Year 2016 in Review

[EDITOR’S NOTE: From the start of the year (on 19-Jan 2016) the message of non-levitical (marketplace) ordination has brought much encouragement and now, upon reflection, as the year draws to a close, how grateful we are to the Lord for travel mercies by air, over land, in buses, trains, etc where we witnessed these 86 servant leaders, by Lianne’s count, released into their “priestly” duties before the Lord in their respective communities.]

THE BEST IS ENEMY OF THE GOOD

Can a year be so awesome that it leaves you speechless as you ask your friends to pinch you to see if it’s all really happening? 2016 has been that kind of year. But no year deserves the appellation: “good year” unless it sets you up for better things, things of growth, things of value, things of even more usefulness to God and neighbour. As we say farewell to the holy disruption that 2016 brought, we do so intentionally and honestly, with a sense of gratefulness, and also a pinch of sadness. Who enjoys leaving behind a good conversation or the end of a moving story? Yet, moving forward is sometimes the only thing, and often the best thing we can do.

TRENDS EVALUATED

On all fronts, one thing stood out, a trend that was happening everywhere, all at the same time; among babes, young men, and among fathers. And it was this; a holy uprising against the way things had been, and as they had been presented to us as if sufficient for the day when in fact they were, in all honesty, never more inadequate and inglorious. Among the babes, we saw fruit that very suddenly emerged. We were not so conscious of this growth initially and what little progress was at best, imperceptible at first. Among the young men, likewise, the facts in themselves offered no clue yet confirmed the prophecy in Isaiah: “…they that wait upon the Lord shall mount up with wings.” And among the fathers, we witnessed entire communities giving testimony of Jesus in thrilling and most unexpected of places.

DAVT-7 (29-May 2016) Singapore

1. Abraham Quillopo Ricanor PH

2. Remedios Fontanilla Ricanor PH

3. Patricia Owyang Lai Fong SG

4. John Heng Hock Peng SG

5. Rodolfo Montano Pulido PH

6. Maribel Laud Pulido PH

AMONG THE BABES

The little ones in our midst gave us great encouragement and excitement in the way they rose to the occasion again and again as they withstood those peculiar challenges that maturing in Christ brings. Parents, teachers and mentors also weighed in to ensure that whatever forward momentum previously gained would not be lost in dissipation. Events both scheduled and spontaneous were choreographed by an unseen hand to bring us closer to the end of ourselves and the beginning of wisdom, single-minded in focus to see a city of faith arise among the least of these, of whom it can be said, Every soul is destined to the greatness that God ordains.

DAVT-8 (10-July 2016) Urdaneta,PH

1. Elvira Santiago Abao

2. Jesus Caralipio Abao

3. Segundina Dela Cruz Agtarap

4. Ruben Rivera Agtarap

5. Raquel Viernes Agtarap

6. Hazam Dela Cruz Agtarap

7. Lylanie Chamos Frofonga

8. Jeric Balbada Frofonga

9. Mildred Montero Butche

10. Violeta Bergado Murillo

11. Carlina Aguilar Navarrete

12. Martina Aguilar Navarrete

13. Wilhelmina Abao Caspillan

14. Ofelia Prestoza Ramos

15. Rey Ricky Paragas Antonio

16. Amy Fe Aquino Adap

17. Marvin Ambaliza Adap

18. Rosalina Galletes Cister

19. Victor Parocha Cister Sr

20. Jane Venezuela Drequito

21. Catalino Domaoal Drequito

22. Angelina Managan Gutierez

23. Dominador Dayag Gutierez

24. Lolita Agustin Hidalgo

25. Romualdo Tabayoyong Hidalgo

26. Charity Faith Agustin Hidalgo

27. Kenneth Roy Agustin Hidalgo

28. Marilyn Caspillan Ladringan

29. Jerwin Roy Ricanor Ladringan

30. Cynthia Brillante Laurado

31. Ernesto Valdez Laurado

32. Mila Mae Agsi Pagaduan

33. Ruben Mones Pagaduan

34. Irma Elegado Pascua

35. Jon Jon Petallo Pascua

36. Gloria Laroya Ricanor

37. Julian Jr Abubo Ricanor

38. Herminia Quillopo Ricanor

39. Priscilla Marquez So

40. Encarnacion Tollo Soberano

41. Geraldine Joy Ricanor Ladringan

42. Lorna Isnec Gagua

43. Rogielim Basilio Gagua

44. Jieil Deon Santiago Abao

AMONG THE YOUNG MEN

Another arena wherein our members are making a difference can be seen in the public square, at the workplace and in the studio. No age group is more important to the health of a nation than its young adults and new wage earners. Here, aspiring minds have their sights on enterprising solutions for long standing problems in human society. Little do they imagine that the choices they make are based on arcane foreknowledge and preordained counsel from above. God is in control, these young people are teaching us, and He is not mocked; he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

