Tag: Street Level Ministries Cebu

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.
October 25, 2019 Shofar Missions Cebu

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

Three Years Later

It is hard to believe that November first marks the third year since Laura and I moved to the Philippines. In many ways, it seems like it happened just yesterday. However, when I look back on it all, it’s hard to believe it has only been three years. A lot has changed in that amount of time – let alone since Shofar Mission’s conception many years ago! I’m sure a lot more will change as the years go by, and I hope that what we are doing now will bear fruit long after we’re dead and gone. As I think about what has changed, is changing, and will change, I’m comforted by the fact that our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Campus Outreach

Since our last update, Street Level Ministries had an informational booth on campus during Intramurals week. At the booth, we gave away free coffee, Word on the Street Magazines, and fliers for our Orientation Meeting scheduled for the following week. At that meeting, we cast the vision for Street Level Ministries and invited students to participate in God’s mission on their campus.

Currently, we are putting the final touches on the newest issue of Word on the Street Magazine, and preparing to start the next issue. Since we implemented SLM membership in September, we have two new students volunteering for the magazine. We are also training three students in as DJ’s for our internet radio station, Street Level Radio.

  • WOTS Cebu – Laura, Garie, KC, Brittany

It’s exciting to see God at work in the students’ lives and at their university. In the midst of it all, I have often been reminded that when we are faithful in the little things, God will entrust us with the big things (Luke 16:10).

Exploring Creation Science

During the first half of the semester, Laura was able to teach grades 4 through 9 at three different schools. Classes are slated to finish at two other schools before Christmas Break. Three different curriculum sets were taught. During these lessons, students discover how science and creation go hand-in-hand to help them learn why they believe what they believe. As we approach the semester break next week, we are actively pursuing new schools (both private and public) to teach the curriculum. It’s amazing to see God open doors at new schools – usually, it’s through a friend or contact with a previous school that leads to the next one! There really are only four people in Cebu…

Prayer Requests

  • The Street Level students to grow in their relationship with God and passion to reach out to their classmates.
  • Upcoming meetings with new schools to teach Exploring Creation Science and curriculum development.
September 25, 2019 Shofar Missions Cebu

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

A Look Back…..

Since October is right around the corner, I cannot help but be reminded it is almost three years since our preparations to move to the Philippines to plant Street Level Ministries Cebu and continue publishing Word On the Street Magazine began and what a ride it has been.

Philippines, River Falls, and Menomonie WOTS Crew

It all began with a Bible study. When we arrived in Cebu, we began looking for a location to have a weekly Bible study while waiting to hear back from a university where we presented Street Level Ministries. In the meantime, we found a coffeehouse to meet at and began co-teaching a Bible study every Tuesday evening. We stepped into editing and writing for Word On the Street and started passing out the ‘zine to students outside university campuses.

After we were unable to meet on campus at two other universities, we decided it was time for a new approach. We planned a recruitment gathering using Word on the Street as our advertisement. After setting a date and printing 700 copies of the issue, we hit the streets to get the word out. Three students from the University of the Visayas attended and Street Level Ministries began. We started meeting at Elicon House for a weekly dinner and Bible study. Street Level Radio was also installed in February of 2018 at two locations. In June of 2018 we held our first Street Level Radio Live Broadcast.

July 2017 SLM Recruitment Gathering

In November of 2017, the first Shofar Creation Science class was taught. Preparations for this branch of Shofar Mission began in June of 2017 with curriculum development. We decided the science class would be every Wednesday. Lessons were taught at two different schools alternating weeks and once per month at another school on Friday. The February 2018 team was also able to attend a lesson.

November 2017 First Shofar Science Creation Class

We Have Much To Be Thankful For

In June of 2019, God provided an office space to serve as the headquarters for Street Level Ministries. This has allowed for two meeting times per week so the students can choose the time that fits their schedule. The office also allows for one-on-one meetings to take place and a chance to go through a book together with a student. We also started Street Level membership, which gives students the option to volunteer in either Street Level Radio or Word on the Street Magazine. Most recently, we were approved to be an official organization at the University of the Visayas. In light of this, we will be participating in Intramurals and having a recruitment gathering for UV students to learn more about Street Level Ministries.

June 2019 First Meeting at SLM Headquarters
Street Level Radio Live Broadcast

We had an opportunity to work with three new schools and maintain a teaching schedule at two others teaching Shofar Creation Science lessons during the 2018-2019 school year. Our schedule also allowed for classes to be offered twice a week. In June, a new name and logo were designed. The July 2019 team was able to attend a couple of lessons and engage with the students. At this time, information is being presented to public school staff offering the lessons to their schools.

August 2019 Exploring Creation Science class

We have also had the opportunity to prepare the way for missions teams to come over, like Shofar Camp and Ministry Training Institute classes.

It is neat to look back at all that God has allowed us to be a part of! It is also times like these that I am reminded, “Never forget where you came from!”

-Laura

August 25, 2019 Shofar Missions Cebu

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

Team Ministry

During the latter part of July and early August, our short-term missions team taught four Ministry Training Institute classes, three women’s discipleship classes, hosted a youth leader’s follow-up, taught in the Bantayan Jail, preached at six different churches, led a children’s outreach in Cebu City, taught science lessons at two city schools, hosted a 3-day summit for university students, and held two live radio broadcasts in downtown Cebu City. Whew! What a ride it has been. We’re thankful for all the ministry that God has allowed us to be a part of in the Philippines. Our heart is to build up local churches and disciples for the furtherance of Christ’s Kingdom.

After the team left, we jumped right back into our normal rhythms of campus outreach and primary/secondary education.

Campus Outreach

This semester, Street Level Ministries is meeting twice a week for dinner and bible study to accommodate students’ schedules. We’re also actively pursuing more ministry opportunities at one of the universities in the city, as God continues to point us back to students there. Aside from weekly meetings, we’re also utilizing our new “banana stand” to get out on the streets for live Street Level Radio broadcasts and Word on the Street Magazine distribution.

Exploring Creation Science

Primary and secondary schools are in full swing (well, aside from a holiday nearly every week!), which means more students are being taught why they believe what they believe. Through Shofar’s Exploring Creation Science lessons, students from grade 4 all the way to grade 12 discover how the sciences of biology, geology, astronomy, chemistry, and human anatomy support God’s creation.

Prayer Requests

Thank you for your continued support and prayers for Shofar Mission. If you are compelled, please remember to pray for the following:

  • That the team’s endeavors would continue to bear fruit that remains in the lives of those whom we ministered to.
  • For the Street Level students to grow in their faith, maturity as disciples, and passion to reach out to their classmates and universities.
  • For continued relationships with primary and secondary schools that we’ve worked with in the past, as well as new schools to teach Exploring Creation Science.