The Putney Family - Missionaries to the Philippines

August Prayer letter

2010-08-02T11:34:00.002-04:00

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, August 2, 2010

1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
1Th 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

It is refreshing to read of the fondness and accolades that Paul directed toward churches such as Thessalonica or that of Rome. It is obvious that these were not just empty statements coming from Paul, for we know he wasn’t afraid to be direct when needed either (i.e. Corinth). It encourages us to be able to visit many churches around this country that have not left their first love, that tremble at the word of God, that are diligent in evangelizing their community and are strongly devoted to missions as an utmost priority. Whether their investment can be through our family or not, the work is great and large around the globe and we are glad that they are committed to it. We are praying that more church planters and missionaries would spring out of such churches so every community here and around the world would have such beacons of light, peculiar and visible, like a city set on a hill that cannot be hid.

The Lord has graciously brought us closer to the Philippines again this month with new churches partnering with us in Abilene and San Antonio, Texas for sure and Lord willing some others will also join us in this work. We are now right about at the 60% mark of support and praying that God will allow the rest to be raised in short order. No matter the duration, our prayer is that God would find us stedfastly committed to this worthy cause for our worthy King. Along the way we have had opportunity to pass out tracts and witness in many places, seeing the gospel spread from north to south this past month and watching our girls eager to pass out tracts themselves.

The miles we put on the vehicle caught up with us this month as we were heading from San Antonio to Dallas for a Mission/Camp meeting where we would have opportunity to meet many pastors and set up our prayer table. The trip started with a delay as a flat tire led to two of our trailer tires being replaced. When we got on the road we hit some traffic which slowed us up and by evening we were broken down on the side of the highway. Yet the Lord took care of us, we had an officer behind us to give added visibility to other drivers and the tow driver managed both our truck and trailer in one trip, getting us to an RV park. We were able to get the truck serviced thanks to many of you reading this who have invested in us faithfully, and while it took a couple days to get straightened out, we are now back on the road to our next destination.

We start August in Texas City; will visit our home church as we move across the gulf coast into Florida for some meetings and then end up in TN by the end of the month. Please pray that the vehicle and trailer hold up well (we will likely need to get the brakes on the trailer done this month), that the word of God would have free course and be glorified, for our children to find great encouragement and joy in the work and that we would have the wisdom and organization to balance personal quiet time, family, travel, ministry and the start of homeschooling two kids later this month! Thank you for your prayer and support of the Putney family as we desire to get to the Philippines just as soon as God will allow.

Only by His grace,
Aaron & Stephanie Putney
Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma

Grace Independent Baptist Church
Pastor Paul Perkins
3707 Bienville Blvd
Ocean Springs, MS 39564

www.PutneysforChrist.com
Aaron@PutneysforChrist.com Cell - 585 298 3807

July Prayer Letter

2010-07-02T09:49:00.002-04:00

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, July 2, 2010

John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

In a screened in gazebo, surrounded by trees and wildlife I thoroughly enjoyed spending some time with the Lord this morning as I finished the book of John. I have long had the above verse memorized as a reminder of just how little we know of all the incredible things that our Lord Jesus did while walking on this earth, yet this morning God showed me something else here. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John was directed to conclude this gospel and I suggest that we see here a man who is overwhelmed by His time with Christ and would have, if God were to allow, continued to write until the world was filled with all the books that should be written! His love for Christ and the overwhelming desire to testify of His goodness a thousand times more than his pen was able and the Spirit would suffer Him I expect left Him wanting. As he put down the last jot and tittle on this book that God would then perfectly preserve for generations and for us today in our King James Bible, John was joyously rehearsing every moment, every meal, every miracle and every mile that he had the privilege to walk with His matchless Saviour! What a charge that was to us today as we sat to write this and to testify in so few a word of all the great things that our God has done in our lives and ministry this past month. In trials - He overcomes, in storms – He brings peace, in quiet – He gives strength and wisdom, in witnessing – he gives boldness, in travel – He gives protection, in sustenance – He gives abundance, in prayer – He communes with us, in decisions – He gives discernment; and in perspective – He gives an eternal expectation of a heavenly home and a city that we long for! To say we have been blessed is an understatement, unfortunately we don’t reflect upon it enough.

We are glad to report that this past month has been fruitful after adding new supporters from Louisiana and Texas. We were also blessed to have received a call one Saturday from a young church plant we were at last October who is partnering with us in taking the gospel to the Philippines as well as finding out that a church in NY where a dear friend who is one year into his first pastorate is also joining us in support and continuing in prayer. The Lord safely reunited me with my family after the meetings I attended last month without them (referred to in June prayer letter). It was profitable for my personal walk and God saw fit to give us new support from a wonderful church in Shreveport along the way with hope of others in the future. The time on my own gave me even more chances to witness, taking more time wherever I was to engage in conversation and distribute tracts for which I am grateful. I trust the Lord worked in the meetings and it was a blessing to hear testimony of people whom God has touched in these services. We also want to praise the Lord for a supporting church that I stopped in on and was given a chance to preach for; they overwhelmed me with love and blessed us in great and unexpected ways to help us on our way.

As we make our way into Texas for the month of July we would sincerely appreciate your continued prayer. We have meetings surrounding the Houston and San Antonio area as well as Abilene. As Americans we are celebrating our independence this month, and as Christians we celebrate our liberation from the bondage of sin. May we remember that for both, it is God that is to be praised. Thank you for your prayer and support of the Putney family as we desire to get to the Philippines just as soon as God will allow.

Serving the risen Saviour, Aaron & Stephanie Putney
Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma

Grace Independent Baptist Church
Pastor Paul Perkins
3707 Bienville Blvd
Ocean Springs, MS 39564

www.PutneysforChrist.com
Aaron@PutneysforChrist.com Cell - 585 298 3807

June Prayer Letter

2010-06-05T23:44:00.000-04:00

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, June 4, 2010

Isaiah 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

In this prophetical chapter dealing with the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus, we are reminded of the confidence that we can have in our God. It is He that helps, it is He that gives us victory and allows us to overcome. Yet along with that great truth, there is another phrase that must not be overlooked – I set my face like a flint. I was greatly challenged this week as I reflected on the determination and unwavering commitment that Christ demonstrated through His life and in His death. In considering what Christ was subjected to and the incredible pain and loss that others have had to endure in this world, I realized how much more determination and reliance on God I need daily. We know Satan will stop at nothing to thwart the work of spreading the gospel. Then again, our God, that worketh all things together for good, will also allow tremendous affliction at times for reasons that we do not understand but that ultimately lead to His magnification and glory. May we find solace in His grace while maintaining steadfastness in the cause.

We rejoice to report this month that God has kept us safe, drawn us closer to Him and once again shown His exclusive ability to orchestrate our progression to the field in ways that we would never expect. There were two examples of this last month alone but the one that sticks out most was getting a phone call from a man in NC where we had a meeting a number of months ago. The church could not financially support us but this man happened to be visiting the church that night (Thursday service) and months later he was led to call us and begin supporting us through the church that he pastors!

Just recently, and for the first time in our deputation, a situation arose that warranted me traveling to a series of meetings without my family. It is away from my family that I write this prayer letter now, eagerly anticipating a joyous reunion with my wonderful wife and four precious daughters. I rejoice that during this time they have been able to finish the homeschool year, get refreshed a little from life on the road and enjoy the fellowship of dear friends and family where we have spent most of our lives. At the same time, this has been an incredibly profitable time for me as I have been able to get alone with God and spend some extended time in prayer, the word of God and study. The Lord has been gracious in meeting with me and allowing me to be refreshed and refueled to set my face as a flint toward the Philippines. My prayer is that I will reunite with my family as a better father, husband, friend, leader and example moving forward. During this trip there have been many opportunites to go soulwinning, work on a bus route and teach kids as well as preach and present our burden for the islands. Then, just this week, I thoroughly enjoyed a great camp meeting in Jacksonville, AR where I sat under some great preaching and had tremendous fellowship with many missionaries heading to fields around the world. This meeting had numerous benefits as it establish contacts with pastors in the area that we trust will translate into meetings in the future. Equipped with CD’s of all the great messages that were preached, I look forward to sharing what God fed us with at this conference to my family upon my soon return. Pray for us this month as we will travel many miles to meetings in multiple states. We are expecting great things from our great God yet again.

2Cor 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

By the grace of God,
Aaron & Stephanie Putney
Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma

Grace Independent Baptist Church
Pastor Paul Perkins
3707 Bienville Blvd
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
www.PutneysforChrist.com
Aaron@PutneysforChrist.com
585 298 3807

May 2010 Prayer Letter

2010-05-08T08:31:00.000-04:00

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, May 2010

3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

While I recognize the context of this verse, I am one whose heart is touched upon reading these words concerning the children the Lord has entrusted us with and the state of their souls and daily walk with Christ. We have been praying for our girls since their birth or before and while it excites us when they can recite a verse, pray at bedtime or even sing at a church; our longing has been for the time when God would touch their heart about their personal need to settle their sin debt by faith in our risen Redeemer. On April 16th, at Parkwood Baptist Church in Houston, our daughter Autumn expressed to us that the Lord was dealing with her about her soul. When the service was over, we spent some time talking about it and she was adamant that she needed to be born again and she called on God to save her! It has been a blessing to see her faithfully and without provocation share her testimony with family and others and encourage them that they need to be saved if they are not! Pray for Autumn, that God would grow her in wisdom and fellowship with Him and that she might give Him glory faithfully until the Lord calls us home!

This report finds us in the northeast for a series of meetings this month before heading to Arkansas by the end of May. While we have had our share of sickness that has passed the family in the past two weeks we praise the Lord that we seem to be at the end of it and look forward to being at full strength for the coming meetings. This past month has provided opportunities to witness and evangelize in different places including a festival in Texas where our three older girls all passed out tracts and we got a few hundred out in just a few hours! We enjoyed being a part of some great Missions conferences and have great optimism that new support for the work in the Philippines will result from them. While we see the reality of challenges in churches across America, we know that the greatest thing Satan wants is to thwart the impact of the local church on evangelization in its own community and its obedience to spread the gospel through the conduit of missionaries throughout the world. It is exciting to see many of the churches that have not strayed from this our foundational purpose; no matter the economy, no matter the political landscape, no matter the philosophies of the day. The work of the gospel is great and large and so as Nehemiah demonstrated for us in the midst of adversity, we must continue in the work, amen?!

Please pray that we would be faithful to the Lord, diligent in our labor and that God would open doors for us this summer to have a full calendar of meetings which will bring us closer to the Philippines as well as encouraging churches and impacting souls with the gospel all along the way. May the Lord greatly encourage you and magnify Himself in your service to Him.

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Eph 3:16-19)

According to the power that worketh in us, Aaron & Stephanie Putney
Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma

Grace Independent Baptist Church
Pastor Paul Perkins
3707 Bienville Blvd
Ocean Springs, MS 39564

www.PutneysforChrist.com
Aaron@PutneysforChrist.com
585 298 3807

April 2010 Prayer Letter

2010-03-28T23:58:00.004-04:00

Dear praying friends and fellow laborers, April 2010

2 Cor 1:11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us…

In the context of the passage above, Paul paints a bleak picture about how they were in trouble, pressed out of measure, above strength and despairing even of life at the time that God delivered them. He then acknowledged the influence of the prayers that had gone up for them in their deliverance. This month I had the privilege of preaching in a Missions conference in Monroe, LA where God gave me liberty to address some scriptures where Paul asked for prayer. There are many requests directed to Corinth, Rome, Thessalonica, Colosse and Ephesus alike. He asked for Boldness, open doors, deliverance from those with ill intent, the glory of God, the furtherance of the gospel, wisdom in speech and more. He asked the churches to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me… As we look back, we want to praise the Lord for tremendous answers to prayer that God has given us throughout deputation and specifically in that past few weeks. God has provided us a stronger vehicle for towing our trailer in a very God orchestrated way, not only that but we have already been able to sell our old truck! At meetings, we have seen multiple churches partner with us recently and a couple others that hope to soon. Our marriage and family life have been especially sweet the past few weeks, the kids are in good health, God has been working in lives, our needs have been met, we have been brought closer to the field, and more meetings have been booked! God has been so good. Now we head back to Texas where we will have more Missions conferences and meetings to finish the last days of March and move through April.

We were reassured again this month about how the Lord knows our needs before we do. Not long ago a surprise love offering was taken for us and sent to our home church. Before we knew the amount of that offering we showed up at a church where we even with a surge protector, we sustained a power jolt that took out our microwave, DVD player and power convertor in our travel trailer. In a way that only God can do, we found out shortly after this that the offering had arrived and was able to cover all the damage we sustained! That is our God, amen?! Or we can brag on how our windshield wipers suddenly stopped working before the last night of a conference and a fellow missionary there happened to have experience changing out the very part that we needed. In fact, without us knowing it, he ran to the parts store 30 minutes before the service and then fixed it 30 minutes after the service was over! God has been so good. The icing on the cake so to speak has been seeing our kids get involved in singing specials. It started with Autumn being invited to sing by some other missionary kids and now we have had three occasions where our three oldest girls have sung by themselves in a church service! To hear these precious girls sing out, “Here am I Lord, send me,” will make a daddy shout the glory and say amen, Lord, they’re yours - use ‘em!

Please continue to pray for us as we desire to spread the gospel wherever God takes us and to get to the Philippines when He wants us there. We are travelling a great nation with a rich Christian heritage and yet we are surrounded by a generation that does not know God. As we talk to people from all backgrounds, cultures and religions, please pray as Paul requested, that the word of the Lord would have free course, and be glorified, as it is with you. May the Lord increase your churches, faith and personal walks with our Lord Jesus.

Because He lives,
Aaron & Stephanie Putney
Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma

South Louisiana Cold

2010-01-10T17:30:00.002-05:00

The girls and I are back on the road this January with some great meetings in South Louisiana. We started the month in St. Amant where a visit to a church became an open door to present the burden for the Philippines. We also had opportunity to be with one of our favorite churches in the country - Fundamental Baptist is Livingston Louisiana. Pastor Silvertooth is a man of God and the Lord has blessed this church with some gifted singers, servants and students of God's word that make every visit an absolute delight. After presenting and preaching there we were invited to come back through one night during their missions conference since we will be in the area to preach. We moved then to Lafayette, LA to our first missions conference of this new year at Temple Baptist Church, Pastored by Gerald Heard. Little did I know at the time but Pastor Silvertooth from Fundamental was the keynote speaker. We have had a great time here despite it being unseasonably cold here in South LA. We even had our water lines freeze in the trailer, I didnt think that was supposed to happen in the south...
The conference has been a blessing with a hospitable church body and a fervent desire to increase their faith promise committment to reach this world for the Lord Jesus.
The girls are doing well although Emma is a little under the weather again. Pray for us as we will move next to New Iberia, LA and then back to Ocean Springs later this month before heading to Georgia and North Carolina.

January Prayer Letter

2009-12-27T20:01:00.001-05:00

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ, January 2010

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. (Mat 21:21)

The power of God truly is unlimited. As we present our burden across this country we tell of the vast opportunities to preach the gospel in the Philippines. From schools, jails, street ministry, extension classes, door to door and so much more, it is tiring even to think of all the open doors that exist in this country with its religious freedom and spiritual sensitivity. Our Lord Jesus is bigger than our obstacles, bigger than our American economic problems, bigger than the Laodicean lukewarmness that is prevalent today. Our God is able to populate every classroom and jail, to establish churches in every community and break down the strongholds of Catholicism, other cults and tribal spiritism that reside across these 7000+ islands. This is what we desire. Our prayer is to see local churches that will reproduce themselves and train an army of laborers to reach the 97 million souls in these islands as well as impact the rest of the world. Again, our God is able. Whether it be in small towns across the US where the door knocking seems so cold or big cities where Bible believing churches are being smothered by the entertainment driven social clubs, masked as churches, our God is able to overcome. He desires that none should perish, that revival take place and that pulpits and pews alike be focused on His great cause to reach this world with the gospel. May we be followers that lay down our lives, pick up our crosses, deny self, die daily and follow Him closely. Living for eternity will require investing in eternity and not in time and it will require walking by faith and not by sight. I have heard the negative statistics regarding missions today and I admittedly have seen some discouraging things to go along with the great things along the way. Yet I believe fully that God can still powerfully use America in spreading His glorious gospel. What better time than the new year to examine ourselves? This is what the end of December has been for us, a time of quiet self examination, reflection on God’s desires and family communication about the path forward for the Lord.

The past two months have allowed some time visiting with family along with many great meetings and opportunities to present the work. From New Hampshire to Texas we have had the privilege of preaching the gospel and encouraging God’s people in the area of missions. We continue on in January in Louisiana primarily and look forward to our first missions conference of the new year starting on the 7th. We give God great thanks for all that He did in 2009 and for all He will do this year. Please pray that God might quickly raise the rest of our support that we might get to the Philippines as soon as possible. As always, we need wisdom in our decisions, the leading and power of the Holy Spirit in our meetings and that God would increase our faith, for truly we want to see Him move every mountain that stands between the Gospel and the vast Filipino population that still needs it. May the word of the Lord have free course and may God bless you all and your ministries in this new year. Thank you for your support, prayer and encouragement. We need the Lord’s help and appreciate your prayers for our family.

Because He Lives,
Aaron & Stephanie Putney
Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma

So much to say

2009-11-17T16:14:00.002-05:00

Just a quick note as I take a moment away from calling churches. We have arrived safely in NY for our meetings here over the next few weeks and despite some runny noses etc, everyone is doing well. We praise God for keeping us safe for another 1600 miles last week (maybe it was 1611 amen?!) and we are being refreshed and refocused on the work ahead so we might get to the field as soon as the Lord sees fit. God has done so many great things in the past months I am awestruck! God has allowed us to lead some souls to Christ on the street and seen Him move among His people in the many churches we have visited. Of particular amazement to us is the way God seems to be raising up more laborers to the Philippines and perhaps leading some to maybe someday join us in the work in the Cordilleras. It has yet to be seen but in the past two months there have been two families that have been praying about God's will concerning the burden He is giving them for the Philippines as well as a young lady that told us she has surrendered to God's will and believes that the Lord will someday bring her to the Philippines. Just today I had coffee with a dear friend that has committed to come and help using his many gifts in both spiritual and professional areas and it thrills my soul.
Please pray about the possibility of some ideal property that may be available that could have incredible potential for ministry there. God can do some incredible things as we are privileged to see right now, expect great things from Him!

November/December Prayer Letter

2009-11-03T23:34:00.002-05:00

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ, November/December, 2009

Psalm 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

God gives us all the wonderful privilege to come into the house of the Lord to rejoice in all He has done for us, pray with our brothers and sisters for the cause of the gospel and to receive exhortation from the word of God. How sweet it is to be in the fellowship of the people of God and sing of the great works of God. As missionaries we get the privilege of doing this many times a week in different Independent Baptist churches across the country. This past month has been one of the best yet. From Zachary LA to Austin TX we have had three missions conferences, along with other single service meetings. Our cup has been filled! It would take a book to write of all the things the Lord has taught and reminded me of this month. In Zachary, LA we met some of the sweetest people in the states. They knew us before we ever arrived and were eager to hear from God. They treated us so wonderfully and the kids had a great time when they threw an “unbirthday” party for us - complete with balloons, cake and wrapped presents. By the end of the conference the church had committed to take on 25 new missionaries! The amazing thing is that they hadn’t even turned in their faith promise cards yet. They understood what it would take as a church body and knew that God was looking for a significant increase in their commitment to missions prior to beginning a building program. As in many churches we have visited, they recognized that for God to bless their building program, they first needed to bless His building program around the world. We then partook in a “round robin” conference in San Antonio where missionaries are shared between a number of churches in the city. During that week we also were the beneficiaries of a school of missions where we received 4 days worth of lectures on many practical and spiritual aspects of missions from veteran missionaries and pastors! The month was completed in Austin Texas where we enjoyed an incredible eight day conference with two services and sometimes 4-6 preachers per day! These churches were all such a blessing to us and we consider it a privilege to have been with them.

Better far than our enjoyment of a conference, is what God is doing in the hearts of men. Would to God that more would surrender, more would be supported, more would be sent and ultimately more would be saved. It is tragic to hear statistics speaking of high volumes of missionaries returning from the field and such a small amount being sent to replace them. The population of the world is increasing at astronomical rates and yet churches are closing and some missionaries are quitting while on deputation or after one term… Just this month the Philippines have endured two Super Typhoons and landslides that have send more than 1000 souls off into eternity, the time is short. God is not in a recession, God has not rescinded on His statement that He is not willing that any should perish and He does not lack the ability to overcome our perceived obstacles. We don’t serve an I can’t God, we serve the Can Do God! In fact just this past Saturday I had the privilege to lead two teen boys, Matthew and Evan to Christ! Pray for them, they are in Catholic families and we are hoping the Lord will orchestrate them being allowed to come to this great church in Austin. Let me encourage you by saying that in the three conferences we visited this past month, there were young people and adults that had surrendered, souls that were saved and giving that increased in Faith filled proportions! May all our churches see a renewed zeal and devotion to missions for it is our most important task. We appreciate your continued prayer and support as we will go from Texas to PA to NY and back for meetings in the next two months. May the Lord bless you and your ministries.

Because He Lives,
Aaron & Stephanie Putney 585 298 3807
Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma

Grace Independent Baptist Church
Pastor Paul Perkins
3707 Bienville Blvd
Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Dwelling in the Lord's house

2009-10-22T16:44:00.002-04:00

Psa 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

When we moved out of our roomy house with all its comforts we knew a significant transition was going to take place in a hurry. Now, with months of living in a travel trailer under our proverbial belts, we can see how much we just did not need.
However, there is one thing though that is mission critical as we daily seek to serve the Lord, share our burden and be a witness around the country. That is to come into the presence of the Lord, to behold His beauty and to enquire in His temple.
My head does not hit the cieling in the temple of the Lord
My family in I are not running into each other every 10 seconds in the temple of the Lord
I dont have to hitch and unhitch, pack and unpack in the temple of the Lord
I certainly get more miles to the gallon in the temple of the Lord, amen?
When God allows us the privilege to approach His throne and wonder at His glory, there is a liberating feeling of being in an endless field of delight, safe in His care, hand firmly clasped in His and forgetful of any miniscule inconvenience based on our previous perception of comfort.
Would to God these were always my thoughts and dwelling places, too often our heart leaves that attitude of prayer and the surroundings suddenly seem marred and constraining.
Daily we must seek to dwell in His house, constrained by the Love of Christ and with excited acknowledgment that our citizenship is in heaven. Here we will find the hope, wisdom and strength to move with fervency toward the work we have been called to.
We are currently in San Antonio and have a moment today to stop and praise God publicly in this blog for giving me a glimpse of His wondrous beauty. We are toward the end of a good conference here and preparing to go to Austin Texas this weekend for the start of another. It is a privilege to be a part of this blessed work.
I rejoice today that I am a rich man with a mansion awaiting me in heaven yet I have access to God's home to dwell in while on this earth - if only I will desire of the Lord to dwell there perpetually.
Pray for the Philippines and may the Lord bless you today.

October Prayer Letter

2009-09-29T00:42:00.000-04:00

Greetings to our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, October, 2009

The Lord has brought a phrase of scripture to my attention and remembrance a number of times in the past few weeks on the road. And while I have felt no liberty to preach from the passage, it has become a theme in our desire for the churches we visit. A cursory look at this phrase could suggest a selfish tone but undoubtedly Paul is recognizing the potential that this church at Corinth could have for the work of global missions should their faith be increased. Here it is, 2 Cor 10:15 … having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you…Would to God that our churches and missionaries would all grow in faith that we might enlarge the coasts of the Kingdom and God for the glory of our risen Saviour! With that thought in mind I have found great encouragement knowing that the Lord has in control who He would have assist in the financial aspect of getting to the Philippines. Our privilege then is that we might, in all churches, encourage God’s people to grow in faith through His perfect Word with expectation that personal involvement in missions would be increased as well as added prayer support for their existing supported families.

To report on our past month or so is to share an account of many miles, many smiles and many wiles, amen?! Miles that were travelled as we made a northern swing back to NY for meetings, smiles as the kids were happily reunited with Grandma and Papa, Aunt Jenny and their cousins and other of our dear friends and wiles as this month has seen some of the heaviest spiritual warfare we have faced on deputation. That said, we praise the Lord for all of your prayer on our behalf as we know that has built a hedge about us in the midst of attacks. Prior to leaving Ocean Springs to go north, Pastor Perkins gave me the privilege to preach the evening service on the day that the church would begin 40 days of prayer and fasting leading to revival. The Lord laid on my heart to preach on, yep, the wiles and subtle tactics of the “devil of desensitization.” I suppose this made us candidates to be an object lesson on the topic but we rejoice in God’s grace, deliverance and protection through it all. We arrived back in Ocean Springs for the week of revival and God moved mightily. Dr. Zeb McDaris preached a number of Spirit filled messages that moved the hearts of God’s people, including ours, praise the Lord! Some were saved, many got right and the devil was displeased when a bunch of his garbage was burned up in two consecutive nights of fires!

We find ourselves at the moment in Franklin, LA with Pastor Donnie Williams and Faith Baptist Church. He has been a gracious host and it has been a privilege to go soul willing with him a couple times in the past few days. We have a goat as our next door neighbor, the kids have been chasing lizards around and we have been trying to spot alligators in the bayou that runs right along the property. The girls have made new friends with their kids and we even eliminated one big snake from the world by running it over with Deputation Dave (our Suburban). We based here for another meeting in Pierre Port which went well and now we will start October with a conference in Zachary, LA and then have meetings all the way to San Antonio for two conferences to end October. Please pray that we would continue to see God increase our faith and our support that we might reach those God has called us to as soon as He would see fit. May the Lord bless your lives and ministries that are dedicated to the glory of Jesus Christ. Thank you again for your faithful prayer and support.

Because He Lives,

Aaron & Stephanie Putney
Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma

August Prayer Letter

2009-08-10T14:23:00.000-04:00

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, August 8, 2009

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

How many times we have been reminded of the truth of this verse, amen? So often, we can get caught up looking at circumstances, past history, our own abilities, our resources, our time and our energy and then begin to set our expectations within those limits. In doing this, we are limiting and doubting our Lord Jesus that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think and Whose ways are so far higher than our ways. This month we saw the Lord provide us with unexpected meetings, unexpected contacts and unexpected support. We were again reminded who owns the cattle on a thousand hills! I spent a good part of my time this month making calls to hundreds of churches for consideration to come present our burden to for the Philippines. This process is time consuming and can be at times disheartening as you talk to countless answering machines or hear about challenges being faced around the country. Yet in doing this we are reminded of how God is in control and knows exactly how He will get us to the islands, it also reminds us of the tremendous need for prayer in every aspect of our ministry. As this was the call placed on our lives by God, we know that He has ordained the means of getting us there. As it says in Isaiah 1:19, if ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. So, as things we’re moving slowly on the phone this past month, God made it abundantly clear that He can open doors in unexpected ways. In our time on deputation, we have not seen a month like this where God just introduced us to pastor after pastor that resulted in the scheduling of meetings as well as some great fellowship. Even when there was a gap in the schedule, the Lord led us to the right churches to visit and blessed us with many opportunities to serve and to share our burden.

We spent the last month between Louisiana and Texas and had some great meetings. The Lord again provided every need, sustained us and our vehicle through many miles and much heat and brought us closer to the field. We saw the Lord move in hearts at the altar this month and after the services people often came and shared what God did for them. All I can say is that God is gracious to move in our lives much less allow us to see how He moves in the hearts of others! We had the privilege to go soul winning with different churches and rejoice in the power of the gospel. I would like to ask for prayer for Kathy who was raised at the very church I was knocking doors with but was never saved and is now married to a Mormon and has two small boys. I plead with her out of the scriptures for quite a while and challenged her to study and seek the truth as the souls of her entire family hang in the balance. While we pray God would burden us for every soul in such a way, it seems that some just end up heavier on our hearts and this was one of those times.

On a lighter note, my kids only exposure to Armadillos this month was on the side of the road (as I was warned about) but they have been having a great time and God has given them some wonderful encouragement at all the right times. This next month they will get to see Grandma and Papa again as we will head to New York in mid August for more meetings for about a month. Please pray for safety on the road and that we would continue to see God increase our faith and exceed our expectations for His honour and glory. May the Lord bless your ministry and and continuously increase your impact on this entire world for the sake of souls to the glory of Jesus Christ. Thank you again for your faithful prayer and support.

Because He Lives,

Aaron & Stephanie Putney
Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma

Overdue update

2009-07-06T15:11:00.002-04:00

Praise the Lord that as I write this we are enjoying great fellowship with our church family here at Grace Independent Baptist Church in Ocean Springs. We have a slight break in the schedule so we are taking care of some errands, doing some work at the church and enjoying our family.
Life in the travel trailer has required some adjustments but for having 4 kids and 2 adults in such a confined space, things are going great. We are pretty organized and finding out the best ways to manage our space wisely.
Many things have happened over the past few weeks and time will not permit me to list them all in any details but we certainly do rejoice that we now have two new partners in ministry which brings us closer to the Philippines!
We also have seen God do some great things in providing us with meetings and contacts on short notice or under what we might consider odd circumstances. We are excited that God has seen fit to further us toward the field using ways that only He can orchestrate.
Our family has seen some issues with our vehicle in recent weeks but the Lord has been abundantly gracious is not allowing us to break down where help would be difficult to find and it has also been a blessing to see the way that God's people have been tremendously generous with their time, money and talents in helping us stay road worthy.
Thank you so much for all who have been praying for us, we are encouraged at what the Lord has done not only in our meetings but also in our hearts and family. The tribulations and challenges that God has allowed have been stepping stones in our faith and we trust that each experience will lend itself to added wisdom, encouragement and expectation when we do reach the field - for we know that God will get us through those challenges as He has through all others.
Our independence day brought new experiences to as in NYS fireworks are illegal and down here we have six year olds lighting them off... We had a great time at the church on Saturday and a number of men and teens played flag football (which quickly became tackle) in a soaking rain that had the field looking more like a lake - needless to say, I had a great time.
We will be leaving here on Saturday to head to New Iberia, LA, Shreveport, LA and then on to the Dallas TX area.
Please pray that our vehicle would run great on this trip and that the Lord would be pleased and glorified in the meetings and every witness and interaction we have in between.

