I just recently received a letter from our church plant in the Philippines. Reaching children has transcended the United States and I am asking that you pray for this ministry as Pastor Oning and his team continue to reach children in their backyard. If you would like to financially help this ministry you can make your donations by clicking here and making a note that the donation is for iRock Philippines. Here is the update that I received.

Dear Friends,
Last Saturday, God sent us more than 80 kids. It was a great opportunity to serve these kids in Christ. Many do not have Jesus in their heart. They are eager to listen to the word of God. As we gave the message we delivered it with a different approach. We had drama and a story time. We did an object lesson and our attendance kept growing. Some kids don’t like to come because of our meeting place. The place is so small that it has a 30 person capacity but we try to fit in all 88 kids.

We provide something for them to eat each time we meet but before we eat, we teach them how to pray for the food. We teach them that every time we partake of the food we should pray for it by reaching out our hands.

They enjoy the food as part of the iRock ministry program. We’re not just feeding them with the Word of God but we help also to nourish their body.

Every Sunday , we have a leaders meeting. All the possible and potential kid leaders must undergo  training and must grow in advance of teaching the other children.  We gathered in a very small kitchen of Fidel and Belen. Last Saturday we had to refuse 5 young teens to join the leadership training because of our situation. The place is very small. But the children are willing dedicate their life to Christ.
After our training for the leaders we served them some food, bread and bihon. Kids are loving it.

After that we teach some interpretative songs to encourage them and discover their talent from God.
We can see the fire burning in their heart because while they are walking they keep on singing, a worship song that are Cebuano and they are so happy when they get home.

The kids are learning in Christ. They now know how to love Jesus and be like Christ in their attitude.

We need your prayer and these are our prayer requests.

1. A new and bigger place to accommodate more kids
2. Music instrument( guitar and etc.)
3. Bibles
4. Financial needs for upcoming seminar ( October 24, 2008)
5. Transportation

Even though the children are small they can make a big difference in the future, in this country and the Kingdom of God.

God bless
Oning

With all my props in tow, I headed to Baltimore for one last service as a Children’s Missionary Consultant. It’s been a wonderful experience and I’ve been blessed by the time spent with the leadership, the kids and the people I’ve met.

Today was a reminder that as leaders we have a profound impact on the kids we teach each week. We need to be constantly reminded that our words our powerful, even more so in the mind of a child. Let me share why I make that comment on this particular day.

As I entered the children church room, I entered with anticipation and excitement. I chose to share a topic about “Simplicity” and how clutter in our lives gets between us and God.

It was my goal to help them understand Luke 18:22.  Jesus is asking them to help the poor by giving up or selling ‘stuff’ that clutters and then they can follow Him.
A few more points and object lessons later the service ended with prayer as parents came to pick up their children.

One little girl and her mother waited patiently afterward to ask me a question. I bent over and the little girl said she had brought her mother so that she could buy something from my garage sale. It was a pure and loving request. I had to gently explain to her that I was pretending. She had gotten my point and realized that she could make a difference, if not by selling then by buying from my garage sale. She knew that the money would go to the poor.

Kids take to heart what you have to say and respond to the needs of others. We could easily overlook this lesson for ourselves that’s why I believe in training and the importance it plays in our effectiveness as teachers and leaders. Children have amazingly giving hearts. We can’t dare miss the opportunity to help shape that heart into one that recognizes and acts on that compassion for others.