Two Sets of Virtues and Christian Marriage


Christine and I are teaching Christian Marriage here at the school. It’s our first time to teach Christian Marriage in such a formal venue and it’s been a good challenge and very developmental for us. But it’s amazing to dialogue every week with couples from arranged marriages and from all over the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and South Asia about Christ-centered marriage when there are many cultural and religious backgrounds represented like Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim backgrounds.
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As my parents were here, it was a great opportunity to have them guest lecture last week and it was incredibly fun. So many students have come to us communicating how they were so blessed and it had them thinking about their marriage in ways they had never thought of. I talked to a couple from Sri Lanka that’s been in ministry and married over 25 years in the class and they shared it was so powerful it’s all they’ve talked about for the last two weeks and it’s taken them to a new place of oneness in their marriage! They brought Sri Lankan food to us the night before my parents left to show appreciation.  We all enjoyed that – especially Kaelyn who is our adventurous eater here!

Pray for Christine and I as we teach God’s heart and perspective on marriage for these students and that we model what we are teaching as we’ve been facing some very stressful realities and pressures in our own marriage and family life in this season!

Celebrating Tet With the Vietnamese Students

     This picture captures one of our favorite experiences thus far. We were invited, along with my parents, to celebrate Lunar New Year with the Vietnamese community here at IGSL which has several CCC staff among them. I have had I think all of them in at least one of my classes so far so I’ve gotten to know them well. And my dad had read a book this fall titled “The Christians of Vietnam” which details the last century of the Vietnamese Church. I asked him to bring it so they could read it and they were so excited. 

It is found that males who are tadalafil sample suffering with any other disease then the dose needs to be altered. The appeal of online pharmacy is great to someone who is looking to buy erectile dysfunction medicine viagra without prescription free online, but consulting with doctor for proper usage is important. Fortunately, Kamagra tablets have it as their primary ingredient. generic india levitra It is the enzyme phosphodiesterase 5 that is responsible for get viagra in canada the person to be facing erectile dysfunction in his life.      But these students blessed us beyond measure. They don’t have much money but laid out such a feast because this is one of their great celebrations. We had traditional food and talked about these men and women’s journey as Christians and missionaries in their country. It was a humbling and powerful night for us and represents so much of what this school is about – equipping these incredible people to do ministry in places that God has called them to go (and that we could never go to). These are people that have suffered at times greatly for the cause of Christ.  It was humbling to be invited into their world for a night.

These are the moments that have defined our year – moments not in the job description and not part of any plan.  But moments birthed from relationship where new worlds are opened up and new blessings experienced.  We’re so grateful for these moments with the different families and communities here at IGSL this year!

Midcourse Corrections

     If you remember years ago when Christine and I worked with short-term international mission teams we would often fly to meet with teams half-way through their year to help them process their experience, work through conflict and culture stress, and make mid-course corrections. Fortunately for us my parents have plenty of experience doing that too! So we had a brief getaway last weekend to do some of this work to help us and our kids process the highs and lows of the experience and do an honest assessment of where we’re at.

Both spouses have unexplained infertility despite being physically buy cialis no prescription healthy. Anyone who is able to achieve erection and is using it to actually send the messages promoting cialis uk or xanax from your company email addresses, instead of just using your domain name as the return address. It is an excellent india viagra for sale source of Vitamins A, C, and B6. The direct causal connection between cialis prescription australia the drugs is that former is cost effective than the latter. There’s so many things to celebrate, but some needed things were shared too that we need to figure out some different solutions for. It was a blessing to get the help we needed at a critical time for us. We’re thankful we had that space and leadership to pay attention to what God is saying to us and where everyone is at emotionally. Celebrate with us as there has been so many God moments, but continue to pray for us as we grow and learn as a family!  Our kids really have been amazing though – they are our heroes!

Thanks for your prayers!  The spiritual battle is great around what we are doing and especially around our decision making right now.  We would appreciate prayer for God’s provision for us in areas of need for different members of the family  and that God gives us wisdom on how to steward the next year.

Measles, Mayorga, and a Nepali Christmas!

Hi Friends!

        In the last few weeks since our last ministry update, we have experienced quite the extreme of high’s and low’s.  On the low side, well much of the last month has probably been one of our toughest since being here with a lot of that due to medical issues.  The big challenge was that Kaelyn got the measles. There has been a measles epidemic here in Manila this year and we can say we were a part of it. It was not fun, but Kaelyn was a champ. Everybody took their turn with significant illnesses. Our family was tested greatly in this season. We had a stretch where we had to visit the medical clinic 6 out of 8 days with 4 different patients. We’re still regrouping, but doing much better.

The big high’s have been hosting both of our parents here and being able to spend time with them and show them a bit of our world here (see the pic above to see Christine’s parents getting the “tricycle ride” experience!).  Christine’s parents were here to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s with us. New Year Eve was an incredible experience here – a total fireworks free for all! A memorable holiday season to be sure.  We’re very thankful our kids have two sets of grandparents that love them and us enough to visit us around the world!