Safe in the South

2009-06-16T14:12:00.003-04:00

The Lord has been good to us in our travels. This past week we packed our last belongings from our house into our trailer and said goodbye to upstate New York. The Lord got us safely to Mississippi on Thursday evening and we had a great time fellowshipping with Pastor Perkins and family. Friday we got the trailer organized and packed up the truck for Louisiana and then Sat we headed to North LA for 2 sunday meetings. The Lord has now given us a couple days of rest here at a nice missions house where we are being refreshed by the Lord with our family after many miles, much heat and the emotional highs and lows that have gone with recent events. Thank you all for praying and we will look to update the blog a little more frequently and in detail soon.

June Prayer Letter

2009-05-30T01:52:00.001-04:00

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, June, 2009
(Mar 7:37) And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

Once again, we sit here astonished at the goodness and orchestration of the Lord in answer to your prayers…He hath done all things well! For months we have been praying for the sale of our home and that the timing would work out with our meeting schedule. The Lord answered those prayers and we have accepted an offer. We will sign our side of the paperwork this week and have the house emptied and cleaned prior to our departure back down south in early June! Leaving the home that the Lord has blessed us with for so many years will carry with it some emotion for all of us as we’ve had many wonderful memories. Yet we sit astonished at the blatant God-things that have taken place this past few months and are incredibly encouraged about the continued road to the Philippines. Having left behind my employment and sold our possessions, our focus is now firmly set on following our Lord Jesus to the field of His calling for us.

In the midst of the house proceedings this month, we have been part of two Missions conferences and a number of other meetings and God continues to bring us closer to the field. What a privilege it has been this month to have wisdom imparted by a man faithful in ministry for 40 plus years while also being encouraged at the zeal and fire of a young church planter whose infant church is fired up for missions. Every experience has been one of blessing, learning and increasing of our faith. The Lord has allowed us to be a part of ministering to adults and children, do some street evangelism as well as loading hundreds of boxes of scriptures into a container to be shipped to Ghana! Whether it is mowing the church lawn or preaching God’s word, it is a wonderful privilege to be allowed a part in serving the Lord.

After a few days of wrapping things up at the house we will be in four churches for eight straight days including two overlapping conferences. That will kick off June for us in a great way. As soon as that concludes we will head to Ocean Springs for a couple days but then on to Longview, TX and to LA the following Sunday for meetings. Be in prayer for this travel as it will be many miles in one week and we will have our travel trailer in tow from NY to MS. We praise the Lord that our family is doing very well. Autumn finished first grade this week and through the year she has had opportunity to go on field trips that most students never would, amen?! Just recently a pastor took us to Fort William Henry in NY for a guided tour of this amazing historical site.

Let us conclude by saying thank you for your faithful service to the Lord and support of our family, your servants for Jesus sake. Please know that we are praying for all the recipients of this letter that the Lord has allowed us to be associated with. May God be magnified in your lives and ministries.
Because He Lives,

Aaron & Stephanie Putney
Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma

ONLY GOD!

2009-04-23T21:51:00.005-04:00

Over the past couple weeks we have been taking our girls through the book of Esther and now Daniel and we have had a great time! They get excited each night knowing that an adventure awaits. Autumn at least can recognize the theme time and time again that when pride creeps in, destruction will follow; when God is not exalted, those exalting themselves will be abased: that when an enemy has a plan to destroy God's people that God will implement those that "for such a time as this" will stand up for righteousness and with faith jeopardize their own lives for their WORTHY KING. They have seen God get in the fire with them and protect them from even the smell of smoke, stop the mouths of lions, give them wisdom that makes the astrologers, soothsayers and magicians look as foolish as the gods of stone, wood and gold that they worship. To see the powerful king of the land put out to pasture with feathers and claws shows that God alone will be glorified and those attempting to rob that glory will be shortlived in their efforts.

The repeating theme that echoes throughout Scriptures is ONLY GOD - only God could orchestrate things in such a way, only God would manifest Himself in the flesh and die to redeem His creation that rebelled against Him. In so many other ways in our daily lives God proclaims through His actions and timing - ONLY ME!

God has once again proclaimed "Only Me" in our lives again this week. Time would fail me to list all such circumstances but only a few months ago the Lord orchestrated my departure from Kodak in such a way and in such timing that none other but God could get credit, and now in answer to the prayers of so many - He has done it again.

In the last week we had the privilege of seeing a soul come to Christ, being blessed by a servant of the Lord assisting us with our vehicle and now, in an answer to many, many prayers in the last many months - WE HAVE AN OFFER ON OUR HOME and we have accepted it!
By no means is this transaction finalized but it certainly is a reason to rejoice and trust with expectation that the Lord is once again saying - ONLY ME

The timing is outstanding as Lord willing we could close about the time that we head back south for most of the rest of the year. We have so much to be thankful for, our home has been a haven of rest and joy for our family for many years and we praise God for it. Tears will be shed when we hand over the keys to this place in which we have experienced some of our sweetest moments of joy - but truly this house is a temporal shelter (as our lives are) that should be given up happily for the work of building a home eternal in the heavens and bringing souls to Christ.

2Co 5:1-4
(1) For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved (our lives), we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
(2) For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
(3) If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
(4) For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

The Lord is good - give Him glory - for ONLY GOD could do such amazing things!

May 09 Prayer Letter

2009-04-20T10:12:00.001-04:00

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

2Thes. 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

We are rejoicing for the goodness of the Lord to us as we continue to present the ministry the Lord has called us to in the Philippines, preach His Word and endeavour to be a blessing to the churches that allow us the privilege to spend some time with them. As I sit down to write this prayer letter I am rejoicing that just yesterday the Lord allowed us to present and preach in a church and a young man came to the altar and was born again! What a privilege it is that God allows us to see His gospel work so powerfully in the lives of people. The Lord may or may not parter us with this church financially but the value of that one soul would make a trip to anywhere worthwhile, amen?!

Over the past month we have been encouraged to see multiple new partners in ministry in bringing the Gospel to the Philippines for which we are grateful. We have had opportunity to evangelize door to door, to minister on the streets of NYC and Stephanie just taught children’s church recently while I was preaching also. The Lord has kept us safe on the road with no breakdowns and recently blessed us with a faithful servant who ministered to the Lord in doing a good deal of repair and preventative service to our truck in preparation for our upcoming extended travel back down south.

As the Lord allows, we are scheduled for a number of conferences and meetings from NY to GA and back over the next month and then in Mid-June we will head to TX, MS and LA for an extended stretch. We appreciate beyond expressed words those that are praying for us. Our family is in good health but please continue to lift them up as their surroundings change so frequently and consistency in many areas gets challenged as a result. We would also ask that you continue to pray for the sale of our home to happen quickly and for the Lord to orchestrate every single meeting to be scheduled exactly where and when He would have it to be. Thank you for your faithful service to the Lord and please know that we are praying also for the recipients of this letter, for the individuals that we know by name and for the wonderful churches the Lord has allowed us to be associated with. May God be magnified in your lives and ministries.

Because He Lives,

Aaron & Stephanie Putney
Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma

News article shows Satan's snare on catholic Filipinos

2009-04-10T21:49:00.002-04:00

(2Ti 2:26) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Satan has a stronghold of 80%+ catholics in the Philippines, some of them are so devoted and decieved that they reenact the crucifixion this week each year with real nails, scourges and crosses. My Pastor emailed me the following article from this site

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/04/10/09/faith-and-ritual-mix-good-friday-rp

Faith and ritual mix on Good Friday in RP
By Manny Mogato, Reuters 04/10/2009 4:25 PM
CUTUD, ANGELES CITY - Dozens of Catholic devotees were nailed to crosses, scores more whipped their backs and others chanted the Passion of Jesus Christ as Filipinos mixed faith and gory ritual on Good Friday.
Frowned on by church authorities, the voluntary crucifixions in villages north of the capital Manila are one of the most extreme displays of religious devotion in Asia's largest Roman Catholic state.
Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, spokesman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said the church discourages such rituals because the penitents were expecting rewards for hurting themselves.
"We only encourage the faithfuls to fast, pray and confess their sins," Quitorio told Reuters. "We can't stop the practice. It is not necessary, but the church has no police power. These rituals challenge us to guide our flock on the true teachings of the Catholic church."
In the small village of Cutud in Angeles City in Pampanga, about 80 km (50 miles) north of Manila, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was re-enacted in a colorful street play with dozens of men carrying wooden crosses as heavy as 50 kg (110 pounds) and scores whipping their backs to a bloody pulp.
After walking barefoot for more than a kilometer around the village in scorching heat, the drama ended at a man-made hill where 11 men were nailed to crosses with three-inch nails driven into their hands and feet. Personal devotion
"I am not doing this for fame or money," said Ruben Inaje, 48, who has played the role of Jesus Christ at Cutud since 1986. "This is my own way of thanking the Lord. He has showered my family with so much blessings and has saved my life many times."
Inaje, a house painter, told Reuters he made a decision to have himself crucified after escaping death after a fall from a three-story building in the mid-1980s.
"I believed God was using me as an instrument to show the world the Filipinos' devotion to God," he said, showing his bandaged bands at a medical station after the crucifixion.
"I will never get tired doing this every year. This is my personal devotion and I will continue this until the Lord allows my body to endure the pain."
In the neighboring province of Bulacan, five people were nailed to wooden crosses, including an 18-year-old woman and an Australian, who said he was hoping his sacrifice would cure his cancer-stricken mother.
The crowd cheered John Michael, 33, as the nails were driven to his hands and feet. Minutes, later he gave a broad smile of relief as the nails were pulled out.
About 20 crucifixions were held in four other areas.
Thousands, many of them curious tourists from Australia, Europe and South Korea watched the spectacle in Cutud, which has grown from a village novelty started in 1955 to a media and tourist attraction copied in other parts of the country.
The atmosphere was festive, with hawkers selling bottled water, beer, ice-cream and souvenir whips. VIPs and some nuns watched from a specially elevated "viewing platform".
Some residents offered parking spaces for a fee and others charged 5 pesos (about 10 U.S. cents) for use of toilets. More enterprising people rented the balconies of their homes for television crew and photographers.
More than 80 percent of the Philippines' estimated 90 million population are Catholic.

Shouldn't the following scripture alone express that Christ is our one and only High Priest and and the only sacrifice needed for our sins. May God open the eyes of the blind that are so devoted to religion but are deceived from the truth of the gospel

Heb 7:23-28
(23) And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
(24) But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
(25) Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
(26) For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
(27) Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
(28) For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

Grace Baptist Church - Beaver Dams NY

2009-04-06T23:43:00.002-04:00

We just finished the 2009 Missions conference at Grace Baptist and can truly say that our cup is full. Time would fail me to tell of the blessing that Pastor Maulucci and his family were to us. They truly put thought and investment into making sure that every detail was attended to. We had a week filled with sickness that went from myself to all the girls (except Stephanie - praise the Lord!) by the end of the week and they were wonderful to us through it all. They blessed our kids, they provided us with great lodging, they fed us in abundance and they put together a wonderful conference. We had the privilege of spending time not only with this faithful pastor and a young couple heading to India but also with a 20 year veteran missionary to Germany who preached one of the greatest messages I have ever heard and Missionary/Evangelist Cliff Taylor who the Lord has used for the establishing of dozens of churches in New Guinea, Kenya, Philippines, Ukraine and other places. This brother has seen God move in amazing ways on countless occasions. We were blessed all week to hear his heart for God, for souls and for the further spread of the gospel. What a joy it is to go week upon week to churches that lift up the Lord Jesus, love missions and by faith become active participants in God's redemptive plan is incredible. We praise the Lord that this church is partnering with us in bringing the gospel to the Philippines.

Naples Bible Church

2009-04-06T23:21:00.003-04:00

Pastor Tom Street is a man I have looked up to for a number of years now. I had the privilege of traveling with him to Zambia in '05 where the Lord clarified my call to foreign missions and have had the blessing of teaching his kids in Jr. Church over the years also. We have been excited for some time about the Lord calling him to Pastor at this church in Naples and now to have been there and seen what God has been doing in peoples lives is exciting to say the least. The day started and ended with members of the church praying over me and then our whole family - this should tell you something. There is no doubt in my mind from the conversations I enjoyed over a great turkey dinner and fellowship with Pastor Street that this is a body of believers that understands the power of prayer. It is this reason alone that thrills us to know that they will be partnering with us in bringing the gospel to the Philippines. We are excited to see what God has in store for Naples and the surrounding communities through this great local church.

Breakfast on the farm

2009-03-24T08:01:00.002-04:00

We have been blessed in so many incredible ways over the past few weeks. We have gone from the deep south to NYC which provided a pretty stark contrast as you might expect, yet the love of the Lord Jesus and burden for souls is there regardless of accent or culture. The conference in Murfreesboro was outstanding, I learned a tremendous amount about the unreached people groups around the world and the means by which we all can and must be a part in reaching them. We had the privilege of ministering to the kids while we were there and established many contacts for the future. In Garfield, NJ we were encouraged by a young couple that facilitated the missions apartment for us. Derek is the assistant pastor of the church and was a good friend to us during our stay. While there we had three meetings at churches in the area and praise the Lord for the relationships established. We also had opportunity to join our friends from Rochester to distribute thousands of tracts to the lost at the St Patricks day parade in NYC. The following day we hit Times Square and got a poor reception as you might expect to our tract distribution efforts. The kids were very excited as we drove around New York and saw lady liberty out in the harbor. We must have played the New Manna Youth Choir song about how the Cross is our statue of Liberty 20 times! We stopped by our home (continue to pray for its sale) for one day prior to heading to Utica where we are now for a missions conference. We have been staying in the home of a family that is in California helping with their kids. It is out in the sticks and it has the feel of a farm - a wood stove, a chicken coop for our eggs in the morning and a glorious unhindered view of the stars at night. We are enjoying our stay and the conference has been great. The speaker is a pastor from Buffalo that we have a meeting with in November so we praise the Lord that we could make his acquaintance in advance. He has been quite a blessing already, Sunday night we hadnt had dinner so were going to Denny's with another missionary when the preacher came in and paid for the meal for all of us. This was a great help indeed. The kids are doing good, learning lessons along the way seeing many places they have never seen before. Emma thinks she is funny as she has learned how to shake her head no when she is asked if she is going to be a good girl at church - she starts giggling as she emphatically turns her head left and right. We head to Naples on Sunday for a much anticipated meeting with our friend Tom Street and then off to another missions conference in Beaver Dams, NY. Praise the Lord for His protection and grace shown toward us. He have wanted for nothing and would pray that we can be a blessing to those we are with in even a small proportion to what they have been to us. So as we sit down to our farm fresh eggs and morning devotions, we are praying for our dear friends and church families to be blessed and want to encourage you that the Lord is answering your prayers on our behalf.

Hartselle Ala to Murfreesboro TN

2009-03-10T17:29:00.003-04:00

God has a great way of working things out, amen? While at Grace in Ocean Springs we were invited to be a part of the unreached peoples conference with First Bible International in Murfreesboro, TN. by Bro. Fielder. We were scheduled to go from Pensacola to NY for a meeting on the 8th but with this conference on the 9th back in TN we made a call and the Pastor in NY graciously rescheduled us for a few weeks from now. This left us with Sunday open before the conference in TN on Mon. So we called a church with a prophet chamber in Alabama and he not only let us use the chamber (which was beautiful) but he allowed us to present and preach Sunday Morning. We had a great meeting with Pastor Mike Eaton and the great church family there and then through that I was invited to the Southern TN/Northern Ala Ind Fund Baptist fellowship meeting on morning morning in...yep, Murfreesboro. We went to the fellowship and gained some exposure to a number of good brothers and pastors in that area as well as being given some great tools and resources for our travel convenience. The key speaker was Dr. Shelton Smith, the president of the Sword of the Lord. We walked out with names and numbers of more than 50 churches in that fellowship. The Lord is so good, all the time. That led us to the FBI conference monday night where we were totally blessed. I will post again on this conference as it continues tonight but pray as we have opportunity to minister to the kids etc while we are here. Also pray for two men I witnessed to today at the playground - Michael (former pentecostal - admittedly lost and concerned) and Charles - unchurched father of four. Both of them were receptive to the gospel and said they would read the tract and strongly consider visiting Franklin Road Baptist in the near future.

Cross and Crown Baptist Church - Pensacola Fl

2009-03-10T17:16:00.002-04:00

Not willing that one should perish - the theme for the conference. Praise the Lord for His longsuffering

After GIBC we went about 2 hours east to be with Pastor Joe Davis for a conference at Cross and Crown. Pastor Davis is a Phd and was a Bible professor at PCC for a number of years before taking the Pastorate about 19 years ago. The two families with us at the conference were the Tessins - 16 year veterans to the Philippines! and the Rickers, who are leaving at the end of March to go to Peru to minister to the deaf there. It was exciting to see that young family packed and ready to go to the field with deputation finished - we look forward to the sweet time that will be also.
Both of these families call Cross and Crown home so we were the outsiders at the party but we praise the Lord that they made us feel like we were old friends - it is good to have blood relatives at every conference we go to amen?!
They had a Kids4Missions picnic on Saturday and the girls had a great time. They have kids as young as 7 that participate in faith promise missions giving there. It is a blessing to see the zeal for God's mission in the youngest of them.
The church was a great blessing in taking us out to dinner, having a ladies day out and much more. Each of us had opportunity to present and preach and Stephanie even gave her salvation testimony in front of the church for the first time, Praise the Lord!
God has been so good to us. We stayed in the home of a man named JB who loves kids and really had a great time with the girls. He has been faithfully ministering in many areas fo years and is praying about the Lord using him someday on a full time basis. Pray for JB that the Lord would work out an insurance issue from the last hurricane that damaged his home. He would appreciate it. The Lord has blessed this church with a number of missionaries sent and a church plant already and we are excited to hear what he will continue to do as they move into a long awaited building in the next couple months.

When I have time I will put in some pics from these conferences. Thanks for your prayers. Next up - Hartselle Alabama

Grace Independent Baptist Church – Conference ‘09

2009-03-10T17:11:00.002-04:00

Lam 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
Lam 3:41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

This was the theme of the conference this year at our sending church in Ocean Springs, MS. It was a wonderful time of fellowship as my family got to know our church family better during this week. Our girls were thrilled to spend time with Pastors family and the other 50+ kids that were there! I never set out to write a book and considering the hour of night I sit to write this, I am more intent to keep it brief. Let me first brag on God. The Lord saw fit to orchestrate a good group of missionaries at this conference that got along well, sought to sharpen and encourage one another and were genuinely all excited for what God was directing the others to do. The families were the Blackburns to the Congo, the Hayfletts to prisons of America, the Jimenez family to the West Indies, Bro. Chang to the Hmong people of Thailand and the primary speaker for the conference – Bro. Ken Fielder of First Bible International. In 2007 after God made it clear he was calling us to the Philippines, we traveled to Murfreesboro TN to meet with Bro. Fielder and Dr. Charles Keen to discuss FBI and how perhaps we might have some interaction in the future as the Lord directs surrounding the tribal groups in the Cordillera Mountains of the Philippines. It was a privilege to get better acquainted with him and his family through the week and more than that, for the Lord to use him to be a blessing to us through the preaching and fellowship. It is always a blessing to hear the testimonies and presentations of our brothers heading to different fields and this week was no different. The passion, the burden, the tears that flowed – it doesn’t get much better than to spend a week in a conference with a bunch of families that have tender hearts for God, amen?! The church was a great blessing to us in many ways but I will say that there were some highlights surrounding the food and fellowship. They put on a wonderful lunch and dinner each day for us that not only was great food prepared by chef/evangelist/singer/graphic designer…Bro. Zeb McDaris and a great crew of laborers but they set up kids tables and saw to the feeding and caring of the kids during the meals! This allowed for unprecedented opportunity to enjoy the fellowship of the other missionaries as well as Pastor and Sister his wife. We had the privilege to stay with the Perkins while there and were told in advance that late nights of fellowship were in store for us. They were, and it was a blessing. It was also great to see the Paul and Abigail Miller family again, they also now call GIBC home. It is amazing where God has brought us in the past 15+ years since we graduated from Northstar Christian in Rochester. The Lord has done some amazing things.
Before heading out, the church blessed my wife and our kids with gift cards and sent us on our way to the next conference in Pensacola with a full tank of gas. From ministering to the kids in Sunday School to giving a charge to close the conference on Thursday night at the international banquet, we counted it a blessing that God would allow us to be part of His work here. The biggest highlight of the week though had to be when Steve Perkins daughter Hannah (Pastor’s niece) got saved at Walmart, right in the water aisle. Pray for Steve as he heads out in the future also, God has called him to be an evangelist and to have a strong emphasis on family conferences and ministry. The only regret we have is that we couldn’t be there the following Sunday when Bro. Zeb McDaris preached for the Faith Promise commitment week. From what I understand, there were a number of people that surrendered to preach, jail ministry and to the Lord’s will for their lives – all glory be to God!
This is only fitting, after all, it is God’s will that first we give ourselves, the rest will follow.
2Co 8:5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

The long day of driving

2009-03-05T01:22:00.009-05:00

The sight most likely to be seen in a 12.5 hours driving day

One of the beautiful sights that is missed by the sleepers on such a day

Feb 19th was a new record for us. We drove 700+ miles from Rochester to Church Hill, TN where we stayed at a prophets chamber at Liberty Baptist Church. It was an adventure. First Sarah got sick (i'll refrain from details), then Emma got sick in the same manner, followed by, yep, Sarah again... By the second day of travel, 3/4 of them had runny noses, coughs etc beside the stomach issues experienced on day one. We went through a number of snow flurries and some pretty slick roads in the north but the Lord brought us to our destination safely, in good time and with tremendous thanksgiving. Not everyone had such an uneventful trip considering we saw a tractor trailor jackknifed in a ditch, a tanker truck that hit a guardrail and a mercedes spin out and end up in a ditch. The highlight of the day for the girls was driving through tunnels that went through mountains in WV and VA.

Since I was driving, I couldnt take pictures out the window like I might have otherwise while driving through such beautiful areas but Emma was happy to sit in the back with a play camera and say cheese for hours on end! Other fun times were when Steph tried getting Emma out of a craft box in the prophets chamber and ended up getting her hands covered in glue in the process and when Sarah locked us out of the bathroom door at the church leaving me to take apart the handle assembly to get us access again. Fun times.

This was how we knew we were in TN :)
We then spent the next day going from TN to Oxford AL and praise the Lord it was a shorter day on the road, less eventful with sickness and weather and we found a beautiful little park called Nocolulu Falls in AL to stop at.

Day three brought us to Ocean Springs and our home church of Grace Independent where we enjoyed an incredible conference and tremendous blessings through the week. I look forward to sharing some of the great things God has done the past couple of weeks in future posts but it is now time to hit the road again from Pensacola to Al for a meeting on Sunday and then off to TN for a conference on Monday. Thanks for praying for us.

The Putneys

March Prayer Letter

2009-03-05T01:11:00.000-05:00

Dear praying friends, March, 2009

Genesis 12:1-2 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

There are a couple of steps in the process of going to the mission field that are rather significant to the family. One of them certainly is leaving employer, house, hometown, friends and family for a radically different schedule of events on the road. The very things that for years have served to offer comfort and, in part, a sense of security are now far away yet it was not those things and people that brought comfort and security but our Lord that was responsible for those things, and from Him we are never distant. I am writing this from a man’s kitchen that we hadn’t met until we arrived, my girls laid their heads on pillows tonight in the fourth different place in two weeks and we will drive from Pensacola to Hartselle, AL tomorrow to make it five. I have now parted ways with my employer of 10+ years and our house is being shown to potential buyers on a regular basis (pray for its sale, amen?!). We are adapting to life on the road in much longer stretches. Yet, this was all to say that we are greatly rejoicing. As with Abraham, God has blessed us and we pray that we also are being used as a blessing to others. No matter the changes of surroundings, states, churches or prophets chambers we have seen - we have felt at home. It is a wonderful feeling to know that while so much is changing, the grace of God that had been so wonderfully given to us at home is not only present but poured out in even greater abundance at this time, to the glory of Jesus Christ!

We are excited about the two conferences that just concluded in MS and FLA and look forward to meetings and conferences in the next month in four states. We have had a great time with our sending church at Grace Independent in Ocean Springs, MS. The girls have been adapting very well and have made many friends at each church. It is a wonderful thing to see how quickly they connect with other missionary kids. In fact in this last conference at Cross and Crown Baptist Church in Pensacola it was an all girl event with 10 girls and no boys in the three families. The girls have gathered seashells at the ocean, had a personal tour of a creation science theme park and enjoyed their new found friends at every stop, the Lord is so good!

We would ask for prayer for the duration of our year to be filled with meetings and that the Lord would continue to connect us with churches that are burdened for this country of 91 million souls.

For the glory of His name,
Aaron & Stephanie Putney – Autumn, Anna, Sarah & Emma
Eph 3:20-21

Last Day

2009-02-18T10:33:00.002-05:00

Today is my last working day at my employer of the past almost 12 years. It is an exciting time as we have one more opportunity to put some feet to our faith. The Lord has been so much better to us than we ever deserve and as we move toward our destination of glory by way of the Philippine Islands I am grateful for the way the Lord orchestrated this job for so many years to offer the financial provision needed to go to Bible school, allow my wife to be home ministering to the children and allow for me to go to the Philippines on 5 occasions.

Continue to pray for us as we hit the road now to MS and Fl over the next couple weeks. We are praying for ministry and witnessing opportunities all along the way, we are loaded with tracts and ready to take Deputation Dave on the road (nickname for the truck). My girls havent done this many hours over a couple days in a vehicle before so pray for it to be fun, restful and a learning experience for them. We praise the Lord for two churches opening their prophets chambers for us on the road, that is a blessing. We eagerly anticipate spending time with Pastor Perkins and our church family in Ocean Springs at Grace Independent Baptist.

"If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn't it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more inconceivable to keep silent the cure from the eternal wages of death." -- Dave Davidson

Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature - The Lord Jesus Christ

Rejoicing in the privilege of proclaiming God's salvation,
The Putneys

Amazing Orchestration of Events

2009-02-02T06:16:00.003-05:00

Praise the Lord for yet another show of ordering our steps in His timing and direction. I have worked for Kodak for 10+ years. I believe it to be completely the Lord's orchestration that I obtained a position that I was not qualified for when I started and that led to many lessons in communication, professionalism, leadership, organization, teaching/training and technical aptitude that would benefit me many years down the road as God moves us to the Philippines. Through the years, God has allowed this job to provide my family with a home and to keep my wife home teaching and ministering to our children where I know the Lord would have her to be. God started by using this position to keep me in Rochester, in connection with family and those who were praying for us while I was in rebellion to God's will. As God did a work in my heart and brought my wife and I to repentance and communion with Him, He used the job to facilitate a flexible schedule for me to attend Bible institue. The location of the job also afforded me countless opportunities to go downtown to pass out tracts, witness and street preach and I have had many witnessing opportunities with my coworkers over the years. What's perhaps the most amazing about God's use of this place is that he used it to send me to the Philippines on 5 occasions - most recently in January, and has used these trips to direct our calling to this country. I praise the Lord for the way he can use a place that is by no means Christian to work out so many details in bringing us to this point, all glory to God!

Since the fall of 2006 our direction to the Philippines has been clear, God has continued to direct the details beyond that but it was clear that after Bible school we would begin preparations for deputation and when the Lord allowed, move away from Kodak to full time on the road. Based on our schedule for the early part of the year, it looked like my vacation would be spent and my departure would need to be around the end of April at the latest. Instead, God has allowed me the opportunity to accept a voluntary separation package that will see me leave in Mid Feb while still being paid until April 1 and then I will get my vacation back and some additional pay based on years of service. In other words, I will have compensation and health care benefits that will continue through July although I will stop working in Feb! Praise the Lord! Everything about it testified of the Lord's hand in it, all the way down to the departure date being the week I am leaving for conferences down south! This unexpected blessing comes with the difficult news that many of my coworkers will lose their job involuntarily, for them I would ask for prayer, guidance and for this time of uncertainty to become an opportunity for the lost to be receptive to the gospel.
We are confident that God in like manner will take care of the sale of our house now in his timing. We give glory to God for His zeal for the souls of men and care for us who are privileged to be a part in proclaiming the Gospel!

Photo Slideshow

2009-01-21T15:26:00.002-05:00

This has been my first opportunity to do a sort of the images taken in Manila, Baguio and San Fernando La Union from the trip this month.
The pictures in the slideshow are not in chronological order unfortunately and it will be most obvious when you see alternating pictures of the mountains of Baguio and the the Ocean in Sanfernando. I have added titles to some of the pictures to provide a little explanation.
Here is the link

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ViewSlideshow.action?&collidparam=14406734103.140171168603.1232568786832

There is a link in the shortcuts on the left side of this blog also. I make no claim at being an accomplished photographer.

