Tag: Exploring Creation Science

January 25, 2021 Shofar Missions Cebu

Read what is happening with our mission work in Cebu, Philippines. Get the latest news from the branches of Shofar Mission.

As of this writing, we are two months shy of March 28, which in 2020 signaled the start of quarantine. In-person church services started again the first week of October. Many pastors suggested God simply wanted everyone to STOP and challenged their people to stop, listen, and spend time with Him. On January 24, our barangay reinstated a mandatory Sunday lockdown. No one goes out of the house and businesses must close except pharmacies. We are cannot worship in person at this time. Though in-person fellowship is limited we have been able to fellowship digitally! Since Believers Church West Duluth was playing Bingo digitally we were able to join in for a game.

Street Level Ministries

Weekly Bible Discussions have resumed after the holidays. SLM is a smaller group than last year at this time, but God continues to grow each of the students involved – specifically three ladies that are participating in an additional weekly discipleship group. This has been a chance to read through some discipleship material and have an in-depth discussion as we read. Another issue of Word on the Street will be printed soon and we are looking forward to the first in-person gathering since last year. Writers plan to come to the office for a collaborative workshop with WOTS USA next month! We also got to catch up with a former WOTS writer at church recently. Students continue helping produce teaching and promotional clips for Street Level Radio. In February, we are also looking forward to catching up with our friends from Burning Dog Radio for a group video call.

Above – WOTS distribution throughout the province (L); Catching up with one SLM member at the office (R)
Below – Happy New Year from SLR DJ’s Ruby and Atheena!

Exploring Creation Science

Semester two started the first week of January for many schools. Exploring Creation Science classes continue online via Facebook Live and Zoom or Google Meet upon request. We also had the opportunity to do a seeds lesson with the Believers Church Homeschool group. As always this is a neat opportunity and a way to connect with the kids. Many of them are also part of the Believers Church Children’s Ministry. They made cards for some of the local churches and schools last month here. Explore Booklet #2 about Life on Earth was passed out to students that are unable to receive their coursework online. Explore Booklet #3 for students in grades 4-6 and grades 7-12 will be printed and passed out the second week of March. We cannot share a meal or snack after lessons with teachers, administrators/pastors but can fellowship with them when we are able to attend church again.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

  1. Please pray for the churches in our barangay as they revert back to online-only Sunday Services.
  2. Pray for the Street Level members that have recently found work or are looking for full-time work. That they would put God and the ministries he has called them to be a part of first in their lives.
  3. For all the churches and schools we have relationships with especially as semester two continues online. We would like to see some of them in person.
November 25, 2020 Shofar Missions Cebu

Get the latest ministry update from Shofar Mission Cebu!

STREET LEVEL MINISTRIES

As finals are approaching, many students are in “crunch mode.” Even though they are studying remotely, we have been able to connect digitally on Fridays for Street Level meetings. We have been studying the gospel of Mark during our Bible discussions. Most of the UV students who graduated last semester have been able to stop by the office for short visits after their trips to campus. There is always one more piece of paper, one more 2×2 photo, and a signature needed to process their graduation clearance. We had the opportunity to visit campus to update some of the SLR equipment… it’s quiet there. Very different than this time last year!

Working on SLR upgrades at UV

Issue 84 of Word on the Street Magazine has been sent to print and will be released digitally this week. We are planning to send out 500 copies of this issue to UV students with their modular learning packets next month. The members who volunteer for Street Level Radio have been producing teaching clips as internet and electricity allow. The connection can be unstable and some areas experience brownouts regularly.

Weekly SLM Meetings on Google Meet

SHOFAR CABLE TV

This month, Shofar Cable TV started broadcasting in Metro Cebu City! Shofar TV is channel 187 on Cebu Cable. We have been broadcasting in Balamban and Asturias on channel 37 through ATD Cable since 2012. Station programming includes Pastor Tim’s Sunday Services, local Filipino Sunday church services, along with various other programs. We are continuing to update programming.

Shofar TV Installation at Cebu Cable

EXPLORING CREATION SCIENCE

Exploring Creation Science virtual lessons continue. As of this writing, classes will remain online for Semester 2. Lessons with Grade 5 students at Banawa Nazarene School started this month. Next month students in Grade 6 will have a three-part series to end semester 1. As the “ber” months end and January rolls around we are hoping for a few more opportunities to visit with pastors and teachers at various churches/schools. Plans for Semester 2 also include curriculum for students in grades 6 or 12 that are moving up or graduating, along with four new curriculum sets.

Grade 5 students at Banawa Nazarene School!

PRAYER REQUESTS

  1. Many churches are meeting at 50%. Please pray that everyone attending would be mindful of the protocols including the mandatory use of face masks, face shields, pre-registration (this is to ensure attendance does not exceed 50% as required by the government), temperature checks, and health declaration forms.
  2. Pray for all the students and staff that we have had an opportunity to interact with. Pray that God would continue to work in them.
  3. We continue to take time to grill and spend time getting to know those in our compound. Please pray for those we have gotten to know.
July 25, 2020 Shofar Missions Cebu

Read the latest Shofar Mission Cebu update and learn what we have been up to!

