NEHEMIAH TEAMS – ADVANCE OPERATIONS TRAINING 7

We are looking for participants for Nehemiah Teams - Advance Operations Training batch 7 (all Filipino) happening this January 14-April 1 2017. This is also now open even to young people above 18 years old,  and youth leaders who have not gone through Nehemiah Teams. Registration fee is 5000pesos. Participants are responsible for their travel to and from the training camp at the beginning and end of the training, and their personal pocket money.

By joining NT-AOT, participants also commit to be part of a Nehemiah Teams that summer. 

For more information, please see the brochure and application form attached below.

Deadline for applications is on Dec.25, 2017.

Click to download the AOT 2017 brochure and application form.

I will go

Every morning, before our class starts, we sing songs that are related to the gate topic that we will discuss. One of the songs from Gate2: Soul Winning  that I really liked is “I will go” by Steve Green. I feel that this is my life song. It takes me back to the time that I decided to follow Christ and to respond to the Great Commission.

 And I will go where there are no easy roads
Leave the comforts that I know
I will go and let this journey be my home
I will go
I will go

I’ll let go of my ambition
Cut the roots that run too deep
I will learn to give away
What I cannot really keep
What I cannot really keep

Listen to I will go by Steve Green

R-r in red

I have not attained this, but I pray that this would be true to me.

 How about you? What would be your response to this song?

John 10:11

Romans 15:20




R-r, 19 
South Cotabato 

pray
   For a mind set to follow Him, no turning back.

RR leads a team in Palawan

the EpIC

HIStory

left to right: Rustom, Jezreel , Talon, Evelyn, Joy

We all know and have heard of many good and amazing stories but do you know the best story among all stories? You are part of it? Yes you are! This is the story of God. The story is about God.

Once upon a time, in the beginning God, He is Holy, Almighty God. He made us to glorify and worship only Him but the Satan the villain got envy about it, He wanted to be like Him. He deceived the creation of God, he was kicked out of heaven and he is on earth to kill, steal and destroy so that the people will worship instead of God. But God did not allow the villain to make it happen. He sent a Hero for us to give eternal and abundant life. That Hero is His only Son Jesus Christ. He was crucified, died, buried, and rose from the dead on the third day paying for our sins. His resurrection was the proof that the ending of God's story is clear - He will be worshiped by all the peoples of the earth. all creation will worship Him - in the heaven above, on the earth and under the earth!  Philippians 2:9-11
With Christ's sacrifice people can be reconciled with God. the broken relationship can be restored. 
We may still face fights and wars in our lives but the battle has already been won and the ending is determined.  Those who believed and accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior have the gift to eternal life. And when He comes again, He will take his people and they now with Him will live happily ever after.


Joy, 25
South Cotabato

Pray: That I will not forget that I am Accepted, Secured and Significant in Christ

Joy leads a team to among the *cousins

Grace

Evelyn (center back)

I’ve heard this word a thousand times and wondered what it really means until God led me to His words in Psalms 103:10 “He does not treat us our sins deserve”  but giving us what we do not deserve – a  gift from God which we cannot earn and which we cannot lose, for it is God’s unconditional love  - Grace! It seems so unfair sometimes because it costs nothing for the receiver but cost EVERYTHING for the giver. It is selfless. And it is by this grace that we are saved through faith in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:8) – believing that God indeed gave His Son to pay for our sins; that He did that because He loves us. Jesus took upon Himself the punishment that we deserve to give to us, if we believe in Him, the forgiveness of sins, new life and eternal life that we don’t deserve. This is grace – you know it and can easily describe it if you have received his grace, yet still hard to define. 
 G.R.A.C.E. –God’s Reaches At Christ Expense.

Evelyn, 21

Batangas 

pray: 

That I be true to my commitment to live a life that glorifies Him and worthy of the Gospel



Evelyn supervised and assisted Calabarzon NT teams this summer. 

Persecution

Anjan, Eriz, Talon, Kamal

In fact, anyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted                                                               - 2Timothy3:12

I was really encouraged when Kuya Joel came and spoke to us about persecution. Many think that persecution stops the spread of the Gospel but in reality it’s the fear of persecution that does that. He showed us many things about what the Bible teaches and I’ve listed a few.

1.    We are to expect it. 2Tim.3:12

2.    We will be rewarded. Matt.5:12

3.    We will receive the crown of life. James 1:12

Knowing these things also helps us to prepare and to be ready for when that time comes.

_________________

Pray that I may hear God more, trust Him when He gives me a task,  that I will be obedient without reservation and give all to Christ. 

- Talon, 23

Alabama

Talon travels with Eriz this season to mobilize churches, train young people, supervise a team, set up new areas and for American NT 

Biblical Basis of Suffering

Gate 4: Trials, Growth and Humility

Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds... -James 1:2

When you encounter the word “suffering” what comes to your mind? It talks about misery, pain, and hardship, right?