January Prayer Letter

2009-01-21T15:15:00.001-05:00

Greetings,

Lam 3:22-23 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. No matter what seeming uncertainties are taking place all around us and the concern and fear that often they provoke to a world without Christ,it is wonderful to know that even today as you read this, God is compassionate and faithful toward us. The world still spins because of the longsuffering will of our God that none would perish but that all would come to repentance. It is a blessing and a privilege that God would allow any of us to be a partin His redemptive plan to reach the world.

We have had a great couple months of encouragement and growth as we progress closer to the field the Lord has called us to. In November and December we were blessed to see a number of newchurches partner with us in the proclamation of the Gospel in the Philippines. We then had a short break to spend time with family and loved ones and reflect on the birth of our Lord Jesus prior to my departure for Manila. The trip itself was one of the most profitable that I have taken in many ways. Primarily because of the amount of people we were able to bring the gospel to on the streets. Day after day we saw groups of varying ages and numbers gathered together and attentive to the message. Thousands of tracts and wordless bracelets were distributed as well as three hundred hand made bellswith Tagalog scripture attached to them. We saw a number of people respond to the message overthe two week trip and we praise the Lord for every last one while praying that the planted seed would take root and grow in the rest. In addition, I had the privilege to preach again in New Bilibid Maximum security prison as well as during the survey trip to Baguio on the weekend. Much was learned in the visitto Baguio, Bauan and San Fernando La Union. Being able to see first hand some existing works in Baguio as well as the densely populated cities on the coast that are in great need of churches, it allowed me to understand better the needs and to begin to pray about those areas. While I did not have much exposure to understanding the various tribes and their level of engagement, the geography lesson helped me to understand that access to the mountains is about the same from either area. The Lord answered so many of our prayers for this trip and accomplished more than what I anticipated, to Him be glory!

It is good to be back with my family and I am grateful for the encouragement and prayer that was offered on their behalf. Autumn is turning seven this month and is doing a great job with school, especially reading. She faithfully reads her Bible to us twice a day and has already completed many books of the New Testament. We will be turning our attention to a series of meetings in the South East soon and look forward to seeing what God does there. We appreciate your prayer still for the sale of our home and for meetings to fill up on our calendar throughout this year. Would that Christ would be magnified and that we would grow in our knowledge and walk with Him.

Because He Lives,
Aaron, Steph, Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma Putney

Islamist Terrorism in the Philippines

2009-01-19T09:39:00.003-05:00

Yesterday my father mentioned hearing something of a bomb that went off in the Philippines related to a terrorist attack. I recall having one of my coworkers get pulled out of Manila a couple years ago because a bomb went off in another hotel in the district (that article is below). While I was aware of the politics behind the terrorism and some previous instances, it caused me to read up on terrorist activity in the islands this morning. I am including some headlines regarding some cowardly attacks in the Philippines in an effort for the muslims to attempt to get their own nation that is independent from the Philippine democratic rule.
These are but a few of the related headlines of such attacks that range from 2005 up to this week. My purpose in sharing them is first of all out of thanks to the Lord for our safety. I, for one am very grateful that the US has not suffered another terrorist attack on its soil since 9/11.
Another reason is that this is one of the many factors that can influence the spiritual sensitivity of the people. There is a tremendous amount of attention paid by the Filipino people to strife between the "Christian" and Muslim groups over territory. Between threats of natural distasters and terrorist attacks along with crime and the effects of poverty - I would suggest that the average citizen is more acutely aware of the uncertainty of life. This makes them better off that most Americans as far as being sensitive to spiritual matters. However, currently the large majority of the people are using the false crutch of catholicism for their hope. Would you pray that the error of this be clearly exposed and the truth that it is in Christ alone that we have hope would be spread to every soul on the 7000+ islands of the Philippines?
Pro 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

On this topic, some have asked me about how safe it is over there or am I putting my family at risk. We should all agree on the answer that the best and safest place to be is in the will of God. If you read Jeremiah chapter 42 you will see a people that ask Jeremiah to beseech God about either staying in Jerusalem which had its dangers from the king of Babylon or going to Egypt which seemed to be safe, secure and comfortable - here is the response of Jeremiah from the Lord

Jer 42:9 And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him;
Jer 42:10 If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.
Jer 42:11 Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.
Jer 42:12 And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.
Jer 42:13 But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,
Jer 42:14 Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:
Jer 42:15 And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;
Jer 42:16 Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.
Jer 42:17 So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.

This passage demonstrates that God's will is the place to stay.
On top of this, we are not moving into the muslim stronghold of the Philippinesl, the area that we will minister is far in the north and is not at the center of the conflct. We are not our own to decide where we want to be and what comforts or false sense of security we want to establish for ourselves, we are bought with a price (the price of one that sacrificed Himself for me!) and we are all called to lay down our lives and follow Him. Each of us who are saved can at the very most have our temporal lives extinguished, and only when allowed by God. The souls that are on the line have not only the same dangers of physical death but of far more concern is the condemnation they face for all eternity if they die without Christ. There are likely hundreds if not thousands of places where the dangers of persecution, martyrdom, disease, disaster or war are far greater. It is the reasonable service of every Christian to obey God, it is the privilege of every Christian to be able to serve God.

Philippines: Rebels bomb electricity tower, official says
Philippines: Rebels bomb electricity tower, official says
Story Highlights (dated 1/10/09)
Rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, an Islamic militant group
Official: Four explosive devices used but only 3 detonated
Electricity tower supplies power to several towns in south of country
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/10/philippines.rebels/
(CNN) -- Separatist rebels bombed an electricity transmission tower in the southern Philippines on Saturday, according to military spokesperson Lt. Stefani Cacho.
The tower supplies electricity to several towns in the region.
Rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, an Islamic militant group based in the Philippines, used four explosive devices but only 3 detonated, Lt. Cacho wrote in a text message to CNN.
The government of the Philippines has been involved in stormy peace negotiations with MILF since 2003.
Last month, armed men attacked a U.N. truck carrying food to the southern Philippines, killing the driver's assistant, according to the U.N. World Food Program.

Bomb defused in Philippines bus station
August 14, 2008
Authorities have defused a bomb planted in a bus station in the southern Philippines, just days after the end of brutal clashes between Muslim rebels and government forces in the area.
The military said the bomb was found before dawn on Thursday in abandoned baggage at a bus station in the town of Kidapawan in Mindanao island. It was made of TNT, a mortar shell and a blasting cap, and was surrounded by nails.
No one has claimed responsibility for the bomb, which was found a few days after hundreds of Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels began to retreat from areas near Kidapawan following a major military offensive against them.
Muslim criminal gangs have bombed buses and bus terminals in the southern Philippines in the past to extort money from bus companies.
http://news.smh.com.au/world/bomb-defused-in-philippines-bus-station-20080814-3vik.html

Death toll hits 3 after Philippines bomb blast
Posted Wed Nov 14, 2007 1:00pm AEDT
The death toll from a powerful bomb blast in the Philippine House of Representatives has risen to three after an employee injured in the explosion died of her wounds, officials said.
The aide to a Congressman died in hospital, becoming the third fatality of the blast.
Congressman Wahab Akbar and a driver were also killed.
Nine other people were injured in the blast, which hit the south lobby of the sprawling complex in the capital Manila, shortly after most Congressmen had left for the evening.
Police believe the explosion was caused by a bomb, possibly planted to target someone in the building.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/14/2090604.htm?section=justin

Eight killed in bomb blast at Philippines shopping mall
By Oliver Teves, Associated Press WriterSaturday, 20 October 2007
A powerful blast ripped through three floors of a shopping mall in the heart of Manila's financial district yesterday, killing eight people, injuring scores of others and sending police and troops on the highest state of alert.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said that contrary to early police reports that the blast was caused by a fuel tank, "circumstances indicate it is highly probable that it was caused by an explosive device."
She said police and the military went on the highest alert and deployed an additional 2,000 personnel to secure public areas "to prevent a similar occurrence."
The 1:30pm explosion caused extensive damage throughout the glitzy Glorietta 2 mall, toppling roofs, destroying walls, and sending debris crashing onto cars outside.
At least eight people were killed and about 130 others were wounded, including a Korean woman with slight injuries, officials said.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/eight-killed-in-bomb-blast-at-philippines-shopping-mall-397406.html

7 killed in bomb blasts in southern Philippines ahead of Asian summits
The Associated Press
Published: January 10, 2007
MANILA, Philippines: Three bomb blasts rocked the southern Philippine within hours of each other Wednesday, killing at least seven people and wounding 29 others, officials said, amid warnings that Muslim militants may try to disrupt twin Asian regional summits this weekend.
The first explosion ripped apart a lottery outlet across the public market in General Santos city, said city police chief Senior Superintendent Alfredo Toroctocon.
Among the six dead were two boys aged 8 and 12, local hospital staff said.
The city is about 500 kilometers (300 miles) south of Cebu, where leaders from across East Asia are gathering for the weekend summits.
Chief Superintendent German Doria, the regional police chief, said police had no immediate suspects but al-Qaida-linked groups — the regional militant network Jemaah Islamiyah and its ally, the local Abu Sayyaf group — "usually are the ones doing all these explosions in the region."
But he said police also were looking into the possibility that the blast stemmed from the failure of the lottery outlet operator to pay winners of a lottery draw.
The second explosion occurred about 2-1/2 hours later in Kidapawan city in Cotabato province, about 110 kilometers (65 miles) north of the first blast, said provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Federico Dulay.
Senior police officer Pascual Peroy said an improvised bomb placed near the perimeter fence of a police outpost along the city's national highway went off just after duty officers left on patrol.
Two passers-by were wounded, Peroy said.
The third explosion rocked Cotabato city, about 170 kilometers (106 miles) northwest of General Santos, near a dumpsite along a major road, killing a garbage collector and wounding five others, city police spokesman Senior Inspector Samson Obatay.
He said explosion appeared to be from an improvised bomb, although it could also have been a grenade.
"We think it was planted there on purpose, and was mixed with the garbage," he said in a telephone interview.
He said police suspect the blast was the handiwork of terrorists and linked to the two earlier blasts.
All three cities have been hit by terror bombings blamed on the Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiyah in the past.
Philippine National Police chief Oscar Calderon said earlier that militants may try to embarrass the government, a staunch U.S. ally in the war on terror, by staging attacks during the summits.
Calderon spoke to reporters in central Cebu city where he was overseeing security for the Association of Southeast Asian Nation and East Asian summits this weekend.
Chief Superintendent Romeo Ricardo, director of the national police Intelligence Group, said police and army troops have launched operations against militants throughout the country to prevent them from carrying out attacks.
Army spokesman Maj. Ernesto Torres said authorities were looking at the possible involvement of "saboteurs" to the ongoing peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the main Muslim separatist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has waged a decades-old struggle for Muslim homeland in the south.
He said the bombing occurred at the culmination of a two-day meeting between rebel and government representatives in General Santos.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/10/asia/AS-GEN-Philippines-Explosion.php

Four Hurt In Philippines Hotel Bomb Blasts
Escalating Violence In South Stems From Christian-Muslim Tensions

Rescuers pull out an injured man as an explosion went off inside the Traveller's Inn in Iligan city, southern Philippines on Aug. 17, 2008. Two bombs exploded simultaneously in two hotels in Iligan city, wounding at least four people in the latest in a series of attacks in the south that has alarmed authorities.

(AP) Two homemade bombs exploded almost simultaneously Sunday in two budget hotels in a southern Philippine city, wounding at least four people in the latest in a series of bomb attacks in the volatile south, officials said. The first bomb exploded in a guest room in the Iligan Travelers Inn near a shopping mall in southern Iligan city, wounding at least three people. A second bomb went off within minutes in a room in the Caprice Lodging House, injuring one, according to army and police officials. Bomb experts checked all hotels and lodging houses in Iligan to make sure they were safe, army Brig. Gen. Hilario Atendido said. No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts, the latest to hit the country's south in recent days amid renewed hostilities between government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, an 11,000-strong rebel group that has waged a decades-long battle for Muslim self-rule in the southern Mindanao region. Officials in Iligan, a predominantly Christian city of 300,000 people, have strongly opposed a preliminary accord between the government and the rebels that calls for the expansion of an existing Muslim autonomous region to include more than 700 new villages, including eight in Iligan, subject to the approval of residents in a plebiscite. Iligan Mayor Lawrence Cruz told a local radio station that his city would not drop its opposition to the accord, which is being challenged by opponents before the Supreme Court. Philippine officials suspect the rebels were responsible for three bomb explosions that damaged two power transmission pylons late Wednesday and wounded a suspected rebel Thursday in southern North Cotabato province. Three other unexploded bombs were found in the province late last week, police said. Nearly 3,000 troops and police dislodged about 1,000 rebels from 15 predominantly Christian farming villages the guerrillas had seized in North Cotabato, displacing about 80,000 people. The massive three-day assault ended Wednesday. Despite the rebel pullout, military chief Gen. Alexander Yano said last week that security in southern Mindanao island remained "volatile and fluid," adding that the rebels could be planning more attacks in the sprawling region. Police officials have been concerned that the rebels could launch bombings in other cities, including the capital, Manila.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/18/world/main4356868.shtml

Many hurt in Philippines bus bomb

A crudely-made bomb injured at least 27 people when it exploded aboard a bus in the southern Philippines.
The bomb went off while the bus was parked in a terminal in the town of Digos, on the island of Mindanao.
Early reports said the blast killed three people, but police and military officials later retracted this.
It is not known who planted the bomb, which was a homemade device. The remains of the bomb are being analysed as part of the police investigation.
"It was an IED [improvised explosive device] placed in a mineral water bottle, which also contained nails," Chief Superintendent Andres Caro, the local police chief, told the Philippines Inquirer.
"It was command-detonated," he added.
Of those injured in the blast, four are said to be in serious condition.
Gangs
Mindanao is home to several militant groups who have fought to establish an Islamic homeland.
Small-scale bombings are common in the region, which also hosts communist rebels and extortion gangs.
The bus hit by Thursday's blast was en route to Davao, the largest city on Mindanao.
Earlier, authorities there had warned that Muslim militants were plotting attacks, reported news agency AP.
But bus companies have also been targeted by criminal gangs seeking to extort money.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7522759.stm

Philippines alert for more bombs
By Sarah Toms BBC, Manila

Security has been stepped up since Monday's attacksPolice in the Philippines are warning of new bomb plots two days after a series of deadly explosions were set off on Monday.
At least 11 people were killed and 150 wounded in three co-ordinated bomb attacks in the capital and two southern cities.
Security has been stepped up at ports, commuter terminals and airports.
Police also warned the public of the possibility of more attacks, this time in crowded markets in the capital.
The Abu Sayyaf, a small group of Muslim militants allegedly linked to al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for Monday's blasts.
More than ever, we must not pull back but move forward to wipe out the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf
President Gloria Arroyo
Guide to Philippines conflict
It said it carried out the attacks to punish the government for a heavy military offensive near its stronghold on the south-western island of Jolo.
But officials are investigating whether Jemaah Islamiah, a regional network of Islamic militants also linked to al-Qaeda, also played a role.
Jemaah Islamiah is blamed for the Bali bombings in 2002 that killed more than 200 people.
Investigators are looking into reports that a 10-year-old boy was used as a courier to bring explosives past security into a bus terminal in Mindanao's Davao City.
Some witnesses reported that a man took the bag from the child and planted the bomb.
Security forces say two of the bombs were remotely detonated using mobile phones.
Two teams of forensic experts from Australia will arrive later this week to help the Philippines.
They will try to piece together the evidence to find any similarities with previous attacks, particularly blasts, that took place in Indonesia.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4269487.stm

Bomb plot foiled in S Philippines ahead of Arroyo's visit
2009-01-13 11:17:54

COTABATO, Philippines, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Filipino security forces foiled a bomb plot in the restive southern Philippines ahead of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's visit, officials said on Tuesday.
Troops recovered and defused an improvised booby-trap bomb left by unidentified men in the town of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Shariff Kabunsuan Province on Monday, said town police Chief inspector Dante Mama.
President Arroyo is scheduled to arrive on Thursday at the headquarters of 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in the same town, where she will hold a press briefing with reporters.
Last week, Philippine soldiers recovered a powerful improvised bomb planted by suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels under a bridge in the township of Shariff Aquak, Maguindanao Province.
Peace talks between the government and the MILF, the largest rebel group in the country, were suspended in August last year, when the rebels launched a spate of attacks across Mindanao that left scores dead and hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced.
But Lieutenant Colonel Julieto Ando, civil military affairs of 6th Infantry Division, said the MILF rebels had nothing to do with the plot.
"Based on our initial investigation, the motive was extortion ,"Ando told reporters.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/13/content_10650567.htm

World Briefing Asia: The Philippines: Bombs In 3 Cities Kill 11
By CARLOS H. CONDE (NYT)
Published: February 15, 2005
A series of bombs went off, all within an hour, in Manila and two other cities, killing at least 11 people and wounding dozens of others, officials said. The Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf claimed responsibility, and a military spokesman said the bombings might have been related to heavy fighting between soldiers and Muslim rebels in southern Sulu Province over the past week. The Manila bombing occurred in Makati City, the financial district, killing 6 people and wounding 40. A bomb at a shopping mall in the southern city of General Santos killed four and wounded dozens, the police said, and a bomb at a bus terminal in Davao City, also in the south, killed a child and wounded five. Carlos H. Conde (NYT)
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F02E5DB123AF936A25751C0A9639C8B63

Twin bomb blasts in 2 Philippine malls kill 6, injure 38
Thursday, December 18, 2008

Map of Lanao del Norte showing the location of Iligan City where the explosions occurred.
Twin blasts, allegedly caused by improvised explosive devices, rocked two upscale malls in the main financial district in Aguinaldo Street in Iligan City on Thursday. At least three people were killed and forty-seven were wounded when two improvised crude bombs exploded and damaged the Unicity Commercial Center at 1:35 p.m. and the nearby Jerry’s Shoppers Plaza 10 minutes later.
The mall blasts occurred a day before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s scheduled visit to the City, her maternal hometown. Lanao del Norte police Superintendent Dimacuta Sanggacala said he "corrected the earlier report that six people had been killed, saying that some of those whom they thought were dead were seriously hurt." "Forty-five people were injured and being treated at the Sanitarium City Hospital and Dr. Uy City Hospital," he added.
The City of Iligan (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Iligan; Filipino: Lungsod ng Iligan) is a highly urbanized city North of the province of Lanao del Norte, Philippines, and the province's former capital. It is approximately 795 kilometers southeast of Manila with a population of 308,046 people as of 2007.
The provincial police said that CCTV video footages from both malls show two men both wearing scarfs, had placed the explosives inside bags and left at the package or baggage counters of the malls. An L-300 van was also destroyed in the blasts. The local SOCO forces, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team (bomb experts) and the bomb-sniffing K9 unit of the 403rd Brigade were immediately dispatched to search the site for more victims.
Col. Nicanor Dolojan, commander of the Army’s 403rd said that “our suspect here are the lawless MILF group because of the type of the (improvised explosive device) that were used. That IED manifest their signature, using mortar rounds. Terrorism, which is their real intention, to sow terror in the area.That is our initial findings.” Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz said that his local government received several "threats to bomb establishments - department stores, churches, schools, public places, and markets."
Continuous clashes began in August between government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, after the High Court annulled a Memorandum of Agreement on peace. Reuters reported that "five people were wounded in two blasts on December 4 in another part of Mindanao, which army officials blamed on rogue Muslim rebels fighting a long-running insurgency in the south." "There have been at least three bomb attacks on bus terminals in the south since July as violence escalated after Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's largest Muslim rebel group, failed to sign a territory deal in August." it added. In November, three people were also injured in the blasts of the Traveler's Inn and the Caprice Lodge in Iligan City.
The Abu Sayyaf Group (lang-arجماعة أبو سياف; Jamāʿah Abū Sayyāf, ASG), also known as 'al-Harakat al-Islamiyya' is one of several militant Islamist separatist groups based in and around the southern islands of the Philippines, in Bangsamoro (Jolo, Basilan, and Mindanao) where for almost 30 years various Muslim groups have been engaged in an insurgency for a state, independent of the predominantly Catholic Philippines.
The Times of India reported that "the southern Philippines region of Mindanao is the hotbed of a decades-old Muslim separatist insurgency that has, in recent years, been suspected of harbouring Islamic militants with ties to the al-Qaida network of Osama bin Laden."

On the streets

2009-01-09T13:18:00.005-05:00

Jun, Jack and Nanette presenting the gospel to one of many groups of listening kids today

These teens gave me their undivided attention for a good 20 minutes. The reality of the brevity of life combined with their lack of assurance regarding their eternal destination brought a change of countenance to their faces as the gospel was presented.

Bro. Jun witnessing to Jimmy - an excon that the Lord brought to Jun as only He can.

Sister Nanette beginning to teach a group of kids and onlookers gathered on the street

Bro. Jun talking to another group in a different area, Sister Nanette finished the session by explaining the gospel using the wordless bracelet

The Rock of Ages Prison ministry staff (and kids) all together after dinner. Eating out is a very rare occurence for them and it was a blessing to be able to fellowship with them after a day on the streets.

Presenting the gospel yesterday wednesday at a small park using the Evangecube as a witnessing tool

How good it has been to be on the field for these two weeks, to be engaged in the work, to have the blessing of seeing God move in peoples lives and working side by side with faithful brothers and sisters. While I long to see my family, I would rather it be them coming to the Manila airport rather than me returning to Rochester. I will return and we will continue to pray for God to bring us here in His earliest acceptable time. Deputation has afforded relationships we look forward to seeing grow, challenges that we pray we learn and grow from and a realization of just how great the need is around this country and world which should in turn bring us to a whole new soberness and fervency.

I want to praise the Lord for the great day we had in the streets today. Jun and I were joined by Bro. Jack and Sister Nanette. We went to a number of different areas in the La Loma community and presented the gospel to many groups of varying sizes and ages. Sister Nanette is very gifted with the children and we had plenty to teach. It thrills my heart to see how they will gather round, listen and find enjoyment in things as simple as giving five, comparing their height to mine and asking questions. I had a great time at our first stop having the kids helping me with tagalog - we reviewed numbers, colors and animals. One thing I notice more and more about the language is that there are words that are incredibly similar in spelling and pronunciation but radically different in meaning. At New Bilibid prison on thursday I saw the word Dalaw on the wall and immediately assumed it to be some grammatical form of Dalawa which is the number 2. It actually means visitor... Then I learned that the word for Duck and the word for Rice cake are very similar also. Not to mention that how fast you say a word can mean the difference between the number 7 and the word for whistle. I certainly have a lot to learn.

We praise the Lord for the response to the gospel we have seen almost every day we have been out as well as for the crowds of teens and adults that made their way into the audience today especially. Brother Jun had a great extended witness with a young man that spent some time in prison and he was very receptive - please pray for this man Jimmy and all those that have made professions of faith and have heard the gospel. The wordless bracelets were a wonderful tool to use in presenting the gospel and then having candy/goodies and handmade ornaments to share with the kids was in some small way a demonstration of love toward them that I hope will in their minds be associated with the message they heard of the perfect love that God commendeth toward us through the gift of Christ.

It has been a privilege to minister with my brothers and sisters here, they are living proof that the richest of people in this world are often those that have nothing of material and vain value but are rich in faith, diligent in their labour of love and filled with the Holy Spirit. Please pray for Jun, Joyce, Jack, Virge, Gemma, Nanette and Yoli as they minister in the jails, prisons and on the streets of Manila.

I have more pics and testimonies that perhaps I will share in later posts. God truly has been amazing.

Praise and request

2009-01-08T10:16:00.001-05:00

As I finish my last few days here in Manila and eagerly anticipate being reunited with my wife and daughters, I rejoice at all that God has done and taught me through these two weeks. Today I preached at New Bilibid max security prison with Bro. Rex Galfo, a Filipino man who has surrendered to go to India with his family. He is a wonderful man who has planted two churches here and been in ministry for 10+ years. It was a blessing to fellowship and learn from him as we spent nearly three hours on a bus together just getting there because of an assortment of delays (traffic violation by the driver, windshield wiper failure repair, traffic etc). It was absolutely pouring here today and so we were strategically placing chairs and the pulpit between the leaks in the roof of the pavilion style church there. The Lord gave us a good turnout and we praise Him for the receptivity of the men. Bro. Jun is doing a great work here at Bilibid.
On the streets God has been blessing wonderfully. We have gone into many poor communities in the city and been able to be a blessing and encouragement to the kids with goodies as well as present the gospel again and again to groups of all sizes. It is amazing to see how God provides the groups of people and then overcomes the distractions of people shouting and sometimes mocking in order to touch the hearts of the humble. We have seen many bow their heads and call on the Lord in the midst of the distractions this week! While some may just be doing what their friends are, we take extra time to explain how serious and personal this decision is and how it differs from the practices and religious exercises they are used to. We have intentionally held back a portion of our tracts, ornaments and bracelets for tomorrow when we will go out with a larger group of workers that have been out of town until now. We hope to gather them into larger groups, sit them down and spend adequate time in the presentation of the gospel and have workers to deal individually where opportunity arises. Please pray for conducive weather, softened hearts and souls to be delivered to God's glory.The trip to Baguio and San Fernando over the weekend went very well, much was learned about the area, existing works, needs etc. We have much to pray about! Thank you for all your prayer and encouragement, please continue to lift up Steph and the girls as I am away - Maraming Salamat Po (many thanks)

Back in Manila

2009-01-05T16:35:00.002-05:00

Spent the weekend on a survey trip to Baguio as well as San Fernando La Union. From the breathtaking mountains and winding roads of Baguio to the rapidly growing ocean side city of San Fernando, there is a tremendous amount of natural beauty that is being inhabited by souls taken captive in the bondage of false religion. While I have much to write, I have little time. It was a good time of fellowship with my friends that accompanied me and new contacts were established there. It was a privilege to preach at Victory Baptist Church on Sunday and I learned a tremendous amount about the region in the short visit before returning for work. Without expounding, I praise the Lord for the many things He has given me to seek him about concerning the work He is directing us toward. There are so many souls. Pray the Lord would get us here just as early as He would see fit. More detail on these cities, existing works, needs etc to come. Thanks for your prayer for safety and a productive trip, it accomplished that and more. I also rejoice that upon my return I heard of a dear sister reaching out and being a great encouragement to my wife while I was there and unable to contact her. So many of our friends have been so supportive and it has been wonderful to see how God has touched their hearts about different aspects of encouragement - a burden for the street kids we have been with, an encouragement to my wife, those that are ready to lend a helping hand, those who have contributed helpful witnessing tools and of course so many praying. The Lord has blessed us far beyond our expectation! As this week will include street work, prison, church and more, pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen me, that souls would be impacted and He would be glorified.

Psalm 79:11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee...

2009-01-02T09:05:00.003-05:00

It has been a humbling experience to work with Bro. Jun and Sister Joyce here in Manila these many times. They have become wonderful friends and they have a sincere love for Christ. It is even more of a privilege to have had many opportunities to preach, teach and give the gospel in the city jails and New Bilibid Prison with them. Men, women and children alike occupy these facilities and Christ is being glorified as His transforming salvation has its way in the lives of these inmates. Truly it is by the mercy of God that any of us have recieved so great a gift and that blood was shed as much for these prisoners as it was for you and I. It is an unpopular ministry for sure but then again God didnt call missionaries to be celebrities. This family and the rest of the ROA staff here work with diligence, by faith and for the pleasing of God alone. I thought it fitting to share the video of their ministry. The mission board behind their ministry has restructured leaving this family to walk by faith more than ever. They have given up professional careers to work with what many would call the "least" of society. There will not be churches established inside jails and prisons that will have the provision to support the work. Bro. Jun is now travelling to churches across the Philippines on deputation to provide for the continued work and very modest needs of his family. In the meantime he is excited about possibly starting works in even more city jails - bringing them to as many as 10 they will minister in with the limited staff they have. Please pray for Bro. Jun, Sister Joyce, Nanette, Yoli, Jack, Virge and Gemma.

Street kids and Squatter areas - James 1:27

2008-12-31T12:48:00.008-05:00

Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Since my first trip here in 2005 it has been a burden on my heart to minister to the vast population of street kids here in Manila. Partly because I am a father, partly because it is hard in general to see kids in such harsh conditions and partly because of the passion that God has for these dear children and the burden to see them reached for His glory and their deliverance.

Before I ever saw a vast group of street kids I was introduced to their situation by the testimony of a man that was a street kid. In '05 I preached at Liberty Baptist Mission in Antipolo where Pastor De La Cruz shared his testimony to myself and the Perkins over lunch. To get to the point, he and his two brothers lived on the streets and it was there that a Christian man (not a pastor or missionary) showed them the love of Christ and invested in them. The result of that investment is that he and both his brothers are in full time ministry and have impacted hundreds of souls for Christ! This should remind us of the potential of everyone, the fact that you never know what God can do with seeds you plant and that there is a great need to minister to these great areas of need and not just within our comfort zones and daily travels.

With that being said, my burden for this trip almost as soon as I heard I would be going was to invest in these kids (and adults) on the streets and in the squatter areas. So being equipped with Tagalog tracts, gospel bracelets and homemade Christmas ornaments with scriptures, Brother Jun and I have been hitting the streets in the afternoons. The areas we have been to so far have not been the most impoverished of squatter areas but certainly have a tremendous need for the gospel. What I have learned quickly is that audiences are widely available for gospel teaching but we much use caution in how we go about giving anything to these kids.

