A day to rejoice in

1/3/2016

4 years ago, Pastor William began reaching out to Paradise. He walked in and began knocking on doors, asking people to join him in bible study. People said yes, and the studies began to grow. It went from one bible study group meeting in the streets, to four groups. They met in the sweltering heat of summer and the cool air of typhoon season. They tirelessly met for 4 years, praying that someday they would have a building. A building to meet together; for the first time. A building where they could worship, grow spiritually and encourage each other. A building to take refuge in from the scorching heat and the noise of life in the Philippines.

A lot of hard work, dedication, perseverance and sweat went into this. LOTS of sweat.

4 years of dedicated people, desiring to bring the Word of God to this place. This slum.

Hours of singing with children and ministering to adults.

Time spent growing relationships and deepening friendships.

And then we came along. God showed us a need, and asked us to fill it. We were given the privilege of taking part in this process. We returned to the states and showed you this need and YOU gave what you could to give this body of believers a church! The process of building began, and the dedication and sweat continued. Pastor began going to Paradise FIVE times a week, 8 hours a day, to make sure this church got built.

This Church has changed Paradise. We learned, as the church was built, that Paradise is considered one of the most dangerous places of our area. The people that live in front of Paradise, refuse to step foot in the area in which our church is built. Why? They are scared. It is too dangerous. And yet we have been received with open arms, full hearts, and wide smiles. Pastor was asked to dedicate babies and officiate weddings before the church was even built.

And so, on this wonderful day, this first Sunday of 2016, the body of Paradise got to worship-not as four separate groups; but as 1 complete body of Christ.

I wish you could have been there! I wish you had been worshiping with us. I am so excited to share this day with you in the way that I can!

And so we loaded up chairs.

We loaded up people. 

We unloaded chairs.

We unloaded people. 

We carried them to our church. 

We unlocked the gate and began to set up. 

We cleaned, and the children began to flood in. 

We were joined by the respected elderly, and the precious newborn baby. 

We sang and worshiped.

We prayed.

Michael preached and Pastor translated. 

And for us, it was a day of rejoicing.