Author: Shofar Missions Cebu

June 25, 2019 Shofar Missions Cebu

Over the course of three weeks, the first of two short-term missions team arrived and hosted two youth leadership training retreats, four ministry training classes, three women’s discipleship classes, one children’s outreach, and a campus Bible study. God has been good to us and those we have ministered to as Shofar Mission has sought to build up local Filipino churches and disciples to expand Christ’s Kingdom.

MINISTRY TRAINING INSTITUTE CLASSES

  • 4 LOCATIONS
  • 81 STUDENTS
  • 32 CHURCHES

YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING RETREATS

  • 2 LOCATIONS
  • 38 YOUTH
  • 22 CHURCHES
  • MTI work 2019
  • Street Level fun
  • Cruising with the Shofar Mission team

After the team left, we settled into a new Shofar Mission office space and got back into the rhythm of our normal ministries. We have continued meeting with students in Street Level Ministries for a weekly dinner and Bible study. A few of them have even shown some curiosity in being involved with Word on the Street Magazine and Street Level Radio. Next week, we will resume Shofar’s Science Creation lessons at local primary schools.

  • hanging with the ladies at Shofar Mission
  • Street Level at Shofar Mission offiec

We have a few more weeks until the second team comes. Please keep the team in your prayers as we are still in the midst of planning and scheduling the trip.

May 24, 2019 Shofar Missions Cebu

Greetings from the Philippines! Read the latest update about what God is doing in Cebu.

Thanks for your prayers! Brittany and I made it home a few weeks ago and hit the ground running to prepare for the first missions team to arrive.

Even though it is summer vacation we have continued to meet for Street Level on Friday evenings. We have had to opportunity to switch things up the last couple weeks. We read an article from Word on the Street and and had a game night. During our game night we played a few mean games of table tennis. One of the students, Ed, likes to play so he showed us a few tricks like playing off the floor or wall. I also had a chance to teach a science lesson.

Issue 78 of Word on the Street was printed earlier this month and Issue 79 is well underway. We continue to use the magazine as a way to reach out to students and advertise Street Level.

The team arrived last week and jumped right into it as we started the first Ministry Training Institute class a couple days ago.

I ask that you would pray for all that is happening here in the next three weeks! Also, please pray for Team Two as they continue preparing to come the middle of July. We look forward to seeing all that God will do here!

-Laura

April 25, 2019 Shofar Missions Cebu

After hearing about the earthquakes that happened throughout the Philippines earlier this week, I was reminded that life is short and we’re really only promised TODAY to love Jesus and love others. Even though our feet aren’t on the ground in Cebu, our hearts, minds, and prayers are still there. It has been really refreshing to be back in fellowship with the church, friends, and family, but as we’re less than one week out from our departure, the places and people of Cebu are flooding my mind. I guess that means we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be.

Final Meeting of the Semester for Street Level Ministries Cebu

Over the past couple weeks, we have had time to reflect on the past few months of ministry – what worked, what didn’t work, what to change for the future – and to dream, scheme, and seek the Lord for His direction. That’s always a really important part of our trips back to the USA, which I greatly appreciate. Sometimes it can be hard to see the forest through the trees!

Dinner and Bible Study with Street Level UW-Stout!

We’re also thankful for the opportunities to serve in various avenues throughout the church over the past couple weeks. Laura got to teach in the jail, join Kindred, and serve in the coffeehouse. I was able to join weekly Street Level meetings and teach on one of the Monday nights. We are also looking forward to a WOTS launch meeting with all the staff and the upcoming church anniversary!

Unloading hickory wood for the JFB 30th Anniversary pork roast!

When we get back to Cebu, we’ll have a couple short weeks to make final preparations before Team 1 comes. Then in June, most schools will start up again and we’ll have a month for SLM meetings and science lessons before Team 2 comes.  

If you would like to, please pray for:

  • The people who have been affected by the earthquakes in Luzon and Samar.
  • Safe travels back to Cebu on Tuesday and quick recovery over jet lag!
  • Wisdom and guidance in all the preparations for the teams to come.

-Brittany

Pacific Ocean… or Lake Michigan?
March 25, 2019 Shofar Missions Cebu

Campus Outreach 

For many university students, summer vacation is a week away. But that doesn’t mean we are taking a break – some universities did not start classes until August, so they will be in session until May. We continued to reach out to one or two universities per week to invite students to Street Level meetings and pass out the latest issue of Word On the Street Magazine. Live Radio Broadcasts have continued to be another way to promote Street Level Radio and SLM events. We were also able to do a student poll for the next edition of WOTS at the last live broadcast. We asked students if they could go anywhere in the world where would they go and why. It was neat to hear what they had to say and to interview them on the radio.

As the school year comes to an end, I am reminded we have known the core Architecture students from the University of the Visayas two years at the end of July. It is during these times, that I think about all that God has done in my life.

Science Creation Curriculum

For many years, March has signaled the end of the school year for students since classes normally start in June. This year, as schools move toward a mid August start date some students will be in class until May. Science Lessons wrapped up for the school year with a visit to Southern Bethany to reconnect with them and share a new curriculum with students in grades 7 & 8. Two new schools that we worked with the second semester have asked about the next school year. With classes out for the summer soon there have been a few possible summer options talked about. More curriculum continues to be developed and current curriculum edited as schools and class sizes change.

