The relentless waves of time roll over another exciting school year. In their wake are these highlights vividly marking the wonderful grace of God at work in our movement.

Chi Rho Mundo (Christ’s World) – IVCF’s Disaster Response and Management Arm

Formed in October last year. We now have the capability to aid disaster victims. Under it is Operation Ahon to help victims of floods and earthquakes and PsychAid, a Counselling Module to train counsellors to help victims overcome their psychological trauma. Two Medical Missions Teams from Southern Mindanao, were organized by our grads and ministered to the flash flood victims in CDO/Iligan last January. A 9-man Rescue Team has been trained, also last January, in Butuan City, Caraga to serve as first responders. Our aim is to have a team, trained and fully equipped, for each region.

The Ministry in Numbers (figuratively speaking   for the period June 2011—March 2012)

We have 120 chapters in 9 regions of the country. We shared the gospel to 6,028 students. 1,059 became Christians. We have 3,056 members for an average of 25 members per chapter. Excluding those who are currently in our summer camps and conferences, we trained 609 students to be servant leaders. Assisting us 35 staffworkers, are 99 GTs, 56 ISCF Counsellors, 78 Faculty Advisers and 48 partner churches.

Those of us in the frontlines couldn’t have achieved these numbers without your ardent prayers and faithful support. Thank you very, very much. We pray that the Lord will prosper you in all things. That you will be in good health even as your soul prospers. (3 John 2)

Yours sincerely,

Ferdi Juni

National Director

It is one thing to hear news reports about the devastation that Sendong has brought to the city.
It is another thing to witness it firsthand…

In the afternoon, we went to Kauswagan where half of the covered court was divided into 2 classrooms, while we shared the other half with some evacuees. The long line began again and it was a little past 3 pm when the team called it a day. On that day, we attended to about 400 individuals, providing them much needed medical check-up and medicines.

It is one thing to hear news reports about the devastation that Sendong has brought to the city. It is another thing to witness it firsthand – hearing stories of survival and struggle within and among the family members who are left to fend for themselves. We visited the Tent City and the other areas severely affected by the flood, and heard the stories of survival. It is unimaginable – while listening to the fear and trauma of the victims – to see ourselves experiencing the flood. Yet, it is all we need to remember the God who cares even in such a time. We heard echoes of thankfulness to the Almighty for the salvation the people have experienced. And for us, mere listeners, a sense of gratefulness arose from our hearts for sparing us and them, so that they may live to tell the story of God’s divine providence and help in times of trouble.

Many organizations have shared of their resources to the victims and survivors of the devastating Typhoon Sendong’ (Washi) in Cagayan de Oro. So when the graduates from IVCF Southern Mindanao led by Pastor JAsher Gasataya (IVCF Staff) organized a Medical Mission led by Dr. Pres Engkong, Dr. Vita Gasataya, Dr. Norma Luague, Dr. Alicia Magan, Dr. Jerry Diaz and the nurses and pharmacists who were with them, I decided to join.. Kuya Jasher, staff-in-charge, of this event has coordinated with Judge Jordan Reyes and the Alliance church in Polomolok to partner with the City Alliance Church in Cagayan de Oro. The reason behind my decision was because I wanted to see the gravity of the typhoon’s destruction and to also be involved in helping our kababayans recover.

Little did I know that this decision would bring me face to face with the value of life and people. The Medical Mission lasted one and a half days. We went to three different areas where survivors waited and queued for a much needed consultation and of course, free medicines (plus red New Testament Bibles given by the City Alliance Church). We had more than 500 individual recipients attended to by a sixteen – member team. We were outnumbered and it was tiring but fulfilling.

Seeing the place for the first time after 26 years with the aftermath of Sendong’s destruction made my heart skip a beat as I see people’s faces displayed as missing on the walls of infrastructures in the city. I wonder if I would be the same person again as I gaze through their faces and listen to the stories of the survivors.

Dorothy Juni

We are pleased to announce that Dorothy Juni, wife of IVCF National Director Ferdi Juni and better known as ate Doray to many IVCF alumni, has rejoined the IVCF Staff team. She is serving as Graduates Team (GT) Coordinator. We have had no GT Coordinator for some years now so ate Doray’s work is cut out for her as she seeks to reinvigorate the volunteer workforce of IVCF. She will also be working with Ging Marbella in the Graduates Ministry. Later on, she will also be handling the Literature Department. She is quite up to par for these assignments given her 16 years of experience with IVCF before.

