By Ms. Roxanne Ville Serra
We set foot on Cagayan de Oro City on a very sunny Saturday- August 28, 2010. Now, it has been almost two months; time passes swiftly. We look back at these early beginnings, and we can say that the Lord has been so good to us. He is and will always be.
Before we reached CDO, the Lord led us to use the “You’re Worth Waiting For: Abstinence Education” as an evangelistic, ground-breaking tool after much prayer. We have been preparing as a team, expectant to see God’s mighty hand to enable us to declare the gospel boldly as we ought, and to see souls saved. The Lord opened a total of 11 Gospel opportunities in 5 schools—two high schools, two colleges, and one university.
These were the opportunities the Lord opened within September 17 to October 20, 2010:
The following is an estimation (based on the decision slips we have collected) of the total number of souls who have heard the gospel:
SCHOOL | DATE |
September 17 and 24 | |
Liceo de Cagayan University (LdCU) | September 28, October 4 and 6 |
Cagayan de Oro College | October 4 and 5 |
Southern | October 12 |
October 20 (2 sessions) |
The following is an estimation (based on the decision slips we have collected) of the total number of souls who have heard the gospel:
Number of souls who heard the Good News: 915
Number of professions: 524
Number of souls interested to join Bible study: 184
Each opportunity was a unique experience of God’s enabling grace. We can share one story to another about how the Lord displayed His glory as He answered our prayers for each session we have had within about a month of just sowing seeds of the gospel and at the same time upholding moral recovery through abstinence education by the grace of God.
SEEING THE NEED AND MEETING A SEEKING SOUL
One particular experience we would like to share as a team was the YWWF opportunity on October 4, 2010 in Liceo de Cagayan University. The Director for Community Development, Ma’am Fritzie Estoque, was the one who pushed this activity through her office. She required all her NSTP students to attend the three sessions that were scheduled as part of her curriculum.
After the abstinence discussion, the gospel was preached. MJ flashed photos of empty people seeking happiness at the wrong, in the wrong ways, and with the wrong people. When gave the invitation, many students prayed the simple prayer of faith. We distributed the tracts, purity pledges, and decision slips. After which was a lengthy open forum to entertain questions. Then the forum ended. We were able to talk with Ma’am Fritz and found out that sexual immorality is so rampant that there are 34 reported AIDS positive victims, and 16 come from CDO. She also shared more incidents of teenage prostitution occurring in public schools both elementary and high school. I was honestly shocked by the darkness hiding itself behind the lights and sounds of this busy city. And through that talk, I saw God’s guidance. I said to myself, “That’s why the Lord led us to use this tool for evangelism and that’s why He has been opening many doors for YWWF here because He knows this need.” This displayed God’s mercy upon this city. An evidence of His authority over all peoples and places.
Yet, while I was talking to Ma’am Fritz, the Lord was doing something in the life of a young man who made a decision for Jesus. He talked to MJ and expressed his gratitude for the good news that was preached. He told MJ that the photos that were flashed reflect his empty heart. “I am empty. I am searching for inner peace and happiness. That’s me,” he said. And he could not explain the joy he had upon making that decision that night. And the day after that encounter with him, he visited us at the center. MJ was able to spend time with him, just listening to him pouring out his heart and talking about his life before he made that decision for Jesus. Then he became a frequent guest at the apartment. We rejoice for the life of this truth-seeker. Please pray for him as he is now experiencing some testings, which he has not yet specifically opened to us. Please pray for God’s preservation and his spiritual growth.
PRAYERS SOUGHT
Please continue to pray for us as we continue to break grounds as we are starting this new work in CDO. Please pray for fruits that will remain, a core group to be discipled and nurtured in the faith, and abounding love for Him and the souls of men.
We are excited to seeing more of God’s wonder-working power to transform lives and to advance His kingdom.
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”
-=Romans 11:36=-
