National Office

Dear IVCF Family and Friends,

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ!

The last quarter of the school year 2008-2009 is nearing its end, and yet we still have so many things that we need to do: last campus chapter visits, preparations for summer camps, last quarter and annual reports, and next school year’s annual plan and budget.

Pray for the staffworkers, GT volunteers, and student leaders for all their work. May Paul’s encouragement in 1 Corinthians 15:58 be our motivation: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Thank you for praying for IVCF Philippines for the past months. Indeed your prayers helped us. God answered last month’s prayer requests. A couple of graduates expressed willingness to join the staff. The Balikatan Board had a successful meeting. Our own IVCF Board of Trustees also had a productive meeting last February 25. We give thanks to God for answers to prayers. In the next pages, you can read more of our praises and our new prayer requests from our regional units.

I invite you to pray for us once more. Again, one of our basic needs is financial support. God’s graciousness sustained us at the beginning of 2009. However, last month’s giving was low. The continued economic global economic crisis is affecting us all. This month, if there is no increase in the giving for our general funds, we will have difficulty releasing staff salaries on time. On top of that, our national summer camps (and regional camps) need subsidy so our students and graduates could afford the fees and attend these important discipleship and leadership training events.

So how do I ask our people to give for IVCF’s needs when many are financially struggling themselves? I pray that God would raise up more people who will follow the example of the Macedonian churches in 2 Corinthians 8:1-3, “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.”

So in faith, I present to you our immediate financial needs:
General Fund/Staff Support (March): about Php 600,000.00
Kawayan Camp Subsidy (April): about Php 150,000.00
GT Conference (May): about Php 140,000.00
Operation Samaria (May): about Php 30,000.00

The total subsidy needed is almost 1 million pesos. Pray for people to be informed about this and may God move hearts again.

May people respond, give their support, and share this prayer request with others. May God bless us all.

In Christ,
Erickson Velardo
National Director

Caraga Regional Unit

Praise the Lord for the success of the Christian Boy-girl relationship seminar, with the theme: QUEST for TRUE LOVE, conducted last February 10, 2009 at Audio-Visual room, ASSCAT, Agusan del Sur. 78 students came, with former staff Jether Yares as speaker.

Praise the Lord for the successful concert at La Paz, Agusan del Sur. It was a joint project by the ISCF and Christian Life Friendship Club (CLFC). The school authorities favored them by allowing all the students to attend the concert. This is indeed God’s favor! The concert theme was GUGMANG TINUOD (true love).

It is the tradition of the Caraga grads to give a yearly TRIBUTE to the graduating IVCF students who faithfully served God in IVCF. It is our hope that this year’s theme : Fulfilling our Destiny will challenge and encourage our young graduates to pursue God’s call and purpose in their lives- whatever it takes. Please pray with us as we prepare for this event. Pray for good venue, fair weather, finances, and for the preparation of our speakers and delegates.

Western Visayas Regional Unit

Praise God

For the meaningful visit of staff from the National Office (Ate Milli, Di & Aldwin with Yana, and Ging). The Doulos Team also visited IV-home Iloilo with Ptr. & Mrs. Roger Quimpo. We thank God for the encouraging visit of Ate Millie in PNU-Cadiz. She conducted a leaders’ training on OT Narrative. We are also thankful that she got to meet up with some IV grads & friends. Praise God for provision and protection in the trips they made and the times spent with people.

For the 26 participants (students, GTs, and partners) during the ISCF Counselors’ Training. They were refreshed & challenged to get involved with the high school ministry. Praise God for patience and availability of our National ISCF coordinator Di Fernandez.

For the IV nursing students who passed the nursing board exam last December 2008 (Jestine Nicole P. Julom, Rainer Todrera, and Katrina Ariola)

Pray

For the incoming & outgoing leaders of the different IVCF chapters as they prepare for turn-over and go through transition. Pray too for a meaningful closure of small group meetings in all IVCF & ISCF chapters.

For provision, permission and perseverance of our KC delegates as they finish school requirements, read Genesis and the NT, and Basic Christianity in preparation for KC. Pray that their parents will view this as an opportunity for their sons and daughters to be trained for life and gain lessons outside the regular school setting. Pray too that they will be challenged and motivated by God’s love and grace as they look forward to KC.

For wisdom, patience and discipline as Rachel (staff-in-charge of Panay) prepares for her KC and ISCF assignments. Pray that she will be able to work with love and grace as she faces the tasks ahead of her. Pray that God will capture her heart with the essence of His Word and power as she works for Him in Iloilo.

Metro Manila Regional Unit

Praise God for He is the sustainer and source of all good things! We are financially challenged since Metro Manila became a region last year. Pray for new donors to give. May the graduates and students see the need to get involved in establishing and strengthening the region’s financial base.

Pray for our graduating students who are completing their requirement and exams. Pray for wisdom and provision too.

Pray for the chapter leaders as they prepare for turn-over and

We hope to send 20 chapter delegates to Kawayan Camp. Pray for parental permission, provision for these aspiring leaders.

Pray for the on-going preparation for Operation Samaria, Missions Camp, ISCF Sibol and LCDC. May the camp staff and counselors remain focused and hopeful. We need around P30,000 subsidy for these camps.