She began her IVCF service in 1978 as a Manila-based college staff. Then after only a year she relocated to Cebu to join the regional team whose scope of ministry then covered the entire Visayas region including some parts of Mindanao. During her first sabbatical leave, she earned a Certificate on Biblical Studies at All Nations Christian College in England. She and kuya Ferdi were married in 1985. They served for four years as staff based in Bicol before they returned to Manila. In 1994 they left IVCF to serve in the pastorate of Cubao Baptist Church now Metrocentro Baptist Community Church.

Ate Doray is a graduate of A.B. Social Sciences, major in Pychology from UP Baguio. She and kuya Ferdi have two grown children: Narissa, a 3rd year medical student at Ateneo de Manila and Andro, an SVCF-Los Banos alumnus and a software engineer at Novare Technologies.

Do pray for ate Doray. Better yet drop her encouraging note at dorothy.juni@ivcfphil.org

Our Regional Assembly 2012 @ The HUB with Graduates and Students from Baguio-Benguet, Pangasinan and Isabela!

Regional Assembly 2012
Cyreen dela Cruz

The Lord has been so good in Northern Luzon. He consistently allows us to witness His faithfulness in our region. Two months before our Regional Assembly, Arabelle and I were thinking of what and how are we going to inform the graduates and to celebrate as well. For a time we were praying and hoping that more graduates will be joining. During our prayer time (at night), we included this activity in our list. The student’s were praying with us. We encouraged the graduates from different parts of the region to celebrate with us.

Our awaited day came in. Though, Ara and I were stretching our strength as we push through to the next activity (from our New Staff Training), the Lord surprised us when the noon came. The graduates from Pangasinan started to text, followed by the students who where coming from Isabela confirmed that they will be coming too. We are expecting 30 persons to come yet the Lord surprised us with a greater number. There were 27 graduates came and 17 students came to celebrate with us.

We started the program through an opening prayer preceded by dinner. Everyone enjoyed the food cooked by one of our faithful graduates (Kuya Jing David) and served by a group of students headed by Tonee Agustin (one of our incoming graduate).

Prayertime for NL-RAC.(r-l): Ara(staff) Ate Helen Monta (Pres.), Kuya Gilbert Balansay (Treas), Kuya Alfe Tulagan (Sec) with ND Kuya Ferdi Juni.

Our Regional Assembly is blessed by such generous graduates, we had a very cozy place. The celebration was held at the HUB (Humayo, Umakyat sa Baguio) Retreat Place. Tita Bing (our former Staff, now is the manager of the HUB) sets the mood as she welcome us.   Our hearts were continually been burned of overwhelming joy as the graduates and students from different parts of the North come. We continued our program by having the group worship the Lord, led by the students from the SVCF UP Baguio (Ivana, Caleb, Cara, Alec) and supported by the University of Baguio Student (Jessie Ducos). The program was kept in fire with the vibrant emcees (Leon Mendigorin and Jubilee Gascon).

One of our active GTs has introduced the events speaker. Kuya Ferdi, our National Director encouraged the community through the passage from Colossians. He emphasized that we should encouraged each other through prayers and support.

Tita Helen (our Regional Advisory President) challenged the group to take a step of faith and extend their support through giving. A student from the ISCF (Mylanie Kate Adcamang) assisted her. The graduates and students did give for the ministry.

As we continued the celebration, Arabelle presented an Audio Video Presentation to give everyone a grasp of what is going on the student ministry in the Northern Luzon. It was an overwhelming AVP. She proceeded with a report through the brochures handed to the group.

It was a fruitful and meaningful celebration. We closed the program through a joyful song and fellowship.

Students from different part of the North and some graduates stayed late took the aftercare. Everyone though tired and stretched gave out their best to participate.

Indeed the Lord is faithful!

Campus Ministries Fellowship Night

There were about 50 campus ministers from different organizations who gathered in the office of Campus Crusade for Christ in Juna Subdivision last February 20. It was a gathering in the name of unity for the Kingdom of God. There were participants from the Navigators, PSALMS, Lakas Angkan, Disciples of Jesus Movement, CCC, IVCF & some church-based campus ministries. Attending the event was simply overwhelming and very encouraging.

The night was spent in hearing each other’s stories through the Soularium – a method used by the host organization to strike a conversation among students. We shared about our personal journeys, about our love life (if we had any or whatever status we were in) and of our future plans. And then we prayed together for each ministry involvement – blessing each other and bringing our concerns to the Lord. While enjoying a sumptuous dinner, we were serenaded by the gifted staff of the campus ministries – just like in a first class restaurant. There can never be a substitute to this time of fellowship with people who understands you best because they are doing the same work as you.