We’re 3 weeks in to the Spring Semester already. I (Brian) am teaching Strategic Planning & Management this semester andChristine and I are actually both teaching together in a course on Christian marriage this semester, which is a great opportunity and experience thus far. Please pray for us and students as well this semester!

One of the fun things about IGSL is that there is always ministry happening. We’re excited to highlight more of these, buthere’s a couple from the last few weeks that reflect the heart of our students and school.

Christmas Outreach to Nepalese in Manila!

All students here must serve on a team that is pioneering a movement of evangelism and discipleship (called Target Area Ministry – TAM). They must spend at least 6 hours per week in direct field ministry. Some teams are on university campuses, some are at the Philippines Military Academy, some are at high schools, and some are church planting.  But many of our international students are doing ministry on Universities in Manila reaching international students especially (after all – they are international students too!).

Through these “TAM’s”, many of our Nepalese students got connected with a network of Nepalese graduate students in med school here in Manila.  The connection led to an exchange of sorts, starting on the soccer field.  First, IGSL students visited them at a local campus to play soccer.  Then, the IGSL Nepalese community invited them all to come play soccer at IGSL’s campus on Christmas day and then invited them to join them at their Nepalese Christmas celebration on campus.

     The cool thing – every single one of the 25 -30 Nepalese medical students in Manila that came to IGSL on Christmas was Hindu and through the relationships they’ve build with IGSL’s Nepalese they were able to hear a clear and contextualized presentation of the real meaning of Christmas and the Gospel.None of them have come to Christ yet, but they have formed genuine relationships that continue to develop and of course – the soccer games still are happening every few weeks! Please pray for the Nepalese’s outreach efforts to their fellow countrymen here in Manila!

Yolanda Ministry Efforts!

     Our efforts as a school in Leyte doing Yolanda relief and ministry is continuing in amazing ways.  We sent another team of faculty (and their famlies) a couple of weeks ago to Mayorga where I went last month.  The most recent trip involved more partnership building with the local officials, my friend Neil doing evangelism training for many of the military battalion that has been hosting us there (pic below), several outreaches among youth in Mayorga where many came to Christ, and the resourcing of further materials for the rebuilding of homes. 

Through IGSL’s efforts, a church has actually been planted at the Military Camp for the surrounding community.  They have met for 3 weeks running now  and the services are already several hundred people strong! The next team we sent goes the first week of February. Please keep praying for Leyte and the areas impacted by Yolanda. God continues to be working there amidst the rebuilding efforts! You can also be praying for Mindanao and the southern Philippines which has been impacted by significant flooding.

Thank you for your prayers!  It’s been the hardest month for us thus far as a family and most of us individually as well, but we’re so thankful for what we’re able to experience and contribute to here at IGSL this year. God Bless!

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My Leyte Takeaway: Leadership Matters

One of my big takeaways from my time is that leadership matters. I already knew that as I find myself as a leadership studies professor at a graduate school and seminary – but sometimes you see things with increasing clarity and crisis situations like this tend to expose leaders for who they are.

Over the few days in Mayorga and Leyte I was exposed to great leadership by people who have earned the trust of their people and who serve well – and many were IGSL graduates!

In other posts you saw the Mayor and some of the government who are giving timely leadership. The Mayor is doing a great job bringing the right people around him and around Mayorga – but it’s clearly done with an authentic humility and a commitment to serve and lead people to a better place that lifts them up AND honors God.

But we served side by side with a few IGSL graduates that really got me excited about what we’re doing here at IGSL.  Pastor Danny (in red below) is one of the key players in mobilizing our church partnership as he’s a pastor at a large megachurch here in Manila that had the resources to provide the domestic relief kits.  He went with us and it was a privilege to see his leadership both of his own people from his church as well as in the community where he was able to preach the gospel several times.

He and I at one point ended up being able to talk to one of the councilmen about the gospel and about the difference between a religion about Jesus and a relationship with Jesus. Danny graduated IGSL in 2012 and he continues to have a great ministry both in Manila and now in Mayorga.

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Loy is also an IGSL graduate from 2012, a classmate of Danny’s (above).  He is pastoring in a different part of Manila (tando sp?). But I was as impressed with him as he connected with different communities in Mayorga and communicated the gospel, but not in a performance based way given that we were holding a lot of things they wanted. Both Danny and Loy communicated great honor and respect and connected with the people. It was a joy to see and some people did come to Christ and some made commitments to repent and again turn back to Jesus as the Lord of their lives.

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Gerri is also an IGSL grad from a couple years ago.  After being released from prison (where he was discipled and ministered to by IGSL students at the time who visited the prison), he got to know the school and eventually applied to study here.  He continues to give great leadership to our military ministry and much of our relief efforts as well.

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This in addition to my friend and fellow professor and Phil. CCC staff Neil and IGSL’s President Tom who I’ve seen lead with commitment, dependence on the Lord, and great vision for what God can do.

