A JOURNEY BACK TO THE PLACE OF MY SPIRITUAL BIRTH

The LORD has allowed me to travel back to the place where He saved & redeemed me almost 34 years ago. I was born again, saved by grace & redeemed by the BLOOD of my LORD Jesus Christ September 1975 in General Santos City, South Cotabato. I was then a 26 year old, husband to my wife Delia Angelina and new father to our eldest daughter, D.Anissia born April 5, 1975 and working for a pharmaceutical company.

I traveled back last month July 17th friday via PAL Flt to GenSan leaving Manila at 10:00 AM and arriving in General Santos City at almost 12:00 noon. This was primarily a Ministry Trip I undertook by faith on the invitation of Pastor Ben Pabellon of the Christ's Community Church, Surallah, South Cotabato.

I took a YellowBusLine from Surallah to General Santos City July 22nd wednesday late morning arriving in GenSan at about 1:00 noon. Took lunch in the bus terminal & proceeded to take a tricycle (motorcycle with a side car)to see my intended first stop, a christian doctor in his clinic.

My second stop at about 4:00 PM was the Wesleyan Church in the city. The pastor of the church was out, but the District Office being located in the same address, I was able to see, talk, share & pray for and with the family of the DS Marcelino A. Saura, Jr., with his wife and kids for more than an hour.

After my visit, I was graciously brought by motorcycle to the bus terminal by the DS.
I was back in Surallah that night at past 9:00 PM.

Meantime, I went on with the ministry that the LORD has brought me to Surallah to pursue in the next two weeks. I flew back to Manila August 4th arriving in my home in Greenhills at about 2:00 PM. My wife Dell was home and I ate a late lunch.

When I opened the computer to check my emails the next morning, I noticed an email from the DS I met in GenSan 2 weeks back. Read the email and was touched in my heart by the transparency with which a brother & fellow minister in Christ have written about their fears and desire for their kids. I knew in my heart why the LORD brought me back to GenSanCity that day and it was for this family to be encouraged and challenged to continually trust and believe that the LORD who called them into the ministry will and must be faithful to His people, more so to those called of the LORD in the five-fold ministry based on Ephesians 4:11.

I asked this precious brother in Christ if he would allow me to post his email in this my blog with my corresponding email reply to him and he graciously acceded because my & his intention in doing so, is to help encourage many of our people especially pastors in the provinces, who are discouraged and therefore need to be encouraged.

This alone is the intent of this posting in my blog of both the DS email and my reply.

Succeeding postings will be made as part of my ministry/mission report on my 18 days
journey back to the place where I experienced the New Birth based on John 3:1-8.

Manny


Letter of Thanks‏
From: Marcelino Saura (rev.marcelinosaura@yahoo.com.ph)
Sent: Mon 7/27/09 12:44 PM
To: ministerjhn33@hotmail.com
Good evening Pastor Manny,

I am pastor Marcelino Saura Jr. the District superintendent of the Southern=
Mindanao District.

I and my wife want to thank you for our short time together in our district=
office last Wednesday July 22, 2009. you have encouraged us so much. speci=
ally in the aspect of our part as parents of our kids,

the morning before you come we have our sharing time with my wife and our t=
opic is about the future of our kids, and we are worried because we don't h=
ave any investment or even savings for their schooling, so my wife is telli=
ng me that we will just let them study in a vocational school.

But we thank you because you had come and minister with us. you have encour=
age us a lot at that time and we praise God for your time with us. you have=
reminded us that we have our God who could provide for the future of our c=
hildren.

thank you once again.

Rev. Marcelino A. Saura Jr.


From: ministerjhn33@hotmail.com
To: rev.marcelinosaura@yahoo.com.ph
Subject: RE: letter of thanks
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 03:07:04 +0000

Dear Pastor Mar,

Greetings in the most precious name of our God & Saviour the LORD Jesus Christ
whose we are and whom we serve until He comes again! Maranatha!

I am sorry that I was not able to reply to your email sooner. I just got back yesterday afternoon from Surallah, South Cotabato after 17 days of ministry.

It was my privilege to have met you & your wife with your kids that 22nd day of July in General Santos City.

I have sought to live my life as one called of the LORD as an Evangelist

Ephesians 4:11 (King James Version)
11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

to follow the admonition of the Apostle Paul in
Galatians 6:9-10 (King James Version)

9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

as a way of life. And so, my business and the business of every one who name the name of Christ, is to bring and do good, to all that the LORD allows us to be in contact with in our daily sojourn in this earthlife until He calls us home or the Rapture comes.

I praise God that my short visit with you has brought encouragement to both of your hearts and I pray that, hencefort, you with your wife & kids will resolve to LOOK UP & TRUST in the LORD JESUS CHRIST ALONE for all of your earthly needs.

To HIM ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Isaiah 42:8

8I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

We are called to be like Joses Barnabas known as the son of consolation, that is encouragement in
Acts 4:36

36And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus.

We must seek at all times, when the opportunity presents itself, to put courage in the hearts of God's people especially HIS servants who labor in HIS vineyard. As we do, much can be accomplished to build the kingdom of our God in the hearts and lives of people within our individual concentric circle of influence for HIS GLORY ALONE.

It is good to remind ourselves that our God, the creator of the heavens & the earth, is the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob and of those who are believers in the LORD JESUS CHRIST. We are assured of HIS DIVINE GUIDANCE, LEADING, DIRECTION, PROVISION & PROTECTION in every aspect of our lives as we daily trust HIM for whatever need may arise in our lives.

Let us remember and I highly suggest that you with your family memorize this Scripture
Ephesians 3:20-21

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

As we daily seek to live for HIM a life of righteousness, holiness through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit living in the inside of our hearts, let us daily heed the teaching of the writer of Hebrews, that there is only one kind of life that will please HIM and that is the LIFE OF FAITH. We see this truth again & again emphasized in the scriptures as follows:

Romans 1:17 (King James Version)

17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Galatians 3:11

11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Habakkuk 2:4

4Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Hebrews 10:38

38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

We must ask the question WHY? WHY FAITH? The answer is clearly taught in Scriptures specifically in

Hebrews 11:6

6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

As we seek to daily LIVE A LIFE OF FAITH, A LIFE THAT PLEASES GOD, let us be assured of HIS PROVISION & PROTECTION AS WE FULFILL THE MANDATE OF HIS CALL UPON OUR LIVES.

As you, my dear brother & fellow minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ live this kind of life, a life completely/fully dependent alone on the Goodness & Faithfulness of our God and Saviour the LORD Jesus Christ, then you are assured of HIS ABILITY TO WORK ON YOUR BEHALF EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

Read, study & meditate on the following Scriptures:

Isaiah 1:19

19If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
Nahum 1:7

7The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
Isaiah 54:17

17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Revelation 12:11

11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
and PSALM 91 and PSALM 112.

Rest assured that as God the Holy Spirit bring you and your family into my remembrance, I will pray for you all.

In Christ Love,

Pastor Manny
Ephesians 1:14-23; 3:14-21;
Colossians 1:9-11; 3:16-17