Dear Pastor Bobby,

God is good and greatly to be praised!

We would like to give updates with pictures of the on going building construction here in Calvary Tabernacle, UPC, Baguio City, Philippines.

With seven weeks gone since we started the first phase of the project, we have completed the removal of the old building, done excavation, rip rapping of the loosed soil along the lot area boundaries, planted
foundation, and built a number of posts. At present we are still working on the basement level and constructing more beams and posts (please see attached pictures).

More than three years ago, our local church here started to raise funds for a new building program. There is need to extend the seating capacity of the church auditorium and to replace the more than 28-year old wooden structure adjacent to the church hall. Before it was pulled down, the said building housed the main facilities of the bible school (dormitories, class room, library, kitchen and dining area) for more than twenty years.
The project, which is a four-story building from ground level, is estimated at present to cost Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,00) or equivalent to USD 227,272.73 considering a P44 : $1 exchange rate.

God has blessed the initiative and the cooperation of the brethren of the local church. By His grace, we were able to raised the accumulated amount of One Million Three Hundred Pesos (P1,300,00.00) or equivalent to US$29,500.00.

Due to the rising costs of construction materials (from January 2008 to May 2008 alone, prices has jumped to 30% more), and to be able to maximize the value of the available building fund at hand, we have decided to start the project.

In this regard we would like to present to you the financial need and to solicit help for us to raise the required amount. Any donation or help you can give for this worthy cause will be greatly appreciated, all for
the glory of God and for the cause of the ministry.

It is our prayer to see the work of the Lord here in our area to continue to grow and for the Baguio Evangelistic Academy of Ministries, our bible school in the district, to resume operation the soonest possible.

Thank you very much for your prayers and continuous support. God bless.

Yours in His service,
Pastor Eugene C. Banez Jr.

Praise the Lord!

Beloved in Christ, its a joy to write to you again with our ministry updates. I hope this finds you well in the Lord. The summer vacation is over and the monsoon is supposed to have begun in India. But apart from the heavy 3 day shower that we received in June, there has been no rain except for light drizzles once a week. The crops are going to be a failure again this year.

The Lord has been good and faithful throughout the past months. The childcares and orphanage have reopened after the vacation break. We started with a new childcare in Sathenagar, Mumbai. Its a slum area with a big opportunity to reach out to the lost. We already have a church functioning in this place and God is blessing the work here. There are 30 children right now; we plan to expand later. 2 new children have been added to the orphanage. One, Uday, is fatherless and the other, Ankit, is an orphan, having lost his father in his childhood and mother just a month ago. We are glad to have the opportunity to look after them and care for them. Please continue to pray for the children’s education and our staffs.

Our rural pastors have started work in 3 new villages. New doors are opening, please pray for more workers in these rural interior areas. To meet this need we started a Bible school in Kerala, South India last year. This is our second year. 13 new students from the villages have joined the school this year and we have 8 from last year. I am thankful to the Lord for the good response this year and for giving these youths, a chance to study the Word freely. Please pray for the sponsorship, running and administration of the school.

Everything else is well by God’s grace. We need your continued prayers for the ministry and our pastors working in various areas, in village ministry and among the children and also our sisters working with the ladies. We are thankful for your prayers and support, you are individually in our prayers. I would love to hear from you all and am praying that the Lord will bless our friendship as we partner together to spread His Word to the nations and the unreached. May God bless you, your family, ministry and job, abundantly!

Yours in His servants,
Pastor Chacko Thomas
Lighthouse Ministries, The Church of Jesus Christ In India
http://www.lighthouserelief.org/Site/Blog/Blog.html

Dear Pastor Bobby,

First of all ,we want to thank you so very much for collecting this offering for Bro Charles. We are touched and truly thankful.

Sis Mee Wah has informed us about it. Bro Charles has had his first round of chemo last Thursday. After some vomiting and diarrhea, he was given medication for it, which helped. He can walk again, take his bath on his own and eat. We are thankful.

Since this all began to happen just prior to our missions trip to Pakistan with just a cough, we think that this is as much spiritual as it is physical. May the Lord’s purpose be accomplished through this difficult path, He has chosen for Bro Charles and all of us.

He is faithful and merciful and we trust Him and know He will do all things well in His time.

We are hoping for a miracle. And hope maketh not ashamed. Thank you again for your offering and your prayers. Please keep praying.

God is good,

Sis Doris Visit us at: www.pentecostalsofcheras.org

Dear all,

Sis Genny has been in correspondence with me about the condition in China after the earthquake.
Things are very difficult for people around that area. There are approximately 6-8 suicides that take place every day because of the difficulties people are anticipating and experiencing through the earthquake. While the state has been helping, they cannot do much and have promised to help some of those affected for 3 months which is not much considering the massive scale of the earthquake.

Sis Genny has been distributing help through the leaders and churches she is connected to. This money reaches people in quake affected areas as much needed supplies during this time. One of our members has gotten her company to donate $3000 which they collected to be channeled through us to Sis Genny. The church I am at this Sunday in the US, Parkway Apostolic Church has already raised US$22000 for this cause to be channelled to Sis Genny.

If any of you feel a burden, whatever the amount may be, please drop the offering in our tithing envelope and mark it for China Earthquake. Every dollar is a blessing to a people in dire need.

The Lord bless you as you consider these words:

“Then I, the King, shall say to those at my right, “Come, blessed of my Father, into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world.
For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me.”
Then these righteous ones will reply, “Sir, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink? Or a stranger, and help you? Or naked, and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?”
And I, the King, will tell them, “When you did it to these my brothers you were doing it to me!”

Blessings,
Bobby Mathew

Dear Friends

Sis Doris informed this afternoon that Bro Charles was discharged for the weekend from the KL General Hospital. He will be readmitted on Monday. The echocardiogram performed today showed no fluid around his heart.

The family is very pleased that Bro Charles is gaining strength and is now able to
walk more steadily and go to the toilet by himself.

The bronchoscope that was to have been performed yesterday was not done because Bro Charles has
an irregular heartbeat. The respiratory physician felt that it was not necessary to do the bronchoscope because the other tests have proven positive for cancer.

Bro Charles has an appointment with the oncologist on Wednesday, 18 June 2008.

Please do continue to keep Pastor Charles, Sis Doris & family in prayer.

Blessings
Sandra Subner