Tag: Shofar Missions

Shofar Mission Cebu Update

April 25, 2022 Shofar Missions Cebu

Keep reading to learn what we have been up to in the Philippines and the USA over the past month.

While we were in the USA, we got to spend time with Annemieke, a missionary from the Netherlands, while she was on her speaking tour among the three Street Level Ministries locations. Before she spoke at UW-Stout, we handed out fliers with her on campus. As missionaries in service to the King, we face many of the same challenges. We also joined the Street Level House for dinner, a night with food and fellowship as we planned for the next chapter of ministry, and a Sunday night in a quiet backyard with grilled food, friends, and a fire on our last Sunday night in the USA for a while.

THE MINISTRY CONTINUES

We arrived a few days before Easter, so we grilled out with our neighbors on Saturday and had pancakes with a couple of students after church on Sunday. As many employers continue to work from home and schedule online meetings, Dyreen doesn’t come into Cebu City very often. When she does, we always try to meet – even if it is for a short amount of time – since she has been a great friend since we moved here.

We have been teaching Sunday School each month at the Inayawan Church of the Nazarene for the past few months. On Easter Sunday, we had an opportunity to teach there again. This is a church and school that Shofar has been ministering with since 2017. We know the staff and pastors there, along with several students that attend the church. Some of the students Laura teaches in school are part of the kids & youth group. Brittany handed out copies of Word on the Street Magazine to the youth after their discussion. Two of the youth contributed to the article about Typhoon Odette, so they were all excited to get a copy.

Since we returned to Cebu, we have spent a lot of time catching up with people and planning for the next few months. Laura has visited with staff and taught Exploring Creation Science lessons for students at Banawa Nazarene and Southern Bethany Christian School. Though classes remain digital with very few exceptions for in person learning, schools are seeking as much face-to-face interaction as possible. Students living near each other are finding ways to join activities in groups when the opportunity allows, and teachers are joining together at schools or coffee shops.

STREET LEVEL MINISTRIES

Last Friday marked the beginning of a whole new format of SLM meetings. Not only have we resumed free dinners, but we have also changed the weekly meetings to be heavily discussion based. A day or two before students attend, they can watch a short Bible teaching on our Facebook page. On Friday night, they can come together to discuss what they learned. Meetings happen simultaneously in Toledo City and Cebu City, with a different student facilitating the discussion each week. It’s an exciting change, which we hope and pray will bear much fruit for the Kingdom. To get the word out, posters have been hung all around Cebu City, and on Wednesday, Jael and Britt will host a live radio broadcast downtown. There are many college-age individuals roaming around and some third and fourth years attending limited face-to-face classes… now it’s a matter of being in the right place at the right time, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in order to meet them.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Please pray for all the churches/schools that we work with – specifically the health of Pastor Allan at Inayawan Church of the Nazarene and Jim Young.
Pray for new ministry opportunities as Laura seeks to spend more time ministering with the Nazarene School.
Pray for all those we were able to minister to at the Universal Church of Christ in Toledo. In February, Laura taught a science lesson during kids church and Britt gave WOTS to the youth.
Pray for the upcoming Street Level Radio broadcast and posters – that students would know about SLM and desire to get connected.
Pray for the discipleship of the SLM students – that they’d grow in love for Jesus, holiness, and discernment about the decisions they’re making.

Let the Games Begin

February 24, 2022 Shofar Missions Cebu

Read what is happening with Shofar Mission in Cebu City.

One Saturday morning in late January, we woke up to emails letting us know the Philippines was planning to open to Foreign Tourists on February 11, 2022. March 13, 2022, will mark two full years since our last “normal” Street Level meeting, did an outreach on a university campus, or taught a science lesson in a classroom. Currently, universities and schools are like ghost towns with many staff still working from home due to requirements of social distancing, plastic barriers, etc. that remain in effect. Check out some photos from the heat of COVID and what ministry was like before:

The Best of Times and the Worst of Times

The last two and a half years have taught us a lot. It has been said that the Philippines has had the hardest, strictest, and longest COVID lockdowns. There were many times that left us trusting God – for example, when the city announced all Quarantine Passes were invalid. They issued new ones, but the idea was to issue less of them. These were required to leave our house to access goods and services. December 16, 2021, and the weeks after were another big test as Super Typhoon Odette approached our island. As Cebu City was raised to Alert 4, we prepared to move to the innermost room of our house with what we needed to be safe. The typhoon left severe damage, including no water or electricity for weeks (months for some people).