DAVT-9 (11-Sept 2016) SIngapore

1. Scopy Uwako, PNG

2. Peter McBain, PNG

3. Ferdinand Quillopo Ricanor, PH

4. Zenaida Valdez Ricanor, PH

DAVT-10 (13-Oct 2016) SIngapore

1. Lodovico Jr. Gumban Baroro, PH

2. Janette Aran Baroro PH

3. Roma Fe Carandang Villalon PH

AMONG THE FATHERS

Tentative steps taken years ago by our trustees are being confirmed and acknowledged for what they really are; confident, generous and courageous acts of mercy and kindness toward the poor, those with special needs and victims in trauma. We may not be the smartest of peoples, but what intelligence we have lacked has been amply made up for through uncommon stick-to-itiveness and a holy boldness in Jesus’ name. We had been diverted from heartache, detoured from reproach, shielded from condemnation and blame. Indeed, how blessed is the man who sits not in the counsel of the wicked and in whose delight is the law of Messiah.

 1. 蔡姐妹2. 王姐妹，3. 王姐妹，4. 陈弟兄，5. 刘姐妹，6. 单姐妹，7. 王弟兄，8. 吕姐妹，9. 钱弟兄，10. 沈姐妹,11. 戴姐妹，12. 卞弟兄，13. 李弟兄，14. 蒋姐妹，15. 马老师，16. 孙弟兄，17. 王姐妹，18. 王弟兄，19. 吉弟兄，20. 陈姐妹，21. 刘弟兄，22. 杨姐妹，23. 周姐妹,24. 钱姐妹,25. Undisclosed26. Undisclosed27. Undisclosed28. Undisclosed29. Undisclosed

THINGS TO COME

Now as we look forward, we leap. And as we have invited the Almighty into the equation so do we also expect a harvest (however righteousness might look like in social structure change). And having stepped out, get ready to be amazed. And don’t let your present level of gifting limit you to what Jesus already has prepared. Your eye has not seen and that is the point. What you don’t see this coming season is going to be far more important than what you already have in your sights. Beyond what you can scope or design or even dream. Literally, out of this world.

… … … … … …

GRAB RABBI – OFFICIAL 2017 LAUNCH

A tri-semester graduate level program orgainised by The Oikos Fellowship takes place this weekend at the Geylang Mission.We still have a number of seats left @ $200 SGD per weekend. We have a line-up of expert witnesses to the testimony of Messiah Jesus and the course reading materials by Bailey, Gruber and Nisbett has already been made available for review.Dr Skip Moen* will arrive this week (6th Jan) from Florida, USA to conduct two (2) weekends in Singapore before his visit to the Children under the Bridge and to teach at STT bible college in Jakarta.GEOGRAPHY OF THOUGHT

JESUS THRU MIDDLE-EASTERN EYES

COPERNICUS AND THE JEWS

FOUR (4) SEATS LEFT

6 Jan (Friday evening)

7 Jan (Sat morning)

7 Jan (Sat afternoon)

8 Jan (Sun afternoon)

ONE (1) SEAT LEFT

13 Jan (Friday evening)

14 Jan (Sat morning)

14 Jan (Sat afternoon)

15 Jan (Sun afternoon)

Our learned professors in Grab Rabbi will be interdisciplinary experts from a wide variety of faculties and not only instructors from the theological seminary, all of them authors, adjuncts and missional leaders in their own right.We will hear scholarly opinion from our esteemed adjuncts over three days deliberating points of the law in consultation with the reference materials. Participants will have an opportunity to raise salient issues or contribute insights that will form the basis of our confidence in the things being asserted.Registration & payment : Charis 9116 2477

… … … … … …

* Dr Skip Moen, an Oxford-trained world-view expert also leads Israel tours and is on the lecture circuit on semester-at-sea in additional to hosting an over 6,000 online lexicon at http://www.skipmoen.com