Unstoppable in Bulacan

Unstoppable 3

Last January, I was invited to be the guest speaker at a big youth event in  Pulilan, Bulacan. The theme of the event was Unstoppable.

I shared about unstoppable people in history and lead into the unstoppable love of Jesus who died on the cross for them. I also did a human video about the crucifixion for them which really touched their hearts.

Unstoppable 2

120 youth came to the event and all 120 youth responded to the salvation altar call. They have a huge youth group for such a small town. It is remarkable to see what God is doing there. What is happening is nothing short of a revival.

I Went to Jail in the Philippines

This month, God opened an awesome door of ministry to me. My friend, Pastor Andy, invited me to speak to the leaders of a church in the local Davao City Jail. I was honored to be able to enter the facility and walk through the jail full of men in orange T-shirts.

I spoke to the leaders on faith. The pastor of the church has been in the jail for four years awaiting his robbery trial. Two of his main leaders are serving six years for drug abuse and are still awaiting their trial. The youngest inmate there, Mark, told me he regularly borrows a radio to listen to Edge Radio.

There are three religious places of worship there: a Catholic Church, a mosque, and the born-again Christian church. Until recently, the Christian church had no roof. Thankfully, they just finished the roof the week before I arrived. They were so happy to have a foreigner visit them and were respectful and attentive as I spoke through an interpreter. They invited me to come back as soon as I can.

The Refuge Goes On

During the past few months, despite going through a paralyzing time, the Refuge is still running. The Bible and Missions training there graduated their first class of students and Edge Radio is still holding public events there. We are also having evangelistic film viewings.

One of the biggest challenges we have at the Refuge is a lack of equipment. Every time we hold an event, we have to borrow two or three guitar amplifiers, instruments, a LCD projector, drum cymbals, etc. We also have no furniture for our huge downstairs fellowship area. We are hoping to convert the downstairs into a coffee house where youth can come at all hours to study, have fellowship, and receive counseling. We are also hoping to remodel the upstairs with some acoustic foam to help with the deafening reverb during the concerts.

James 4:2 says, “You have not because you ask not.” Well, I’m asking now for help. We immediately need a LCD projector, amplifiers, guitars, and a new drum kit. We also need to furnish our downstairs so we can have a place for the youth to hang out. I envision having a coffee bar with lots of furniture, games, and for it to be a fun place.
With your help, we can transform this place into a greater soul-winning machine with ongoing discipleship and change happening in the hearts of the youth of this city.

The Refuge Was Burglarized!

Police Station

Police Station in the Philippines

The phone rang and woke me up at 3am Tuesday morning.

I asked “What is going on?”

The owner called and said the Refuge is open right now!

I quickly dressed myself and rushed out the door. I optimistically thought, “it must be one of our faithful volunteers setting up early for the morning Bible school.” I stepped on the gas in my little car and sped down the wet, rain-soaked road.  Racing across the city, I hit a particularly slippery intersection and drifted the car around the corner.  I made good time as there was no traffic on this quiet and rainy night.

As I sped into the parking lot, my optimism changed to tension as I looked at the smashed in roll-up steel door. The owner of the building and caretaker stood cautiously looking at the dark hole in the roll-up door. I recklessly grabbed my flashlight and pepper spray and darted into the hole, hoping to find the intruders. As I swept the building, my bravery faded to disappointment as I saw the loss and damage. The thieves not only bashed in the gate, they destroyed the door and lock on the sound booth, and took several valuable things. In my disappointment, I realized they had stolen a nice laptop, my Mp3 player, the drum symbols, and most of my tools. They also urinated and defecated on the floor as to send me some sort of message.

Police Car

Police Cruiser in the Philippines.

Two nights before, we had held our first ever Hip Hop and Rap concert at The Refuge, where 100 young people prayed the prayer of repentance and salvation with me. We were going after the gangs and hip hoppers that night. Probably one of the people who came that event spied out the place that night and brought back his gang to ransack us later. We are still hoping to apprehend the ones who did this, but the police procedures are very different here.

No matter what influenced those people to attack the place God has given us, we will not stop going after the lost souls of this nation. We will only increase our boldness and do more to stop this darkness by shedding more light. Please pray for us to continue to preach boldly and for us to recover from this loss.

Awake Samal Outreaches

Across the bay of Davao City, lies beautiful Samal Island. Even though it is near the city, it is underdeveloped and many of the people there live in poverty seemingly forgotten by the outside world. 

