THE LIFE OF TRUST 

As I sit to type the story of this last month’s events of POC Ministries, I have to start by saying it has been a month of great testing.  So much so that I was drawn in tears to read some of the writings of the great missionary George Müller of Bristol that had inspired me in times past.  As I read through his diary of events of the early years, it was like reading my own.  Things like…. “Last Saturday I was not able to pay the whole of the weekly salaries of the teachers in the day schools, which, however, does not make me a debtor to them, as it is an understood thing that they have not to look to me for payment, but to the Lord..” pierced my heart.  This month I faced that same scenario, as often I had in the past, that our income was not sufficient to pay salaries.  I had to consider informing the teachers and houseparents, that we could only pay their salaries in part.  It was reassuring to read that one of so great faith as George faced the very same situations as I did.  As I read how his workers had sold their watches and other personal items to help feed the orphans, I was reminded of the many occasions that our own children’s homes workers have brought their toothpaste to work to share with our children, or collected from their own salaries to buy a cake to celebrate the children’s birthdays.  I saw that though, his tests and challenges were very real and very great, he never doubted that God would meet the need.  I know how humbling it is to receive the generous support from workers who own less than we.  I felt what he must have felt.  It was encouraging to read the outcome of his story to see that great trial does not equate to a lack of faith, but just a greater opportunity to see God move.
Praise God, He did move on our behalf, and we didn’t have to sell our possessions. 
God graciously intervened and we were able to pay our salaries in full.  God is so good and gives us faith for today!!! 

1st Baptismal Service

Since establishing POC Fellowship in the late 1980’s  we have never had a baptismal service in the church building, but rather at one of the local beaches, which is not the ideal place as the witnesses have to stand a considerable distance away at the shore.  So we were really excited when Nathanael decided to have our first baptism service inside the church.  He borrowed  a paddling pool especially for the event. It really was a wonderful day of great rejoicing as we witnessed 25 who made this glorious profession of their faith and were baptised even though only 16 had originally listed their names.  Some of them had to go home in wet clothes because they were not prepared,
but they didn’t even care!!

POCF Missions Academy

In last month’s issue we featured the graduation service of our TMA (Tribes and Nations Outreach Missions Academy).  The main reason for the training was for the graduates to be equipped to lead our own Missions Academy (MA) and train church members willing to volunteer for small group leadership. Several of our newly baptised members signed up for the MA.  Every month the trainees will dedicate 2 full days for the training. It was wonderful that more than twenty have committed to train.
It has been so successful that others have been challenged and are hoping to join and catch up on the sessions they’ve missed. It’s such a blessing to see such enthusiasm spread as the church unites to focus on reaching the lost in our community. It’s wonderful to see lives transformed.  Those who were once shy and of low self esteem, stepping outside their comfort zones to get equipped for the work of the ministry.  Exciting times!!!!

Teacher’s training 

The Department of Education are very keen for teachers throughout the country to attend regular seminars and symposiums to sharpen their skills and increase their knowledge as educators.  In stead of having the additional expense of sending our teachers away for training, Aaron offered to conduct a day long  seminar for our teachers himself, to equip them to face pressing school issues.  It was a tremendous success.  
To commemorate National Teacher’s Day they also had a day of celebration and team building and a great day was had by all ending with an afternoon of chilling at the bowling lanes.

prayer requests

Please pray for finances to improve our church building in Wea.

Please pray for the financial needs to repair the roof of our POCCH girl’s house.

Please continue to pray for increased profits and more volunteers for charity shops ‘Sparrow’s Nest’,  ‘Your Kids Around The World’ ‘Annie’s Orphans’ & “Drop Inn’  to help support the ongoing expenses of POCM and other children’s ministries world wide

Please pray for a miracle healing for POCCH worker Baby Diaz and Cessar, both battling cancer.

OTHER UPDATES

We would greatly value your prayers for the improvement of our building in our outreach church in the landslide resettlement village of Wea.  We have been conducting bible studies and Shine outreach programs every week for the last 6 years.  By the grace of God we were able to build a suitable structure to protect us from the rain and sun which has been a wonderful help for the past couple of years.  However, as the building is not yet enclosed and still only has a mud floor, we never know what we will face each time we go to have our services.  Gangs of youths use the building while it is empty and unprotected.  Of our 24 church pews we are left with just a handful.  When the gangs finish, the children move in, playing in the mud and climbing over what  pews are left, leaving them dirty and  unsuitable for adult use at the bible studies.  Due to lack of funds, we haven’t been able to make any improvements on the structure, but we are now at the point of desperation.  

We would greatly value your prayers for the improvement of our building in our outreach church in the landslide resettlement village of Wea.  We have been conducting bible studies and Shine outreach programs every week for the last 6 years.  By the grace of God we were able to build a suitable structure to protect us from the rain and sun which has been a wonderful help for the past couple of years.  However, as the building is not yet enclosed and still only has a mud floor, we never know what we will face each time we go to have our services.  Gangs of youths use the building while it is empty and unprotected.  Of our 24 church pews we are left with just a handful.  When the gangs finish, the children move in, playing in the mud and climbing over what  pews are left, leaving them dirty and  unsuitable for adult use at the bible studies.  Due to lack of funds, we haven’t been able to make any improvements on the structure, but we are now at the point of desperation.   We need to purchase chairs, but in order for them to not be stolen we need to be able to enclose the building and we are desperate to have the floor cemented so it can start to bear some resemblance to a church building that the congregation can care for and  villagers respect.   

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Hannah Elisa who has been part of our Children’s Home family for many years.  She celebrated her 18th birthday with us and has left as a young adult to be re-united with her family who have promised to support her through college.  She lives locally so we are blessed to still have her regularly attending the church, bringing additional friends and family with her.  We wish her all God’s riches blessings for her future.

Please pray for Simeon’s (our son-in-law) father Cessar who is battling lung cancer.  Please pray for his salvation and healing.  Simeon has been able to share the gospel with him recently and he was greatly moved.  Please also remember our houseparent Baby Diaz who is battling stage 3 colon cancer.  

Please pray for Nathanael and I as we pursue our plans to be in the U.S. from October 21- November 17.  Our desire is that the Lord will use us to be a blessing, present a challenge and bring glory to God wherever we minister.  We don’t as yet know exactly where we will be, as our dear friends, Larry and Jennifer Sturm are preparing our itinerary, but we will be in the states of Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana and Texas.  If you are in any of those areas and would like us to visit you, please message us on Facebook.

Once again we offer our thanks to all our faithful supporters and partners.  It is wonderful working together with you, making a difference in the lives we touch.

 God Bless, Love in Christ

Chrissy ,Dondie & Your POCM Family