As of this writing, the Inter-Agency Task Force along with President Duterte downgraded Cebu City to a Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine. The wearing of face masks, social distancing, and quarantine passes continue to be required by law. Despite the government requiring students under the age of 21 to stay at home and mass gatherings prohibited, we have continued to minister.

STREET LEVEL MINISTRIES

We have had to get creative when it comes to reaching college students. On March 13, classes in all levels were suspended. Students rushed to the province before the borders to the city closed on March 28. The words “digital,” “virtual,” and “online” continue to be part of our vocabulary! At the beginning of June, we started a digital small group with three SLM members. Thankfully, we’ve been able to meet on a weekly basis, despite fluctuating quarantine statuses! The latest issue of Word on the Street Magazine has been written with all digital communication. 5 students from 3 cities / 2 islands collaborated to put the Philippines version of Issue 83 together! Stay tuned to the WOTS website for the digital release next month.

Friday Night Digital Fellowships with SLM Members
The SLM members find time to get creative during quarantine – check out this illustration created by Garie Mae!

EXPLORING CREATION SCIENCE

Virtual Exploring Creation Science summer classes have continued for students in grades 4-12. One lesson we have continued to learn is that students are night owls – the older students prefer to tune in for the afternoon lessons! This month, we also started Daily Bible Reading posts for students in grades 4-6 and 7-12 (different sets for each grade level). These are posted to the Exploring Creation Science Facebook page. Students have either watched the lessons and read the posts on Facebook, or school staff have grabbed the lessons and posts for students to view using their online platforms. Watch a preview of these virtual lessons on the Exploring Creation Science webpage.

Prerecorded microscope footage for use with virtual lessons
The heart is protected with a “double layered sac.”

COMMUNITY

Since we’re still under a pretty strict quarantine, we have been soaking up as much fellowship time as we can. We’re thankful for the small community God has put us in and have been seeking to get to know our neighbors better. The truth of Acts 17:26-27 is indeed a great reality for us right now… We’ve also taken advantage of opportunities to join Wednesday evening small group discussions with Believers City Church and video chats with fellowship ministries.

Wednesday evening Acts Rewind discussion – from two different sides of the world!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

  1. We continue to plan for a digital start to the 2020-2021 school year at all levels. Pray that we would continue to get creative and seek out various platforms to help us reach students!
  2. Pray for wisdom and discernment for government leaders. They are still in the process of deciding quarantine statuses and possible hard localized lockdowns.
  3. For church leaders especially those that have moved into church compounds to be with the rest of their staff to make sure church services and online class preparations continue as the borders to the city closed.
January 25, 2020 Shofar Missions Cebu

Read about what God has been doing through Shofar Mission Cebu in the Philippines.

TEAM MINISTRY

The third Short Term Missions Team to the Philippines arrived just after Christmas and hit the ground running. While the team was here, we hosted three Ministry Training Institute classes in three locations, a Women’s Discipleship class, promoted Shofar TV, installed Street Level Radio at two locations, taught six Exploring Creation Science lessons at four schools, and attended Street Level Ministries. It was great to be part of all that God is doing in the Philippines!

STREET LEVEL MINISTRIES

As many of you know, Street Level Ministries is an official student organization at the University of the Visayas – Main Campus in Cebu City. While members of the team were here in January, we were able to install Street Level Radio on campus! Street Level members were able to come alongside team members during the installation process. It is always nice to have teams visit, as this allows Street Level members to work together with and get to know people from the church community.

Street Level Radio upgrades were also made at two other locations. The upgrades allowed us to install at a third location as this location works off of the equipment at our existing locations. The station features local and campus events, Christian music, and Bible teachings 24/7. By the end of January, we will be sending the latest issue of Word on the Street Magazine to print. We look forward to seeing what God has in store for this Street Level, as many of the members will graduate this year.

EXPLORING CREATION SCIENCE

Classes resumed for primary and secondary schools the second week of January, so team members were able to be a part of 5 different lesson topics and hand out certificates. During this time, a lesson was also taught to students in Grades 4-6 with students split up into six different groups, each with a group leader taking on a leadership role. Each group had their own experiment materials and worksheet, with group leaders taking point but involving the members of their group.