These kids see that you have something and they literally mob you, pull on your clothes, try to climb on you, try to take the bag from your hands and there is no courtesy between the kids, the bigger will certainly take from the small as much as possible. While we have had some good audiences and attentiveness we will definitely employ a different approach next week as we use the rest of our bracelets and ornaments. The key will be to let them know we have something for them but they must listen to the teaching and they must promise to be orderly in the recieving of the gift and allow everyone to get one. What will happen later I dont know but this should ensure the most attentive and largest audiences. One thing that has been disappointing to me is that these kids have no grasp on english at all so my limited tagalog has been a real hangup. Both Jun and the rest of the Rock of ages staff will be available next week so we will be sure to have the gospel be presented in a way they can best comprehend. I have found success teaching from the bracelets as well as the Evangecube and next week I would like to employ our Abeka flash card series on creation and salvation that i brought with me. Please pray that we would see souls saved. We are encouraged that we have distributed more than 500 tracts, 200 bracelets and almost 200 ornaments. As we will be more organized next week we will also implement some candy and snacks etc.

The areas themselves sit off of the main road and are hidden by storefronts and various mga tindera (vendors). You really dont know where the people are coming from or until you look at the very narrow corridors between the shops. When you walk through the narrow dark area it just seems to go forever, turns to the left and right, paths everywhere to hundreds and hundreds of little rooms where entire families live. It would be very easy to get lost in there. The sanitation is horrible and the smells reflect that. Many of the people and children are very dirty and so by the time they got done grabbing and pulling at me trying to get a Pasko (Christmas) present (the bracelets and ornaments) - my clothes were filthy. The Philippine government reports more than 375,000 prostitutes across the country and and more than 250,000 streek kids in Manila alone. The density of children in this area is mouthstopping, once our bags were opened, what we had (three bags of materials) was gone in just minutes. It is clear there are some hungry kids and it has a survival of the fittest feel to it with the smallest of kids getting shoved and knocked over. Many of the kids and teens would call out, "Daddy, dont you recognize me, I'm your son/daughter, Daddy bring me home." As you can imagine, while there was some appreciation for the gifts, there was a lot of asking for money and there was quite a bit of hardness with the adults. They all took tracts for the most part but many of them we would see cast by the wayside on our trip back through. Unlike the states, the people usually will give you an audience. They are too polite to send you away and that is what is encouraging about the possibilities. I dont anticipate an immediate response in these areas that are wanting for many of the things we take for granted, with mixed perceptions of our true intent and not to mention that we are speaking against the idols and religious traditions that they hold so dear. I firmly believe that these areas will not be won until you win the battle of "they dont care what you know until they know that you care" and this will take repeated investment of time and energy to impact them. Step one though is certainly to give them the gospel and this is what we will continue to do. It has been a truly rewarding time, to not care about a smell or dirt or what they could offer a congregation were they to join one, to not think about demographics and target groups, to not be apathetic to teh value of their souls. As I leave a five star hotel - from the 13th floor where there is likely more wasted food from their breakfast buffet than would be needed to feed these kids daily to this area, it truly feels more like home, and I wouldnt want it any other way.

I have included the following link to view some of the pictures that I have taken so far. Honestly, taking a couple quick snapshots is about all I have cared to do, the pictures are not great and they cant tell the story by any means but there are a few faces there to give you a feel for the area.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=6m9eb6f.2mjwx2k3&x=0&y=-f16ur8&localeid=en_US

I also wanted to provide some education on the situation with street kids, both in manila and around the world.

The Following Statistics are taken from International Street Kids Ministry website

(I have substituted King James Scripture in this article so we know what God really said)

http://www.internationalstreetkids.com/statistics.php

This definition does not apply to every child that "lives" on the streets - in the next article on Manila there is a further desription of the different groups involved.

Tragically, less than 1/10 of 1% of Evangelical resources go to reaching, rescuing and making disciples of these children.

The end of this post will be the following article. I appreciate your continued prayer. Please lift up the trip to Baguio today for the weekend, that God would be glorified and I would learn many things about this region and its needs.

Below is the URL and the article on Street Kids of Metro Manila - I just found this yesterday and it was quite informative. One thing to note is the date of the article - from 1992. This is one of the main reasons why the statistics that it reports about the number of street kids and the number that the government reports and that other missionaries suspect vary so widely.

Also, for sake of time, I have cut out a number of portions of this three page document that I did not feel needed to be read to emphasize the situation on the streets

https://www.strategicnetwork.org/index.php?loc=kb&view=v&id=15778&fct=PHL &

In John 13:34 we are given what seems to be an unattainable command: A new commandment I give unto you: that ye love one another. Centuries later, God challenges us to obey this command amid the instability of Metro Manila. This is an instability not simply due to killer earthquakes (July 1990), volcanic eruptions (June 1991), typhoons, communist insurgencies, or frequent coup attempts. It is also seen in the 50,000 or more "undesirables" who roam the squalid streets of Metro Manila.
Statistics of Admonition
The nation's problems are most glaring in its sprawling slums, home to more than 15 million people-one-fifth of the total population. Here, amid squalor and disease, are the ugly realities behind the statistic that more than half of all Filipinos live below the poverty line, defined most recently as $730 per year for a family of six.
Manila's birth rate outside the slum is 33 per 1,000 persons, twice that of the United States. Inside the slums, the rate is 177 per 1,000.
Although juvenile delinquency and vagrancy among minors are not new, the number of teenagers and pre-teenagers actually working or living on Manila streets began to rise noticeably in the 1970s. By the 1980s, street children had increased to such an alarming level that they became a national concern. Not coincidentally, the growth of this group occurred during a period of rapid population growth, increased urban migration, intermittent economic crises, and increased poverty nationwide.
Street Children of Manila
Street children of Metro Manila can be classified into four groups.
1. The real street children. These are the children who actually survive on the street. They are out of school with an average educational attainment of grade three. They are orphaned or abandoned; some are runaways and others were driven from their homes.
2. The working children in the street. These children work to pay their school expenses or to help their parents. Most of these children are in school. Although most of them are very young girls, their average educational level is grade six.
3. The children of the slums and squatter families. They have nothing to do in their homes so they frequently roam the streets, returning home at night or at mealtime.
4. The children of poor families. These families work the street or engage in the underground economy as peanut, food, or cigarette vendors. They often have mobile stalls or pushcarts. These parents bring their children with them. This group also includes beggars.
Ministry to Street Children
A major Street Children Research survey was launched by ACTION in October 1990. We will examine three aspects of this research project and review methods used by three different Christian ministries that are reaching these children with the love of Christ.
Christ for Greater Manila (CGM): The research project began with questionnaires answered by street boys at the Christ for Greater Manila's Provincial Home Rehabilitation Center in Cavite.
Action International Ministries (ACTION): Using the information gathered from the pretest study, ACTION conducted a larger scale study among street children in two Manila locations.
Sampaloc Bible Church: In addition to surveying street kids, ACTION's Research Project located evangelical churches and agencies currently ministering to street children.

46% of the kids interviewed have separated parents. 48% left home due to problems with their parents. 66% preferred to stay on the streets rather than go home. Their length of time on the streets varied from one day to ten years.
Here are the results of the survey, listed by category.
Lifestyle
Large public buildings were the most common places to eat and sleep on the street. Two-thirds said that they used cardboard or newspaper for sleeping mats. When the weather was bad, only a few were able to return home. About two-thirds of the respondents ate at least twice daily. Most of the boys bought their food.
Their daily incomes ranged from P10 to P200 (40¢ to $8). Common sicknesses included coughs, colds, fever, and headaches. Most bought their medicines. Cigarette smoking was common. Their primary activities were begging and getting high on drugs.
Solvent paint thinner was used by over half of the respondents, obtained from hardware and drug stores. Sniffing solvent is a cheap but a potentially lethal way of getting high. When one young lad was asked why he did it, he said, "It's like being in heaven!"
Educational Attainment
Two-thirds of the boys were not attending school at the time of the survey, but almost all indicated that they wanted to resume their studies. Most of the respondents had dropped out of school. The professions they most desired to attain included the military, police, engineering, and even the Christian ministry.

Spiritual Issues
Approximately 94 percent of all Filipinos are considered Roman Catholic. Only 3 or 4 percent are estimated to be truly "born again." The provincial home boys gave some encouraging answers. All the boys said they thought about God, and believed that he cared for them and was active in their lives. The majority believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, or divine in nature. Almost all desired to study the Bible. They would study in a church, park, or on the sidewalk.
About a third indicated that they were aware of unexplainable demonic activities.

Gangs and Peer Groupings

Three-fourths of the respondents did not join a gang. They had a low view of them and did not envision themselves becoming drug-pushers, etc. However, when kids from other areas entered their turf, the majority of them became entangled in fights. The reasons given for these fights were that they were picking on each other, joking, sniffing solvent or rugby glue, or helping their friends.
Almost all said that they experienced fear. They were mainly afraid of beatings from their parents, police, and street and security guards. There are some police who scare them with their weapons and incarcerate them. However, the street kids themselves said that some police will help them because they don't want to see them on the street.
Needs and Aspirations
Most of the boys' needs and aspirations were for basic things like a home and a loving family. Necessities like clothing, food, schooling, work, care and a place to belong were frequently mentioned. The difficulty of life on the street with no hope for the future filled the overwhelming majority with discontent. With no alternative in sight, most felt they are conscripted to a lifetime of mere survival.
Our purpose in surveying street children was to give us an overview of the street children's plight in Metro Manila from a Christian perspective; to establish a profile of these children; to identify their basic needs, problems and characteristics; and to discover what appropriate ministries could be developed for them.
Surveys were taken at Araneta Center in Cubao and Monumento, Grand Central, and Light Rail Transit areas in Kalookan City. A two-page questionnaire in the national Tagalog language was administered to fifty-seven randomly selected boys and girls, ages 10 to 23, at these locations. The resulting data was categorized under the following headings. It gives us a glimpse of life among Manila's street kids.
The Family Situation
The majority preferred to live at home. Most in this group were boys, while some of the girls preferred the streets. The reasons given by those who preferred to live at home were: they would be with their parents; they would have a comfortable and safe life at home; and they would have regular food and guidance. Those who preferred the streets had many playmates; they were earning money; and no one was hurting them.
Most of the girls said that they were on the streets to work to sell things like sampaguite (fragrant Philippine flowers strung together on a string), sweepstakes tickets and plastic bags. Most of the boys said, however, that they had run away from home or had been driven away by their parents.
The sizes of respondents' families were relatively small by Filipino standards. Most of the girls reported that they had five siblings; most of the boys said they had only two or three. The majority also have siblings on the street.
The Lifestyles of Respondents
Their eating habits are somewhat normal. Half ate three times a day, while a considerable number ate twice a day. The majority buy their food, although some boys acquire their food by begging or finding leftovers or scraps. Most of the girls from Kalookan ate at home.
Half of the respondents pass the night at home. The rest said that they sleep under the monorail transit terminal, in parking lots, or on the streets. The reasons included, "We are living there"; "Our mother told us not to come home"; and "No other place to go." Those who sleep outside the home used cardboard boxes for mats or bedding. During bad weather, they took shelter in nearby buildings.
The majority derived their income from vending or working in the street. A number of boys earn by begging and one girl respondent said she was a prostitute. Most earn a daily income of between P25 to P50 ($1 to $2) while about one fourth of the respondents (mostly girls) earn daily between P50 to P100 ($2 to $4). Most respondents said they had no vices. A few of the boys sniff solvent. Some use drugs, sniff glue and smoke marijuana. They did this, they said, to ease headaches, to have a trip and to feel good.
Educational Attainment
The educational level of street children is very low. Most of the boys have only reached third grade, while the majority of the girls have reached sixth grade. Poor attendance was generally attributed to their parents' "refusal" for one reason or another.
About half of the respondents (mostly boys) wanted to pursue their education. The boys sought law enforcement positions. The girls wanted to take up nursing or teaching. The reasons given for refusing to pursue their studies included: "I don't want any more"; "I am lazy"; "I find it hard"; "I have children"; or "I am already married."
The Spiritual Encounter
The response regarding spiritual encounters was limited. However, the following is significant. They said that they had seen or heard about such things as "the white lady," ghosts, dwarves, evil spirits, and demons. Some of them are aware of the existence of a witch, quack doctor or fortuneteller. They also mentioned the rituals of occult practitioners who practice witchcraft, tell fortunes, get the hearts of children, chant, and imitate or copy people's faces.
Almost all said they "think about God." Some think about God when they are depressed, sick, or lonely. Other respondents said that he is the sustainer and supplier of their needs and that he is kind and helpful. Almost all believe that God cares for them. They said that the fact that they have survived is reason to believe that God cares.
Gangs or Peer Grouping
Peer grouping, or barkada, is the way to survive on the street. They hang around in groups, but three-fourths of the respondents maintain that they are not members of a gang or fraternity. The reasons given included, "It's bad"; "It's forbidden"; "I don't like them." Those who joined groups or fraternities said that they did so for protection and camaraderie.
Needs and Aspirations of the Respondents
Most of their felt needs are material. There is, however, a significant number who said they need parents, jobs, studies, health and the love of a brother or sister. Their needs included clothing, education and help to change their life.
When asked about their ambitions, the respondents said that they wanted a simple but comfortable life. They wanted to get a degree or profession and to have a family or be reconciled to their families.
Sampaloc Bible Church Street Kid Ministry
Various groups have rallied to offer physical and spiritual help to the despised street urchins. Part of ACTION's research goal was to locate these evangelical groups and begin to network with them. Sampaloc Bible Church, based in the center of Manila's University Belt, is quickly becoming known for its successful center-based ministry among street children. Beginning in 1974 under Far Eastern Crusade (now SEND International) as a Student Life Center, it evolved quickly. Under the competent leadership of Pastor Bob Sanchez, it is now a thriving church that ministers to street kids, as well as foreign and national students. With the help of various financial grants, a vision to help Manila's young people, and many man-hours, it has made significant progress in ministry. It now has a drop-in center for street kids eight to fifteen years old, which can serve a maximum of forty-five kids. It also has a temporary shelter which can accommodate fifteen kids.

Street Kid Outreach
Each week, a special team is sent out to needy areas in Manila where they offer food and fellowship, music and a gospel message to destitute street kids. When children express a desire to enroll in Sampaloc's program, they are required to sign a contract before admittance. For most of Manila's street-hardened kids, issues like stealing, quarreling, and stubbornness need to be dealt with. Despite a return to the streets by the "untouchables" or "hard-headed," Pastor Sanchez reports that over the years, the church has been blessed to see a fair number of reconciliations between street kids and their families.
A Call to Service
The Philippines was once known for its high, godly standards for family unity, especially between husbands and wives. Pakikisama, or smooth interpersonal relationships, was once a high priority.
Now, tempted by the Western world's materialistic pride, these qualities are toppling. Family unity is taking a severe beating. All this is compounded by political and economic crises and natural disasters. Coupled with the corruption in the government ranks, funds for relief and street kid organizations sometimes fail to materialize. It is no wonder that the street kid situation is becoming bleaker.
What is needed here, more than anything, is a turning away of "every man for himself." We need to go back to the Word of God, realize the corruptness of the inner self and reorder our priorities. As it says in Php 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Then these kids will get the help they need to escape from the bondage of their situation and to enter into abundant grace and freedom found in and through Christ Jesus.

I pray that some will take the time to read this and pray for these kids. Lord bless

New Year Tradition and Superstition in the Philippines

2008-12-31T10:06:00.003-05:00

Knowing that this trip would include spending the New Year here I started to ask upon arrival what to expect as far as celebrations and traditions and was educated quickly. The first respons was a three word statement - many, many fireworks.

As I read the papers I read the history of 470 firework or stray bullet related hospitalizations in '08 - down from previous years. I read about a boy who was blinded yesterday because of a firecracker accident etc.
As we went to the squatter areas to witness and minister to kids and adults alike (will write of this soon), there were many firecrackers going off - sounding more like bombs than firecrackers

While it is a tradition that is held with fondness among the people along with midnight feasts with family supposed to insure plenty of food in the coming year, wearing circles on clothing for hope of wealth, jumping up and down for hopes of growing taller in the next year etc - it is steeped in superstition - being taken from the Chinese beliefs that the loud noises will drive away evil spirits. Just another sign of the spiritual blindness that these people are held captive in by satan according to his will (2 Tim. 2:26). All the more reason more labourers are needed to "in meekness instruct those that oppose themselves" that God might deliever them through repentance unto the acknowledging of the truth. Perhaps the following articles may be of interest to some regarding this culture and its celebration of the New Year. Thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray. We had a great, yet humbling day in the squatter area today that I will write of anotehr time followed by a service at La Loma Baptist church.

The new year has now been rung in here while I am at the call center. The booms from outside almost rattle the windows, the smoke in the city is causing slow going on the roads - taking about 3 times as long to navigate through all the smoke. The agents whoe are here are all enjoying a wonderful Lechon (pig roast) as they work through the night. Lord bless you all and happy New Year - May Christ be Magnified in it.

The following article is taken from this website http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/31/asia/AS-Philippines-New-Year.php

Philippines braces for bloody New Year's
The Associated Press
Published: December 31, 2008

MANILA, Philippines: Brandishing a surgical saw on national TV, the health chief warned revelers that amputations often result from firecracker accidents as the Philippines braced Wednesday for a violent New Year's Eve celebration.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque resorted to scare tactics to discourage the use of banned — but popular — powerful firecrackers. His department's Web site displays videos of mangled hands and other firecracker-related injuries.
"I have to be aggressive to really show what awaits the hard-headed," Duque told The Associated Press.
Many Filipinos, largely influenced by Chinese tradition, believe that noisy New Year's celebrations drive away evil and misfortune. But they have carried that superstition to extremes, exploding huge firecrackers and firing guns to welcome the new year despite threats of arrest.
Last year, 869 people were hurt, including 14 hit by stray bullets on and before New Year's Eve.
Firecrackers and celebratory gunfire wounded 165 people between Dec. 21 to Dec. 30, including eight victims who lost fingers. Doctors plan to amputate the right hand of a man after it was mangled by a firecracker in central Iloilo province, health officials said.
Duque said he hoped a forecast of rain later Wednesday off the country's east coast and the economic crunch would discourage the sale and use of powerful firecrackers.
Duque ordered 78 government hospitals nationwide to get ready for the expected injuries and toured hospital emergency rooms in Manila to check on preparations.
Sen. Richard Gordon, who heads the local Red Cross, said 2,400 blood bags were ready in case hospitals run out of supplies.

Wikipedia definition of New Years in the Philippines
New Year's Day, or Araw ng Bagong Taon is celebrated with the family in or outside the house. The year is greeted on the Bisperas ng Bagong Taon (New Year's Eve) with a lavish feast, called media noche (literally, "middle of the night"). Round shaped foods, sticky or glutinous rice based foods, and various 12 round shaped fruits for each of the months of the year are served. Traditionally, Filipinos, Chinese, and Spaniards stay at home, the latter serving parties lavishly, which almost always includes a lechon (suckling roasted pig). However, more and more of the younger generation and the recent immigrants such as Americans have popularized the celebration of the New Year in grand hotels, restaurants, in parks, and in streets. Children light firecrackers such as watusi or the sinturon ni Hudas (Judas' belt), while adults spend the night recollecting the year, and, in many families, involves a Bible reading..

One last article with some details on various superstitions and traditions here from the following site - http://www.123newyear.com/newyear-customs/new-year-customs-philippines.html

New Year Customs in Phillippines

In Philippines the families gather together at midnight on New Year and eat a midnight meal. This is believed by the people in Philippines would ensure plenty of food in the coming year. The children in Philippines follow a custom of jumping up and down 10 times to grow tall in the coming year. This custom is believed would make the children taller for the coming year. Fireworks are an important part of the New Year celebrations in Philippines. The people in Philippines set off fireworks as a symbol of happiness on New Year. The fireworks are seen as a traditional way to greet the New Year with joy. The preparations for the New Year in Philippines begin a few days ahead of New Year. Although the customs of celebrating New Year in Philippines may have changed a little but the spirit of the New Year celebrations remains the same among the people of Philippines on New Year. The custom of wishing everyone luck and happiness and seeing off the old year and welcoming the New Year is still prevalent in Philippines. Dance music and other amusements are the other customs that the people in Philippines follow on New Year.
Media Noche or midnight is an important custom that is followed. On New Year's Eve families in Philippines gather to have this midnight mass. This midnight mass is believed by the people in Philippines to symbolize their hopes for a prosperous New Year. The custom of making noise and merrymaking is not only meant to have all the fun on New Year but also to drive away evil spirits. The people in Philippines believe banging on pots and pans and blowing on car horns to be the safer methods of merrymaking on New Year. The wide populaces in Philippines believe displaying colorful fruit and wearing clothes with dots and other circular designs would be lucky as they symbolize money. Just like the New Year custom of other countries the people in Philippines believe in following the custom of eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Year. This would bring them good luck for the coming year. Opening the doors during the first day of the New Year is a custom that is followed to bring good luck for the New Year.

Update from Manila - Day 2

2008-12-30T11:23:00.000-05:00

Greetings from Manila,
I wanted to praise the Lord for being so good to me over the past two days. I have had some great time of fellowship with my Brother Jun and his wife, been able to distribute a wealth of gospel tracts and bracelets on the streets and see God answer the prayers of His people. My last update spoke of my lost luggage. I spent alot of time on Monday making calls to the airline and airport to get status updates and understand when I would see it. At about 8:30 pm (an hour before work) I was informed that 2 bags were delivered! Only one drawback, one of the bags was not mine and that left the airline perplexed about the status of my bag as well as who this other bag belonged to. While I was incredibly grateful to see my clothes arrive, I was not surprised when the one bag that did not arrive was the very one that was filled to the brim with tracts, bracelets, NT's, John/Romans and Christmas ornaments with Scripture. Lest we forget, we have an enemy that would not have the truth of our God who saves by grace through faith to be disseminated in this city. Spritual warfare then became the theme of the day as my flesh crept up on me while dealing with the airport for the second straight day when I would rather have been sleeping. When I did get out, I had my first runin with the Pulis (police) over here about tracts/preaching. I have always been in clear view of the many guards and police around the mall, hotel district called Ortigas center as I pass tracts, witness and preach but this day I had an officer on a motorcycle tell me that it was forbidden for me to pass out anything or interrupt the daily lives of the passersby in this 20+ acre district. I was respectful in stating my past experience here and also that I am staying on the sidewalks and streets. He told me that the whole area was private property and therefore it was all off limits. I asked if he could verify this considering the city was doing work on the street and sidewalk less than 100 yards from where we were standing. I told him I was not selling or asking for anything but proclaiming the truth of God's word and I offered to let him review the material for himself :). He agreed to check with his superior and would get back to me, He drove around the block and then let me know that he hadnt heard anything. I politely inferred that I was going to continue until he could demonstrate to me how it was illegal since so many other officers have observed this before without saying a word. Praise the Lord - He agreed. I stayed there for a few more minutes and then moved on. It was great to see how God wrought the victory. Just a few hours later, just before returning to work Tuesday night (day for you), my other bag arrived with all the tracts etc! Glory!
Tomorrow Brother Jun and I will be going to the poorest of squatter areas in the city to minister to the kids, preach and try to be a blessing with the ornaments etc. Pray the Lord would offer discernment and boldness with compassion as we talk to these people. New Years day I will join Bro. Jun in New Bilbid Max security prison to preach again and see our brothers that God has saved within this population of nearly 30,000 inmates. I sincerely appreciate your continued prayer.
Lord bless,
Bro Aaron Putney

Trip update ! - Arrived Safely

2008-12-28T13:48:00.003-05:00

Magandang Umaga - that's good morning and since it is 1:48am I guess that works. I just got in not long ago, called my wife and girls on Skype and not am headed for some rest. The trip was long which is to be expected but this was the longest. Showed up at Roch airport at 4:15 in hopes of catching the 6am or 7am flight to Chicago (booked for 10am). 6 was questionable but when calling friday night, 7 was a done deal...until United substituted a much smaller plane because of difficulties and three ticketholders ended up not getting on...
So I go at 10am which did not take off on time and got to Chicago in time to to the big guy making a mad dash across a really big airport routine. I get to the gate and it says the flight is delayed until 12:50 (about 40 min late). Now if the flight status board I looked when I got off my plane at first said that I wouldnt have been running but that's ok I needed to stretch my legs.
So we board to Chicago. (Let me stop here and count my blessings - I am now in my hotel in Manila safe and I sat in an exit row seat all the way!) In Chicago we have a 747 full to the brim of people and find repairmen on it. It took them about an hour to get their work done on the PA system before we could take off. But then it was raining very hard and we found out that everyone was using the same runway and we were 20th in the queue! So we took off about 2.5 hours later than we were supposed to for Hong Kong - we spent more than 18hours on the plane when all was said and done - good times! By the time we got to Hong Kong - yep, I missed the connection to manila. However, a nice man was at the gate and had already worked out for me and another man going to manila to catch a later flight and assured us that our luggage would be moved to the new plane. Well, we made it to Manila but not our luggage.
So, as I lay my head for some highly anticipated sleep, I ask for you to praise God for getting me here safely, having his hand on my family and pray that my luggage would arrive. I checked 2 bags - one is clothes, my big Bible, etc and the other is filled with 300 Christmas ornaments with Tagalog scripture on them, close to 1000 tracts in tagalog and about 500+ gospel bracelets donated by Little Red Book. I pray these arrive early tomorrow. Lord bless and thanks for praying.
Bro Aaron

Only One Reliable Navigator

2008-12-09T08:58:00.004-05:00

Yep, Only One Reliable Navigator - that would be the KJV and not GPS!
As we left for Deposit NY on saturday (on the Delaware River near PA) we had our trusty GPS plugged in and telling us when and where to turn. I cant say enough good things about the GPS for all the driving we do. The hours it saves in not getting lost, not plotting everything into mapquest as well as having it recalculate how to get yourself unlost after you dont follow its command is a big help.
No, I'm not going to parralel the Bible with a GPS system into a little devotion although it does work quite well, I simply want to say that as of now I can say that the GPS has let me down but my King James Bible still has never been wrong.
As we drove all the way to the road that Pastor Dewey Stewart lives on we had no problem, but when going to the house, the GPS took us to a farmhouse. I didnt expect that but still, no worries, until we found out that it wasnt Pastor Stewart's home - the GPS was wrong. Since it was dark, house numbers were not easy to see but fortunately a woman walking her dog immediately recognized the name of the Pastor and pointed us to the right house.
I would say that while the fellowship with the pastor was sweet, the food was delicious and the accommodations for our family were outstanding - things didnt go all that smoothly on our end. Despite our blunders, the Lord saw fit to give us a great time of fellowship and good services on Sunday. We praise the Lord that West Branch Bible Baptist Church has committed to pray for us and they will be deciding this Sunday on whether they will partner with us financially. To God be the glory!

As we arrived home we received great news that the dear sister I wrote about on thursday got her initial tests back and there was no cancer found! Not only that but her son showed some initial signs of progress over the weekend. Keep praying!

Prodigals and those that fast for them

2008-12-04T06:56:00.004-05:00

Luk 15:17 -24 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Yesterday morning I communicated with a dear sister in the Lord about her wayward son. This is a woman that only days ago had a procedure done and is awaiting the results of whether what they removed is benign or malignent. Yet it is not anxiety over test results or the desire for relief of pain for her faithful husband who is recovering from joint replacement that is heavy on her heart - she is rejoicing with confidence in her God to give them the grace to get through whatever they face. Her burden is for her son, a young man that has made wrong decisions that have taken him down a dark path of sin. She calls out to God with fervency and frequency to do whatever it may take to break this young man that he might humble himsef before God and return to the fold. She beseeches others to lift him up as well.
I praise the Lord that my testimony is one of God's abundant mercy, in pulling me out of the mire of sin, reconciling me with the Lord Jesus and restoring me into the fellowship of the family of God. I know that there is hope for her and all parents out there praying for their children that are in sin because God answered the prayers of those that were beseeching Him on my behalf about 6 years ago. For me it was about 12 years that it took but praise God, he is longsuffering that loves the lost sheep far more than even their physical parents do. As I shared with her my testimony and some of the things the Lord did to get my attention, how He brought scripture learned in my youth to mind at moments of decision, put circumstances in place to make me consider my ways, put people in my path that encouraged me that I would be accepted back with open arms and so much more I really had no idea that this would be a theme of the day that only the Spirit of God could orchestrate.
Last night as we went to a meeting at Old Paths Bible Baptist Church, (a wonderful church that we have been to many times in the past for various special meetings, conferences, graduations etc.), I was invited to pray with a brother in the church. This brother informed me how many people in the church pray and fast every wednesday for their prodigals that are in the world right now. They know their names, they share this burden as a church family and beseech God in prayer and fasting (even many of the children in the church) that they would in fact turn from their sin and back to the Lord. As he prayed this list of names from memory and with such sincerity, I was moved with compassion just thinking of the many times that people had done just the same on my behalf. I rejoiced in the goodness of God in my life and look forward expectantly to the thought of many of these parents being able to rejoice when God does the work on these children so He may be glorified all the more in their return. During the service I shared a bit of my testimony as the Lord made it clear that this was the pressing issue on hearts. I praise the Lord that God was able to use the message in some small way to refresh and encourage the people to wait on the Lord and trust in His goodness and care for their lost sheep. Nothing causes a preacher to rejoice more than to know that what you may not have known about or intended to address in your prayer, study and preparation - God can put together and use for just such a purpose - it is wonderful as it is so blatently obvious that it was so far from being me and so much the Spirit of God in answer to some prayers that made any difference. Now I eagerly await to hear of God getting ahold of these dear children. We also are grateful to the family at Old Paths for their warmth and hospitality they showed us and are rejoicing to know that they are partnering with us in bringing the gospel to the Philippine Islands. If you are reading this, would you spend some time praying today for some of the names that had been shared with me - Nick, Angela, Jeff and Nathan and generally for others that have been lured away by the enemy. May the goodness of God lead them to repentance and would God receive the Glory that is due His Name.
Lord bless

In everything give thanks

2008-11-25T12:12:00.002-05:00

It is so true that God is worthy of our thanks, adoration and praise at all times, whether we are enduring some form of adversity or in the times of abundance. We praise the Lord for the encouragement that we have received in the past couple weeks as the news of another trip to Manila arrived and we have had excellent meetings with churches, the last two of which have partnered with us in the work in the Philippines! For the first time this past Sunday, I had to go to a meeting without Stephanie and the girls which was disappointing. On friday the baby got sick and by Saturday night, 3 out of 4 were under the weather. Yet, Grace and Truth Baptist church of Amherst was warm and understanding. I thoroughly enjoyed the teaching of Pastor Cesar who is a man that loves the King James Bible and knows it well. The Lord has blessed them with a TV ministry called Search the Scriptures, a Bible institute and a tru heart for outreach and evangelism with a street ministry that goes to the University of Buffalo every week to preach the gospel. It is a privilege to be partnered with such a zealous church and we praise God for all of His goodness to us. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and may God be magnified!