Left to right: Luigi, Joy, Warry, Sharon, Talon, Dia

In this world, there are many ways or reasons people suffer; maybe through lack of money, broken family relationships, loss of shelter, natural disasters and calamities, disabilities, other people’s decision fallen world system or being disobedient to God. But some sufferings come even or because of our obedience to Christ.

There are many men and women of faith who were chained, stoned, sawn in two, destitute, mistreated, tortured etc. as a result of their faith. Hebrews 11

Jesus, the beloved Son of God was a man of sorrow and acquainted with suffering.  Many who obeyed the Lord did great things and also faced great sufferings for their obedience.

Just because we are obedient in the Lord’s will does not mean there will be no suffering. Suffering is normal. Don’t be surprised. God wants us to be prepared to face suffering as we obey Him, to understand that these sufferings are light and momentary, and that these sufferings can help purify us and make us complete.

As we continue this journey of faith, may we all find inspiration and encouragement from the stories of the many ordinary people like us – known and unknown – who obeyed God and even find pure joy in the midst of suffering.

-        

      - Dia, 26

South Cotabato

Yesterday does not define you

Song: Family Tree by Matthew West 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-opi1Qre8Cc

It does not matter  who you were, where you were from, what family or religious background, mistakes that you have done or your parents or grandparents o great grand parents have done that brought you in such an environment. 

Some of us grew up with anger and bitterness towards our parents, family, our situation, wishing we could have been born somewhere else - a different family. While some of us just misunderstood our parents and what they were trying to do, many were caught in the middle of dysfunction  with no one to turn to for a better example to follow. maybe its poor choice that those parents made, or their parents made, or their grand parents' or culture, tradition or a sin of long ago that started all this. Maybe, back then, they have felt just as trapped. 

But you don’t have to have the same life.  We do not have to have the same story. We don’t have to be who they have become. Christ not only forgave us, saved us from our sin, gave us eternal life but He also gave us a new life, a new story – a beautiful story!  Will our past change? No. But God has a beautiful plan, a great dream for us and he can redeem the past and create a beautiful future. And that will be our legacy. That will be our destiny. We have been set free and from you a new generation begins!

Left to right: Sharon, Dia, R-r, Lowella, Sharon

Forget the former things;

Do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:18-19

_______________

Pray that I may continue to have burden for the lost, serve God, entrust all my desires to Him, and His will be done in my life. 

- sharon, 17 
South Cotabato

*Sharon's leads a Nehemiah Team in the Waray river areas this summer. 

So, speak up!

Gate2: Soul Winning 

We are just  on the 6^th gate in AOT training, but it has been an awesome and life changing experience. From the first week up until now, God had showed me a lot of things. I learned that God is always at work around the world and that revelation is an invitation for me to adjust my life and join Him in His work. His heart is for all nations, tongues and tribes to know Him and worship Him. Understanding these things make me realize how far I am and that I’ve missed this point. But God is so gracious that even though I fail, He still calls me to be a part of His eternal purpose of saving the world through His word.

I must live my life according to the compass. I must live a life worthy of Jesus’ sacrifice. People are dying without knowing the gospel. The call is urgent. The church must stop playing games. God has put us as part of His great story.

Eriz, R-r & Evelyn

You have a story to tell. So speak up!! J

But if I say, “I will not mention His word or speak up anymore of His name”, His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.        -Jeremiah 20:9

___________________

Eriz, 22

Butuan

*Eriz travels with Talon this summer mobilizing &  training young people, supervising a team, setting up for American NT areas in the Philippines and for next Filipino NT. 

Seeing someone come to faith

Community Ministry

"...it is such a great joy to see people come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. "

During our first hike to the village to share the Good news of salvation to the people of our target community, I was reminded of the long hikes and travels that our Lord Jesus took during the New Testament times.

Ariel (in Black) with Rustom in class during an activity

Ariel with one of the families that his team shares with

‘So this is how it feels,’ I told myself. It was not easy. He sacrificed so much to give us salvation. I also realized that it is not easy to share the gospel to people that you do not know, and even harder when you cannot speak in their language. But each time I share the word of God , I sense the Lord speaking to me and working in me by guiding me and leading me as I share His word. I pray to God that through the Holy Spirit, they will understand and receive the Gospel. I and the team have also experienced God’s provision as we obeyed. It is surprising that after we have shared with them, they would give us food and fruits. It was really beautiful, and again, it is such a great joy to see people come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

___________________

Pray that my faith would increase and that I will always be ready for ministry

- Ariel, 22

Quirino province

Ariel is currently with a Nehemiah Team in South Luzon area

Christ is enough

Gate 1: Salvation

Assurance

Being raised and taught that you have to earn your salvation through good deeds , salvation through faith alone in Christ’s work first seemed simple and easy but incomplete because the mind that is so used to “work to please the Supreme Deity” would always ask, “Is that (faith) enough?