These experiences have been a blessing to me. I am blessed to serve, but so encouraged that through serving and going I was given such vision and motivation for what God has called Christine and I to here at IGSL in Manila for however long he leads us to be here.  It’s so motivating to raise up Christ-dependent, servant leaders who have the character and skills to minister widely and deeply to their own people.

I’m excited that we’re all a part, you and us, in raising up leaders like that throughout all of the Philippines and the whole of Asia.

Christmas in Mayorga!

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Here’s our IGSL team! (the guy on the left and the guy in the middle are graduates and the other 3 of us are faculty)

The most uplifting experience of the time was being able to experience the Mayorga town Christmas party at the town square.  It’s the only place with electricity and every night people come their to charge their cell phones in the town square area that has some outlets.  Our last night there, there were many more people there!
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We were late to the party because we were trying to finish the last 2 Barangay’s and giving out the kits and finishing what we came to do. But when we returned, the party was in motion and the energy was high.  Our teams received huge cheers and it was incredibly encouraging after working for over 12 hours.

More inspirational, they turned Christmas lights on for the first time in Mayorga which gave everyone a boost. A band from the Military battalion provided the entertainment and it was such a fun time.

It was evangelistic as well. Before we got there I was told 3000 Bibles were passed out and there was a message of encouragement! I was sad I missed that, but it was a great time.  If any of us were struggling to get into the Christmas spirit, I tell you we were cured of that quickly!

Most telling of the Spirit of the community is this big billboard in front of the city hall (see above). There is leadership being given from several sources to point people to Christ. Pray that this continues!

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Face to Face in Mayorga

By far the most powerful experience of the trip is getting face to face with the people affected by Typhoon Yolanda.  We had 3000 back to school kits we gave to many of the children of Mayorga and the 2000 domestic and home rebuilding kits we gave to households so they could rebuild their homes and have needed supplies to cook and keep food on the table.

You may have seen on the news, people referring to the resilient spirit of the Filipinos. It’s amazing how many smiles I saw – it’s a tremendous part of the culture here in the face of loss and trials.  But make no mistake, it’s been a painful and devastating experience for so many and there is much needed to help them rebuild their lives.

Handout out the school kits was easily the most fun because the kids were great and excited and thankful and having a great time.  School buildings are still in bad shape so one of the next things is to help restore school roofs and provide for school clothes, but for now the parents and kids are so thankful the kids were exhorted to continue to place a high value on education while helping them be preparing for when the school doors open after the holidays.

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Giving out the domestic and house repair kits was a more emotional experience. Some people were visibly moved emotionally. One woman I saw broke down when her name was called to come and get a kit.  These were the most humbling moments when you were handing something to another family that they gave them so much hope and could offer a reminder that God loves them and is providing for them. It was moving and I was honored to be able to just be present in some of these moments.

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It was hard work in the heat and humidity assembling all the kits, but handing them out made you forget all about the weather and work.  Over the course of 2 days, our team with a church we partnered with made it to ALL 16 districts or Barangays in Mayorga to deliver relief kits to either households or children while praying for people and in several locations being able to give the message of hope in Christ and the gospel.

I appreciated the way people were ministering in that it was very respectful and honoring of these people and what they have gone through.  We got to partner with great people including some Campus Crusade for Christ mission teams comprised of doctors and health professionals and other medical and relief organizations (see picture below).

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Ministering to the Military

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It really would be true that the Military ministered to us just as much, if not more, than we ministered to them.  Under Col. Bahao’s leadership they hosted us for a couple nights and provided several meals and lodging. They also provided security and more relief manpower as we were traveling all around Mayorga to different districts doing relief work and ministering among the communities. An amazing blessing.

Col. Bahao came to know the Lord almost 30 years ago as a cadet through IGSL’s president Tom Roxas who you have seen pictures of.  We were able to be a part of a promotion ceremony for 4 of his men, and more so – we even participated in different ways!  Kuya Tom gave a brief message that was powerful on the issues of forgiveness and grace, but the most powerful part was another member of our team Gerri (below in blue) who gave his testimony.

I’ll have to dedicate another update to Gerri’s story because it’s amazing and so powerful, but the short of it is he was a Captain in the Philippine Army and he helped lead an attempted coup of the government about 10 years ago. He was sentenced to live in prison and served 5 years before the President pardoned him after he surrendered to the Lord and showed evidence of being a changed person. Now he’s part of the IGSL faculty helping lead our ministry to the military and government sectors of society! Incredible witness to the love and power of God – and extra powerful to these soldiers because they all know who he is because he is that well known.

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I had the privilege of praying a blessing over the battalion and it was a joy to do because this group endured the typhoon and has been on the ground since day 1 serving the people in so many ways.  And they blessed us so much. But they are tired and are not often thanked.  It was a blessing to encourage them as they were also serving us.

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Training Servant Leaders For the Great Commission in Asia