November Prayer Letter

2008-11-15T13:17:00.003-05:00

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus, November Update

We trust this update finds you firmly trusting in the promises of God and laboring in the fields that are so precious to Him. The Putney family has enjoyed a great month of meetings all over the state of New York. We have established some great new relationships and are thrilled to see God working in the lives of people. At a recent meeting we had the privilege of ministering in both Sunday morning and evening services. In the morning there was a strong response at the altar but rarely in our short stays do we get to see any immediate impact. This Sunday, when we returned for the evening service a woman started the service by praising God with tears in her eyes for giving her boldness to finally witness to her whole family at an afternoon get together, it thrilled our souls to see the burden she has for them and the victory won in her life. it is a testimony of the working of God and the faithful investment of the local church in her life.

As November and December progress, we are excited to meet the church family in Depew that has been faithfully supporting us for months as well as establishing new relationships at churches inAmherst, Deposit, Holley, Watertown and more. We are praying that the Lord would use these meetings to encourage these churches to continue to be zealous for God's purpose in missions and Lord willing see them gain a burden for the work in the Philippines as well.

Finally, we have a wonderful blessing to report. I am being given the opportunity to take my fifth short term trip to the Philippine Islands through my employer. It is amazing to think that God has made a way to send me to the field of our calling this many times at absolutely no expense to us! While we are thrilled that God would open this door one more time before I leave the company, we also realize how much we need God to work powerfully during this time. The dates are 12/28-1/17. Please join us in praying that God would comfort, protect and encourage our family as we are apart, strengthen my wife as she ministers to our four girls, strengthen me as I work every night and minister by day, that souls would be impacted for God's glory, that I might be a blessing and encouragement to my fellow labourers in Manila and that I would have opportunity to travel to Baguio on one of the weekends to get more familiar with the area we will base out of when we get to the field.

As always, prayer for more meetings throughout 2009 and God's glory in them would be appreciated. We are eager to get to the field in the earliest possible timing that the Lord will allow.

Because He Lives,
Aaron, Steph, Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma Putney
Ephesians 3:20-21

Calvary Heights Baptist Church

2008-10-16T11:56:00.002-04:00

Last night we had the privilege of being with Pastor Nuijens and the church family of Calvary Heights. We were blessed by their preparedness in getting us set up and situated. They made it very easy for us to be ready for the evening which allowed us ample time to interact with the members prior to the service as well as after. The church family is very warm and hospitable, their words of encouragement and sincere interest in the work in the Philippines was wonderful. It was a blessing to hear the testimonies of so many about how they were saved, mission trips they have been a part or just about life and family in general. They had great wednesday night attendance and really were a blessing to us in every way possible. We praise the Lord for missions minded churches like this and pray that God will continue to bless this church in its zeal for souls.

Happy Birthday to my wife

2008-10-10T12:01:00.004-04:00

I praise the Lord for giving me a wonderful wife to serve the Lord beside. Stephanie is softspoken and not one to speak in public or dominate a conversation, she is meek and quiet in spirit and I am very grateful for this. Sometimes the busyness of life and ministry will keep us from having a daily conversation about our quiet time etc but then I will see her journal opened up next to her Bible in one of her favorite spots to sit and read and get such a blessing as I read the testimony of how God is working. She has a way of expressing on paper her heart and walk with God in a beautiful way. She is a tremendous mother to the girls and I know of no better example for them to model after as they grow up. My wife may not play a piano, sing solos or have two college degrees but the Lord has gifted her as a wonderful helpmate, mother and friend. She is sincere in her love for God and ready to take part in bringing the gospel to the Philippines. She has stood by me, encouraged me and prayed for me for many years now, her faithfulness and consistency are treasured. I am just as glad that the fashions of the day, the vanity of this present world and culture and the accepted behaviors of this modern era do not move her, she is a standardbearer and example to the next generation of Christian ladies. It is not favor or beauty that move her but the fear of the Lord, and for that her husband praises her.

I remember Thanksgiving of 2006, I was in Manila and I had spent the entire day with two missionary families - the Avery family and Bro. Paul Perkins who is now my Pastor in Ocean Springs, MS. We had a great day of fellowship and food. We played basketball at the foot of a mountain in the tropical heat and I really overdid it. I had to go to work that night to train a large group of agents for 8 hours. I was taken back to the hotel with only about two hours before I had to leave for work. I got cleaned up and then laid down, knowing it would not be good after having not slept in probably 30 hours to try to rest for one... I was right, when I got up I was feeling quite exhausted and ill. I closed my eyes in the taxi for the 30 minute ride to the call center and then upon arriving the first thing I did was call my wife. I let her know how foolish I had been to play ball and that I was suffering the effects of a lack of sleep and dehydration. Here is why I wrote all this, because my wife did not question what I had done and the lack of wisdom behind it, what she did was said that she loved me and that they would start praying for me immediately. I praise the Lord that He answered those prayers and within an hour of that call I was feeling much better and was able to perform my responsibility to my employer. It is good to know that my wife has access to the Lord of Glory!

Pro 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Pro 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Pro 31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Pro 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Pro 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Pro 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Pro 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Oswego

2008-10-10T07:52:00.003-04:00

Sunday we spent the day in Oswego, NY with Pastor Paul Walker and the church family of Bible Baptist Church. We had a great time of fellowship around God's word and were greatly encouraged by the outpouring of love that we felt by the brothers and sisters there. The Sunday school hour where we presented our ministry was very well attended as was the morning and afternoon service. We enjoyed a great meal with the church family and were able to get to know some wonderful people. There was a sincere interest in the furthering of the gospel in the Philippines by the people and we had a good session of Q+A for people to inquire more about us, the Philippines and church planting. What blessed me greatly in this meeting was the testimony of so many members speaking to how much they love their pastor. I heard story after story that demonstrated love and servant leadership. It is obvious that this is a catalyst in the growth of the church and we will be excited to hear how God continues to move in that community as a result. Once again we praise the Lord for the opportunity to share our burden.

Thursday in Chittenango

2008-10-03T13:03:00.002-04:00

We praise the Lord for the opportunity to join Pastor Ashton Nelson and his family at North Madison Baptist Church last night. We had some great fellowship at dinner with them and a wonderful missionary family to Papua, New Guinea. The only problem was that the response time at the restaurant was a little wanting so by the time we got our food and inhaled it we had 10 minutes to drive back to the church because that is when the service was to start! It went something like this...Steph wipes hands and faces and tells me of the various diapers that are in need of changing, i have to reply with a fatherly veto. We get back to the church with the pastor at T minus 3 minutes and counting - the members patiently awaiting our arrival. I scramble for the laptop and projector, Steph grabbed the kids and the diapers...the piano is playing, the laptop is booting and we begin the service. Pastor Nelson was great and we had a lot of fun with it. He let us know that while they are serious about God's word, they are informal in areas like this. We had a great service and fellowship after. My kids had a great time playing after the service with some other MK's and that was a blessing. We praise the Lord for the good meeting and the opportunity to once again share our burden for the Philippine Islands.

October Prayer Letter

2008-10-02T09:48:00.001-04:00

Greetings to our brothers and sisters in Christ,

1 Cor. 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ. We count ourselves truly blessed and praise the Lord for so many of you who have prayed for, encouraged and supported us along the way. It has been a wonderfully encouraging month as we have heard testimony of protection through the hurricanes as well as a great revival going on at Grace Independent in Mississippi, we have seen a number of new meetings scheduled, had opportunities to preach the gospel in various venues and made significant progress in some roofing on our home which we trust will improve its marketability. We also praise the Lord for the amazing testimony of a pastor who called us to tell us how God orchestrated for the rental space they use for their midweek service to be given to them for free thereby allowing them to partner with us! We serve an awesome God, amen!

We are also grateful to have a pretty full calendar this month with meetings in places like Chittenango, Oswego, Elma and Waterloo, NY. It has been a great blessing getting to know so many pastors at various levels through these meetings, personal visits and phone conversations. The years of ministry experience along with their different backgrounds and situations significantly contribute to our growth and the opportunity to build friendships with them has been wonderful.

This month we will celebrate the fourth birthday of our daughter Anna and that of my wife Stephanie as well. Few times do we see or think of Anna without being reminded how God spared her life when she was less than a day old. It was a moment I will not soon forget and I praise God for such mercy in saving her when things seemed grim. Every day we recognize her as a living testimony of the grace of God in our lives. Anna is a treasure and we pray that she will grow to be a godly young lady. The other kids are growing fast, Sarah is working hard at memorizing the books of the Bible, Autumn is getting better with her cursive writing and Emma is crawling around freely now and pulling herself up on whatever she can. We have had opportunity to spend a few hours this past month working on Tagalog learning which thrills us to be doing knowing that there is a coming a day in which we will be able to implement it in the ministry of the gospel.

Prayer Requests:
o That God would allow us to be a blessing at the meetings this month and that He would impress upon others His burden for the Philippine Islands
o Progress on the transition of selling our home and having the support needed to leave work o That the Lord would put us in the path of the churches He would have us partner with and that the calendar would continue to fill
o For many opportunities to witness at home and on the road

For the glory of His name,

Aaron & Stephanie Putney - Autumn, Anna, Sarah, Emma

God's heartbeat for mission - another testimony

2008-09-06T21:28:00.003-04:00

We want to praise the Lord for a young church plant in Buffalo NY that just partnered with us in bringing the gospel to the Philippines. The pastor is a wonderful man that was recently ordained to the ministry. The church is young and may be small in numbers but not in faith and heart. There is a fire for God and for missions there that wont soon be quenched. He is working full time and holding services on Sunday and Wednesday. He has seen God already do incredible things in the establishment of the church and this testimony is no different. He contacted me and shared the story of how they were burdened about beginning to support some missionaries and that to do that, it might mean foregoing the rental space that they use for the Wed service. They felt they could meet in a home on Wed and just rent the space on Sunday in order to support missions for now. The Lord blessed this missions heart by orchestrating that they get the same space they have been using on Wed night free now as long as they keep renting it on Sunday. Praise the Lord. We are excited to hear what God continues to do in that work and the relationship that we have with them in the gospel ministry.

September Prayer Letter

2008-09-03T07:53:00.001-04:00

Greeting to our brothers and sisters, September, 2008

Acknowledging the privilege that it is to preach the gospel, we press toward the mark of of God’s calling for us in the Philippines. We praise the Lord for the great summer He has given us and are eager to present our burden at more churches. We are looking forward to the upcoming meetings on our calendar and about finishing the repair work on our home. We will be replacing the roof soon which should be a real help in getting it sold. Our family is doing great and we appreciate your prayers for us tremendously. Autumn enjoys memorizing and reading and the younger girls can be found playing and discovering the wonders of God’s creation at every turn. What a joy it is to watch them grow and learn and yet such a humbling responsibility also. We have started our home school year already so there is an excitement and anticipation for us and the girls alike.

Prov. 15:22 - Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. We appreciate so much the wisdom that we have been able to glean from so many of our elders in ministry. Just a couple weeks ago we had a fellowship with three veteran missionaries of more than 10 years each on the field. They poured out their hearts and experiences with some of us that are just beginning and it was a great blessing and encouragement. Coupled with the instruction from Pastor Paul Perkins, we praise the Lord for the great practical advice we gain from the experience of those who have preceded us in this calling.

The Lord was very gracious to us on our first road trip with the travel trailer for a number of meetings in NYC and Delaware. It towed well, suited our family fine and at 6’8” I can even stand up in it! The Lord has provided every need along the way and we express our gratitude to Him for using so many of you to be the conduit of that provision. While there has not been an abundance of meetings in the summer months the Lord has still graciously increased our partners in prayer and financial support.

Prayer Requests:
· Upcoming meetings – that the Lord would have His way in the hearts of the lost to be saved, the Christians to be encouraged and our burden for the Philippines to be contagious to all.
· Our family as we begin homeschooling again, that we will use our time wisely in balancing the many aspects of family life and ministry.
· For more meetings to fill every possible time slot along the
way and progress us to the field as soon as the Lord will allow.

For the glory of His name,

The Putney Family – Eph. 3:20-21

Good news from a far country

2008-08-08T07:59:00.002-04:00

Brother Jun Monderin is a dear friend in Manila who faithfully preaches the gospel to men, women and children alike in the jails and prisons of the National Capital Region of Luzon.

I rejoice at the news that he was ordained this past week at the church that trained him - LaLoma Baptist Church. I have preached there on a number of occasions on my trips and rejoice for Brother Jun as he has now been recognized by biblical standards as being fit for ordination.

His family is a blessing and he has devoted workers that faithfully minister with him in the jails and prisons. Take a moment to pray for the Lord's blessing on this man's continued work for the Lord, for his family (wife Joyce - daughter Betsy) and for health, provision and spiritual victory over the satanic opposition he faces while proclaiming the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

12 Years!

2008-07-21T08:16:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to publicly praise the Lord for blessing me with a wonderful wife and 12 years of marriage. We are grateful for God's mercy on us and the guidance He gives through His word that enriches and stabilizes our marriage.
So much has happened in 12 years that when reflecting back over the weekend, we were stunned. To see where the Lord has brought us is amazing and to look forward and together know how much growth we still need makes us eager to seek the Lord more and more. We praise the Lord for our four daughters and soberly approach raising them in this present evil world. We are grateful for their sakes that God has seen fit to reveal Himself to us and that our desire is that they may be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
My wife is a treasure to me. Neither of us will fit every mold that others may desire to put missionaries into but we are grateful for the clarity of His call, His destination for us, His criteria put forth in His word that we seek daily to endeavour to walk worthy of and the joy of fellowship and love that we share. I praise God for Stephanie.

Pro 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Pro 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Pro 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Thank you to all who pray for us and our family, truly we know that it is not a vain exercise. The enemy would love to destroy marriages and publicly shame God's people, by faith and prayer we all can overcome his attacks and be the light that God would have us to be.

July Prayer Letter

2008-07-07T15:54:00.000-04:00

Dear praying friends, July, 2008

Psa 97:1 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

God is not just a national God for America but desires to be the center of worship and attention in all nations. It is our prayer that the multitude of the isles would multiply its believers and the country of the Philippines as a whole would gain the blessing that comes with being a nation whose God is the Lord. On June 22nd a powerful typhoon ripped through the central Philippines, overturning a ferry carrying 700 passengers and killing many others. Our prayer goes out to those impacted and we desire that God would use this event to stir the hearts and consciences of those in that area to consider their ways and seek the Lord while He may be found. May God’s people minister and witness amidst this grief.

Here in the states, we just finished a busy month on the road. We had a blessed time on our trip to Pa, De and NYC. We made many new friends and prayer partners along the way and our kids really adapted to life on the road well, praise the Lord. Our month began in Hastings, NY where we had a great missions conference with our brothers and sisters there. We are grateful to see God’s hand on us through our travels and we can certainly say that we learned many lessons in different areas.

We have no out of state meetings this month so we will be close our home in Rochester as we prepare it for sale between meetings. Repairs, painting and organizing will keep us plenty busy. We appreciate your support and continued prayer for our family. We would be grateful if you would beseech the Lord for us for continued meetings on our calendar, that the Lord will raise up those that He will have partner with us and that we would have many opportunities to share the gospel on the road and close to home. May the Lord bless you this summer.

For the glory of His name,

The Putney Family
Aaron, Stephanie, Autumn, Anna, Sarah, Emma

Eph 3:20-21

www.PutneysforChrist.com
585-298-3807

Home, Safe, Blessed

2008-07-02T11:06:00.004-04:00

We praise the Lord that He saw fit to allow us to take our first deputation road trip with little problem. Our truck was able to pull the trailer effectively, we arrived at all our meetings on time and safely and did not experience any vehicle issues. For those things and many other blessings we praise the Lord and appreciate your prayer on our behalf.

While not problematic, it does not mean it was not uneventful as we learned our share of lessons over the past 8 days. From setting up and using a travel trailer to closing and maintaining it I found myself busy scratching my head, parking and unhitching just slightly too far from my services (lesson learned) and learning things about holding tanks, chemicals, awnings etc. It was a good learning experience for all of us and we enjoyed every minute (well most of them).

The girls had a great time, they did perhaps better than expected on the long rides having to stop only once in 6+ hours on the way there and back. Each of our meetings required a shorter drive and they did great with them also. Of course we found that a 2 and a 3 year old are not ready to sit through a full service after just getting out of carseats for the past 2-2.5 hours... So that left mom busy a couple times - lesson learned for next time. Proverbs 31 speaks of the virtuous woman by saying that her children arise up and call her blessed, her husband also and he praiseth her. I appreciate my wife tremendously. Four girls, six months to six years, require patience, love, organization and prayer. My wife wonderfully balances these very things in allowing me to focus on setup, presenting, preaching etc. She is a blessing.

The big fear was "what important thing will we forget with all this packing?" Praise the Lord, we had everything we needed on the way - it was the way back that was the issue. It was 90 in Smyrna, De on Sunday after a great service and a wonderful lunch fellowship. Steph was gathering kids and I was breaking down the display table. Well, sure enough we left something behind. We are grateful to Pastor Cereghin and Grace Baptist for their graciousness in mailing it home since we were a few hours down the road before it was recognized as missing... lesson learned - have a checklist.

The meetings were great, three churches in three cities - one in a home, one in a storefront and one in a building - all excited about the things of God and all missions minded. It was great to fellowship with each family, share testimonies and make connections to shared acquiantances.

It is not uncommon in the Philippines that I am asked to dunk a basketball while I am in a shirt and tie at a jail or school or whatever but I cant say I expected it on deputation. Sure enough it was requested, made me feel like I was back in Manila. That was Rockland Bible Baptist Church and the other wonderful experience there was that many of their members are Filipino. It was a good time for us to learn more and be encouraged. The presentation turned more into a game of Jeoparday and I would ask the members how many islands, what is the population or when were they given their independence etc... it was a lot of fun while at the same time helping the body of Christ to lift up their eyes and look on the fields that are white already unto harvest.

Again, we appreciate your prayer that God would continue to open the door for meetings on a consistent basis and that the Lord will impress upon those He will to partner with us in bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Philippine Islands.

Work of faith and love - a testimony

2008-06-19T08:02:00.005-04:00

Let me start with an update on our travels. We appreciate your prayer as our family looks forward to a series of meetings in NYC and Delaware next week. It will be our first journey with the trailer so many new lessons will be learned i'm sure. We had a real blessing the other day when a pastor in Delaware that I had reached out to originally in April and then left a message for in May contacted us just a few days ago asking about meeting as we pass through that area. We praise God that he has invited us to present/preach next Thursday, that was an unexpected blessing.

I also wanted to share a testimony/blessing that I just learned of last night that touched my heart in a great way. My family has a history of working in bus ministry - my dad drove buses for years, my uncle Dave and aunt Dee are still faithful to the bus ministry to this day and my late uncle and his wife Elaine also worked in bus ministry for many years. So I got a call from Elaine last night and she was just thrilled to share what the Lord was working in her heart about. In her years of bus ministry, she always loved doing the "little things" (which we know are not little in God's eyes) to touch the lives of inner city/poverty stricken kids for Christ. Singing songs, story boards, crafts, candy etc. - things to show the kids her love for them and more importantly - the love of Christ for them. Well for years now she has been making various handmade ornaments etc to be a blessing to people and she wanted me to know that the Lord impressed upon her to start making them in abundance for use in ministering to kids in the Philippines when we go! If you have never worked with kids in an inner city or third world country, it is an incredible and humbling sight to see them brought to tears over something as simple as a piece of candy, an article of clothing or a small toy. From Juarez Mexico to Zambia Africa to Manila Philippines - the reaction is the same. To realize that someone loves them, that they would get a blessing they otherwise would not have touches their heart and opens their ears to the Source responsible for the love that was shown them. My aunt went on to share with me how she wants to put John 3:16 on each of these ornaments and that he already has nearly 50 of them made, what a blessing - every one of them made with love and prayer. Until glory I doubt that any of us will know the true eternal impact of the softened hearts, willing hands, creative minds and prayerful lives of many saints like this who have a burden for the souls of others. Praise the Lord for the example that is to all of us, amen?

About five years ago I heard a message on being creative for missions. The preacher gave testimony after testimony of all the ways in which God has touched peoples lives in different areas for missions. There were stories of people giving up certain activities or foods or trips or hobbies in order to do more for missions, stories of those who sold off many belonging and others of people finding creative ways to contribute more to the work of the gospel. I was rebuked and challenged by it and shortly after had the opportunity to challenge the Sunday school class with this concept of "getting creative" to raise money for Bibles to go to Africa. The Lord worked on hearts and a class of about 60 kids and their counselors through prayer, creativity and work raised nearly $5000 in just 3 months. It was because God was in it, He got the glory for it, His purpose of getting His word to Africa was being done and the faith of those kids were increased that this happened. God has taken many of those kids now and grown them into teens that are serving God. Some of them will be in NYC next week preaching on the streets, witnessing and ministering to kids. Be it going to a foreign field, giving "sacrificially", being creative for the comission etc - it is a privilege to serve our worthy King and it is for all of us - our Reasonable Service.

Souls are on their way to hell all around the world and God's will is that none would perish - what more can we do before the harvest is past?

Wednesday

2008-06-12T18:49:00.003-04:00

In an effort to conserve vacation time, we have gone back and forth a few times this week. Wednesday we left off plenty early and headed to Hastings. We made it about halfway when it became apparent that the alternator wasnt working and before we reached the next exit, the truck lost power and stalled. While we were discouraged to miss the last meeting of this great conference and have opportunity to spend more time with the people, there were many blessings that came of this. We were on the side of the road counting our blessings for this taking place. Here is some of what we came up with then and a few that were realized since
1) we had a cell phone - allowing us to call the pastor...and a tow truck
2) it was daylight - no power, no light, little girls - dark, side of the highway - would have been scary for them - grateful it was still light
3) when the power died on the truck we safely got to the side of the road
4) it was not our night to present/preach - that was Sunday, so at least it did not put the Pastor in a tough spot.
5) I had roadside towing service so that was covered
6) the garage we towed it to was literally next door to a Days Inn hotel
7) We had a cooler with some cold drinks and some snacks to keep the kids occupied.
8) The garage got to work on the truck early in the morning and it was done by checkout time so we didnt have to sit around at the garage waiting with the girls
9) Pastor Zopff was very understanding - we got back to the church, got our display materials and was even treated to lunch - what a blessing.
10) arrived home safely thursday afternoon
11) work has been very accomodating and understanding as well
12) When we picked up the materials from the church we found that one of the members bought us a box of diapers and left it for us - always a blessing, amen?
There are many more that we likely didnt consider or I am not thinking of now.

It has been a good week. Praise the Lord!
Pray for the Central Baptist Church - they will be building a new church building on 50 acres of land they obtained likely starting this summer. Their pews are full now and they are excited to see God putting all this together. They love missions and God is growing them so they can grow their impact in all the world - praise God!

Central Baptist Church

2008-06-10T09:57:00.004-04:00

Hastings, NY - This has been a wonderful week for us. Pastor Michael Zopff is a great brother who is being used of the Lord to grow a great work here just north of Syracuse. It is a great blessing to hear the testimonies of souls saved, encouragement in the midst of difficulties and growing excitement about God's work from the people as well as the pastor. The church is about 7yrs old and this is their 6th missions conference. We praise God for the opportunity to have an hour to present our ministry and field questions on Sunday morning and then preach in the second hour. The people are excited about what God is doing and desires to do in the Philippines.

Another great blessing for us is that the keynote speaker is Pastor Eddie Wyatt from Happy Valley Baptist Church in Villa Rica, GA. He has preached many times at Youth Ablaze in Rochester as is a a wonderful Spirit-filled preacher. Monday night he preached on the cross and how the first three statements Christ made were for others - forgive them, today, you will be with me in paradise and then speaking to John of Mary. His message was on love of others and was a great challenge and encouragement. Monday we stayed in Syracuse and then had time to fellowship with Bro. Wyatt, Zopff and the Thrum family - missionaries to New Guinea. Take a moment and pray for all these servants of our Lord. Tuesday was another hot day and a lightning storm took out power at the church all day - from about 11:30am until oh, 6:30! The Lord is good, we were scrounging for generators and extension cords etc and the Lord showed us that He would be the source of our power for the night!
Pastor Wyatt preached on the excuses of Moses and challenged us not to limit God and not to doubt a call that He has placed on us, another great message.
Wednesday, well that is another post :)
We have had a great conference, we have met pastors from other churches, we have been blessed with encouragement and gifts from the church family and even enjoyed a great church picnic at a nearby park Sunday afternoon, it has been a full and blessed week!

Blessing from inconvenience

2008-06-10T09:38:00.003-04:00

Praise the Lord that we were able to obtain a trailer this past month. In picking it up, it became obvious that the truck was sagging in the back from the weight of the trailer. The suggestion was to go to a spring shop and have the back end built up with helper leaves. So I took it in with the trailer attached so they could see what it needed and help line up the hitch and trailer as well. This was unexpected but necessary to ensure safety in travel. So friday I got the call that they were finished and that I could pick it up, I asked when they closed so I could leave work early enough. My coworker took me over 40 minutes before closing time (after I had said I would be there that afternoon) and the place was completely locked up. I looked all over and no sign of people. The truck and trailer sure enough were locked up all weekend. We are grateful that we didn't need the trailer. Well, monday rolled around and we were in the midst of a great missions conference. It is near Syracuse so we have been driving back and forth so I can work by day. I called the place and they apologized and said they would knock $75 of the price. It is not worth arguing about the price when God holds a hearts of people in His hands. By the time I got to the shop the man said the owner heard what happened and how I was left for the weekend without the vehicles. He decided instead of a $75 discount to instead do the whole job for free. We praise the Lord for this blessing and the savings helped defray the cost of the light truck tires we needed to put on and the a/c that had a leak. All glory to the Lord!

June Prayer Letter

2008-06-10T09:31:00.000-04:00

Dear praying friends, June, 2008

We are encouraged to report to you of God’s blessings and answers to many of your prayers as we transition into deputation. We have a full month of June with a missions conference near Syracuse, NY early in the month and some meetings in New York City and Delaware later. With each passing day we can see some sort of progress in our preparations and it reminds us of Christ’s promise to continue to perform the work He began in us until the day of Jesus Christ.

Our family is doing well and is healthy and excited about the upcoming meetings. Autumn just finished Kindergarten via homeschooling and we are blessed to see how well she is reading and that she measures how well she is doing by how good she can read the Bible. When we sit down to do family devotions, she is eager to read the scripture for us and we pray that will always be the desire of her heart.

The Lord blessed us this past month with a vehicle for deputation. By way of testimony we want to praise the Lord for bringing it to us in a way that had His orchestration written all over it. It fits our need to tow a trailer and we were able to obtain it for a great price. We have also been blessed this month by obtaining a trailer that we will call home on the road once our house is sold. In the meantime, we are cleaning the house, departing with clutter and getting it ready for sale. We look forward to leaving work, selling the house and being able to devote all our efforts to the work of the ministry, be less restricted on where we can travel for meetings and to have time to invest in learning the Tagalog language through a software course we have.

Your continued prayer is appreciated in a number of areas. We would ask for prayer for our girls as they will see their first stretch of life on the road from church to church this month and also that we would be a blessing to the churches we visit. Pray that the Lord would have His way in our lives and others during this time. Our desire is to see others yield to God’s will for their lives regarding missions, in whatever role that might be. Prayer for more meetings, partners in ministry and knit hearts for the burden God has given us for the Philippines would be appreciated.

