Author: Shofar Missions Cebu

June 25, 2018 Shofar Missions Cebu

The Story

New Covenant Church Cebu Bible Study
Midweek Bible Study with New Covenant Church

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13

How timely it has been to go through the Forgotten God series on Wednesdays! Though we cannot join the church for evening discussions, we still get to watch the service later. We then discuss with each other what God is teaching us. We are continually learning how vital it is to be led by the Holy Spirit daily, submit to, and obey Him. This matters even down to being in the right place at the right time to talk to the right person whom He puts in our path. What we’ve been learning also parlays with the Sunday services at our “home” church here as we journey through Acts. It’s really neat to be connected to a young church who is seeking God’s missional direction both corporately and individually.

An Office

Buildings in Cebu City
One of many “FOR RENT” banners on a building that’s NOT for rent anymore!

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8

Without fail, as God teaches us, He puts our schooling to the test! We’ve been looking for an office – a headquarters – for Street Level. It is quite simply the only way we see to proceed with the ministry as every school and student’s calendars are different! Our dream is to have multiple bible studies throughout the week and have a home where students can hang out during vacant times. We’ve scoured websites, walked the streets, knocked on doors, texted, called, reached out to colleagues, and have not yet found “the space.” I am reminded of the journey we took until we finally found Elicon House nearly one year ago. Even God’s closed doors are His hand guiding us in the right direction, so we remain hopeful!

Radio Outreach

Street Level Radio Cebu Live Broadcast
Live Radio Broadcast from Teofel Hostel

“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” 1 Cor. 3:7

We have officially started a new school year, which, aside from increased traffic, is very exciting! With that comes more time spent on the streets doing live radio broadcasts, handing out fliers, and distributing WOTS. Laura and I have successfully hosted two live radio broadcasts and are still seeking God for the next SLR install location… please keep that in your prayers. We’ve resumed “The Story” during our weekly meetings; John noted that he was very excited to start the New Testament! We’re heavily encouraging each student to take time personally to spend with God in their Bibles and develop that spiritual discipline. It can be discouraging to see the things of the world steal their attention away, yet I trust that God is continually working in them. He is the Master Gardener… we’re just planting seeds and watering those that others have planted! Please continue to pray for more students to be added to the group and that the ones who have returned will continue to grow as disciples.

We have some exciting plans in the works (i.e. new science curriculum and a one-year anniversary party for SLM!) and look forward to what God will do. Thanks for remembering us in your prayers!

May 25, 2018 Shofar Missions Cebu

Hello from the Philippines

The 2018 Philippines Missions Team arrived April 30. While they were here we ministered in Manila, Cebu, and Toledo. Pastor Tim, Sharon, Ben, and Sasha also had the opportunity to travel to another island and minister at a Pastor’s Conference!

Camps

day camp
Pastor Tim talked about doing daily devotions during the Day Camps in Manila. Each camper also received a booklet outlining how to do them.

The trip started with a short trip to Manila where we hosted three Day Camps. The first event was a Kid’s Day Camp featuring the Jesus Story for Children and the other two were Youth Day Camps covering the curriculum Jesus Changes Everything. It was neat to be part of the Youth Day Camps this year; when the 2017 team was ministering in Luzon, I had the opportunity to work with the youth on the team and on the fly we switched to the Shofar Camp material in English at one of our events. The trip to Manila did not happen without challenges. We dealt with cancelled flights, delayed flights, and a long ride home from the airport due to traffic….BUT with all the ministry we did it is no wonder why we had trouble getting there and back!

Street Level

Back in Cebu we divided and conquered! The kids group joined forces with the Street Level group to  invite people to a Summer Rooftop Party, hang posters and banners for weekly meetings, and host two live radio broadcasts. We also had our share of trips to the circle to pick up water and groceries as needed and we learned Jon’s backpack could fit 2 large water jugs in it.

street level
2018 Philippines Team Members at Street Level

Though school is out for the summer we have continued to hold the course as much as possible. Some team members were also able to attend Street Level while they were here and meet some of the students! Justin had an opportunity to guest teach as well. We are looking forward to classes starting in just a few weeks…the streets are quieter the university zone – much like Menomonie during spring break or summer vacation!

Inayawan

kids camp
We started with the group that had arrived and at the end of our event we had quite a few kids 🙂

To close out our weekend of ministry in Cebu part of the team returned to the Church of the Nazarene Inayawan again this year. We had the opportunity to minister to about 50 children. The bus pulled up and each time about 20 kids would greet us or they would wander in the gate! It was great to connect with staff and youth from the last time I visited with the team and from the school year.

Shofar Youth Camp

Last but not least before the team said good bye and headed back to America we held the 2018  Shofar Mission CHRIST DISCIPLESHIP Youth Camp. Like so many things the team did this trip, it was awesome to see Shofar Camp come together! The first day of camp reminded me of the first day of school as a kid…but I guess that is true for any big event. You go to bed the night before excited to start the next day knowing the months of planning, documenting, advertising, and organizing brought us to this point. Though we organized, studied, planned, and prepared, we went into camp knowing that God also had lessons he wanted to teach….pouring rain during team games well, guess that means we play inside, tech difficulties…use the back up projector and roll with it.

In closing, please pray that we would take the lessons, advice, and conversations we learned and had this last month to be leaner and meaner as we continue the fight! Also, pray for all of the kids & youth we had an opportunity to meet. As Britt and I start the next chapter, pray we would never stop being a student but forever seeking to grow and learn.

