Encouraging Words

by Charles H. Spurgeon

           "Encourage Him" (Deut. 1:38)

           God employs his people to encourage one another. He did not say to an angel, "Gabriel, my servant Joshua is about to lead my people into Canaan--go encourage him." God never works needless miracles; if His purposes can be accomplished by ordinary means, he will not use miraculous agency. Gabriel would not have been half so well fitted for the work as moses.
           A brother's sympathy is more precious than an angel's embassy. The angel, swift of wing, had better known the Master's bidding than the people's temper. An angel had never experienced the hardness of the road, nor seen the fiery serpents, nor had he led the stiff-necked multitude in the wilderness as moses had done. We should be glad that God works for man by man. I t forms a bond of brotherhood, and being mutually dependent on one another, we are fused more completely into one family.
           Brethren, take the text as God's message to you. Labor to help others and especially strive to encourage them. Talk cheerily to the young and anxious enquirer; lovingly remove the stumbling blocks out of his way. When you find a spark of grace in the heart, knell down and blow it into a flame. Leave the young believer to discover the roughness of the road by degrees, but tell him of the strength which dwells in God, of the sureness of the promise, and of the charms of communion with Christ. Aim to comfort the sorrowful, and to animate the desponding. Speak a word in season to him that is weary, and encourage those who are fearful.
           Imitate divine wisdom, and encourage others

Taken from Power For Living, November 19, 2006 issue, p. 7

A letter from the pastor

by Pastor Felizardo Abanto

           And after many prayers, fasting, expenditures, and blessings I'm now her in America. Not to stay here for good but to ask for additional blessings from the Lord for the work and family.
           Again, I'm on a grand vacation because I do nothing here but sleep, eat and tour around. Sometimes I could preach and witness. I already led one to accept Christ, he is Rudolph Gloria, bro. Tony's friend. I f he is really saved, imagine, I even need to go here to America for him to be saved by the Lord. Amen! That alone is enough blessing, right? There are three of them whom I have already witnessed to: pastor Charlie's mother-in-law, ang a friend of Ghia, bro. Tony's daughter.That's why even a child of God is in another country or anywhere, the Lord can still use him!
           That's why I told Sis. Gemma, bro. Tony's wife, that I thank them because of their true kindness and that she must go soul-winning with bro. Tony every Saturday. The problem is no one took care of Gem to disciple her since she came here to U.S. more than ten years  ago. The same with Sis. Tess [Garcia], our former member in project 7, and bro. Rey Garia.They attend and are members at First Baptist Church which was enlarged by pastor Jack Hyles, he's now in heaven. Now the pastor is Jack Schaap, Dr. Hyles son-in-law. I attended there whole Sunday. In the morning, the attendance is 6000 in the auditorium and in the evening is more than 3000. The church is very active in soul-winning , but sadly sis. Tess is not going with the weekly soul-winning. I t seems that their concentration switched to the pursuit of the American dream. That's why I said that they should involve every week so that the time will not be wasted. Redeeming the time because the time because the days are evil.
            That's why brethren, if we we're to think well enough, we are better in the Philippines because we have more time to serve. We are not pressued to own a house like the others, but is credit-bought, own a car, but is credit-bought, home appliances, but is credit-bought.And in order to pay all debts, it is necessary to work a true work. But even though in that situation, serving God is still possible. But the problem is that many chueches are having shortcomings in training christians because of material needs.
             And another great thing that I have seen both on Northwest Bible Baptist Church, whose attendance is 600+ every morning service, and in First Baptist Church, whose attendance, like what I've said, is 6000+, they include the children in Sunday morning and Sunday Evening services. They sat beside their parents. In my estimation, their age ranges from 4-5 years old. THAT'S WHY BRETHREN, OUR PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE ABOUT TRAINING OUR CHILDREN IN THE LORD'S WORK IS RIGHT. IT'S NOT ON WHETHER THE CHILDREN ARE MANY OR FEW, BUT IF THE PARENTS OR GUARDIANS ARE THERE TO TRAIN THEM. The same with training all our members in soul-winning. AGAIN, BRETHREN, OUR PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE ARE RIGHT ABOUT SERVING THE LORD.
            Another thing I saw to be a big thing is having vehicles to fetch people. The priority only in these two churches are the children. The Northwest have more than 20 buses while the First Baptist Have 200 buses to fetch everyweek.
           