One of the great missionary organizations here, F.I.R.E. International, has a vision and strategy of reaching the entire island of Samal through evangelism. They are having targeted weekly outreaches in every community on the Island. They asked us to participate in their outreaches and teach evangelistic dramas to their team. We joined the first of many outreaches and have already started the drama trainings. I prayed for many people at the first outreach who were instantly healed.

One teenager came to me with a yucky deep cough and asked me to pray for him. I asked him to cough before I prayed and it sounded terrible. I then rebuked the cough and sickness, and commanded his body to be healed by the Stripes of Jesus. After I prayed, I asked him to take a deep breath and cough. His lungs were instantly so clear that he could not cough!
Praise God!

Hero (Catalyst Graduation Version)

This is the Human Video “Hero” presented by Catalyst during their graduation.

This is a powerful evangelistic drama (human video) depicting a suicidal drug using teen that needs a hero. It also depicts a young, pregnant high school student who also needs a hero. Presented by the Catalyst Youth Leadership Academy. This drama was created by and trained by Matthew Triggs of Extreme Mercy International.

The crowd reaction was electrifying for this drama as the characters entered. Everyone was so excited for the graduation.

“Hero” by Skillet

Lyrics:

I’m just a step away
I’m just a breath away
Losin’ my faith today
JEN: Fallin’ off the edge today

I am just a man
Not superhuman
JEN: I’m not superhuman
someone save me from the hate

It’s just another war
Just another family torn
JEN: Falling from my faith today
Just a step from the edge
Just another day in the world we live

[Chorus:]
I need a hero to save me now
I need a hero
JEN: Save me now
I need a hero to save my life
A hero’ll save me
JEN: Just in time

[Verse 2]
I gotta fight today
To live another day
Speakin’ my mind today
JEN: My voice will be heard today

I’ve gotta make a stand
but I am just a man
JEN: I’m not superhuman
My voice will be heard today

It’s just another war
Just another family torn
JEN: My voice will be heard today
It’s just another kill
The countdown begins to destroy ourselves

[Chorus]

I need a hero to save my life
I need a hero
Just in time

Save me just in time
Save me just in time

[Bridge:]
Who’s gonna fight for what’s right
Who’s gonna help us survive
We’re in the fight of our lives
JEN: And we’re not ready to die

Who’s gonna fight for the weak
Who’s gonna make ‘em believe
I’ve got a hero
JEN: I’ve got a hero

Livin’ in me
I’m gonna fight for whats right
Today I’m speaking my mind
And if it kills me tonight
JEN: I will be ready to die

A hero’s not afraid to give his life
A hero’s gonna save me just in time

[Chorus]
I need a hero to save me now
I need a hero
JEN: Save me now
I need a hero to save my life
A hero’ll save me
JEN: Just in time

I need a hero
Who’s gonna fight for whats right
Who’s gonna help us survive

I need a hero
Who’s gonna fight for the week
Who’s gonna make ‘em believe
I need a hero

I need a hero

A hero’s gonna save me just in time

The Bridge

Here is another great human video that Emily and I used to train the Catalyst Drama Team.

This is a drama (human video) about a teenager trying to reach Jesus while facing all the temptations life has to offer. When she finally reaches her goal, she becomes part of a bridge to reach others. It is presented beautifully by the Catalyst Youth Leadership Academy drama team in the Philippines. This human video was originally created by Master’s Commission USA.

“Place In This World” by Michael W. Smith

Lyrics:

The wind is moving
But I am standing still
A life of pages
Waiting to be filled

A heart that’s hopeful
A head that’s full of dreams
But this becoming
Is harder than it seems

Feels like I’m
Looking for a reason
Roamin’ through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need your light to help me find
My place in this world
My place in this world

If there are millions
Down on their knees
Among the many
Can you still hear me

Hear me asking
Where do I belong?
Is there a vision
That I can call my own?

Show me, I’m
Looking for a reason
Roamin’ through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need your light to help me find
My place in this world
My place in this world

Lookin’ for a reason
Roamin’ through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need your light to help me find
My place in this world
My place in this world

Lookin’ for a reason
Roamin’ through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world

Tomorrow

Don’t wait until tomorrow to give your life to Jesus. This is another powerful human video presented by the Catalyst Youth Leadership Academy Drama Team. Matthew Triggs of Extreme Mercy International trained this drama team. It was originally created by the Master’s Commission

Proverbs 27:1 (New King James Version)
“Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

“Tomorrow” by The Winans

Lyrics:

Jesus said,
”Here I stand, won’t you please let me in?”
And you said,
”I will tomorrow”

Jesus said,
”I am He who supplies all your needs”
And you said,
”I know, but tomorrow, oooh, tomorrow,
I’ll give my life tomorrow,
I thought about today,
but it’s so much easier to say”

Tomorrow, who promised you tomorrow?
Better choose the Lord today,
For tomorrow very well might be too late.