January also allowed for the first public school lesson to be taught since this ministry began. Part one of a three-part series was taught during a high school Christian student organization meeting time. We look forward to getting to know the staff and students more each month! This semester we added a special session for students in Grade 12: Why are students failing to keep their faith in college? Our series, “The Toughest Test in College,” seeks to answer that question through a short film including true stories of students whose faith was tested in college.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

  1. For all those that attended the Ministry Training Institute and Women’s Discipleship classes.
  2. That Street Level members would continue reaching out to their classmates and other students during their final semester. Pray for the three new members as they start to get plugged in.
  3. For the new relationship with three new schools in Metro Cebu. Pray that we would be able to get to know staff and students better! Also, for two new school meetings that took place this week as information is presented to their respective boards.
  4. Pray for wisdom and discernment as we continue to plan and organize the 2020 Missions Trips.
December 25, 2019 Shofar Missions Cebu

Merry Christmas from the Philippines! Read the latest Shofar Mission Cebu update to see what God is doing in the Philippines.

The Infamous Giant Tree at the Fuente Osmeña Circle

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of preparing for the next team to arrive. They will land in just a few days, then we’re in for an excursion around the island for Ministry Training Institute and Women’s Discipleship Classes. We’re excited for them to arrive and ask that you’d pray for those we’ll be ministering to! As always, we are seeking to build the Kingdom and bear fruit that remains. In addition to the classes, we will be doing some advance work for the 2020 teams, teaching a few Exploring Creation Science classes, and hopefully installing new antennas for Street Level Radio.

Campus Outreach

Over the past few weeks, we wrapped up the semester and the Discipleship Explored series at our weekly Street Level Ministries meetings. We also had a movie night with the students before we all went our separate ways for Christmas break. Even though classes ended a few weeks ago, we have been able to spend a lot of time with the students through Word on the Street Magazine service, meeting up for lunch, and even surprise visits to the office. God continues to knit this little community together, and we’re eager to see who He’ll put in our path next semester. Please pray for the students to remain close to God as they return to their families for a few weeks, and to come back refreshed and ready to participate in His mission on their campus.

Exploring Creation Science

Would it be an oxymoron to say that things keep evolving in the world of Exploring Creation Science? Well, even though classes aren’t in session right now, that doesn’t mean things have slowed down at all. Over the past few weeks, there have been various meetings with school administrators to plan schedules for the next semester. God has even opened the door for lessons to be taught for the first time at a public high school! With that comes a variety of new challenges. Lessons are being adapted and developed to answer questions and challenge students who may be very skeptical of our God’s good design in creation. If you’re curious to know more, visit the new webpage for this branch of Shofar Mission!

Prayer Requests

  • Safe travels and quick recovery from jet lag for the team. Most importantly, that we as a team would be listening and following God’s leading and for the ministry endeavors to bear long-lasting fruit.
  • Lesson development and planning schedules for Exploring Creation Science.
  • That the Street Level students would remain close to God and in His Word over Christmas break, and return refreshed for the next semester.
November 25, 2019 Shofar Missions Cebu

Read the latest update about what God is doing through Shofar Mission in the Philippines.

Campus Outreach

Since our last update, we attended the student organization recognition and officer induction ceremony at the University of the Visayas. Street Level Ministries is now one of three recognized religious organizations on campus. We continue to be amazed at all that God has allowed us to do this year! He could do it all without us but He lets us be part of it all!

University of the Visayas Student Organization Recognition
Street Level Radio DJs Ed & John go live during a live broadcast

It has been neat to see the students volunteering for Street Level Ministries’ avenues of outreach. Students volunteering for Street Level Radio recently held a live radio broadcast and those writing for Word on the Street Magazine are currently working on their first articles.

Exploring Creation Science

Exploring Creation Science Lessons have ended for the semester. Since June, lessons have been taught at 5 schools, 3 different lesson sets have been used, and we have met with 2 schools and given information out to 5 different schools.

Southern Bethany Grade 6 students finish Exploring Creation Science lessons

Back for Thanksgiving

As we return for a short break we enjoy being able to fellowship with everyone. Brittany will join Street Level’s weekly meetings and a road trip to Minneapolis, and play the piano on the Sunday morning praise team. Laura plans to join a Kindred event in Minneapolis and help out in the coffeehouse. As always, we appreciate being able to join Sunday and Wednesday worship services and other opportunities for fellowship. We will also be joining a Sunday service at the Believers church plant in River Falls. Both of us plan to visit our families for Thanksgiving and enjoy the Wisconsin weather!

Sunday Service at Believers Church plant
Kindred Ministry Volleyball Event

Our time in Wisconsin also gives us a chance to reflect on the last few months. We take time to prep for the next few months – including scheming, dreaming and prepping materials we want to bring back to use.

Prayer Requests

  1. Christmas break for the SLM Students begins at the beginning of December, so we will have one last meeting before they leave. Pray for the students heading home to visit family over the holidays.
  2. We have been approved to teach Exploring Creation Science at the Visayan Nazarene Bible College (Basic Education Department) in January so we will try and schedule lessons before Christmas Break.
  3. Pray for Team 3 as they prepare to leave just after Christmas. We ask that you would pray specifically for people to register for the Ministry Training Classes and team preparations.