Pray for MMRU staff, students and graduates- that we remain steadfast, trusting and faithful in our everyday life and ministry.

Southern Mindanao Regional Unit

Thank God for the hard work of our outgoing RAC members: Mercy dela Cruz, Dodong Arcenas and Juvee Pascua. Thank God for our newly elected RAC members: Mida Dalipe, Junjun Hernani and Pres Engkong. Pray for God’s guidance upon them as they work together with the staff and other current RAC members: Grace Alegre, Estrella dela Cruz, Gideon Estrella, Joy Aspacio, Cheryl Combatir and Linda Narciso.

Pray for provision for the construction of Kabacan IV Home.

Pray for funds to send our key students to Kawayan Camp, Counselors’ Training Camp, Mindanao Student Leadership Camp and ISCF Camp, and our key grads for training at the GT conference this summer.

Pray for Darby and Jasher as they lead the preparation and execution of the ISCF Camp on May 3-8 at Camp Alano.

Pray for God’s guidance for Ramon and Jenny as they look for a house for rent where they can move by June. Pray also for their teaching preparations for KC, CTC and MSLC in April and May.

Bicol Regional Unit

Please pray for our delegates and staff for the ISCF camp on April 8 to 11, please pray too for financial provision.

Please pray for our regular Training day every Friday, please pray for good weather during the session and provision for the materials.

Please pray for our RAC meeting in Legaspi City under the leadership of Engr. Alex Hechanova this March 5.

Please pray for our evangelistic concert this March 5.

Central & Eastern Visayas Regional Unit

Praise God for the on going camp preparations both for the high school (Leadership/Evangelistic/Discipleship camp-April 20-25) and college camps (Kawayan Camp April 10-May 8, 2009). This year we are praying to send 8 (JM, Clinton, Butch, Mike, Mark, JJ, Charity, Jeric) delegates to KC but some of them are not financially prepared due to school demands. For the high school camp aspirants, there are 15 students who would like to attend. We are praying for more ISCF’ers who can join aside from those who are from local churches. We hope to have 35 campers as targeted for this year.

Praise God for the feeding program last January 31 which was part of the colleges’ and high schoolers’ Missions Exposure. The availability and support of the students and other Christian groups: OM, ETCP, and BBF are highly appreciated.

Praise God for our 4 active IVCF graduates cell group in Cebu. Please pray that they could finish their CG curriculum as soon as possible so they could also share this with graduates group in other areas. Praise God too that other grads groups are desiring to establish their own regular grads cell group meetings. Pray too for the grads who are affected with the economic crisis. Our graduates serve as: volunteers to student work, leaders to graduate groups/churches, and financial supporters to their respective families and even to IVCF movement.

Praise God for the continued support of IVF Korea. We welcome JJ, the new IVF Korea student volunteer-missionary now based in Tacloban, Leyte. Pray that JJ can easily adjust to our culture and learn English (as well as the native dialect) fast in order to communicate well with us. Pray for the realization of Tacloban “IVCF center”, grads strong support, and finances.

Please pray for the Regional Advisory Council meeting this coming March 21, 2009 here in Cebu City. Pray for the availability of Kuya Ed, Ate Wennie, Ate Lisa, Kuya Reste, Kenny, Carmelle and Joannie.

Northern Mindanao Regional Unit

Please pray for the success and provision for the Young Disciples retreat this March 6-8, 2009, with the theme FAITH FACTOR: May Faith Ka Na Ba?. For wisdom and strength for the staff and counselors as we usher the high school students to put their faith in Christ Jesus alone, to be their Lord and Savior.

Praise God for the joy and enthusiasm of our GT’s in serving the Lord. Pray for revival of commitment for the college students, especially among the campus chapter officers as they manage their time from demands of school, also pray for wisdom and guidance as they have their finals for the semester

Praise God for our graduates who give for the ministry. It enabled us to pay our bills for the CDO Student Center on time. Please continue to pray with us for the Lord to bring in more graduates and students who will have the heart to financially supporting the ministry.

Praise God for the continued ministry in Bukidnon (Bukidnon State Univ.) with the help of our GT there, Ate Beth Kuison. Pray for strong commitment of student leaders to reach out to other students in the campus. Pls. pray that their desire to pioneer a chapter in STI- Malaybalay would be realized.

Praise God for the commitments of the student- leaders and GTs here in Iligan. Pray for more passion and strong commitment as they lead their CGs, and also for the new members in our EBS (Evangelistic BS) that they will grow in their spiritual lives.

Praise God for the favor that the students won in the acoustic contest last Feb. 20 here in Iligan- this goes to their KC fund. Please pray for provision for our KC delegates. And help us pray for the preparation for the Mindanao Leadership Camp this coming May 16-31, 2009, pray for the venue, our campers and counselors, and the staff in charge, and also provision for the camp expenses.

QCC P.O. Box 1741-1157
Quezon City, Philippines
Tel: 63 2 931-7794 / 932-1339
Vonage 181 8921 7811
(for US & Canada only)
Email: info@ivcfphil.org
Website: www.ivcfphil.org

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