a new member of the National Staff by the person of Raycelle Golez. She is an alumni of SMO being actively involved in campus ministry since her high school days. Ms. Golez spearheads the ministry’s Prayer Team and also handles regular Bible studies and discipleship to high school and college students.

 

Pastor Renato del Mundo’s Necrological Service (September 5, 2010)