When the team leader of CCC stood up, he encouraged all of us to be faithful in the ministry that the Lord has entrusted to us. It was his advocacy that we do not stand against each other as competitors but that we work hand in hand in reaching the universities for Christ. There were only two of us from IVCF that time but I never felt that we were just two but that we are many.

Metro Manila Regional Unit (MMRU) conducted the very first acoustic night in MMRU- Student Center, Recto Avenue, Quaipo, Manila, held last February 23, 2012. There was a showcase of talents from the students of IVCF chapters in Technological University of the Philippines, Philippine Christian University, Centro Escolar University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and Far eastern University.

The theme was “First Love” inspired from 1 John 4: 19 says “We love because he first loved us”. Ate Madel Canon, MMRU staff exhorted the passage. She quoted from David Benner “knowing ourselves to be deeply loved by God is the first step in becoming genuinely great lovers of other and God”

This event was attended by 41 students, graduates and staff. Glory and Honor to the source of Love and giver of talents!

Acoustic Night at the Student Center

Last February 18, 2012 at 1pm to 5pm the Southern Luzon Regional Unit (SLRU) held its 1st Regional Assembly and celebrated its 2nd Anniversary at Faculty dining Area, Pacensia H. Laurel Bldg, Lyceum of the Phils Calamba, Laguna. The event was in partnership with the Reflectors Ministry an existing campus ministry in the school. The theme was “PASALAMATAN SI YAHWEH” Psalm 105:1-6 and was greatly expounded by Kuya Ferdi Juni, IVCF National Director. He highlighted “God at the center of our lives”. The passage encouraged everyone to

• Praise God/worship Him (in private & public vv.1-2),
• Glory in His Name (v.3), c. Look to the Lord and His strength (v.4) and d. Remember the wonders He has done (v.5).

There were 54 persons who came compose of staffs, students, Pastors, alumni and graduate team (GT). All glory, thanksgiving and adoration belongs to the Lord!

SLRU RA – Batangas Ground | Rachel – Emely – Rea – Elaine & Ruth

New pioneering fellowship at Cavite State University – Naic and Trese Martires Chapters with GT Sherwin Amparo (front left)

Calamba Group – City Colleges of Calamba | New Pioneering College Chapter | Rubelen – Ma. Citadel, Myreen, Grace & Kevin

SLRU RA Host – Reflectors with their adviser , Ms. Geraldine Dimaculangan. Lyceum of the Philippines, Calamba.

Warm greetings in Jesus’ precious name.

Last year ended on a tragic note when a devastating flash flood swept through the riverbank settlements of the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro in Northern Mindanao on Dec.16, 2011. Thousands were severely affected including many IVCF’ers in the two cities. A KC’89 grad from Iligan, Lotlot Daulong, died in the swirling flood together with her daughter and 13 other relatives. Three weeks later, her husband, Jun, died of heart failure, leaving the surviving three children orphaned. More than a thousand others died and around 70,000 families lost their homes.

By God’s grace, we were able to join hands and are actively participating in the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts. After having launched Operation Ahon in Calumpit, Bulacan last October, we activated it again the day after the flood. IVCF’ers from here and abroad, their churches and friends gave generously so that we were able to minister to around 100 families in both cities. We were also able to minister to 56 pastors and Christian workers in Cagayan de Oro by conducting a Counselling Workshop for Surviving Psychological Trauma last Jan.28. Two Medical Missions Teams from our Southern Mindanao Regional Unit also ministered in CDO from Jan. 26 – 29.

These developments show that we now have this capability to minister to our larger communities during times of calamities. Thank you for faithfully and lovingly partnering with us in our expanding ministry. Through Operation Ahon we are sharing the gospel and engaging society in a more wholistic way as envisioned in our IVCF dream.

In our joint effort in responding to the devastating flood, we have provided relief goods to some of the victims, have also provided medical aid to them and have followed this up with the training of Psychological First-Aiders and Counselors to help them and those who are ministering to them, find healing from their psychological trauma. We have also set up a Trust Fund for the education of the orphaned Daulong children, have provided for the setting up of a new IV Home and have formed an 8-man certified Rescue Team in the neighboring province of Caraga in anticipation of future calamities.

That we were able to do all these in just six weeks is a testament to everyone’s dedication and God’s enabling grace in helping us to faithfully follow His leading.

May the same grace find us on the same narrow road of sacrifice and obedience in the succeeding months and years ahead.

Again, thank you very much for blessing the journey with your support and companionship. Let us praise Him together as we give back all the glory to Him alone for all He has done and is doing in us and through us.

Every blessing.

