Energized!

Recently, the Worship Team of Bible Believers Church and Ministry of Balagtas (BBCMB) went to an overnight retreat in Mt. Peniel Prayer Mountain in Tarlac (3-hour trip from the PCM Home) during the school break. Seven of the older children of PCM, being members of the Worship Team, went to the retreat as well. They were asked to save from their daily school allowance so they can have pocket money. This is part of the training in PCM to sacrifice when it comes to serving the Lord.

Pastor Nelson expounded on the kind of person God uses and the commitment of those who want to serve God. They had a big-brother strategy wherein the senior members of the team partnered with the junior members for prayers and mentoring. This made sure that the message was internalized carefully by all the members, old and new. This also created a unity bond to make everybody feel that each one was important. We're joyful that our children are not just growing up physically, but most importantly, growing up spiritually.

In the prayer mountain, each one went inside a prayer cell to have a quiet time with God. Before they went home, they had a energetic group worship without any time constraint. All of them were refreshed, restored and recharged!

Second chances

Michael Cabbab is the eldest of 3 children. His father was a carpenter and his mother was a laundry woman living in Tala Leprosarium. Both of them didn’t have a stable job that they can’t afford to send Michael to school.

Michael was first accepted in PCM in 2007. While in PCM, he excelled in his academics, especially in Math and Science.  He was consistently at the top 5 of his class. After about 3 years, he decided to go home to his parents. He continued his high school in Tala, but his study habits became horrible. He was not able to focus on his studies, because he and his peer group just bum around every day after school. He was already thinking of stopping at that time. Good thing he still finished his secondary school.

Unfortunately, college is much more costly, and the parents totally gave up sending him to school. Last year, Michael applied again for admission in PCM. And he was given a second chance. He is currently enrolled in Balagtas Technical Vocational School taking up Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Michael has shown his previous character during his first admission – responsible, reliable and respectful. He is a friendly and energetic teenager who excels in basketball games. He follows instructions well and performs tasks even without being told. He expresses his feelings and opinions without hesitation.

Michael, assisting in the sound system

He is an active member of the partner church of PCM, always excited in attending worship services. He is now a student of School of Leaders Level 2. He also helps as assistant sound tech. Ptr. Nelson, his senior pastor, said, “Michael’s being responsible and reliable are now more evident when it comes to the work of the Lord. His spirit of  volunteerism is high, and has great leadership potential. Perhaps next year, he will handle his own small group.”

God is a God of second chances. Michael has been granted the same thing in PCM. No regrets both for him and PCM. We remain to believe that God is executing His good plan for Michael!

She honors God, and look what happens next...

Maybilyn with older sister Jobelle

Maybilyn Atienza has been dreaming her father’s dream for the longest time – to be capable of supporting her immediate family and others in need. She just finished her B.S. Computer Science this month and is immediately employed in the loans department of Rural Bank of Pandi. All thanks to the goodness of the Lord for the big blessings!

Maybi, as she is fondly called, has been with PCM for 8 years since her first year high school. With the help of mentors like Ate Helen, Ptra. Arlyn and Ptr. Nelson, Maybi developed her faith with Jesus. She learned to embrace hard work, to lead other children in doing chores, to persevere in the difficulties of life, to value the small things, and to dream high.

Maybi is an industrious partner of Ate Helen in taking charge of the house chores in PCM. She is also very helpful in maintaining financial records in the computer and in the books. On top of that, she was retreat counselor and speaker in church, and being groomed to be part of the leadership group of Ptra. Arlyn. During her early years in PCM, she was shy, fearful of people, and stubborn. But the Lord has changed her tremendously. She is now submissive believer and bolder to share her faith. She has a friend whom she invited to church, and now the whole household of her friend has also joined.

She is very thankful for all the support given to her by PCM, PLM and ICLM. Her faith in God coupled with diligence in her studies, house chores and church responsibilities took Maybi to a higher level of fruitfulness in the Kingdom. Truly, God honors those who honor Him!

An upgrade at last!

The children were getting frustrated with their two computers - old, sluggish, and unreliable. There were times they just rather rent in computer shops to do their school work. BUT enough of that! This February, ICLM gave funds to buy two new CPUs for a significant upgrade of their equipment - less waiting time and less stress that files won't be lost. The internet speed even got better. Now they are happy with technology!

Christmas 2015 is a season of promotion

We had a wonderful Christmas get together with the children and their parents and siblings, Dream Again scholars, and friends from our partner church. I was particularly touched by two things during this Christmas Party:

1. The children led a worship service, complete with instrumentalists and backup singers! Ricardo was in charge of the sound system. They used to be shy, unmotivated, and with poor self-image. Surely they've come a long way through the passionate leadership of Ptr. Nelson and Ate Helen.

2. Two DreamAgain scholars have graduated and are now working. They went to the party as well because they wanted to bless back by giving to the children. One of the ex-scholars boldly shared his testimony on how he finished his college through faith, determination, and the grace of God through PCM.

PCM is not just a place of refuge. It is also a place where the broken are molded back into the image of Jesus.

Thanks for the cheers!

Disadvantaged children have advantages as well. Every Christmas season, PCM never fails to have warmhearted people who care enough to make an effort to visit our children and give them a treat they will never forget. This year, we praise God for these wonderful visitors...

Praise Christian Fellowship - Tondo...

Operation Blessing of 700 Club...

Rhodora Fuster and Family,..

Society of Unified Nursing Students from Dr. Lanting College...