Relationships

Lately, we have been reminded of two phrases: “People, not projects” and Relationships matter.” On March 15, we had a pizza and movie night at Street Level. As I watched the movie and ate pizza that night I couldn’t help but remember where I came from. You see, I started walking with God after college. Often times, as we eat dinner and practice our Cebuano before the bible study I am reminded to never, ever lose sight of where I came from. Later that night I was thinking about friendship and life in general and was reminded how important friendship is. Earlier that week, I got coffee with a friend and we took a jeep home to make food and watch a movie. On our walk from the jeep stop to our apartment, we talked about books we have read, ministry and life.

I recently read a quote by Charles Spurgeon, “Friendship seems as necessary an element of a comfortable existence in this world as fire or water, or even air itself. A man may drag along a miserable existence in proud solitary dignity, but his life is scarce life, it is nothing but an existence.” The author goes on to say, “If you want to call friendship a luxury, that’s fine. But then make sure you also call air a luxury. There are few true necessities in life. Friendship is one of them.”

Prayer Requests

Please continue to pray for all the students as they wrap up the school year. Pray that they would continue putting God first in their lives. Also, we have been working on several tasks for the two missions teams that will be here this coming May and August. We ask that you pray for all we have been in contact with in regards to the summer missions team plans. Also, for safety as we finish up our last couple weeks here before we join everyone again for a short break. –Laura

February 25, 2019 Shofar Missions Cebu

Greetings from the Philippines! Read the latest update about what God is doing in Cebu. And if you need a break from all the snow, it’s just a short 24-36 hour trip to come and visit us…

Street Level Ministries

We continue to meet weekly on Friday nights for a free dinner and bible study with students from various universities throughout the city. We are currently working our way through Tim Keller’s Gospel in Life series, which has resulted in quite a few though-provoking discussions! Attendance at some meetings nearly fills our conference room, while other meetings are with only one or two students. Regardless of how many students attend, we continue to be faithful to what God has called us to, trusting that He knows what He’s doing and His plans are better than ours! Next month, we will take a break from our series on one Friday for a fellowship night – free pizza and an outdoor movie!

Word on the Street Magazine

In February, we released a new issue of WOTS and have been distributing at local churches, businesses, and schools. God has allowed us to put a magazine rack on campus in the library at the University of the Visayas, as well as at the Cebu City Public Library! As always, we are looking for new writers and Filipino content submissions. In fact, we recently had the opportunity to present WOTS at a local gathering of pastors and people who minister to young people throughout the city. We’re hoping new writers will come through this networking opportunity!

Street Level Radio

As the Philippines is becoming more and more digitally connected, our wi-fi radio station is turning out to be a great way to connect with students. We host live radio broadcasts on the streets about 2-3 times per month. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we gave away free heart-shaped donuts to students who would answer trivia on the air. We had a few students take us up on the offer! We have also started a weekly radio show on Fridays for students who may be looking for something to listen to during their lunch break. We’re always seeking to expand and make the station better, so we are on the lookout and praying for a place to install a third antenna array.

Science Creation Curriculum

Local primary and secondary schools have been very receptive to Shofar’s Science Creation curriculum. This week, lessons will end at one school and begin at another! In fact, for the first time ever, Laura will start teaching a 3-week series using the NUA curriculum to seventh and eighth graders. Summer school curriculum is currently in the ideation phase, since quite a few schools will be holding classes during the summer.

Prayer Requests

  • Pray that God would work in the hearts and minds of the Street Level students to put Jesus first in everything they do
  • Pray for the development of new science curriculum and plans for summer school
  • Please pray for open doors to minister and direction in planning for the teams that will come this summer

— Britt

January 25, 2019 Shofar Missions Cebu

Read the latest update about what God is doing in Cebu City, Philippines.

CAMPUS OUTREACH

In an effort to get the word out about Street Level Ministries Cebu, we
continue putting up posters in and around the “campus zone.” We also
plan to have more live radio broadcasts this year to get the word out about
Street Level Radio and promote SLM bible studies and events. A new addition to the radio is a weekly show called Simple Gospel Friday (SGF). This show will talk life, Jesus, college, & everything in between. A new issue of Word on the Street will be printed within the few weeks. We will distribute the magazine to various churches, youth organizations, and on the streets near universities. WOTS has proven to be a fruitful avenue to share the gospel and get students connected to SLM.

 

 

SCIENCE CREATION CURRICULUM

We said goodbye for now to the students and staff at the Inayawan Nazarene School earlier this month. Lessons have started at two new schools since we have returned to Cebu. The new curriculum continues to be put together – I am hoping to utilize the NUA Curriculum within the next couple of weeks. I am looking forward to continuing to get to know the staff and students at the new schools. Last week, a student asked me why she learned in Science class that earth was formed millions of years ago. The Department of Education Philippines (DepEd) standards dictate what teachers need to teach each year.

 

A LOOK BACK

We spent some of our trip to Wisconsin taking a look at the last few months
and looking ahead to the future. It is always a good time to reflect on what
worked, what didn’t and what we would like to add to the ministries. Our time back in Wisconsin also provided an opportunity for us to join fellowship ministries and various church events. It was great to be back for them and we look forward to seeing how God will use JF Believers & Shofar Mission in 2019!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Street Level Ministries – for the Gospel In Life Series that will start
this week and that students would put Jesus first amid family pressure to go
home or spend the time doing other things.

2. Continued relationships with the new schools and for the staff and
students we will have a chance to meet. Along with continued curriculum
development.

3. 2019 Team Preparation. That God would be working in the hearts and minds of those we are trying to reach out to as we plan and prepare.

Thanks for the prayers and for stopping by to say hi on Skype…we
appreciate it. –Laura