Jesus said,
”Here I stand, won’t you please take my hand?”
And you said ,
”I will tomorrow”

Jesus said
”I am He who supplies all your needs”
And you said,
”I know, but tomorrow, ooh, tomorrow,
I’ll give my life tomorrow,
I thought about today,
Oooohh but it’s so much easier to say”

Tomorrow, who promised you tomorrow?
Better choose the Lord today,
For tomorrow very well might be too late.

And who said tomorrow would ever come for you?
Still you laugh and play and continue on to say,
”Tomorrow”
Forget about tomorrow
Won’t you give your life today?
Oohh please
Don’t just turn and walk away
Tomorrow, tomorrow is not promised
Don’t let this moment slip away
Your tomorrow could very well begin today.

Hero

While preparing to train the Catalyst Youth Leadership Academy, I was praying for a new human video. During my prayer time in April 2011, God helped me visualize this amazing drama to the song “Hero” by Skillet. It is meant to reach the unsaved and unchurched for Jesus.

This is a powerful evangelistic drama (human video) depicting a suicidal drug-using teen that needs a hero. It also depicts a young pregnant high school student who also needs a hero. Presented by the Catalyst Youth Leadership Academy. This drama was created by and trained by Matthew Triggs of Extreme Mercy International.

“Hero” by Skillet

I’m just a step away
I’m just a breath away
Losin’ my faith today
JEN: Fallin’ off the edge today

I am just a man
Not superhuman
JEN: I’m not superhuman
someone save me from the hate

It’s just another war
Just another family torn
JEN: Falling from my faith today
Just a step from the edge
Just another day in the world we live

[Chorus:]
I need a hero to save me now
I need a hero
JEN: Save me now
I need a hero to save my life
A hero’ll save me
JEN: Just in time

[Verse 2]
I gotta fight today
To live another day
Speakin’ my mind today
JEN: My voice will be heard today

I’ve gotta make a stand
but I am just a man
JEN: I’m not superhuman
My voice will be heard today

It’s just another war
Just another family torn
JEN: My voice will be heard today
It’s just another kill
The countdown begins to destroy ourselves

[Chorus]

I need a hero to save my life
I need a hero
Just in time

Save me just in time
Save me just in time

[Bridge:]
Who’s gonna fight for what’s right
Who’s gonna help us survive
We’re in the fight of our lives
JEN: And we’re not ready to die

Who’s gonna fight for the weak
Who’s gonna make ’em believe
I’ve got a hero
JEN: I’ve got a hero

Livin’ in me
I’m gonna fight for whats right
Today I’m speaking my mind
And if it kills me tonight
JEN: I will be ready to die

A hero’s not afraid to give his life
A hero’s gonna save me just in time

[Chorus]
I need a hero to save me now
I need a hero
JEN: Save me now
I need a hero to save my life
A hero’ll save me
JEN: Just in time

I need a hero
Who’s gonna fight for whats right
Who’s gonna help us survive

I need a hero
Who’s gonna fight for the week
Who’s gonna make ’em believe
I need a hero

I need a hero

A hero’s gonna save me just in time

When God Ran

Another anointed Human Video about the Father Heart of God towards us. He will run to even those prodigal children who start back home. Presented by the Davao Catalyst Youth Leadership Academy Drama Team at Conquest Camp at Hope Mountain, Philippines.

“When God Ran” by Phillips, Craig, and Dean

Lyrics:
Almighty God, the Great I AM
Immovable Rock, Omnipotent, Powerful, Awesome Lord
Victorious warrior, Commanding King of Kings
Mighty Conqueror, and the only time
the only time I ever saw Him run

CHORUS:
Was when He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son, do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise when God ran

The day I left home I knew I’d broken His heart
And I wondered then if things could ever be the same
Then one night I remembered His love for me
And down that dusty road ahead I could see
It was the only time – it was the only time I ever saw Him run

And then He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son, do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise and He brought me to my knees
When God ran – I saw Him run to me

BRIDGE:
I was so ashamed, all alone and so far away
But now I know He’s been waiting for this day

I saw Him run to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice I felt His love for me again

He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son”, He called me Son
He said, “Son do you know I still love you?”
He ran to me and then I ran to Him
When God ran