Street Level Ministries

During these times, we have continued to see the hand of God at work. Even though all classes remain online and students need a valid reason to visit campus. We have met several students recently through Facebook promotions that have been interested in SLM. We got to play Dutch Blitz and eat pizza with a couple of them last Sunday. In January, Street Level Ministries started meeting every fourth Friday of the month in Toledo City. We have also been hosting Street Level Radio live broadcasts weekly, and recently added a couple of songs written and produced by Capstone Generation Church to the station. Our latest edition of Word On the Street Magazine has been released digitally, with print copies coming next week.

Exploring Creation Science

All of the schools in this ministry are connected to one or more local church. This has allowed for some face-to-face interaction with students. We have been able to teach Sunday School for both the children and youth at the Inayawan Church of the Nazarene. We continue providing Explore Booklets, a USB with the lesson videos, and will teach a science lesson during kids’ church at the Universal Church of Christ Church & School in Toledo. These face-to-face opportunities have given us a chance to hand out fliers promoting the online Exploring Creation Science lessons. We have also continued to provide online lessons and Explore Booklets for students. Lessons online continue with the Nazarene school in Banawa.

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for all of the students and staff we have been able to meet and minister to – that their love for Jesus would grow and that they’d be bold witnesses in their communities.
Pray for the local churches we have recently been able to connect with more, including: Inayawan Church of the Nazarene, Capstone Generation Church, Universal Church of Christ in Toledo, and the Toledo Alliance Church.
Pray for preparations as we get ready for Pastor Tim and Sharon to arrive, and us to depart for a short visit to the USA.

The Aftermath of Super Typhoon Odette

January 25, 2022 Shofar Missions Cebu

Read more about what God is doing in Cebu, Philippines.

More than a month has passed since Super Typhoon Odette struck Cebu, yet many people are still without electricity, water, internet, and rebuilding supplies. Life has returned to a sense of normalcy as people have adapted to the changes brought on by the storm. The staff of Word on the Street Magazine Philippines collected stories from young people living throughout Cebu about their experiences during Typhoon Odette. Read this early release from Issue 89 here.

Street Level Ministries

Between Typhoon Odette and a resurgence of COVID cases in Cebu, face-to-face classes have been delayed yet again. The Street Level students are spread throughout the island with intermittent data connections, so attendance at Friday night meetings has been hit-or-miss. We are aligning with some universities to restart the semester in February. Hopefully, by then, more students will have electricity and data signal. Starting January 28, we will be meeting on the last Friday of the month in Toledo City. We’re holding a recruitment meeting at Jalz Milk Tea, which is close to campus. Restrictions are less strict in the province, so we are going to heavily pursue the west side of the island this semester. We will continue to run ads on Facebook and are planning to release an app to help keep students connected, since so many are spread out throughout the island(s).

Exploring Creation Science

Classes for elementary and high school students will continue online this semester. Some schools have directed their students to download lessons and materials for offline use. Many students (and now parents due to the recent Cebu City Executive Order) have to find an internet connection to download and upload what they need, then return home where there is no electricity and/or signal. A few lessons will be adapted to be taught at local churches throughout the island for their kid’s church on Sundays. Also starting this semester, the “best of” Exploring Creation Science lessons will be produced to air on Shofar TV. We are looking forward to presenting this ministry to more schools on the west side of the island especially as our trips over there increase and restrictions are less strict. We had an opportunity to visit with a local pastor while we were in Toledo last week and leave him a USB with science lessons the teachers at the church’s school can copy and share with their students.

Building Up Local Churches

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been able to reconnect with local churches, assess their needs, pray with pastors, and donate relief packs to be distributed to local families. Three different churches have invited us to teach their kid’s church and youth groups. As a para church organization, our hearts are for the local churches to grow and thrive in their respective communities. The typhoon brought so much destruction, yet we see them continuing to stay hopeful and reach out to their neighbors. They may get knocked down, but they don’t get knocked out. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to comfort and encourage them, for the gospel to be their motivating factor, and that the local churches could lead people to Jesus.

Unidentified Flying Objects

December 25, 2021 Shofar Missions Cebu

See what is happening with Shofar Mission Cebu.

