Tag: Shofar Missions

February 25, 2021 Shofar Missions Cebu

Read the latest update from Shofar Mission and see what God has been doing in Cebu, Philippines.

This month started with major updates to the two cable TV stations God has blessed us with. Shofar TV is currently broadcasting on Cebu Cable in Metro Cebu and ATD Cable in Balamban/Asturias.

Street Level Ministries

Since our last update, we had a chance to meet with two students that attend UV-Toledo and explain what SLM is all about to them. Issue 85 of Word on the Street is hot off the press. 1,000 copies will be distributed with modular learning packets to students at the University of the Visayas. We are hoping we can deliver the magazines during the first week of March. Street Level Radio continues to stream (with some minor tech upgrades here and there) and students are still volunteering for the station. We are pleased to announce our sister station Burning Dog Radio recently started streaming online worldwide!

Word on the Street Magazine Philippines
Seeing the Hand of God Up Close in Toledo
Street Level Radio Upgrades


Exploring Creation Science

Even though the “new normal” has classes in all levels from Pre-K to university online, the mission for Exploring Creation Science remains the same. Know why you believe what you believe. Again, since classes are online we are able to do things that would normally be more challenging. During the month of March, Explore booklets for students in grades 4-6 and 7-12 will be printed and distributed, a special four-week series using Facebook Live class for students in grades 7-12 will take place, and Zoom lessons will continue.

Science Experiment Up Close
Seeing God Up Close Through Science

Prayer Requests:

  1. Pray that God would continue working in the hearts and minds of all those we have met.
  2. We ask that God would bring people into the ministries.
  3. Pray for all the churches that are unable to meet in person due to Sunday barangay lockdowns.
  4. Pray for viewers to tune in to Shofar TV and that we could expand our broadcasting reach throughout Cebu Island.
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.
February 25, 2020 Shofar Missions Cebu

Read the latest update from the mission field and Shofar Mission Cebu.

Team Preparations

Have you noticed that the JFB mission’s season has turned into mission’s year? Plans for the spring team are already in the works, so we’ve been able to do some of the advance prep for them to come. We recently took a trip south of the city to present Shofar Mission and the upcoming ministries to a regional group of pastors. As a parachurch organization, we’re always thankful to make new friends and be a part of what God is doing in local churches throughout the Philippines. We’re looking forward to seeing what He has in store for the next team and glad to be a part of all the teams that come here…

Exploring Creation Science

This branch of Shofar Mission seeks to equip young and developing minds to know why they believe what they believe. A variety of lessons are taught to primary and secondary students in both private and public schools. In February, lessons were taught to grades 4-12 at four different schools (two new schools). Each lesson includes a mixture of lecture, PowerPoint, video, discussion, and experiments. For the younger students, there is more lecture and experiments, whereas the older students engage more with video teaching and challenging group discussions. Many of the high school students have already made up their minds about what they believe about creation, science, and how we all got here. Through Exploring Creation Science, they are challenged to consider if what they believe is actually true, or if perhaps God’s good design in creation and science actually work together.

Not only does God use this branch of Shofar Mission to reach students, but it also provides opportunities to build relationships with teachers, principals, and pastors of churches that have schools. We’ve found that many of them run in the same circles, so a lot of the new schools bridge off of relationships with previous schools! God continues to open new doors as this ministry keeps growing and expanding. On the docket for the upcoming school year is the development of new curriculum for both senior high and elementary lessons as well as reaching out to new schools (public and private).

Campus Outreach

Did you know that in 2018, there were over 2.3 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s) throughout the world? Over 50% of them worked in western Asia, many of them in closed nations that are hostile to the gospel.[1] For Filipinos, it is quite easy to find work in these nations. So, what does this have to do with campus ministry? A lot, in fact. In many conversations with young people (both high school and college students), their dream is to work abroad so they can send money home to their families. What would happen if while they’re studying here in the Philippines, the gospel really got a hold of them, then propelled them into closed nations where they can go and make disciples? We could change the world for King and Kingdom…

Through Street Level Ministries, students are able to participate in God’s Kingdom work and be equipped for whatever God may call them to in the future. Members can volunteer for Word on the Street Magazine or Street Level Radio, receive solid biblical teaching, engage in Christian community, and have multiple opportunities to reach out to other students. During the past month, we held two live radio broadcasts (one on-campus and one off-campus), passed out WOTS magazines, held weekly dinners and biblical discussions, launched the next issue of WOTS, met on campus for a verse-by-verse Bible study, and took an early morning hike to see the city. We were even able to have an informational booth on campus during Student’s Day at the University of the Visayas.

It’s amazing to be a part of all that God is doing among the university students here, and our prayers are that the seeds we plant would grow and bear fruit for years to come… in the Philippines and to the ends of the world.

Prayer Requests

  1. Team Preparations – that God would open and close doors as He sees fit as we plan and prepare, and that we would be able to reach the people He wants us to.
  2. Exploring Creation Science – meetings with new schools, scheduling of lessons for the next school year, and development of new curriculum.
  3. Campus Outreach – for the students to make the most of their remaining school year (many of them graduate in May) and seek the Kingdom first at their university.

[1] https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/survey/labor-and-employment/survey-overseas-filipinos

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.
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