For the glory of His name,

The Putney Family
Aaron, Stephanie, Autumn, Anna, Sarah, Emma

Eph 3:20-21

Update

2008-05-21T13:53:00.008-04:00

Praise the Lord, the last few weeks have seen many meetings scheduled. June will be pretty full with a missions conference in Syracuse and some meetings in NYC and Delaware. In the meantime we continue to work on filling our schedule and getting our house in order. We have been cleaning and organizing so we can sell our home in Rochester and are looking to get a travel trailer for life on the road. We are excited to see h0w God orchestrates all these details along with the time when I leave my employer. He has blessed us with a vehicle to tow the trailer with this past month, good health for the kids, many answers to prayer and a tremendous amount of encouragement from our many dear friends here in Rochester. News from the Philippines is good with people getting saved and personal growth in the jail ministries. Prayer for Brother Jun Monderin and Sister Joyce as well as the rest of the prison ministry over there for provision would be appreciated. We eagerly anticipate the day that we can land in the country God has called us to but in the meantime we are excited about how God is growing us and impacting others by the testimony of the work and opportunities in the Philippines. Lord bless, Aaron

A great night

2008-05-06T08:52:00.003-04:00

May 3rd was our formal and extended presentation of our testimony, call and objectives for the Philippines. We had a great turnout for a Saturday night that included quite the rain storm. Many of our dearest friends, family members and spiritual mentors were there and we all had a great time praising the Lord for his mercy and plan for the world to hear the gospel. A wonderful time of fellowship and encouragement were had by all, some dear friends shared some godly music, we were able to thank the many people who have invested so richly in us over the years and so we praise God for a great night.

Homegrown Missions Conference

2008-04-11T09:48:00.004-04:00

We had a great time this week with many of our heroes of the faith. The conference at FBBC through whose ministry I was raised, saved, trained etc was focused this past week on the 27 individuals and families that were trained at FBBC and are serving or preparing to serve on fields all over the world. 13 of these families were present this week.

It was a blessing to be able to stand in front of so many of our dearest friends, brothers and sisters in Christ and share with them how their investment in us is just one more indication that our labor is never in vain in the Lord. We praise the Lord for the amount of encouragement and prayer support that families have offered us. We knew that many we have been close with for years would be by our side but we were humbled by all those that we dont know well in this large church who are taking an active part in the Philippines by beseeching God to do a work there.

Autumn with Grandma

Autumn joined me at Men's prayer meeting on Tuesday night after the service. It has done her well to be around all the older Missionary kids this week, they have such a sweet spirit and have encouraged her in the Lord. She will likely not understand what to expect on the field of for the next many months of deputation but she is excited that God is in control and has been amazed at the many answered prayers we have seen already! Praise the Lord!

April 08 Prayer Letter

2008-04-09T15:29:00.005-04:00

Dear praying brothers and sisters, April, 2008

It has certainly been an eventful month or so for us. March began with my fourth trip to the Philippines. It was a fruitful trip as God allowed me to be a part of the ministries of a local church through bus (jeepney) visitation and preaching. Being over there this time without an American missionary on this trip gave me opportunity to get more of a feel for the many modes of public transportation by riding buses, jeepneys, taxis and motorbikes. I spent quite a bit of time on the streets passing out tracts and talking to people. Brother Jun Monderin was once again willing to allow me to have part in his jail and prison ministry giving me the privilege of preaching the gospel and encouraging existing believers (both men and women) in the city jails and New Bilibid Prison’s maximum security compound. We also took quite a walk through the Manila north cemetery. I never would have thought that a cemetery would be the site of a children’s extension class but that is exactly the case as many people live in this massive graveyard (the largest in the Philippines). The Lord again showed Himself strong and faithful in taking care of my family and in giving me strength on the trip. The only feeling of disappointment felt on the trip was that the reunion with my family after the trip was to be in Rochester NY and not in Manila, Philippines. Needless to say, we are eager for the day that God allows us to land over there long term.

Upon returning we were able to have a couple days of wonderful family time before getting ready for our first Missions conference. The church was Antioch Bible Baptist Church in Lockport, NY and it was a tremendous blessing. They were a wonderful church family, which were a true blessing to us. We had great opportunities to share our burden and our four little girls did pretty well with a busy schedule during the week. We are glad that we will always be able to look back at the first set of meetings as a time when we were encouraged and God was glorified. The following week was a homecoming for us as we were part of the missions conference of First Bible Baptist Church, the church that Aaron was raised and saved in, that Stephanie was saved through and that trained and encouraged us in ministry. There was a focus on the homegrown missionaries of the church. There are currently 27 families that have been trained and/or sent in the 40 year history of this church.

So now that there is a slight break after the trip and conferences, we look forward to seeing who God will put us in contact with for meetings. Our prayer requests at this time would be that God would allow our calendar to fill up and that the churches we contact would be used of the Lord to join us in prayer for the declaration of the gospel in the Philippines. Thank you for your prayer and interest in the great commission. May we all be passionate for the things that matter most to our Lord Jesus Christ

For the glory of His name,
The Putney Family – Aaron, Stephanie, Autumn, Anna, Sarah, Emma

First Missions Conference!

2008-04-09T07:06:00.007-04:00

It is such a blessing to have begun formally presenting the call of God on our lives at churches. The first conference of course will be a memorable experience simply because it was the first one but we are blessed in that we will always look back at this conference as a true joy. From March 30th-April 2nd we were in Lockport, NY at Antioch Bible Baptist Church. The conference included a music school during the day in which we learned how to sing the great hymns of the faith in four part harmony. This was an educational experience for me and while I have much learning to do yet, I undoubtedly profited from this experience.

Pastor Steve Pawley was a gracious host to us, he allowed each of the missionaries ample time not only to present ministry but to preach and to present a charge to the youth. The church family was wonderful, they showered us with blessings, love and hospitality - we were humbled by the sweet spirit of this group as well as the love and nurture that they have for each other in the congregation. Pastor Ron Ralph from Cornerstone Batist in Carthage TN preached a spirit filld conference and it was great to see how God brought all of the messages together and the response of the people in attendance. It was no coincidence that the conference was blessed as the church as a family all spent significant time of prayer and fasting in anticipation of the conference. We praise the Lord for Antioch and for the wonderful experience.

As you can see, Anna enjoyed her violin lessons

Every wall of this church shouts out the love and burden they have for world missions. All of their missionaries are prominently displayed year round. It is heir parents, pastors and missionaries that the kids of the church look at as present day examples. With this atmosphere I have little doubt that Antioch will see some young people yield to God in the future toward ministry and missions.

A couple other blessings which were not coincidental nor minor were that the Barone family was there with us. To be able to share our first conference with friends who have invested in us and shared their wisdom gained from experience was a great blessing.

We were encouraged to meet one of the missionary families - the Youngs to Australia considering that she is a filipina! There were also many other like blessings and testimonies that we could share of how great God has been through all of this but I dont want to add to my reputation of writing too much.

Lest we forget...tell someone of the the Lord Jesus today!

Home

2008-03-18T23:53:00.013-04:00

Very glad to be back with my wife and four girls, it is always a wonderful moment coming into the receiving area of the airport after a 30+ hour day of travel (12 hr time diff.) and seeing those little ones jumping up and down because Daddy is home.

The truth is that this was the hardest time I have ever had leaving the Philippines. I would much rather have preferred to see my wife and kids getting off at the Manila Int'l Airport instead. I expected these feelings to some extent as every visit has made me yearn more and more to be there full time but I truly felt overwhelmed by the need that is there, the lack of laborers, the abundance of souls at every turn and the open doors that abound in just about any arena in which the Lord would lead you to minister. We look forward to the growth, learning and relationships to be established in the months ahead on deputation but when time is short, the work is great and the need is immediate - there is a strong desire to be able to just go now.

I have not visited a place in the Philippines that was just saturated with the gospel - where anyone could say - "ya know brother, we have this pretty well under control, the streets are preached on, the doors are all canvased, there are solid churches within close travel distance for these people, the jails are covered, the schools are taught in steadily, the new believers are being effectively discipled and nationals are being trained and sent out. Not in Cavite, not in Makati, not in Manila city, not in Cebu City, not in La Loma, not in Batongas, not in Quezon City, not in Novaliches, not in Mandaluyong City, not in Muntilupa city have I seen even a fair sprinkle of baptist works for the droves of people that inhabit these areas. I would not say that any of these areas have absolutely no works or witnesses - I do know of some and praise the Lord for what they are doing and I certainly dont know everything that is going on by any stretch of the imagination (everybody say Amen now :). I do know this, the Christians I have worked with all speak of the incredible need and overwhelming population to be reached, they all speak of how there are open doors here, here, here and here but there are only so many of them to do the work and only so much time to go around. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest...

I was amazed this trip when I was introduced to a couple places that I never would have expected to find an abundance of people.

1) the Manila north cemetary - The largest cemetary in the Philippines. It was one procession after another lined up this afternoon we went there.

But it is not just funeral traffic. This cemetary is HOME to MANY, MANY people - they live in the cemetary, sleep next to the cement enclosed coffins and cook, do laundry, sell their wares etc inside this monstrous facility. Their is a huge wall that goes on forever along the road next to the cemetary and as we walked along it to get to the gate we could see people climbing the wall and jumping over.
Child asleep outside of a burial place in the cemetary

Here you can see how these little memorial spaces are mad into homes.
Kids playing in their "neighborhood". There is a group that comes in and holds an extension class on Saturdays here in the cemetary. Praise the Lord. Could there be a more appropriate place to talk of the certainty of death and the hope of eternal life through Christ.

2) Sunday, after preaching at New Bilibid prison, we caught a motor-trike and then a bus to LaLoma. When we arrived, it was nearly time for those who go out on the Jeepney routes to pick up people - they go get kids/adults in the afternoon and bring them to the evening service. As we walked to what looked like a few living spaces and businesses in a plaza type setup we walked through a narrow corridor through to the back of this plaza.Upon coming out the other side I was amazed to see a huge community of people - hundreds of kids running around playing in the mud, climbing on things or playing basketball.

I had no idea this place was even there as it is not visible from the road.
As you can see, gathering a crowd is very easy when you are an American, a giant, have a camera and smile!

nothing like basketball in a shirt and tie at about 85 degrees, amen?

While we had alot of un, the situation is serious - both in the states and in the Philippines.

This isnt about tribal peoples specifically, it isnt about being sure that a person is going just to an area that has never been engaged (although this is vital work and I believe something God would have us be a part of in the mountain regions in the future), this is not just about people groups, it is about God's will and God's will concerns people. Every one a soul for whom Christ died, a soul whom Christ desires to be saved, a soul that will spend all of eternity somewhere, a soul that God deserves the glory due upon their conversion. Many churches here in the states likely have a thumb tack for the Philippines on their map, a few prob have one for Metro Manila. The city is 12 million in population - swelling to 18million during the day - the country - close to 1,000 inhabited islands, 91 million souls and a high population increase rate. The government just reported that more that 27.6 million live in poverty (by Philippine government standards - not US standards). There are 500,000 souls in jails or prisons in the country. The bulk of the population are youth under 25. Only 2.8 percent of the country is considered evangelical (consider what that may include). Catholicism has a strong foothold everywhere.

The need is incredible and the opportunites seem endless. If invested in with laborers, churches, Bible schools and the facilitation for sending nationals out, I do believe that multiplication of witnesses can take place to reach the country and be an ever growing presence as a sending agent to the unreached in Asia and the world. It is happening to some extent in some places and surely we alone will not be the difference - but God can do above all that we can think or imagine so I will think as big as I can and pray for God to exceed those expectations for His Glory. You can see from the group above that gathering a crowd to talk to about Christ is not difficult. I praise the Lord that I am a giant in this land if for no other reason than that people want to say they stood next to a giant and only came up to his elbow or whatever. If God allows that to be the means of them hearing about Christ then, praise Him - I will be a fool for Christ if he gets glory and they get the gospel, amen?

We believe strongly that God has intentions for us to be a part of training and sending nationals to unreached tribal areas in the north and Lord willing elsewhere but when you walk the streets for hours and see the abundance of people - when you blow through your 500 or 1000 tracts in an hour or two, when you see overcrowed jails, schools, squatter areas, neighborhoods, malls, streets and villages - your compassion for their soul is not rooted in the question of "is there at least one baptist work in this city" - it is more - has this child heard, has this man or this woman heard...

This is a burden that we all must seek God to increase our zeal for no matter where we are. We ought not be content with status quo because God is not (1 cor 15:34) - hordes of people around us and around the world have not so much as a gospel tract presented to them once in a while. You should see how humbly these brothers and sisters live, every peso they have is invested into transportation fare so they can get to another jail to preach another message...it always challenges me on what God's true intentions for stewardship is for us...

I am grateful to be a 6'8"american going to a country where basketball is the favorite sport and the average height (according to some chart on Wikipedia anyway) is 5'4" for a man and 4'11" for a woman allows me to gather a crowd of children and adults alike with little difficulty. I am eager to have a grasp of the language so that those fun moments of people wanting to measure themselves up to me or shake my hand could become more effective chances to transition to the gospel - perhaps with a story of how it was not the men of stature that were impressive to God (Saul, Goliath) but...

Thanks to all for the prayer regarding the trip. Can I plead with you now to pray for

The Rock of Ages Staff in Manila

For the Putney family - that we would be well prayed and prepared for the months ahead, that God would lead us to the churches He would have us be at, that He would be glorified and that His people would be moved concerning the need in this land and that as soon as God sees fit that we would be able to get there.
For the Philippines

There are many other testimonies and thoughts regarding this trip - perhaps another day. Thanks so much for praying. First and most importantly, we saw a number of people respond to the gospel - pray that they fully understood and will grow in Christ. My family was safe and healthy here, I was able to do my job with the energy and dedication needed, i learned many new things, was blessed to have a part in ministry at jail, prison, streets and church and was encouraged by and Lord willing an encouragement to my dear friends in the ministry there.

All glory to the Lord Jesus Christ for hearing and answering your prayers and allowing even the most most unworthy to be used in His service. He pdovided the means, the messages and the motivation.

Update - 3/15

2008-03-14T13:19:00.003-04:00

It truly has been a blessing to be back in the Philippine Islands the last couple of weeks although at the cost of my wife having a doubled workload at home. If I could, I would send for my wife and my kids and just stay here now. There truly is so much to do. As I returned to Manila City jail for the first time since '05 the other day I was again amazed at all God has allowed me to see and be a part of in these four trips. As this is likely my last time coming over here for the company, it was a time of coming full circle in some ways. The morning after arriving in Manila the first time - in November of 05 - it was Bro. Jun Monderin that met me at the hotel and took me to Manila City Jail for the first time. I remember like yesterday the smell as we approached, the heat, the sanitation, the overpopulation, the details I was learning about the food alotment for the inmates etc. Nothing has changed in those areas except I find that this time around I see it, smell it and assess it so much differently then I did three years ago. Since then I have been in multiple jails and prisons both in the Philippines and in the states and God has consistently given me an added burden for declaring His glory to the filipino people. When I went in this time we held the meeting outside of dorm 10 - a female dorm that houses 300 women - in one room - with one toilet, which is right next to its one shower - the accommodations have not changed but ya know what has - the inmates! Praise God, it was awesome to preach to these women and hear them respond and watch their attention and reaction to the word of God. God has been working in this place in great ways. The Lord worked in many lives and we saw a number respond to the gospel! As I listened to Sister Joyce better explain the message in Tagalog (understanding practically nothing), I was encouraged to see the compassion and the burden that she and the other servants to the jails have.
We have had a great time with the jail ministry, at the church, on the street and just in fellowshipping with my brothers and sisters. I had the privilege of taking the prison ministry staff out to dinner where we shared testimonies, family moments and praises for what God is doing. Looking forward to going back to New Bilibid prison on Sunday before leaving on Monday.

While I desire greatly to get home to my family - it is also heartbreaking to leave this land and its immediate need. We praise God that He is bringing us back here for good and we acknowledge all that we need to learn and grow through while preparing for the field.
Thanks for all you prayers. Maraming Salamat Po.

Pray for the Philippines

Trip update

2008-03-11T19:53:00.004-04:00

Havent done a great job of posting updates of the trip thus far.

For time sake I will do this in the form of some bullet point thoughts/facts/observations/requests

Interesting that 2 years in a row Rochester got hit with a storm while I was gone. That doesn't bode well for you Rochestarians once we move here :)

Bro. Jun and Sister Joyce spent the last few days traveling to Bocolod to see her family and have some meetings while there to try to pick up some support. They just returned - safe and tired (22 hour boat ride plus the land transportation)

Pray for their support so they can continue and expand their ministry

Their are 44 jails in the National Capital Region (Metro Manila) - Plus New Bilibid Prison (30,000 inmates there alone) - they have works in the Prison and 6 of the jails. They had to temporarily abandon a couple other works they began because of transportation costs and logistical issues. It really takes so little to support such a national family relatively speaking and with their love for Christ and faithfulness in ministry, there are few better investments in the cause of the gospel.

Pray that more laborers and support would be raised so the rest of these jails can be reached with the true gospel of Christ.

Pray that local churches here in Manila would get more involved in supporting and participating in this ministry so these inmates could be discipled effectively, held acocuntable and then have a church willing to support and encourage them on release - you might expect that this undertaking is not always met with the most enthusiastic of responses.

Other requests - Preaching tonight at LaLoma Baptist

Tomorrow to women inmates at Manila City Jail

Friday - New Bilibid prison - not sure what is on the agenda yet for Saturday and Sunday

Leave on Monday - safety in travel

My family - prayer for endurance and encouragement - the 4 girls keep both of us busy - Steph has her hands full by herself!

Spent a great day Sunday with Bro. Jack and Sister Nanette (siblings) at LaLoma

We spent the afternooon walking through Manila North cemetary - this was eye opening. It is the largest cemetary in the Philippines - it is enormous and you would get lost in it very easily. The crowd of people there was staggering, there were some funeral processions but the the truth of the matter is that many, many people live in the cemetary - including families with small kids. Every Saturday morning, Nanette (if she is not at the jail that day) and her Sister go with a group to this cemetary and hold extension classes with the kids (like sunday school). Praise the Lord that while physical resurrections are not happening there - spiritual ones are!

Since I have been on my own for a few days here I have spent alot of time burning through the tracts I stuffed in my suitcase. I have had more people refuse this time around than in times past being in a more affluent business area near the hotel but they still go quite quickly.

Realized that I have a LONG way to go with Tagalog - the one encouragement is that it only takes a little to build a rapport with people and in this area they speak English quite well. The one compliment I have received is that my pronunciation is better than they hear from many foreigners - I owe that to Rosetta Stone software (advertising plug)
Many will be surprised to know that I have not taken pictures. I have very few thusfar and with not being able to bring them to the jails/prison - I am not likely to get many now.

I truly appreciate your prayer and support as does our family. God has blessed this trip thusfar and once again I have been placed in different circumstances, around different people and learned new things about the culture, the people, the need, ministry, myself and new and exciting ways that the Lord can work if only we will ask. No time to add more now but probably upon return I will add more testimonies.

Salamat, Inggot, Paalom - thank you, take care and goodbye

Pray for the Philippines

Arrived safe. Decision made thanks to DL Moody

2008-03-02T15:05:00.003-05:00

Thanks for praying, I am in Manila and have talked to my wonderful wife since arriving. Wasnt there cute little girls about my kids ages on every plane I flew today to remind me how much I miss my four daughters... well, praise the Lord, they are doing fine.

Tommorrow (should i say today - it is 4am right now) I have the choice of preaching in jail or meeting the president of the Philippines ... really.

She (Gloria Arroyo) will be at a dedication for the new building that our company works with here in the Philippines. It will be a quick handshake and hand a plaque to someone before taking off but I thought it was neat that the opportunity is there to go if I want.

First, let me be clear that this is by no means a requirement or even a recommendation by my company for me to be present - if they thought it would better our relationship or company name then I would be there but if I attend it would simply be as an observer and no more.

Instead I can go to prison and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'll be very honest, I was leaning toward the president as it is such a rare opportunity but then I remembered an account I heard (have not verified its legitimacy) of DL Moody walking with a US president when he saw a man on the street, wallowing in the gutter. DL Moody walked away from the president and went over and got down next to him and pleaded with him to come to Christ. This is no comparison at all and I couldnt tie DL Moody's shoe... it was just that story that helped me refocus and decide that the smelly prison is where the Lord would rather I be. Pray that the Lord will bless the decision and that souls may be saved

1Th 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

For His Glory
aaron

Leaving soon

2008-02-28T07:06:00.003-05:00

Its about time to go, I will be flying out Sat morning.

Psa 113:4-8
4 - The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5 - Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
6 - Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
7 - He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
8 - That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.

We serve a great Saviour, high above all nations, worthy of all praise and honour and glory. He has to humble himself to look at us and yet He humbled Himself to become like us and and be crucified by and for us. What love and what mercy that He would lift us up out of the dunghill of sin and wickedness and allow us to be a joint-heir with Christ, a child of God, part of His family and give us access to His throne room.

Since it will be a busy schedule I wanted to post some prayer requests and ask if you would join me in asking the Lord to accomplish His will in these areas regarding the trip.

The agenda right now is to work with my friends - Bro. Jun Monderin and Sister Joyce Monderin in their Jail ministry. We will be preaching through the two weeks at various city jails in the Manila region as well as one of the local churches.

1) That souls would be impacted. I was reminded last night in a message of all the evil that is becoming legalized in NY and how further legislation is working its way through to open the floodgates of abortion, homosexuality and gambling even more. It is vital that there are watchmen who are standing against this and yet the key to remember is exactly what the preacher said - they are souls for whom Christ died. No matter the person, no matter the sin - Christ died for them. My sin was just as vile and only the blood could help. If we could rid the world of laws that allow these wicked sins it would make no difference if the perpetrators still die in their sin. God forbid we ever be satisfied with letting people go to hell so long as they dont committ the sins that are most grievous to us.
Pray that these inmates in the Philippines as well as those on the streets will be receptive to the Gospel - if even one soul were saved, it would be worth any physical, financial or emotional toll we could ever endure in the process.
2) That Jun and Joyce would be encouraged and refreshed. These are dear servants of our Jesus, they have given up professional careers to preach to the imprisoned masses of the Philippines - pray they would be blessed and recharged through fellowship and prayer. Pray also for their financial needs, they need to raise some additional support to fund their ministry as they have added multiple new jails recently.
3) For my family. This by far in the hardest part of travel for me and them - not being there to love and help. That Steph would have energy and wisdom and that my four little girls would get through this time without daddy being home. May God's abundant grace be poured out on them all through these weeks.
4) For strength, clarity of thought and God's leading for me. That i would preach what God would have me to, that I would be a testimony in the workplace and do above the expectation of my company while working and that I would get to know and love God more than I ever have during this time.
5) For victory over the tremendous temptations and sinful influences around the prisoners who have been saved. That they would grow in grace and would submit to God's will. God certainly can hear prayer through the bars of a prison - would that these men would be prayer warriors for the cause of missions around the world and reach their fellow inmates for Christ.
6) That I would progress in learning the culture and other considerations in preparation for our transition over there full time in the future.

We appreciate your prayer very much!

The Lord opens the door...Again!

2008-02-14T12:51:00.006-05:00

We serve an amazing God!

As many of you know, I am still employed at a major company that has sent me on 3 trips to the Philippines in the past. God has used these trips to show me the need for the gospel there and the amazing open doors that are just waiting on labourers. He has used these trips to direct our paths to serve Him as missionaries in this country and also allowed these weeks over there to establish great relationships with families that have become dear friends and mentors.

With deputation just about to start - (our first missions conference just over a month away) and the anticipation of leaving the company in the not so distant future, I thought my free missions trips were over... Not so fast!

I was told last friday that there is a window for me to go back for training for 2 weeks starting March 1st - praise the Lord! Just today I had permisision to book the trip and begin preparations. The timing really is outstanding o go back one more time before getting into the upcoming meeting schedule. My heart has desired to get back there since I returned last February - it is amazing to think that this is the 4th consecutive year that I will be able to spend 2 weeks in the land of our calling with the provision coming totally of God!

My line of work is in call centers and so those I train work overnight shifts since they support US customers - this allows for me to work at night and minister by day. God has supernaturally helped me on the 3 previous trips with very little sleep and has always been so good to my family while I am gone. I do not take this for granted and know that the prayers of my brothers and sisters have been a major reason in God showing His mercy in these areas - so I am asking again.

We would appreciate your prayer that God would be glorified, my work would be better than the company would even expect, that the doors to minister will be open, that my family would enjoy good health and peace while I am away and that God would teach me more about Him and His plan for us in this country.

As the Lord allows I will update the blog and hopefully add some pictures when I can. Your prayer is greatly appreciated. I will leave March 1 and return on the 17th.

For the glory of His name,

aaron

Communication from the King

2008-01-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

In 2 Chronicles 30 we read the second phase of the revival that took place in Jerusalem under the young reign of King Hezekiah. At the beginning of his reign the king had already repaired the temple, sanctified the priests, made a covenant with God that God might stay His wrath, charged the people to be not negligent but to prepare their hearts, was an example by rising early and going to the temple himself and offered sacrifices with worship, joy and a free heart.

Revival was taking place. Chapter 30 then Chronicles how the king reinstituted the passover in a powerful way and this is what was especially intriguing to me this morning.

2Ch 30:6 - So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
2Ch 30:7 - And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.
2Ch 30:8 - Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.
2Ch 30:9 - For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.
2Ch 30:10 - So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.
2Ch 30:11 - Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.

What a picture of Missions this is.

The posts (missionaries - the responsibility and privilege of all Christians) have been sent by the decree of the KING
Their task is to go from city to city declaring a message
That message is the Written decree of the King (Bible) charging all men everywhere to repent (turn to the Lord God)
It is a message that has hope of restoration thanks to the grace and mercy of God
It is a message that has a stern warning of wrath for those who don't turn
There is a compassion represented - a pleading with the people not to be stiffnecked, not to be like the others, not to follow the crowd, not to continue in the sinful ways of their fathers but to turn to God
In the process the Posts receive persecution (promised to those that will live godly in Christ Jesus - 2 Tim. 3:12)
The result - divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem - To the glory of God!
Beyond that we read how that revival continued to spread through the land -
2Ch 31:1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

Be encouraged today, the gospel is the power of God unto salvation!

The Putney Family

2008-01-11T09:15:00.002-05:00

A little about us as a family. We have enjoyed a wonderful marriarge of nearly 14 years for which we give thanks and glory to God. The past eight years have been especially incredible times as God has clearly directed our steps for the future and blessed us with our four precious daughters during this time.

Aaron worked for a large company for 14 years which God used to send me to the Philippines on five occasions all expenses paid! It was during these trips (which were spent working by night and preaching and evangelizing by day) where it became clear that this is where God called us to be. I had the privilege to travel to Africa prior to that on a short term trip to preach a resurrection conference where God impressed upon me a great burden for missions. It was only after surrendering to God's will for missions that He would then orchestrate these paid trips to the Philippines and solidifying our calling there. I have now graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity from a four year Bible institute and have had many opportunities to teach and preach in a variety of ministries at church, conferences, on the streets and at other churches. Considering the example of the prophets, Christ and the disciples, I place importance in public ministry where we can witness and preach to those that dont have another gospel witness. Discipleship is also incredibly important to us. The work of the gospel extends to teaching all things and that people may be trained in good doctrine to go reach others. Personally, I enjoy playing basketball, photography and memorizing scripture. Basketball is the favorite sport in the Philippines and at almost 6'8", this opens a great door for me to witness to so many Filipinos that are amazed by my height. I believe memorization is important for our personal walk, for ministry effectiveness and because there is nothing more profitable you could put in your mind.

Stephanie is a wonderful mother who loves our girls dearly and takes seriously her responsibilty as their teacher, mother and example of a godly woman. We have homeschooled right from the outset and while an oft intimidating challenge, she is doing a wonderful job. She prays fervently for our family and strives to provide an atmosphere and example that will lend to raising up godly maidens of virtue that will glorify Jesus Christ with their lives. Stephanie loves finding some quiet time with a cup of coffee and her Bible. She also enjoys journaling about family and what God is doing in her life.

Our family loves to take walks, observe wildlife and enjoy picnics. Family devotions, board games and group efforts on everything from laundry to dishes lend to sweet times of fun and teaching.

Autumn loves to sing. We look forward to seeing how the Lord uses our girls in this area. The three oldest girls are already starting to sing on occasion in churches. Looking at books and playing dolls with her sisters are other favorite things to do. She is a great encouragement when we go places as she regularly wants to pass out gospel tracts. We rejoice to announce that Autumn trusted Christ as Her Saviour on 4/16/2010 in Houston Texas during a missions conference!

Anna is a regular shadow of Autumn, wanting to be a part of whatever she is doing. She likes to pretend she is talking on the phone, enjoys stacking blocks, kicking around a soccer ball and playing hide and seek. With her youngers sisters, she is definitely interested in the role of being the mommy. Anna has a special testimony in that she nearly died the day after she was born, as they rushed her out of the room in a panic all we could do was cry out to God. We praise the Lord for His wonderful mercy toward her at that moment and acknowledge that she is now a walking testimony of His goodness and grace.

Sarah is a busy young lady with a dynamic personality. Although she is often on the go, all the girls love to sit and look at books, especially when there is a lap to sit on and a reader available. Sarah is fairly independent compared to Anna yet they get along wonderfully. We pray God will use them all mightily for His glory. Anytime anyone cries, Sarah is there to let us know about it with concern and love, she has a very tender heart in this way.

Emma Joy is growing fast and has demonstrated her personality in many ways. She loves to sing and to play mommy with her dolls and stuffed animals. Should you give her opportunity with band-aids she will have them all patched up in no time! She is very passionate in the way she will quickly escalate whether in displays of sadness or jubilation.