On December 16, a storm signal 4 was raised in Cebu City. Some staff and students we know in Cebu Island were evacuated as much of the city lost electric around 4pm. The storm hit Cebu City between 9pm-10pm with very strong winds picking up shacks (small houses usually with tin roofs) sending the roofing tin flying through the air. Doors and windows couldn’t keep the rain out and the wind shredded leaves and tore through the trees.

Street Level Ministries

Earlier this month, we got into the community to do a live radio broadcast with Street Level Radio. This gave us an opportunity to meet a few new students. We also started distributing Word on the Street Magazine at two local cafes. We planned to host a Murder Mystery Christmas Party, but the storm cancelled it. Maybe it could be a New Year’s Party… we’re done with weekly Bible discussions for the semester and look forward to restarting in January. Hopefully, we’ll get to have more students join us in the office for phygital discussions.

Exploring Creation Science

Earlier this month we had several opportunities to reach out to local churches and schools that we work with in Metro Cebu. We were able to bless the staff with a fruit basket and card for the holiday season. Since they were set to hand out items for next semester before break we also left new Explore Booklets and certificates.

Whether teachers were ready or not the semester ended early. Due to the storm, it was clear there would be no classes on December 16, 2021. Exploring Creation Science lessons ended for the holiday break with a couple of schools offering an opportunity to host a review with the students. Instead of playing a review game students received the review information via messenger. Some students will start the year joining from a temporary home due to the typhoon. When classes continue in January there are several different ideas of how to continue amid the typhoon clean up.

Please continue to pray for the Philippines specifically those affected by the typhoon!

Ministry in Cebu

April 25, 2021 Shofar Missions Cebu

Keep reading for the latest update on life and ministry in Cebu.

Shofar TV

Thank you to everyone who has been faithfully praying for this ministry. God has done far more than we could imagine – just like He promised in Ephesians. At the end of March, He let us install Shofar TV at Toledo Cable. Viewers in Barili, Aloguinsan, Pinamungahan, Toledo City, Lutopan, and Balamban can watch on Channel 46. We had a great time getting to know the staff and technicians at Toledo Cable. Here’s what some of our viewers have said:

“Blessed day…I’m always watching Shofar on Cebu Cable.” – Cebu Cable Viewer, Carcar City

“Me and my wife are now viewing your programs. Thank you very much for the enlightening presentations for who God is…we like the Bible study every 5pm. God bless to your ministry.” – Toledo Cable TV Viewer

“I’m very glad that Shofar TV is now available on Toledo Cable. God bless.” – Toledo Cable TV Viewer

Ministry in Cebu Shofar TV staff with Toledo Cable staff

Street Level Ministries

On the same day we installed Shofar TV, we held an outreach to college students in the heart of Toledo City. Knockbucks Café graciously allowed us to set up our Street Level Ministries booth outside the coffee shop. Two SLM members and one of their friends spent the entire day with us. We gave away free coffee drinks and WOTS to UV students and fliers for Shofar TV for those passing by.

Since so much is online now, we’ve connected with the SLM groups in the USA. At the beginning of April, Ben and Sasha joined us for a Friday night meeting. This past Friday, SLM River Falls joined us and Justin led the Bible discussion. A couple of the Cebu students woke up early to connect with SLM Menomonie and Twin Ports for one of their Monday night meetings. We were also able to get together with all the WOTS writers for a Writing Workshop. A few non-WOTS writers from the Philippines even joined. Bantayan, Cebu, Luzon, and Panay Islands were represented!

Exploring Creation Science

While we were in Toledo, Laura was able to leave information about Exploring Creation Science and Explore booklets with the owner of Knockbucks, since his kids attend two different schools in the city. Hopefully, this will lead to new relationships and opportunities to teach lessons to students in Toledo. On the way back to the city, Laura got to catch up with Teacher Chinling at Southern Bethany.

Since schools still aren’t meeting in person, lessons continue online. In April, students learned “All About Weather.” In May, special lessons will be taught for students who in Grades 6 and 12. This lesson helps them to think about what challenges they’ll face as they move up or graduate. In June, lessons will be about examining the evidence (think: DNA hair samples and fingerprints). New Explore booklets will also be developed to supplement online lessons and/or as an option for those who can’t watch online.

