Wednesday, Jan 14 we left at 5:45 a.m. on a boat to Cebu and connected to our flight to Ozamis. There we were met by Pastora Elizabeth Bualat and some of the Norwesmin Bible Institute students, Mindanao Diocesan Bishop Raymundo Abogatal of the CEC, and Deacon Jerry of the Oroquieta CEC. John and Judy proceeded to Jimenez; Hugh, Michael and I went into Ozamis where we met with Pastora Nina of Christian Life Fellowship and Pastor Fritzboy Cobardo, a Full Gospel pastor.

After discussing our schedule we went with Pastor Cobrado for two house meetings tonight. Getting into them was an experience of balancing on boards crossing little swamps, but once we arrived there were happy people waiting anxiously to hear the Word of God. After 10:15 p.m. we arrived back at our hotel. I washed some clothes in the bathroom sink and called it a night.

Thursday morning we went to Norwesmin. Hugh and Michael spent the morning teaching; I took the afternoon. All our teaching was about the Holy Spirit. John and Judy ministered the Baptism in the Holy Spirit to a group from the church. We were surprised that here was an Assembly of God church whose people were ignorant about the pentecostal experience. Hugh and Michael taught in two more of Pastor Cobrado house churches in the afternoon and evening. Due to infractions of our policy regarding finances, we have terminated our support of Norwesmin Bible Institute with great remorse.

Friday morning we started the Convergence Movement Seminar for Christian Life Fellowship Church in Ozamis. Hugh and I did the teaching that went through Saturday. Michael, John and Judy, when not with us, ministered in Pastor Cobrado's groups.

I have never known the heat so hot as this January. On Sunday morning we had an instructive Eucharist celebration, and afterward took a hired van to Cagayan de Oro. We had our first casualty - Judy left her auto-harp in a switch of vans. Praise God! She got it back two days later.

Hugh and I went to Gignoog City, about 2 hours from Cagayan de Oro and worked with Bp Raymundo while John, Judy and Michael remained in Cagayan with the Bible Fellowship groups. This was my first time to leave a team of new people on their own, but they matured as missionaries so quickly I had no concern about their ability to handle any situation that might arise. We got back together on Wednesday and flew to Manila.

John, Judy and Michael return to America on Thursday the 22nd while Hugh and I will go to Sorsogon in southern Luzon for a three-day seminar with the CEC. On Sunday we will fly to Bacolod where I will meet with our remaining high school and college students. Hugh will stay on in Bacolod and then go back to Dumaguete while I will return to Manila and fly home on Jan 28.

I have been so impressed with the training given to young men in the CEC who serve as acolytes. Unlike many in our American churches, these boys participate fully in worship - singing, clapping, praying. In fact, these boys have as part of their duty the detail of cleaning the sacred vessels, replacing candles and getting the altar ready for the next service. Boys are waiting in line to be trained.

This has been one of the most effective team ministries in the 17 years I have been bringing people with me. The Lord used us in many different situations of ministry and each team member had ample work to do. I thank those of you who have upheld us in your prayers.

We worked with the Episcopal Church, Charismatic Episcopal Church, Assembly of God, Christian Life Fellowship, Christian Fellowship Church, Bible Fellowship Church and Full Gospel Church. It is the first time since 1986 that we have not had a meeting in the Philippine Independent Catholic Church. Some doors close while God opens new doors of opportunity.

I return home to a very uncertain Lenten schedule. For whatever reason, God has not provided me with teaching missions in February and March. This is a major source of income for the ministry. I ask that you consider Barnabas Ministries for a special offering in the next few weeks to help us through this barren time.

I have tried to obtain invitations for teaching missions, and while we are well booked for after Easter, it appears I am giving up work for Lent. Your offerings will be much needed to see us through this time of decreased income.

A very tough decision must be made. I have been invited to do Convergence Movement seminars in Kenya in March, but the African church has no money to finance these meetings. They estimate a budget of $8,000 plus my travel expenses, which I find difficult for Barnabas to fully underwrite. Please pray with me about my decision. Mission work is God's call upon my life but money is necessary to enable response to some invitations.

Thank you for all you have and continue to do.

CEBU - Jan 9-11 - We arrived to the reception of representatives from the Episcopal Church of the Philippines, and the Christian Life Fellowship. Hugh, John and Judy went with the ECP while Michael and I went with Deacon Charles Atayde of the CLF.

My report sounds like a travelog. It is difficult to express verbally what the Holy Spirit is doing on this outreach. Every place has been a blessing to both team and people we are serving. It is one of the best outreaches I have had in the 17 years of coming here.

Friday night we started teaching at CLF on Sacraments. Our mission is prepare them for reception into the Charismatic Episcopal Church. They hang on every word. So wonderful to teach. At the ECP we taught on prayer and then prayed for the couples and children present.

After finishing at CLF, Michael and I went to the house where the ECP group met, joined them in the prayer ministry, and had some fellowship [which included food] with them before going to sleep. Filipinos have only one meal a day - all day long, we joke! We begin with breakfast. About 10 a.m. we have "merienda" [a snack], then lunch, mid afternoon merienda again, dinner and usually a bed-time merienda. You wonder why they are so thin.