We pray fervently for the souls of our girls and desire to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Children can be powerful influences in the work of the gospel, as arrows in the hand of a mighty man we are taught in Psalm 127. Our prayer is that from their youth they will be actively involved in ministry in the Philippines. Autumn is already very excited and asks many questions about the Philippines - especially about when we are going! We praise the Lord for this.

Isa 54:13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Birthdays:
Aaron 4/7
Stephanie 10/10
Autumn 1/17/02
Anna 10/18/04
Sarah 3/13/06
Emma 11/26/07

Anniversary 7/20/96

We sincerely appreciate your prayers on behalf of the Putney Family!

The greatest present we can give to God

2008-01-11T06:56:00.000-05:00

Isa 18:2 ...Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!
Isa 18:3 All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.

Isa 18:7 In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.

A challenge that rings through the centuries imploring messengers to GO.
This land is not Israel, the command is not to go to them to destroy them or to pillage them - it is to a land in this case that is downtrodden, scattered and humbled. What is to gain from such a place?

It is to bring a message, a message that if they will look to the ensign on the mountains, if they will heed the trumpet call and hear the declaration - they will know that there is hope, they will know that there is a God in Zion, a God that they can meet with, a God that will recieve them.

That wonderful declaration is the heartcry of the missionary that proclaims it, the hope to those who hear it and the glory of God who made the message possible.

Should the people respond, what a beatiful result - the missionary is allowed to see the fruit of the labour and as those people from that downtrodden land find the hope in Jesus Christ, they can meet with God.
Lastly and most importantly as this passage tells us, it will be a PRESENT - a gift, a blessing, a means of God getting glory as His desire is fulfilled that more people come into His kingdom!

What better present is there to bring to our Saviour then souls to worship Him.

Luk 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Religious Strongholds

2008-01-10T11:23:00.000-05:00

82% of the population of the Philippines are professing Roman Catholics. This began in the 16th century when the Philippine Islands were a Spanish colony and therefore the religion was strongly engrained in the culture. Many of the indigenous tribal groups fought the colonization and infiltration of catholicism by fleeing to the mountains in order to maintain their own traditions and beliefs. Despite the spread of westernization, many of those tribal groups still reside in the mountainous regions and desperately need the gospel.

Catholicism errs in many ways and as a result is leading millions of its faithful adherents to hell. The root of their false doctrines come from the fact that their authority is not the Word of God only. The catholic church teaches that tradition and the teachings of the pope are equal in authority with scripture. Ps. 118:8 alone tells us that God's word only should be trusted, not mans. When we do not rely on the Bible as the final authority for all matters of faith and practice we are allowing man to alter and overrule the very truth God has given to us and the result is nothing more than men creating false gods that suit their own desires and lusts.

Many of the heretical teachings of the church are that Mary was sinless and is a co-redeemer with Christ, that the pope is infallible in his authoritative teachings, that works and participation in the sacraments are needed for salvation, that some sins do not bring eternal punishment where others do, that salvation can be lost, that the mass is a supernatural event in which the elements physically become the body and blood of Christ, that priests can forgive sin and act as mediators, that there is a state of purgatory for sinners prior to glory and that indulgences can be obtained to release those sinners from that state, that no one can know if he will inherit eternal life, that salvation can only come through the Roman Catholic Church and much more.

Every teaching in the above paragraph is clearly refuted in scripture. Catholics need to be shown how the word of God must stand alone as our infallible authority and doctrine must be established from the Bible alone - line upon line, precept upon precept. They must come humbly to the truth that salvation is by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, not of works.

Tribal beliefs are certainly much different and I readily admit that I have much to learn about the varied beliefs of these many groups. One thing is common and exists in many belief systems in the world (this is not coincidental) is that sacrifice is needed to appease the wrath of an angry God. These groups know that this sacrifice requires blood and so like many indigenous cultures, they have ritualistic ceremonies where they pray, chant, dance and yell to their gods prior to and during the sacrifice of an animal. In these tribes there is a powerful presence of demon possession and spirit worship. Many of the families keep the bones or ashes of ancestors in their huts, believing they will provide protection and blessing. They are taken cative by Satan at his will and can only be set free through the power of God unto salvation - the Gospel of Christ.

Amidst these groups there is also a series of other cults that have influence and are actively propagating their false messages - Mormons, Jehovah Witness, Iglesia Ni Kristo etc.

So many people have been blinded from the truth of God for generations. Their beliefs and traditions are so engrained that they will freely tell you that they are catholic before they are filipino. Because of the imporance of catholicism in the culture and family, there are significant implications when a person gets saved and leaves the catholic church. The individual must truly count the cost. Praise the Lord that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (2 Cor. 10:4). It is the light of the glorious gospel that can open their eyes and free them from this bondage. God forbid that Christians with the truth not be as fervent to spread the gospel as the many cults are with their messages. The eternal souls of men for the glory of God is at stake, He is not willing that any should perish and He has called us to get that very message to them. Let us be fervent and zealous for our worthy King!

Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

There is much work to do and the time is short, will you pray for the Putney family and also pray with us for more laborers?

Letter of Recommendation - Pastor Paul Perkins

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Dear Pastor,

It is my privilege to write this letter of introduction and recommendation for the Aaron Putney family, missionaries to the Philippines. I first met Brother Aaron in 2005, while I was serving on the mission field. Brother Aaron e-mailed me about an upcoming business trip he would be taking with the Kodak Company. While on the business trip, his desire was to serve the Lord and do ministry work on the mission field. The Lord knit our hearts together right from the start. I was thrilled to see his zeal for the Lord. I began to see the Lord working in Brother Aaron’s heart. His love for the Lord, family, the church and service was evident right away.

Brother Aaron’s testimony is one of humble service and diligent, sacrificial work. The Lord has blessed him with a wonderful wife and four beautiful daughters. They serve the Lord as a family and work well together. I have stayed in their home and have seen their interaction with one another first-hand. It is a joy and a privilege to be able to recommend the Putney family as missionaries being sent out from our church.

I would like to ask you to prayerfully consider having the Putney family in to present their burden to your church. After serving for 12 years as a missionary to the Philippines myself, I know that pastors who desire to reach the world, are careful as to whom they will support. I can say that the Putney family will be a wise investment of your time and missions dollars. The Putneys will be a blessing to your people and respectful to you, the pastor, when they visit. If the Lord leads you to support the Putneys in your missionary program, they will serve the Lord faithfully.

Because of His Love,

Pastor Paul Perkins

Grace Independent Baptist Church

Letter of Recommendation - Pastor George Grace

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December 5, 2007

Dear Pastor and Faithful Church Leaders,

First Bible Baptist Church in Rochester, New York has a rich and exciting history. At my last count there are over 140 families who have been trained for the ministry and sent to assignments all over the world!

Currently we have four more families that have arrived on the mission field or have declared their future intentions.

Aaron and Stephanie Putney have served faithfully at FBBC for several years. Aaron was born and raised here, graduated from our Christian School, Northstar Christian Academy, from our four year Bible Institute, North Star Bible Institute, and is serving as a deacon in our church. Aaron is recognized as a leader by his pastors and peers. Stephanie is a wonderful mom and help meet for Aaron and has fulfilled an important role in Aaron’s preparation for a ministry in the Philippine Islands.

It has been no secret that the Putneys have had their eyes on the Islands for some time. Aaron has made several work related / mission trips where the Lord has burdened his heart for these people. Aaron has a well thought out plan and strategy to get from where he is today, to where God wants him tomorrow. Aaron is prepared, organized, thorough, and committed.

There are many worthy families who seek the support of “like faith” churches like yours. I cannot recommend these other personally, but I can recommend the Putneys to you. You will be placing your prayers, trust and money in good hands. Like you, I wish I could help more than we do. One of my greatest concerns today is the fact that worthy, committed candidates for mission work have to spend an inordinate amount of time and energy to get to the field.

All that I can ask you to do is to prayerfully consider the need and the family. I promise you that if you send a missionary my way, I will do the same.

Sincerely in Him,

Pastor George Grace

Contact Us

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Aaron & Stephanie Putney

Grace Independent Baptist Church

3707 Bienville Blvd

Ocean Springs, MS 39564

phone: (585) 298-3807

email: Aaron@PutneysForChrist.com

Send us an email with your name and we will add you to our list for email updates

Doctrinal Statement

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The Scriptures

We believe in the authority of the Holy Scriptures. The original manuscripts were given by inspiration of God and were without error (2 Pet. 1:21; Prov. 30:5). We believe that God has preserved His word with absolute perfection (Ps 12:6-7). We believe the infallible, inerrant complete word of God is available in the English language in the Authorized King James Version. This complete 66 book Bible is our final authority in all matters.

God

We believe in one God that eternally exists in the unity of the Godhead as the Father, the Word (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Ghost (Mt. 28:19; Jn. 10:30; 1 Jn. 5:7). The three Persons of the Trinity exist in the same divine nature, essence and being. They are co-existent and co-equal and each One has a distinct office in the work of Redemption. He is perfect in holiness, worthy of all honour, glory and praise. God is the divine creator, sustainer and ruler of the universe and the author of eternal redemption for man through Jesus Christ.
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ to be God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16), virgin born (Isa. 7:14; Mt. 1:23), without sin (Heb. 4:15; 2 Cor. 5:21), crucified, risen (1 Cor. 15:3-4) and coming again to rapture (receive) His church (1 Thes. 4:14-17), then returning to establish His kingdom with His saints on the earth after a seven year period of tribulation and wrath (2Thes. 1:7-10; Rev. 20:1-6).

Salvation

We believe salvation is a gift that is available to all men by grace through repentance and faith in the finished work and atoning sacrifice of the perfect lamb of God, Jesus Christ (Eph.2:8-9; Rom 6:23; 2 Pet. 3:9). It is not of works or of our own merit or goodness of any kind (Titus 3:5; Gal. 2:16). Salvation provides a pardon for sin and the gift of eternal life as the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to us (Rom. 4; Titus 3:5-7).

We believe to be saved a sinner must be born again (Jn. 3:5). This is an instantaneous occurrence and not a process and for man to be saved he must respond to the gospel in repentant, obedient faith (Jn. 1:12; Acts 16:31; 2 Cor. 7:10).

Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is equal in divine nature with the Father and the Son and that He was an active part of creation, He convicts of sin, indwells the believer and seals them until the day of redemption. He also ministers to the believer as the Comforter and by teaching and bringing to remembrance things that we have read and learned about God’s word. (Jn. 16:7-8; Eph. 4:30).

Church

We believe that the local church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again persons. We believe that members should gather to minister to one another, work together to reach the world for Christ, fellowship, encourage, pray and be taught the word of God (Mt. 28:19-20; Heb 10:24-25; Acts 2:41-42). We believe that an Independent Baptist church is made up of baptized believers and has the right of self-government under the headship of Christ and not a hierarchy of organizations and people. Working with other churches for the furtherance of the gospel and defense of the faith is appropriate but that all other matters of church government, discipline and membership are to be established at the individual independent church level. We believe in cheerful scriptural giving of our tithes and offerings and that it be done systematically through the local church (Mal. 3:8-10; Mt. 6:21; 2 Cor. 9:6).

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that water baptism is a public testimony made by the saved Christian and is to be done by immersion and in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. It is a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and also represents that in Christ we are become dead to sin and alive unt God to walk in newness of life (Mt. 28:19; Acts 8:36-39; Rom. 6:3-5).
We believe the Lord’s Supper to be a time of remembrance of the breaking of the Lord’s body and shedding of His precious blood. It is a time of self examination for the Christ with a stern warning to not partake unworthily (1 Cor. 11:23-29). We believe that the Lord's supper is to be observed strictly by the saved and baptized members of that local Baptist church.

Missions

We believe it is the responsibility of every believer to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ personally as well as by supporting missions through prayer, and giving of their means to finance the missionary efforts of the church (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15; Lk. 24:46-48; Jn. 20:21; Acts 1:8; Rom. 10:13-15). Jesus Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost. He is not willing that any should perish. He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. God has made Christians to be His ambassadors to take the Gospel to the uttermost part of the earth. The harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few. We must redeem the time and spread the gospel with urgency.

Eternity

We believe all individuals that reject the Lord Jesus Christ will be responsible for the payment of their sins through spending eternity in the conscious suffering of a literal lake of hell fire (Rev. 20:15; Lk. 16:23; 2 Thes. 1:8-9). We believe that those receiving the the gift of salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ will spend eternity in the glorious presence of God (Jn. 14:1-3; 2 Cor. 5:8).

Creation

We believe in the literal Genesis account of creation that God spoke the world into being and that man was created in the likeness of God. We do not believe in the false teachings of evolution but that God created and that species reproduce after their own kind (Gen. 1, 2; Rom. 1:20; Heb. 11:3).

Separation

We believe all saved individuals should be separate from the sinful ways, desires and philosophies of this world, being holy in mind and body (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; 1 Jn. 2:15-17; Prov. 18:1). We do not believe that righteousness comes by keeping laws and commandments but by a heart that is changed and desires the things of God. We believe that as an individual draws nigh to God and God draws nigh to him that the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of sin will grow dimmer and less appealing. The inner man is changed and consequently it becomes reflected in the outward areas of life (Jms. 4:8; 1 Tim. 2:9-10; Mt. 5:14).

Civil Government

We believe that God’s purpose for government is for the good order of society and justice (Rom. 13:1-7). We believe it is a Christians duty to be responsible law abiding citizens so long as the law requires nothing that is opposed to God’s will (Titus 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:11-17). We believe that any attempt by the state to interfere with the working of the church is a violation of God's purpose.

Satan

We believe that Satan is a created being that was once holy but fell through pride and rebellion and in doing so drew many angels with him. He now acts as a roaring lion seeking to devour. He is a thief, a murderer, a liar, and a great tempter. He is responsible for all false teachings and cults and is the enemy of God. His end will be at the hands of Jesus and will spend eternity in the hell that was prepared for him and his angels (1 Pet. 5:8; Ezek.28:14-17; Isa 14:12; Rev. 20:10)

The Fall of Man

We believe that man was created without sin but chose voluntarily to break the law of his Creator making him guilty without excuse before God. All of mankind since Adam and Eve have been guilty of sin as well (Rom. 3:10-23; 5:12).

Resurrection

We believe that Jesus Christ arose bodily from the grave. We also believe that this resurrection assures all believers the same bodily resurrection when the Lord returns for His saints at the time of the Rapture. There will also be a resurrection of the unsaved to stand in the judgment before the Lord, known as the Great White Throne Judgment. (1Thess.4:13-18; 1Cor.15:51-58; 1Thess.3:13; Rev.19:11-16;20:1-6; Titus 2:13; Act.1:9-11).

The Philippines and the Igorot People Groups

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Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Eph 3:20-21

The Philippine Islands have a republic form of government that was established after gaining its independence from US control on July 4, 1946. The celebrated date of independence though is June 12, 1898 when it declared itself free from Spanish rule. The Philippines boasts itself of over 7001 islands but that number varies depending on the tide. Throughout this paper I will refer to ranges when dealing with statistics as no two sites or books seem to agree. I give the most reference and credibility to the CIA World Factbook as the numbers are more current. Between 750 and 880 of the islands are inhabited. Some islands have millions of people and others simply are a tourist destination that houses a few staff in order to run the resort. One example would be Sumilon Island off the southern tip of Cebu.

The population of the Philippines according to the World Factbook estimate of July 2007 is 91 million people. When reading other articles from not that many years ago they were citing population in the 70’s. This population growth is due to the Catholic influence in the country which have influenced birth control, abortion and divorce to be illegal. Statistics show that 61% of the country is under 25 years old and 38% is under 14%. This must be a consideration in the strategy of missionaries going to this land. In the city areas of Cebu City and Manila, this young generation mimics more of the rebellious MTV generation of America more than it does the previous generations of devoted Catholic Filipinos who are steeped in their traditions. There are a few large cities in the Philippines. Davao City is the largest city geographically but the capital city of Manila has by far the greatest population of between 18-20 million people in the metro-Manila region. This is also known as the National Capital Region (NCR).

There are very few statistics or observations that can be made of this land that would be universal for the country because the land and people are incredibly diverse and they have never had a national unity. To give an idea of this, there are eight major dialects according to the CIA factbook - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan. Beyond this however, there are many varied lists of the unreached or least reached peoples in the Philippines. One prayer list that I found includes 83 different groups that range in population from 2000 to well over 1,000,000 people and all these people have different languages. Another research site lists 161 people groups in the Philippines but shows far fewer that are unreached. A well respected missionary mind said recently that the Philippines is one of the highest evangelized countries on earth and they (like South Korea) are now a missionary sending nation. Depending on how you view it, this is correct but I hope to draw attention to the readers that this statement may have been made with too simplistic of an overview of this country. In reading about the history, geography and people groups I have come across two ways of dividing this country into thirds. One is the regional way offered by the government. This shows the Luzon region to the north, the Visayan (primarily Cebuano speaking) region in the center and the Mindanao region to the south. The other way which I find more helpful from a Christian mission perspective is the map on the cover page which reflects the Igorot (tribal) groups that are of the highest concentration in the Cordillera and Cariballo mountains of Northern Luzon, the Filipino people that make up the majority of the population (primarily catholic) and the Moro peoples in the south which are Muslim.

When it is said that the Philippines is one of the most evangelized places in the world it should be noted that most of those statements are from the perspective of the vast amount of missionaries that are sent to the Philippines. I would argue though that the majority of those missionaries are located in the “Filipino” or Catholic, Spanish influenced regions. Another note may be made that if we could somehow refine that group of missionaries to works that are doctrinally sound and then map them out based on the areas they work in I believe we would be surprised. One of the articles I read in a missions class was about city evangelism. On my second trip to the Philippines I traveled with the missionary on two separate daylong survey trips to a corner of the Metro Manila region called San Juan. This area is populated by close to five million people that vary from wealthy to squatter hut poor and are from a vast amount of people groups that have migrated to the city for work. In these two days we did not find a single Baptist church in this large region. Some missionaries avoid cities as they are typically more expensive, more crime infested, certainly more polluted, often have unbearable traffic, contain none of the romantic jungle pioneer missionary mystique and often include a more proud and gospel hardened people. Between the overcrowded and under evangelized cities and the little or unreached tribal and Muslim areas, I would vehemently argue against the idea that the Philippines is an over evangelized country that does not need more missionaries. God does the calling and God then is the judge of that. We know our local church is hardly capable of ministering to the 100,000 people in our town yet some would argue that no church for 5,000,000 people in Manila would be a waste of God’s money and God’s servant. Before churches start disregarding a missionary because they have a tack in the map there, they might either study it out themselves or more importantly spend some time with that missionary and pray that God gives them the discernment to be able to effectively judge their heart and motives. It is not a missions board, a statistician or demographic wizard that calls a man. The Holy God of heaven who paid for the souls of men and has a plan and strategy that we can’t comprehend does (Isa. 55). It is very possible that the missionaries God would have to go to the unreached are from these “over evangelized areas.” I certainly believe that they would have an easier transition than me when reaching those peoples. I’m done preaching now.

My focus for the remainder of this study will be on the tribal people groups of Northern Luzon, collectively known as the Igorot. It is important to note that never has the Philippines been a collective, unified country. There has never been a time when the Tribal peoples, the Filipinos and the Moro people groups were unified and desirous to call these 7000 islands their country. When the Spanish took the land in the 16th century they claimed it all for themselves and influenced as many people as they could with their rule and religion. Try as they might they did not win the allegiance of the ancient tribes who in response to this intrusion moved any remaining groups from the flatlands to the mountain regions of northern Luzon. When they gained independence from Spain and were in American control the Igorot pleaded with the Americans to allow them to have their own national identity. The US felt that identifying the Mountain province would be enough and that Manila would not press for anything more after their departure. This wasn’t the case and Filipino governments of all forms since then have always sought to bring these peoples under their mandates and do with their land what they would like. It really is little difference than what we did to the Native Americans. The result is that it has been harder and harder as years go on for these tribes to remain isolated from the rest of society and to retain their ancestral land. Another factor in this eating away of the land is logging (deforestation). I read in one book that every year now the wooded areas of the Philippines are reduced by the space of ¾ the land mass of Rhode Island. Land is running out considering all the islands put together are only about the size of Nevada.

There are six provinces that contain the ancestral lands of the Igorot and there is only one city for this whole area: Baguio. Naturally this makes Baguio a key point for mission strategy, as this is the place that many of these people will come if they are seeking work, commerce or education. Baguio is second only to Manila in the Philippines for educational opportunities as there are many good universities and the cost for a quality education is far cheaper in Baguio than in Manila. The word Igorot is a Tagalog word that means “mountain people.” It is a general term that all these tribal groups are bucketed into. Outsiders originally used the word as a derogatory term that spoke of being backward or inferior but most of these people are proud to be referred to as Igorot now with the exception of the Kalinga and some of the Ifugao.

Within the Igorot peoples there are eight identified ethnic groups, which are the Apayao, Tinggian, Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Isneg, Kalinga and Kankanai. Some of these groups are considered the last of the “headhunters” of the Philippines; namely the Bontoc and the Kalinga. Neither is believed to still practice this but it is true that most are still involved in animal sacrifices. They are all animistic groups that believe in many gods and spirits that influence their life circumstances. Their belief that these gods have emotions and get angered lead them to different sacrificial systems and other rituals to make them happy. What differs in the groups are what they sacrifice, whether the men or women act as the priests and whether they believe the gods to be their deceased ancestors or some other spiritual beings. This also impacts whether they dury their dead or keep their bones in their homes as sacred items. There are tremendous demonic influences at work in these villages that are called upon through shaman priests, rituals, chants, magic and sacrifice. One secular observer noted that during an Ifugao canao healing ritual of sacrificing chickens and observing their entrails by a shaman that “his demeanor changed and his very appearance was transformed; the Ifugao gods seemed to take possession of his spirit.” The strongholds of Satan can and must be overcome by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

The eight primary groups above are the main tribes I found and most of them have some portions of scripture in their language although none more than the New Testament. The big questions I have in looking at this data are “what is the basis for being considered reached (by what group and doctrine)? And “what do they consider scriptures, how accurate are they?” In doing more reading as well as talking to Paul Perkins about these peoples, it seems there are many other peoples and languages represented in these mountains that perhaps are not identified or are bunched together with these eight. Groups such as First Bible International who are King James and Textus Receptus based have had to start their own translations in Mongolia for example because the “scripture” that they had was all dynamic equivalent and not a literal translation with the goal of accuracy with readability. Those people only have some type of paraphrase and not something they can call the Bible. I don’t know enough about the translations into these tribal languages to say one way or the other. Brother Paul told me firsthand that he knew of a missionary in Baguio working with one of these groups that has shared with him that there are some groups up there that are still unengaged and that have no scriptures in their dialect. In further study I have found that the Ifugao tribe, for example, are recognized by at least eight different names themselves and there are at least four distinct Ifugao dialects. The Kalinga also go by at least two names and have two different dialects, not to mention the 50+ divisions of groups within their people. It is the Ifugao who are known for the beautiful rice terraces that were been carved out of the mountains by hand approximately 2000 years ago.

The cultural obstacles faced in reaching these groups would be similar to many lands in that they have a completely different language, way of thinking, way of living and belief structure. A recent article on the worldviews (assumptions) of people opened up my thinking much further than just the language barrier. There is so much to learn and it won’t be learned in a book or in a Bible school in the US but through time, observation, immersion, interaction and prayer. These are groups that have fought off the westernization and modernization of their land for hundreds of years and are naturally on some type of defensive toward intrusion. They are steeped in pride and tradition. Many of these people are illiterate and if they can read, their languages are more spoken than written and the scriptures must be translated or finished. Many of them have no power, modern form of communication or effective sanitary or medical measures. One hope is that any missionaries who are in the area and have gone before have been a positive influence and have planted the seed which now must be watered and see God give the increase. Even the unreached and unengaged may have had some type of contact or introduction to missionaries of various groups since the people will sometimes have their daughters marry men from other tribes or through some of the people that come into Baguio for various reason and perhaps have been influenced. We must remember though that small populations of cross-cultural people within cities are often unreached as well. FBBC for example doesn’t have ministries for Spanish, Chinese or Ukrainian populations in Rochester so there needs to be ministries in those cities as well to meet such groups.

I read one of the cultural rituals that the Ifugao take part in concerning distribution of meat. They will bring a caribao into the center of town and the kids may play with it for a while until it is ready for sacrifice. They perform their idolatrous ritual, kill it and then start the meat distribution. The aggressive men will often barge in and cut away large portions instead of waiting for their priest to distribute the meat. Those men are often then chased by women and children who aren’t happy with their greed. To try to be fair, they often will use chalk to draw on the caribao to show how it will be cut and distributed prior to the sacrifice. After they split up the meat they will then boil any portion that wont be used. The last and most exciting part is they give the urinary bladder to one of the children as a toy. This and the tail are usually given by favoritism to a child of a prominent family. It is then filled with water like a baloon and tied off making it a fund toy to play ball with; that is until another jealous child stabs it with a spear.
The Ifugao also have different burial rituals depending on whether someone just dies or if they were murdered. If it is a murder then all of the men of that persons family will use a tribal dance to indicate that this murder will not go unavenged. From what I read, most of the murders take place because of disagreement over land and water ownership. During the ceremony of a murdered man, a woman will stand over the body poking it with a weaver’s sword and telling his spirit not to go to sleep but to wake up and bother the murderer so he can be identified. One man is assigned as the one responsible to take revenge. This is determined by all the men standing in a circle, they cut the head off a chicken and in front of whatever man it finally falls, he is then responsible to kill not only the murderer but all his male relatives. They determine when and by what means he is to kill them based on what animal that they catch next in a designated trap that is placed in the jungle. When it is a natural death the people will place the person in a death chair before they die and tie them in an upright position so they can be addressed by loved ones before dying. This is done in a very private ritual and then once the individual dies there is another ritual followed by burial. The most important tribal rituals that are common among the Kalinga, Bontoc and Ifugao especially are centered on birth, puberty, marriage, death, the rice harvest, rice wine fermentation and until this last generation or two – headhunting. The Kalinga have long been recognized as the most unpredictable and aggressive of the Igorot mountain peoples.

Strange food is always a culture shock and the Ifugao are no different; they enjoy frying up large quantities of flying termites – delicious. There are a vast amount of villages in these mountains as might be expected. Rough estimates say there are more than two hundred villages for each of the Bontoc, Ifugao and Kalinga peoples that will range from fifty to one hundred or more people in each. Many of these villages have divisions among them because of land, family issues, beliefs and even because some feel that others have conformed to the outside world pressures by welcoming advancements in dress, communication, power and technology. There are known to be at least 55 divisions in the Kalinga region alone according to one source. Over the years these secluded mountains have been used for more profitable cash crops like tobacco and now the growth and use of marijuana is prevalent. The Kalinga province is the biggest producer of the drug in this region and therefore the military sets up checkpoints at most main roads to try to hinder drug runners.

Strategically I believe that it would take first and foremost a great deal of study about their land, beliefs, culture, languages, heritage and the current influence (or lack thereof) of the gospel. I believe the city is the key and that Baguio is the primary point for learning about these groups and for having a work that will train men to go to these groups. It is a good center for learning the various languages and to focus on translation of the scriptures. I believe youth are also a key and that showing love to youth will often impact the hearts of adults. Youth have such potential for Christ when trained up effectively and need for love is so great in the Philippines as most children work significantly, play very little and only 40% will ever go to high school (nationally- 1993 statistic). I would look into starting extension classes (like Sunday Schools) that adults are invited to in their village. It could be with picture cards or something at first and progress from there as the language and cultural barriers start to break down. It may be that the best and only way to impact them is to train a Filipino or one of their own that you reach in the city to go back to them rather than going yourself. There are other physical needs like medical assistance and other practical helps that could help bridge the gap. I believe this is something the Lord will make clear and direct in as He is sought. One thing is clear, there is a need, there are unreached people in this area and Jesus deserves for them to hear of His great love. Here am I, Lord, send me…

Goals for Deputation

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Our desire in the process of raising missionary support is

To grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
To bring Him glory through trusting in Him for our needs in His timing and by being an example in word and deed as a family

To share our burden for the Philippines and wait on the Lord to provide those that He will have to partner with us
To be a blessing to the churches we visit in any way possible through service, encouragement, prayer, evangelism or preaching
To pray that God will allow us to have an impact on others to be more involved in missions. What a blessing it would be to see some people yield to God’s call for them during this time.

To enjoy the fellowship of other brothers and sisters around the country and rejoice with them in the greatness of our God

To gain wisdom from the knowledge and experience of pastors and others and therefore further prepare us for the field.
To continue the study of language and culture both from language software as well as from our Pastor who spent twelve years on this field

Ministry and Deputation Approch

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We want to be sure to document our approach to ministry as we find it supported through God’s word. We are not interested in using man’s reasoning and strategies but to bring God glory by ministering His way for His names sake.

1Co 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

The great commission as recorded in the four gospels and Acts 1 apply to every Christian and it includes evangelism to all as well as baptism, discipleship and establishing of local churches among the believers.

Evangelism

God makes it clear that He came to seek and to save and we are now His ambassadors to preach of His resurrection and gift of eternal life through repentance and faith. Mk. 16:15

We desire to be obedient to any opportunity to present the gospel. From door to door, schools, jails, public ministry and more; there is a great need and many possibilities.