The Editor This is Only the Beginning

            Here we are again. Before, I can't believe that CYPA will last long enough, but now, I already believe. Because as long as God sustains this work, it will not cease. And now, two years passed since the paper ministry started with just one concern: "to bear the truth".
            And yes, it started with the C--the children. What I intended in the beginning is only to provide learning activity papers for my students in Sunday School and Good News Class, and then...here it is. Then the Lord placed in my heart that everyone may be reached through this--that's why it is C.Y.P.A.--Children, Young People, Adults.It's not in my thinking that this will reach up to this point--that there is a frontline paper, the Baptist Digest Journal, and the other line of publications aiming to help in the growth of Baptist Christians (and unsaved persons) here, and all over the world. All over the world, because it can now reach, through the BDJ paper, the many Filipinos from different places in the world, as well as many english-speaking people, through the BDJ online blog. As of now,we have already more than 80 BDJ receivers through e-mail, excluding those who are receiving it in printed page.
            Sometimes,I'm thinking that in it's second year, this ministry is still not pushing onward.Why? Because until now, the ministry still doesn't have its own computer, and above all, a printer. When there are classes in the Bible School, I use the library computer which the Eberts allowed me to use freely. but if there are no classes, I have to go to a computer shop and spend hours of typing. On the other computers, several times the customer changes, but I, still there until nighttime. The church spends 150 pesos per week for this. As for the printing, I would go to a computer shop (now, in Ink Tank), and I would spend at least an hour to wait for the seven or more publications to be printed--because there are still other customers. And almost until now, this  ministry is still a one-man army--writing, editing, encoding, lay-outing, e-mailing, blogging, printing, distributing--I am the one who does it. God's miracle that I can still keep up with my studies and other church works.
            Well, It's not really--it is not true that CYPA is not pushing onward. In fact, it does, "little by little". Guess what, before, I print the originals at sir Ebert's, then I will have it xeroxed at Copytrade which is 60 cents per copy. Now, I don't do it anymore, and I have each copy printed, and sometimes, even colored copies. Ande guess what--before, the ministry can't rent a computer for almost eleven hours of typing and everything, but now it can! Thanks to my pastor and to my mom, the Capitol members who saw its importance, and the brethren abroad who once (and is still continuing) shared what they can.(CYPA Hall of fame: [from our church] Prado family, Saludario family, Sis. Carlota Cabading, Sis. Gladys Bachiller, Bro. Roger Rodriguez, Biago family, Cervanez family, Bro. Angelo  del Prado, Alvarez family, Sis Merielen Cubol, [outside the church] Bro. Dennis and Gloria Ebert, Sis. Anne Pagad, Bro. Manuel Diamante, Sis Marlene Valeroso, [abroad] Manalo family, Ping family, Bro. Christian Vicuna, Sis Sarah Cortez, Pastor Charlie Ravago). And now, I'm not alone anymore--Pastor and my mom are writing articles, and there is now a new Blog manager: Sis. Ella Calderon. And wait, Pastor Charlie Ravago (from Chicago, BBBC) bought us a printer-scanner-copier and well, for the computer, it's on the way!
            And as for controversies, CYPA will never have none of it through BDJ--and that is because of its courage to publish the truth. As for the joys, I'm happy whenever I'm seeing the children who are happy coloring and learning through the Children's Scripture Story paper, Children's Bible Truth paper, and Children's Sunday Academy. The "thank you's" from those who are receiving the BDJ's printed version. The souls who got saved through the Children's Salvation Paper. The members who are learning to win souls through filling-up the Operation Go Trainee's Guide, And God, who continues to cheer-up and encourage, even though, there are almost no encouragements received (especially on e-mail).
            This is just the beginning. And by the Lord's grace, CYPA will continue to be a blessing to many others here in the Philippines and all over the world.