Saturday morning Michael and I walked to the CLF meeting site  [about a mile]  and spent the day teaching on the Sacraments. We concluded late afternoon with teaching on the purpose of the gifts of the Spirit. In the evening we had dinner with Dcn and Mrs Atayde. He is a wonderful pastor and once this group is received into the CEC, he will be a tremendous influence among the Body of Christ in Cebu.

Sunday I celebrated and Michael preached at both places. As soon as we finished the Mass at CLF, people were waiting to drive us to ECP where we had a second service and lunch.  Lunch consisted of a special Filipino meal - lechon which is roast pig.  After lunch we took the boat to Dumaguete - a two hour fifteen minute trip.

We arrived in Dumaguete in the evening, checked into a guest house, went to dinner with some of our "greeters" and off to bed after a very long day.

DUMAGUETE - Jan 11-13 - Early Monday morning, John and Judy accompanied Pastor Billy Bulabon, his wife and eldest daughter to Ayungon. Hugh and Michael took the same bus to Tayasan. John and Judy did evangelism work with Pastor Bulabon. Nothing had been planned although I made the schedule in September. So what else is new? We call it "depending upon the Holy Spirit." OKAY! It all turned out GREAT.

John and Judy were blessed as they were a great blessing to Billy's family and people.  Hugh and Michael worked with the high school students at Tayasan Institute. I stayed in Dumaguete and met the high school and college students. We have our largest number of students here. Throughout the day there were "drop-in" visits from some of the many friends we have made over the 15 years coming to Dumaguete.

Tuesday evening we concluded with a dinner hosting some of our friends. It is sad that our work with Bishop David Ga and the Philippine Independent Catholic Church is now minimal. Over the years we worked primarily with this diocese and through Barnabas seminars introduced the charismatic movement to the PIC Church here.

In recent years the younger priests are into "liberation theology" and have rebelled against my work in the diocese. I maintain close ties, however, with the bishop and support his continued efforts toward renewal as his "honorary Monsignor.".

Wednesday we leave for Ozamis on the island of Mindanao where we will work with the Assembly of God, Bible Fellowship, and the Charismatic Episcopal Church before returning to Manila on the 21st. Thank you for your continued prayers. We are remaining healthy. - Philip+

Brothers and Sisters:

ZAMBOANGA - After mechanical problems causing an arrival delay, missed connections, and ground personnel blunders, I finally arrived in Manila Jan 3, a day late, to a room full of waiting students. They were a wonderful "welcoming committee" and I made them happy with Christmas gifts from their sponsors. Nine sponsors failed to send any remembrance. One student was thus affected in Manila, but to avoid seeing total disappointment on their faces, Barnabas placed a little money in cards for those forgotten students.

The team shared a delightful meal on Saturday night at one of my favorite Manila eateries. Philippine Air changed its Manila-Zamboanga schedule so Sunday morning we had an early Eucharist in my room and headed to the airport for our southern trip. With me are Hugh Kaiser, Michael Wilson, John and Judy Ferguson.

The Episcopal Church of the Philippines Southern Diocese brought together 73 lay representatives for a Disciple-Stewardship Seminar.  Basic training in evangelism and empowerment of the Holy Spirit was given the first day, followed with prayers of re-commitment and release of the Spirit.

The evening of the first day we divided the group. Judy took the ladies; John hosted the men, and they discussed ways in which being a disciple of Jesus expresses itself in everyday life. It was powerful. Feast day of the Epiphany [Jan 6] was the 32nd anniversary of my ordination as a Priest in the Episcopal Church and the bishop permitted me to celebrate a special Eucharist for the delegates that morning.

The second day we taught on the three Ts of Stewardship [Time, Talent, Tithes] and challenged them to look beyond survival living to Kingdom living, learning to trust God to fulfill His promise to our act of obedience in committing ALL to Him. Following our time with the participants, the diocesan Program Committee worked on ways to facilitate the purpose and results of this seminar back at the local church level.

On Wednesday we distributed PUZZLES to the children in the four BAHADA Centers and met with the high school students at Good Shepherd Mission School. I also met all our college scholarship recipients and received their next semester's budget. We visited our evangelism site and met with some of the church people. They treated us like royalty with their hospitality.

Our church "building" is a very small open structure with a thatched roof. Members brought a table covered with a cloth from one house, a "crystal" plate of ice from another, some crackers and Sprite.  They went to much trouble to provide this refreshment. Thursday morning we had a seminar with the staff of Brent Hospital on being "care givers for Jesus." This was our first time in many years to work with Brent, and it was wonderful to have this restored relationship.

I have nothing but PRAISE TO GOD for this start of our outreach. It has been a blessing. We have a good Spirit led team. Aside from some minor stomach discomfort for several team members, we have been well.

Friday we are on our way to Cebu where we work for the weekend with Christian Life Fellowship, and the Episcopal Church of the Philippines. The CLF group is moving toward the Charismatic Episcopal Church. The ECP is a new formation in Cebu and we will work with them on establishing House Churches throughout this island. On Sunday afternoon we proceed by boat to Dumaguete.

Thank you for your prayers.  Please keep them lifted up.

Philip+