"....work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." ~ Phil. 2: 12-13
Our sessions are underway. On Thursday afternoon a brief overview of the ecclesiastical offices of Deacon, Elder and Minister was given by Dr. Bredenhof. It was great to see the interest of 20 or so men coming out to hear the talk and take part in the question and answer period. Interesting to me is the cultural aspect of it. ..what's being said perhaps from a somewhat foreign context and then how it's being interpreted by those present. It can be a bit messy. Messy in the sense that what is being said is of churches that have a long established history and it's coming to a place where the churches are, as one pastor here puts it, " in their infancy". The start up and organization of churches here can be complicated and not what we would see back home as being ideal. But as I mentioned in my last post we trust in a God who is bringing it to completion.
Our evening session was very well attended. Here the talks focused on Regeneration, Justification and Sanctification. Again a lively question and answer period broke out. As we reflect on our life of putting off the old and putting on the new we find comfort in knowing "it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." ~ Phil. 2: 13
TAP is very thankful to be able to make use of the beautiful Table Talk Lounge. A reformed reading room here in the heart of Cagayan de Oro. It is a great resource for those in the city who are wanting to learn more about the reformed faith and the good news of Jesus Christ. It's close vicinity to the university means they see a lot of young people enter the door. On Sunday's the Grace Reformed Church gathers for worship here.
It's our hope that those pastors we meet continue to be lights in the world and as they labour for Christ they know and are assured that their labour is not in vain.
"..thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." ~ 1 Cor. 15: 57-58
Our sessions are underway. On Thursday afternoon a brief overview of the ecclesiastical offices of Deacon, Elder and Minister was given by Dr. Bredenhof. It was great to see the interest of 20 or so men coming out to hear the talk and take part in the question and answer period. Interesting to me is the cultural aspect of it. ..what's being said perhaps from a somewhat foreign context and then how it's being interpreted by those present. It can be a bit messy. Messy in the sense that what is being said is of churches that have a long established history and it's coming to a place where the churches are, as one pastor here puts it, " in their infancy". The start up and organization of churches here can be complicated and not what we would see back home as being ideal. But as I mentioned in my last post we trust in a God who is bringing it to completion.
Our evening session was very well attended. Here the talks focused on Regeneration, Justification and Sanctification. Again a lively question and answer period broke out. As we reflect on our life of putting off the old and putting on the new we find comfort in knowing "it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." ~ Phil. 2: 13
TAP is very thankful to be able to make use of the beautiful Table Talk Lounge. A reformed reading room here in the heart of Cagayan de Oro. It is a great resource for those in the city who are wanting to learn more about the reformed faith and the good news of Jesus Christ. It's close vicinity to the university means they see a lot of young people enter the door. On Sunday's the Grace Reformed Church gathers for worship here.
It's our hope that those pastors we meet continue to be lights in the world and as they labour for Christ they know and are assured that their labour is not in vain.
"..thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." ~ 1 Cor. 15: 57-58