Ferdi Juni

IVCF Philippines
National Director

The workshop became an avenue for the participants to share their stories and to listen to one another. This sharing and listening helped them process the traumatic experiences they had because of the devastation of typhoon Sendong. The workshop specifically encouraged and empowered the pastors to continue journeying with their church members towards healing.

The day ended with words of affirmations and testimonies from some participants. Ptr. Nady Nacua and Mr. Bong Palacio volunteered to form a support group for the “psychological first-aiders.” This group was a response and a follow-up of the workshop. Some IV grads stayed for fellowship with the team even after it ended.

A team of doctors and graduates from Southern Mindanao also conducted Medical Missions in three different communities in CDO last January 26-28.

Last Sunday, the team had lunch fellowship with Mr. Dodo Cansino (an IV Grad and a Sendong survivor), Mr. & Mrs. Rudy & Donna Mijares and Mr. Art Baul. Ms. Jocelyn Mariscal (Vice-Chairman for World Vision-Mindanao) also treated the team with a Thai dinner.
We have given to the survivors and the first-aiders of the recent devastation but we also received much from the Lord to whom all life and love begun.

Praise the Lord!

Warm holiday greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I spent most of the past three months visiting the regions in our country outside Metro Manila. It was a great privilege to see the Lord’s work first hand in these various places. IVCF is very much alive and well in the Philippines. God gifted us with stalwarts and champions from among our graduates who steadfastly nurtured the movement in their respective regions for many years. We will be introducing them to you in the succeeding updates.

The romance of our ministry continues – from the idyllic boat ride to Guimaras island, with the thrilling embarkation and disembarkation along the outriggers, to the 3:30am walk in the picturesque USM campus in Kabacan. After all, our faith journey is also a surprise-filled adventure of knowing God and self in the vicissitudes of life. Thankfully, in IVCF, we have enduring travel companions who brighten our way and lighten our burdens. I especially like the various ways we are reaching the communities apart from our usual campus ministry. To name just a few…

Ministry to orphans in Good Shepherd’s Fold Christian Academy in Guimaras Island, Iloilo. This ministry was started by the Cruz family and continues to be supported by them, Orpha Palencia and other Western Visayas grads.

The IVCF Regional Center in Legaspi City that is also a retreat center and a top notch review center for aspiring engineers. This is actually the residence of our Bicol Regional Director, Ferdie Maraño.

IVCF radio broadcast in the University of Southern Mindanao (4 – 5 am) in Kabacan, North Cotabato, that ministers to the early risers in the community including many faculty members. This was started by our GTs Estrella dela Cruz (a Chemistry professor) and Rhoderick Benez who works in the campus radio station.

City Youth Camp In Kabadbaran City, Caraga. We have been running the city’s youth camp for  delinquent youths for two quarters. Gays became true men; addicts and gang leaders were set free and reformed. The mayor, recognizing God’s hand at work, plans to engrave the phrase “To God Be The Glory” in the façade of the new city hall that will be built.

Camp Moriah in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. Ran by IVCF grads Grace Ayala and Belen Bautista, has been ministering to the poor and delinquent youths in the city as well as to the “jungle” youths of the province’s native tribes for the past 11 years. It also houses a growing orphanage for toddlers.

Meanwhile, the various regions conducted their sem break Discipleship and Leadership Camps last October. A total of 172 student leaders served 322 student trainees in 9 regions across the country.

We have set the stage for the revival of the Student Missions Conference that was last convened in 1981. A steering committee of staff and grads (from the Missions Team) has been formed to start planning for the conference scheduled for December next year.

We are also organizing “Chi Rho Mundo” the disaster preparedness and response arm of IVCF Phils. Under this project, we launched Operation Ahon last October to help the flood victims in Calumpit, Bulacan.

We had a grand time celebrating IVCF’s 58^th Anniversary last Nov.26. In Metro Manila, we featured the 55^th anniversary of the ISCF ministry. We relaunched  “Come and Grow”, our main discipleship material for highschoolers. The printing of the revised edition was made possible by a grant from MEANS Int’l. Over 200 attended the joyful occasion, a goodly gathering of young ‘uns and the venerable elderly.

Thank you so much for being our faithful and prayerful partner in all these kingdom endeavours. Indeed, every good and perfect gift comes from our Father in heaven above (James 1.17) – the gift of friendship and partnership, the gift of service and perseverance, the gift of faith and compassion, the gift of salvation and love. All is gift. We simply discover and receive.

A blessed Christmas and a New Year full of grace and God’s favor to you and your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Ferdinand Juni
National Director
ferdijuni@ivcfphil.org