Daily Life

It’s hard to believe that a year ago we were locked down – seriously, we couldn’t leave our house without a quarantine pass. Things aren’t that strict anymore (thank you, Lord), which has helped us do some of those “normal things” we used to do. We celebrated Laura’s birthday and even got a surprise visit from Orchids, a former WOTS writer, whom we haven’t seen in over a year. John, a former SLM member stopped by, so celebrated his birthday with KC.

Fellowship with Friends at Shofar Office

We still bike a lot. Sometimes we get caught in the rain. That’s okay. It makes you stop and look around at the things you get used to seeing all the time.

Here’s a new Bisaya word for you: “alimungawan” (ah-lee-moo-ngaw-on – 5 syllables). The literal translation is “absentminded” but it’s much deeper than that. It describes the disorientation you feel when you wake up – almost like sleepwalking. Just picture a little kid waking up from a nap and walking around (crying) looking for her mom.

Laura keeps planting things (cherry tomatoes soon!) and Brittany hasn’t stopped baking. Sometimes, we grill out with neighbors. We also got to go back to church for the first time since January!

Church at Living Word I.T. Park in Cebu City

Thanks for all your prayers. We’re praying for you, too. Kita ta unya, puhon (we’ll see you soon, Lord-willing).

“Padayon” – Keep Going

March 25, 2021 Shofar Missions Cebu

Read the latest news update from the mission field in the Philippines.

One of the joys (and challenges!) of the mission field is learning a new culture and language. One of my favorite phrases over the past year has been, “padayon” which means “keep going” or “carry on.” Another way to say it is “dasig lang” which is a much deeper Bisaya version of the phrase. “Laban lang” is the Tagalog version, which is also frequently used in the Visayas. All of them essentially translate to “keep fighting.” Whichever phrase you pick, it sums up much of the Christian life. We are to be faithful, consistent, and stubborn enough to keep going, knowing that Jesus is right there leading us through it all. As Elisabeth Elliot often reminded herself, “do the next thing.” Can you relate?

Here’s a brief summary of how we’ve put “padayon” into practice:

Exploring Creation Science Teaching Lessons Online

Laura has continued to expand this ministry in very creative ways despite being unable to meet with students physically. Interactive creation science lessons are taught online using props, experiments, videos, and more. During the month of March, a special lesson was taught via Google Meet to the Believers Church Homeschool students. There was also a special set of chemistry lessons taught via Facebook Live, along with the regularly schedule lessons every Thursday and Friday. As the school year wraps up, it’s time to dream, scheme, and coordinate schedules with churches / schools to prep for summer lessons and next school year.

Exploring Creation Science online lesson

Exploring Creation Science chemistry lessons

Street Level Ministries Reaching out to Universities

Universities still aren’t meeting in person, although most students have to go to campus to file paperwork, enroll, pay tuition, etc. Therefore, students are still spread throughout the region and doing their coursework remotely. This has made it challenging to meet new students and forced us to get pretty creative with reaching out. God allowed us to print 1,500 copies of the new issue of WOTS (the most we’ve ever printed!). We originally planned to include a copy in each student’s modules at UV, but the university’s plans changed, so we will be distributing at each of the 7 satellite campuses. God even provided a magazine rack for each campus (it’s not easy to find 7 of the same thing in this country).

WOTS Rack at the UV-Main Accounting Department

We have a small group of current students and recent graduates that join us on Google Meet each Friday for a Bible discussion. At the end of February, we hosted a virtual BINGO night which we also broadcasted live on Street Level Radio. Students continue to volunteer remotely for WOTS and SLR, and we’ve been able to see a couple of them in person at the office.

Street Level Ministries students at office

Street Level Ministries online BINGO night

Shofar Cable TV Broadcasting is Expanding!

We have some exciting news to share! At the end of the month, we will start broadcasting Shofar Cable TV on the west side of Cebu Island! Channel 46 on Toledo Cable TV will officially be “SHOFAR”! We thank God for answering our prayers to expand our broadcasting reach throughout the island. Now, the final frontiers are the deep south and far north. Please pray for a successful installation, for viewers, and kingdom fruit from this ministry!

Shofar Cable TV broadcasting on Cebu Island

Prayer Requests

To end the school year well and to have vision for the upcoming summer / school year.
For true discipleship and a heart to reach other students among the SLM students.
For churches throughout the island to be able to meet safely and be vigilant about safety protocols.
That God would open up the Philippines for a team (or two) to come to Cebu this year.
Gospel-centered relationships and conversations with the people in our home and office communities that we see everyday.