“Some want to live within the sound of a church or chapel bell; but I want to run a rescue shop, within a yard of hell.”  –C.T. Studd

–Laura

April 25, 2018 Shofar Missions Cebu

Heading Home

Laura & Britt - Duluth
Visiting the frigid north and our friends at JFB Duluth!

The month of April seemed to fly by… and that is NOT because we spent a good portion of it in an airport or on an airplane! Laura and I both enjoyed our time in the United States, but as we rode to the airport early on a Thursday morning, we knew it was time to get back to work in Cebu. Thanks for hanging out with us, taking us out for pizza and fish fries, and loving on us while we were back. We were especially thankful to attend the Covenant Conference and be among our brothers and sisters.

Boots on the Ground

View from Teofel Hostel
A glimpse of Cebu… it’s HOT, there’s nonstop traffic, and a 7/11 around nearly every corner.

Upon arriving back to Cebu, we have been busy preparing for the team’s arrival! This has ranged from getting vehicles up and running all the way to buying plane tickets. While they are here, we will spend some time in Manila ministering to children and youth through summer day camps. We’re also planning various Street Level Ministries outreaches in Cebu City – live broadcasts on Street Level Radio, distribution of Word on the Street Magazine, and a Friday night dinner and bible study. God willing, we will have a movie and junk food night at one of our SLR install locations! The team will close out their time in Cebu with Shofar Camp. Last week was the first registration deadline, and we went from 0 to 70 youth registered in just one day! There are also 11 Filipino leaders who have stepped up to be counselors; a few new and a few veterans. Please keep this event and the rest of the team’s endeavors in your prayers. Satan doesn’t like what we’re doing, and we know there will be battles to come.

Street Level

SLM Summer Meetings
SLM Summer Meetings at Elicon House (with two new students!)

Aside from team prep, we have had two summer SLM meetings at Elicon House. Many students are gone for break, but there are still a good number of them around for summer classes and work. We took a break from “The Story” and have been going through Francis Chan’s BASIC series. Most of our core students have been unable to attend but we have had two new students come. BASIC has been a nice change of pace and has produced some good discussions about what it actually means to fear God and follow Jesus as a college student. Please keep these students in your prayers, that we would have hearts to minister to them, and God’s direction for the upcoming school year which starts in June.

Street Level Radio

Don't Panic! SLM Cebu
We found an ideal spot for a poster…

In other news, we swapped out one of the SLR antennas in the hopes of expanding the station’s range. It was fun to do something outside of the ordinary and we were especially thankful there wasn’t much traffic that day! We also sent the latest issue of WOTS to print and are starting on the next issue. There is only one Filipino writer left, so please pray for the next issue and that God would stir the hearts of students to be a part of WOTS! Last but not least, we’re also planning to present the Shofar Science/Creation curriculum to a few new schools for the upcoming year!

Stay tuned here and on the blog for updates while the team is with us. Thanks for your prayers and support!

– Brittany

March 25, 2018 Shofar Missions Cebu

Hey Guys

You are listening to Street Level Radio Cebu City. Jason, Faye, Jesse, & Chelsey came to install Street Level Radio at two locations in Cebu!

For those of you familiar you can walk down the street from Print Specifix to Elicon House listening to Street Level Radio on your phone! To end the semester, we streamed Street Level Radio and had a game night on our last Friday in Cebu.

Feb Philippines team
February Team: Brittany, Jesse, Chelsey, Faye, Jason, & Laura

God has and will continue to do great things here. As I sit and ponder the last few months they have been both exciting and challenging! Challenging because no one has done this before or is doing it. We are charting the waters and figuring out what works and doesn’t work at the same time. It is exciting because part of learning is always changing and improving things to make them better. Another challenging and sometimes exciting part is realizing there is no one to compare notes with. There’s no one to ask how to handle it or how it should work, etc.

Missions = People

We are back for a short visit and as I take time to reflect on all that God has done this past year. I think about His work with Street Level (Bible Study, WOTS, Radio), the Day Retreat, and Science/Creation Lessons. I am reminded (AGAIN) it is about the people and not the tasks at hand. At the Day Retreat in February we were asked what our five beans were. For example, what are five things has God gifted you with? As many of you know I like to bake, work with kids, write & draw, which God allows me to do here in Cebu.

Pondering

class room
Last Science Lesson at Southern Bethany

The school year ended in March so I said “good bye” to one class while the team was in Cebu. As I ate dinner that night I couldn’t help but think about how very different my life could have been. None of this was my plan…. I graduated from Stout with an Early Childhood degree. The plan was to teach in the school I grew up in but God had other plans.

 

 

It has truly been amazing to see all that God has allowed us to be a part of this last year from teaching in schools to Word on the Street to continuing SLM Cebu Dinners & Bible Studies.

team people
Brittany, Yvea, Dyreen, Orchids, & Laura

Before we came back to the states for a short visit last April, Orchids came over and we baked. A month ago we sat at Jollibee and shared earbuds as we watched the Day Retreat videos. We got together one last time before I returned to America and had an opportunity to talk  about ministry and life. We have continued to meet new people and get to know others more as the months have gone on and I am reminded that to have a good friend you have to be a good friend! Life here is a bit different…there are no random “Hi, want to grab dinner?” texts or “Who wants to get fish on Friday?” As we return to Cebu in April, we want to be intentional about asking people to have dinner or grab coffee! Britt and Yvea have been taking Saturday mornings to read through “They Were Single Too.” Orchids and I just started The “Lost Art of Disciple Making.” We look forward to continuing this!

Moving forward, it will be summer vacation when we return to Cebu BUT we are preparing to hit the ground running and continue ministering during that time!

As always, we appreciate your prayers, emails, and messages! 🙂

–Laura