Discipleship

We have been trained by a strong discipleship church. It is imperative that we multiply people to go preach the gospel and this will be done by teaching them the word of God, good doctrine and disciplines as well as encouraging them to identify and exercise the spiritual gifts that God has given them for His glory. 2 Tim. 2:2

Church Planting

New churches that are planted within any culture should be appropriate for that area while not worldly or conforming. The responsibility of a missionary is not to westernize the people but to bring them the gospel, teach them the Bible and trust the Holy Spirit to work in their lives as the church is established. In this we desire to adapt to their culture through language learning and practices that do not violate the holiness of God. The churches should be fitting for their location and class and should be self sustaining. The missionary should be perceived as a church planter rather than a long term pastor or administrator. It is God’s church that is put in their care. The church is to be taught the principles of the Bible and the people must then be responsible as stewards of God to administrate and build the church as God provides. They also must exercise their God given gifts to form the body of Christ in that area that is fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, under the headship of Jesus Christ. It should be Filipinos that support and lead the church enabling them to then reproduce their churches on their own upon the departure of the missionary to another area.

Source of power

Not a single thing will be accomplished by our might, power, talents or wisdom but by the Spirit of God through the weapon of prayer. God has promised to hear and answer what is asked in faith according to His will. We desire nothing more than to see God receive glory for changed lives and souls that only He can bring about. It is a blessing to know that we are equipped with the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is the power of God unto salvation and the perfect words of God in the King James Bible.

Humanistic Endeavours

Depending on the location you can easily find many poor, hungry, homeless and sick in the Philippines. These range from very young children that are orphans on the streets and surviving in any way they can through begging, stealing or worse up to the elderly that can no longer provide for themselves and have no one to look after them. There is certainly biblical support for helping the fatherless, widows, poor and hungry meaning we will not deny the opportunity to help as the Lord leads and provides. This being said, our primary goal is not one of meeting physical needs but rather offering a hope that has far greater benefit than a supply of food - the salvation offered through the shed blood of our loving Saviour, Jesus Christ. With this as the primary focus, we will present the gospel in sincerity and truth to all that will listen.

Summary
The souls of men are of utmost importance to God. A man’s soul is worth more than all the wealth of the world according to God. Souls are so important that He gave His only begotten Son to suffer and die at the hands of His own creation while we were yet sinners because of His great love. The resurrection of Jesus Christ then brought victory over death and hell and completion of the redemptive plan for mankind. He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, He is not willing that any should perish, He would have all men to be saved and there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. God receives His due glory when a soul is saved, the Lamb of God receives the reward of His suffering and an unworthy sinner receives not only a merciful pardon from hell but a place in the family of God for all eternity through His grace. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts nor are His ways our ways. God ordained that these redeemed individuals should then be His ambassadors to every creature throughout the world. We are to take the warning of the righteous judgment of God and the good news of His redeeming grace unashamedly to any and all. Beyond this commission to all who are saved, God calls and equips His children for specific tasks and gifts them according to their call. He orders our steps in His word and directs us to what He would have us to do. While we have nothing to offer of ourselves, we can be confident in our Saviour to equip and empower us to fulfill His call for our lives. That call for the Putney family is to the Philippine Islands.

Our Approach to Deputation
Should we visit your church, our practical objectives are to be punctual, prepared, orderly in our family presence, considerate of the time allotted to our ministry and endeavour to bless others.
Thank you for your consideration

Stewardship and Accountability
God has called all Christians to be wise stewards and to be missions minded. There is additional responsibility and accountability required of the foreign missionary and of the local church as they are entrusted to be stewards of money given for the work of the ministry. When God’s people give God’s money for the work of the ministry, both the supporting churches and the family sent should be certain that good stewardship is being exercised. Galatians 2:20 speaks of being crucified with Christ and crucifixion denotes death. Yielding to God and dying to self means that no reserves are kept as “untouchable” in the service of God as it all belongs to Him in the first place. We pray that we will never take lightly what the Lord provides to be used through us for His service. We are to be stewards in all respects and never take for granted or abuse the privilege to be entrusted with the gospel (1 Thes. 2:4), the gifts of God’s people as they obey God’s commission through support (Phi. 4:10-17) and the time that God allows us to serve both in the US and the Philippines (Eph. 5:16-16; 1 Cor. 15:58). For this reason we are open in our communication and accountability, knowing that no person or church could ever hold an individual accountable to the extent that we will ultimately answer for to our Lord Jesus Christ concerning our stewardship. We know that time on deputation will also require the support of God’s people and of course we intend to be active in God’s work wherever we may be. This time is a testing ground for missionaries that if accompanied with the faith and desire to learn and grow that it needs, can be invaluable on the field.

Biblical Support for Deputation?

Although there is no clear model for deputation in the Bible we do know that Paul did receive support from various churches like those in Philippi and Macedonia during his travels and that they met his needs often times while he was ministering in a place that was not willing or able to at the time (2 Cor. 11:8). More importantly than the financial aspect was the prayer that was exchanged for each other and the encouragement and investment in one another as Paul often spoke of his prayer for the churches as well as their support and encouragement of him. It is a delight to consider the relationships and prayer support that can be built up in this process. Our motive must be the glory of God alone. Deputation is representing Jesus Christ and His commission to various churches. In that process we also represent our sending church and need to take that seriously. If our motive is anything but glorifying God and representing Christ, missions and our sending church, there is a problem.

Differences

Our desire is to share the burden God has given us to make His glory and gospel known in the Philippine Islands (Isa. 42:12). God has worked in our hearts over the years and led us to standards of separation that we now hold in our family to draw a line against the subtle devices of the enemy (2 Cor. 2:11) and to be salt and light to the world around us. The standards of separation that we hold will never be the same as every family or church that we have the privilege to visit. While we stand firm on the importance of standard and are established with them for our family, our objective is not to press our standards on others nor change what God has directed us to personally as we travel church to church. Our desire is to educate those that we meet about the need in the Philippines and our intentions for service there. We are happy to fellowship with our brothers in Christ that are likeminded in the key doctrines of the faith although they may stand differently than we do in some areas. As far as on the field, too often a missionary will attempt to duplicate the western church and practices to mimic almost to a tee what is done in the churches that send or support them. To teach that the church must be western in tradition and custom would be to indict the culture and customs of the people in that land as being the problem. Sin is the problem and it is as prevalent in the west as it is in the east. Holiness and separation are commanded in the Bible and that is what should be taught, being American in your dress, décor and services is not.

Objectives for the Field

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1. Evangelize - we are called to preach the gospel to every creature and this will be our first priority. We desire to reach all that we can by God's grace through door to door, public ministry, schools, extension classes and any other venue God allows. We will endeavour to adapt to the culture through language training as well as understanding their history, worldview and traditions in order to show them we love them and reach them as effectively as possible while never conforming from the godliness we are called to.

2. Plant autonomous mission minded churches with the tools needed for healthy discipleship programs. They need to be planted with the intent of training a national to take over that work and move on. They must be doctrinally sound and self sustaining. They should not be established based on demographics but with a zeal to reach every member of their community, regardless of age, class etc.

3. Disciple, Train and Send. We understand that solid Bible schools can be the tool for training faithful laborers in the local churches as well as training and sending our church planters, foreign missionaries and those who would yield to minister to the little and unreached tribal groups in the region. In any way that we can encourage, educate and equip existing works around the country we would love to be a part. We are from a strong discipleship background and have seen the impact of Pastors refresher training, Pastor's school of discipleship and other tools that stregthen and encourage the body of Christ.

We pray for God's wisdom and provision for ministering to the poor, widows, and fatherless, which are not to be ignored. There is a large population of street kids as well that have great value to Jesus, certainly as much as any doctor, lawyer or anyone else. Many are orphaned, others are sold for wicked purposes, abuse drugs or get involved in crime. These kids are found in bigger cities and have incredible potential for Christ if only they are reached. As God wills and we are sensitive to respond, we expect the direction will be clear and the provision abundant for the task. The love of Christ and hope provided through Him is too wonderful not to bring to these souls.

We are confident that this is what God has seen fit to call us to and that other ministry opportunities are not to lose sight of these objectives. We realize our inability to accomplish these things ourselves but we see Jesus, able to accomplish anything. Ephesians 3:20-21 teaches me that any objective that is set in life is limiting to God as He can do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. We are trusting His direction and praying that His will would be done for His glory.

Gateway to Asia

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As a result of US involvement in the Philippines during WWII, it became obvious that the Islands proved to be a vital link to the rest of Asia. At that times, as is the case now, the advantages have been for the sake of money, trade, and workforce labor. We have no doubt that the Philippine Islands now are prepared to be the Gateway to Asia with the gospel of Jesus Christ. As God orchestrated a common language, developed roads, unified government and so much more for the dispersion of the gospel in the days of Christ and the disciples, so the tools of modern transportation and communication mixed with the Philippines record of sending people to countries all over Asia to work have paved the way for what I believe can be a major missionary sending movement to the unreached in the 10/40 window. The Philippines more than any other country in the world exports it people. Every day in the papers there are large articles about the labor deficiencies in other countries (i.e. Thousands of teachers needed in the US). There are so many Filipinos in other countries that it would be natural to send them equipped with the gospel knowing that they will be more readily accepted into closed or restricted countries than Americans would. The country has a great need for further church planting efforts and discipleship implementation. If done effectively, it could become a powerful sending agent to the rest of Asia within a short time.
With man this is impossible, but not with God...

The need for the Gospel in the Philippines

2007-12-30T16:23:00.000-05:00

God has shown me some things very clearly in trips to the Philippines. There are incredible doors open here at this time. The harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few. Some will say that the Philippines is one of the most evangelized countries in the world and it is now a missionary sending nation. This may be in some areas or based on certain measurements like how many missionaries from evangelical circles have been sent there compared to other countries but the reality of it is not that obvious. The country is 81% Roman Catholic, 5% Muslim and much of the rest are either indiginous beliefs, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3% and other cults. As you might expect, spending time there is what helps a person understand how great the need really is. There are more than 91 million people in this country with a high birth rate. Those people are spread over 880 of the 7,107 islands. Without going into detail in this document, there are three primary groupings of people in these islands – the Tribal peoples (Northern Luzon – Mountainous), the Filipinos (the bulk of the population – dominantly Catholic) and the Moro peoples (Muslim – southernmost islands). There are between 8 and 12 major tribes in the north but within that there are perhaps hundreds of divisions by different dialects, beliefs and differences from past conflicts that are maintained from generation to generation. I have included a map of just the Northern Philippines that shows the various language families just on Luzon to give an idea of the diversity of peoples. It is taken from http://www.ethnologue.com/. Even among the highest population groups where most missionaries would be found (Tagalogs in the Manila region and the Cebuanos in the Visayan island group) there are millions and millions who are not evangelized let alone an effective means of discipling those who are. The open doors are endless in schools, jails, prisons, hut to hut evangelism, street ministry and so much more. We are eager to be involved in these areas while not losing focus of training believers to go tell others in the mountain regions and to the uttermost.

Destination

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An extended testimony would have to be told about just how gradually yet specifically God pointed us to to Northern Luzon where we will minister. Starting in 2002 God started shaping us through His word and preaching. Within a few months I knew that I was to be going to Bible Institute but I did not know why. The following April (2004) God made it clear that He was calling me to preach. The following March God broke my heart for missions and then in November (2005) He started directing us to the Philippines. In early 2006 God was working on my heart about the vast unreached people groups in the world, most of them residing of course in the 10/40 window. At this time I started to study out and see that the unreached and least reached groups of the Philippines reside in the tribal groups of the Northern Mountainous regions as well as on some of the southern islands that are predominantly muslim. One thing that I learned from the trip to Manila in 2005 was that the Philippines has incredible potential to be a gateway to all of Asia. I will expound on this further in another post. Later in 2006 before I returned for the second trip I had a conversation with Dr. Charles Keen - Director of First Bible International. The way God put that unplanned meeting together was amazing and it became more obvious that whatever God was going to do with us in the Philippines, it was going to involve training and mobilizing Filipinos to plant churches among the little or unreached both in the Philippines and Lord-willing, beyond. That trip in November was outstanding and a strong bond was solidified with my friend and now pastor, Paul Perkins of Grace Independent Baptist Church. At that time it seemed that God was directing us to begin our time in the Philippines in Baguio. A few months later I traveled for the third trip and upon return our family drove to Tennessee to meet with Dr. Keen more purposefully. Dr. Keen gave me a great education in a short time about basing out of a city close to the groups that you hope to engage for survey purposes and the possibility that some people will come from these groups for commerce, work, education etc. This led us to think that perhaps Baguio or another nearby city would be ideal.
Baguio City is one of the larger cities in the northern part of Luzon Island. There are many opportunities to spread the gospel in many venues in Baguio. In January of 2009 I took my fifth trip to the Philippines and first to the Baguio area. On the same survey trip we went to San Fernando La Union and one of its large suburbs, Bauang. It is here I was introduced to this densely populated area with very little gospel work going on. In addition, there are seemingly dozens of small towns and communities of people with likely little witness all around. The city of San Fernando has 59 barangays in its district. As we continue to pray, we believe this also is an excellent location to begin planting churches and for a solid Bible school to train others to do the same all throughout northern Luzon and beyond. The population of the La Union Province a number of years ago was almost 700,000 souls. There are colleges and universties as well as technical and trade schools. The city also draws tourists especially during the surfing season and for charter fishing. There is an ocean port located in San Fernando as well as a small airport making it more accessible to many and bringing in more people regularly. We look forward to seeing how God orchestrated the details as we all continue to pray and prepare. Although it is on the coast and Baguio in the mountains, both are fairly centralized when it comes to having access to the mountain region for understanding the needs among the tribal peoples.

Stephanie’s Testimony and Call

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I was raised in an unsaved home and lost my father as a child. The only exposure I had to any Bible was through occasional visits to my grandparents church. Through meeting Aaron and his family I was exposed to solid Bible preaching and witness. I made a profession of faith when being taught a discipleship lesson on salvation in the late 90's but I had not repented of my sin. God began to chip away at Aaron and I in amazing ways in the fall of 2002. The Holy Spirit was working and we eagerly started studying God’s word, attending church, serving and removing the sinful influences and practices in our lives. I desired the things of God and wanted God to use us but I had never truly repented of my sin. On July 20th of 2003 I heard a message on hypocrisy and false prophets and realized then that I had not been truly saved. It was our 8th wedding anniversary when I heard that message, repented of my sins and the Lord Jesus Christ changed me forever!

We consider it a privilege that God has called us to serve Him in the Philippines. We are excited about seeing God do great things for His glory. He has been directing Aaron for years now toward ministry and it is very clear that the direction is to missions. We have an excitement about this work of faith and we trust in Him to continue to be faithful to His word in our lives. God has blessed us with four wonderful children and I am grateful for the role God has given me as a helpmate, wife and mother. I look forward to assisting my husband in ministry and raising our children to be the next generation of soldiers for Christ. We are confident that Christ will continue His work in our lives and provide and equip us for this work.

Aaron's Testimony and Call

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I was fortunate to be raised in a Christian home and part of an independent Baptist church. I was exposed to God’s word, great preaching and good examples throughout my childhood. In April of 1982, while I was a boy, an evangelist preached on Romans 3:18 … no fear of God before their eyes. That night I realized my sinful state and through repentance and faith received the gift of eternal life through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. In those early years of being saved I made many commitments to God that He is now calling on me to fulfill. In my teens I became slack in areas of my Christian walk and allowed peer influence and other temptations to lure me from the close communion He desires. In 2001, God began to chip away at my hardened heart. In October of that year I fell to my knees with a broken heart and finally surrendered my life fully to His will. It is a joy and privilege to serve our great Saviour.

Within a number of months I began started attending North Star Bible Institute where I graduated in May of 2007. During those years of school God placed the call on my life first to preaching, then more specifically to missions and the Philippines.

From a child I looked up to pastors and missionaries. I was taught to have a great respect for this most important work. I can recall telling God that I would go anywhere or do anything for Him. I told God that I would surrender to His will but at that time I was not willing to count the cost and stand by that commitment. Many years later, God, in His grace called me on that vow to Him. God worked in my heart through a missions conference in 2002 and subsequently began opening many doors of opportunity to teach, preach and be more involved in missions. A short term trip to Zambia in 2005 is when God confirmed in my heart the call to missions. I was sent later that year on a work trip to the Philippines where I was able to work with a missionary preaching and teaching in jails, schools and churches. God started to break my heart for those people and confirmed our calling there through a number of other circumstances. Since then He has sent me back to the Philippines on two more work/missions trips. It is humbling to think that the Lord would allow us to be entrusted with His gospel to take to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Thanksgiving in the Philippine Islands

2007-11-21T14:22:00.000-05:00

Just a brief testimony about last thanksgiving (don't laugh just because I said brief - it could be)

As most readers here know, I was introduced to the Philippines because I work for a company that has tech support call centers there and I have been sent there 3x by them to train and coach the agents. Last year at Thanksgiving I was in Manila with Brother Paul Perkins. They spent each thanksgiving on the field by driving to Batongas (~2hrs away) and having a traditional thanksgiving dinner with another missionary. So, I had the privilege of joining them. I cant tell you what a blessing that was. I had not missed a holiday with my wife before since we have been married and to be away from her and the kids was tough enough. It was nice to be with some people that love Jesus and to share a bit of the traditional experiences that I would have enjoyed at home.
I cant say though that it was a normal thanksgiving. We did have a big meal but then we all had this great idea of going to pick up some of the men from Missionary Avery's church and play basketball. For the next couple hours we played basketball in 85 and humid weather on an outdoor court at the foot of a beautiful mountain after eating a big meal. When we were finished I was exhausted and was becoming dehydrated. I had already been there a week and a half working all night and being part of ro. Paul's ministry during the days. I recognize now that it was foolish for me to have played since I had to train the new agents that entire night.
Since it was the holiday in the states but not over there the agents would come in but it was the night that I had the entire shift to train them...
As we were driving back toward Manila I tried to catch some sleep but the roads and vehicle are not always conducive for a guy my size to rest. I got back to the hotel in time to clean up and rest for about 30 minutes. When I got to the 37 story skyscraper the call center is in I was quite sick.
HERES THE TESTIMONY
I called my wife almost immediately upon arriving and let her know that I needed to be prayed through the shift because I was miserable. I then said goodbye and headed up to the training room to set up. Within 30 minutes the Lord showed tremendous mercy on mercy by answering the prayer of my precious wife.

I am thankful to be able to spend thanksgiving today with my wife and family. I am thankful for my God that hears and answers prayer, I am thankful for a wife that prays for me and I am thankful that I can eat well today, will not be asked to play basketball today and do not have to train all night tonight, AMEN!

ON A SEPARATE NOTE -
The Philippines and the US have shared the same independence day of July fourth for a number of years.

As I was considering thanksgiving I remember how I was in the Philippines just a couple weeks before thanksgiving in '05 and I was also there on thanksgiving last year - '06. I remember distinctly that the Filipinos did not consider our day of thanksgiving as a holiday and so I thought I would look into whether they have one etc.

I found this blog post that gives you a touch of history if interested. (I did not verify the validity of the information on this post and we know we should not believe everything we read - except in the King James Bible!)

In reading the article though I learned first that it seems that the recognized date for independence day has since been changed for the Philippines.

I see that the official date for thankgiving for them is September 21.
It turns out that they don't make all that big of a deal of their thanksgiving. There was no famous speech given at its inception, the date is nothing to commemorate like the survival of the pilgrims etc.

In fact, it seems like how we might treat a Presidents day or something. The banks are off, maybe some other businesses etc but the rest of us work and no one pays much attention to it.

Christmas in the Philippines is a different story though. That I will leave for another post.

Tear up your Script - Part 2!

2007-11-19T15:26:00.000-05:00

Well, it has been a busy but productive last few months. Since Mid-october I had the privilege to be a part of a great men's conference, fly to mississippi and preach a number of times there, continue preparation for deputation, meet with with my pastor, work on language learning with my family, a whole lot of house cleaning and preparation for our new baby girl and then of course her arrival! We have had a wonderful Christmas and are excited about what God is doing and what we trust the New Year has in store if the Lord tarries.

The very first post that I put on this blog was about how God had already made a change in what we were expecting upon arriving to the field. We anticipated teaming with a veteran missionary as we got settled. We started planning with that expectation until the Lord saw fit to change that.

Praise the Lord that sometimes we get to see God's infinite wisdom played all the way through in its perfection, revealing His will and how he has accomplished it in ways we never would have predicted (Isa. 55:6-11). That just happened with us. God has given us some great answers to prayer of late and now God has made something very clear about preparing us for the field.

We anticipated originally working in Baguio with Brother Paul Perkins and family. They spent 10 years in the Philippines and took me in on my trips. He became a great friend and mentor very quickly. Over the summer they were on furlough and he was asked to act as the interim pastor of their sending church in Ocean Springs, MS - Grace Independent Baptist Church. Over the next few months God worked powerfully in his heart about staying in MS to pastor the church full time. In the mean time God confirmed that as He closed the door on the work he intended to take over in Baguio upon return. His burden for missions and the Philippines had not wavered at all and as he yielded to God changing his direction, he wondered about his continued burden for the Philippines and also about this young missionary family (us) that was planning on joining him on the field early on.

We stayed in contact and prayer for each other as God was working us both through our respective preparations/transitions. Before long, God began a new work in both of our hearts. God started directing me in prayer regarding deputation and how Brother Paul and I could continue that mentoring relationship. God started to show Paul as he took over this church that his burden for the Philippines was not going anywhere. There is a young family in the church that has yielded to the call to the Philippines themselves and others that go over on a yearly basis. Brother Paul recently took some of his men over for about a month and the church is also planning a trip for their teens to the islands next year.

Without me saying anything to him about it, he started discussing ways that he could help me, the burden God has given that church for this land, the couple who is also preparing for that field, the revival that God has been doing in peoples lives there etc. He suggested that we both continue to pray and asked if I would go down there to visit and preach. So I did at the end of October. The church has a wonderful group of people, very warm and kind. I felt like part of the family right away, everyone knows each other and I quickly learned that southern hospitality is alive and well. It was clear that God has been working there mightily. As we discussed deputation and ministry, God made it clear that access to this family, their local church and the burden they have for Asia would be monumental in my preparation, development and ministry once on the field.

Back in March my family traveled to TN to meet with Dr. Charles Keen. He told us at that time how beneficial it would be to spend a year at a missions language and training facility. We prayed about the school that he was referring to but never saw God leading us there. The reason became obvious as Paul Perkins went to Mississippi. Here we have access to a training center, acocuntability point, language school and more - all specifically catered to the Philippines. Praise the Lord for the way He clarifies His intentions and orchestrates the lighted path for our feet to walk down through His word.

So I met with my Pastor here in Rochester and shared with him this incredible opportunity. As we discussed how many missionaries will spend a year at a missionary training school or in language training prior to departure it was obvious that I had access to all this and more from this Mississippi church and pastor not to mention the long term benefit of communication from the field. We prayed together and both agreed that taking advantage of these great resources would be the most effective stewardship of our time and allow us to be sent as equipped as possible for what lies ahead. We agreed that it would be wiser for those reasons for us to transition to Grace then to base in Rochester and not avail ourselves of what God has given us access to.

It also provides many other benefits:

Language training

Culture, government and history preparation

Practical help with things like visas, licences, insurance, cost of living, contacts etc

Anticipation of short term groups coming over in the future

A high level of accountability from a Pastor that is a veteran to that field

Ready access to a pastor eager to mentor more preachers and missionaries

The prayer of a congregation that has a special connection with and burden for that land

Another brother and sister also going to this field (different area) to pray and learn with

To help establish this growing church as a complete sending agency for homegrown missionaries
Common bond and friendship between my wife and sister Monessa Perkins - she has been a great blessing and resource to Steph already!

It is a solid, doctrinal church with a passion for God, a fire for souls and missions, a love for families, solid standards, great music, great preaching, a firm stand on the KJV, many great brothers and sisters in Christ and a shared burden to see the Philippines become a Gateway to the unreached of Asia

In a way this is a bittersweet thing for us. Our best friends, our family and so many that have invested in us spiritually are in Rochester. The call, though, is to a land 12k miles away so separation is part of the call. We have incredible support and encouragement from everyone in Rochester as they see God's hand on this transition.

To redeem the time is to go through this process of deputation with prayer and willing hearts - learning, witnessing, preaching, sharing our burden and trying to be a blessing to others. Between our meetings though, this trainsition will allow us a base at which we can make incredible strides in learning all that we can about ministry and our field from a man of God that desires to be a mentor, trainer and sender.

Naturally it will take some time to be able to transition away from work, sell our home etc. In the meantime we will begin setting up meetings up north and continue to enjoy the wonderful friendships and ministries that God has given us up here.

Praise the Lord for his sovereignty in all this, truly it was no coincidence that Paul Perkins replied to an email about a bible student coming to the Philippines on a business trip two years ago.

Praise the Lord for our Christian family and church here in Rochester that are so loving, supportive and understanding of how God is moving. We look forward to a continued wealth of friendships that we cherish here.

Praise the Lord for the lessons learned while waiting on Him.

Praise the Lord for His burden for souls in the Philippines.

Praise the Lord for allowing us the privilege to serve Him

We appreciate your prayer - for the sake of God's glory, for the reputation of His name, for the reward of His suffering, for the salvation of souls and for the use of us your fellowservants
- Aaron, Stephanie, Autumn, Anna, Sarah and Emma Joy Putney

Facts about the Islands

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There are 7,107 Islands in the Philippines. The common saying associated with this is "depending on the tide." This means that what is accepted as an island is often very liberal and as the tide rises - some of these small, sea level islands become submerged thereby changing the number.

There are 880 of the Islands that are actually inhabited and some of them have few people living on them as they are used primarily as tourist destinations rather than inhabited dwelling places.

Nevertheless, population is not sparse. With varied reports, it is believed that over 89 million people now live on these islands, and considering that if you were to put all the land mass of the islands together it would only be about the size of Arizona, there are areas of very dense population.

Manila for example is one of the most largely populated cities in the world - #7 to be exact

http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/largest-cities-population-125.html

This site says there are 14 million people in the city, I have heard as many as 18 million. I dont know how much it matters with that many. The density of people in that city is overwhelming. I remember being in Cebu City in February (where there is ONLY 4 million people) and standing on a street corner with about about 1500 tracts if I remember correctly. Me and Missionary Travis Lewis gave them all away in less than an hour. Swarms and swarms of souls heading to an eternal destination.

Many Islands, many people, few missionaries per capita, a powerful stronghold binding them with catholicism and now westernization with all the materialism and humanism that it carries.

pray the Lord of the harvest that He will send forth more labourers...

Visit From a Friend

2007-10-09T11:36:00.001-04:00

Steph and the girls are home drawing pictures and making cards in anticipation of the Lewis family (http://www.lewisinthephilippines.com/) coming in tonight. They are missionaries on the Island of Cebu in the Philippines and have been a great blessing in my life as they took me in on my last trip back in February. I was able to see so many different aspects of the culture and opportunities there. From mountain tops to the ocean shores we covered much of that island in two weeks (when I wasnt working that is). We went hut to hut, balanced on bamboo stalks 10 feet above some pretty filthy areas we would not have wanted to fall in, stood at an overlook that allowed a view of the whole island, spent time in the schools and churches, held extension classes outside in the rural areas and gave the gospel on the very crowded streets. It was an experience I will treasure always. This family has a heart for God that has been passed on to the faithful that God has allowed them to reap in since being on the field this past 4 years. Their church is overfilled and has a different population at the morning service as at the evening to accomodate everyone - praise the Lord for such a dilemna. The Lord is providing the means to increase their capacity and a second church in a town called Carcar is also in the works for the near future.

They are coming in tonight for just a couple of days and will be meeting out at Old Paths Bible Baptist Church on Wednesday evening. We look forward to talking about all that God has done in and through them on this furlough as well as gleaning wisdom as we prepare to begin deputation. Take some time to pray for this family and the work that God has called them to in Cebu.

A Great and Unexpected Blessing

2007-09-21T11:25:00.000-04:00

A friend of ours invited me to come preach at his church in Mississippi in October. So two days ago I started shopping the airfares. I need to fly since my vacation days are reserved for our baby being born.
On wednesday the lowest price I could find for a round trip flight was X dollars. I gave the expense over to the Lord and said here is the first travelling expense that is related to deputation.
Then yesterday two things happened. First, the same flight (on the same site) was $44 dollars cheaper than it was one day prior! The second thing that happened was that it was payday (therefore billday) and I went to my online bill notification for our electric and gas service. I use a budget billing system for consistency in billing throughout the year. When I opened it up I found out that they had audited my usage to my billing and in fact I was to be credited hundreds of dollars! Since I was expecting to pay my normal budgeted amount I added that normal amount that I now did not have to pay to the $44 I was saving from the previous day on the flight and the TOTAL of the two was the price of the plane ticket - within $2!

By no means do I expect such smooth sailing with every expense or meeting on this journey to the field but what a tremendous encouragement it was to see the way that God was in it and that He knows everything we have need of before we ask Him. What I do expect is that what God has called us to, He will provide the way for - in His way and timing.

As God puts us all through the various proving grounds we face, lets be sure to recognize all the wonderful displays of His goodness and reminders that He is with us every step of the way. Count your blessings and allow it to ever build your confidence, faith and boldness in our Great God!

His love was demonstrated no greater than at the cross. That alone is way more than enough, the God of glory bore my sins and took my punishment - what a wonderful Saviour is He!