great smiles!
From front to top right corner: Talon, Eriz (in red), Anjan,
 Ben (in black), Warry

When we put our faith in Christ, we receive salvation. We are saved from the penalty, rule and the bondage of sin, but  it is essential to know that this assurance of salvation is not because of what you did or what you can do but because of what He has done. As a Christian our assurance is based upon Christ’s finished work on the cross.  In John 19:28-30 when he said “it is finished” He was declaring that now nothing can be added. In his epistle, John  tells us that God has given us eternal life through His Son and writes to us so that we may know that we have that eternal life (1 John 5:11-13) We have assurance from the Divine Word of God. When Jesus was on the cross, a thief crucified on the same day said: “remember me…” and Jesus promised that “Today, you’ll be with me”. We all know that Jesus never lies but keeps what He say, thus we can find assurance in His very words on the cross. Moreover, we were sealed with the Spirit of God, the deposit guaranteeing that He owns us and that we now belong to the family of God.

 So it’s assured and once we’re assured of this, we have hope, power, joy, patience, confidence and determination not only to live or face tomorrow but also to share the same assured salvation that we have to others who are still in search and in confusion.  

___________________________

          

    Pray that I may be consistent in my walk with God and in sharing this Hope to people 

- Anjan GR, 24

Nepal 

AOT

All praise be to God!

From bottom left to top right: Me, Ariel, Anjan, Talon, Eriz, Kamal,
Luigi (facilitator), R-r, Rustom, Warry, Dia, Evelyn, Lowela, Joy and Sharon

11 weeks

13 graduates

7 language    groups!

In God’s faithfulness, Nehemiah Teams has once again seen a new batch of leaders graduate from the NT-Advance Opeartions Training (AOT) and deploy to different places in the Philippines and back to Nepal to prepare for teams, facilitate training, lead, assist, supervise and mobilize this entire summer, and if they would commit to it, to do the same and maybe take other roles in the next months or years essential for advancing God’s Kingdom among the unreached and hard to reach through Nehemiah Teams mission program.  

  

For this batch (AOT5), we had 13 participants representing 7 different language groups complete the 11-week training. They spent the past two months training in basic disciplines necessary for personal spiritual growth and leading others to obey God's will, the 10 gates of Jerusalem, church planting, mobilization and how to run and implement a local Nehemiah Teams franchise. They also went to communities to share the Gospel and train believers, and mobilized at two camps for almost a week. The articles and testimonies about what the Lord did to and through them will be posted here in the coming days so you all could share in their joy, be inspired and also pray for their specific prayer requests.

Pray :

Anjan – That I may be consistent in my walk with God and in sharing this Hope to people

Rustom – As I lead a Nehemiah Team this summer, may have boldnes and courage in relating to people, and long patience

Kamal – That I be a powerful and useful weapon of God in His ministry

Warry – That I may always be ready to obey God’s will

Ariel – That my faith would increase and that I will always be ready for ministry

Joy – That I will not forget that I am Accepeted, Secured and Significant in Chrsit

Dia – That the Lord would direct my life whatever happens & that He will be praise din all I do

R-r – For God’s provision as I join Nehemiah Teams Palwan & a mind set to follow Him, no turning back

Lowela – May I be faithful & continue to run this race, continue to share the Gospel, thirst more for His word and have wisdom

Evelyn – That I be true to my commitment to live a life that glorifies Him and worthy of the Gospel

Eriz – That I may share this Grace to everyone and to my family, and have wisdom in decisions I make

Talon – That I may hear God more, trust Him when He gives me a task,  that I will be obedient without reservation and give all to Christ.

Sharon – May I continue to have burden for the lost, serve God, entrust all my desires to Him, and His will be done in my life. 

The Team with two young people from the community they are reaching (Emma in white, Dexter in pink)

-       cecil

Sharing my heart

AOT4

I was just a young lady who wanted to  support my family financially but when God opened my eyes to his task, I can only say yes. Now, I am still the same young lady, but now my greatest desire is to please Abba – My Father God.

God has wonderful plan for our lives. We can know his plan if we have an intimate, loving fellowship with Him – that is called Koinonia. God proved and reveal to me even more how great His love is and how faithful He is even when I am not. this entire 9 weeks at camp, God revealed to me His plan and what he wants me to do  and I am happy and very excited to do it. So you would understand more what I am trying to share and my koinonia with Jesus Christ, I have written a poem that I would like to share with you all.

KOINONIA WITH YESUS KRISTUS

It’s been 9 weeks in all

We are going home at last!

Treasuring all the AOT memories

With the people you grew to love as you prepare for God’s task.

The first week passed and it was a blast

Fun and learning and love so vast 

Understanding salvation given by Him who is just

His love displayed and grace was spilled

And is freely given for all who ask.

And to those who received this free gift of salvation

He also gave the task – the Great Commission

And it is for His children to complete this mission

And by the power of His Spirit this will be in completion

But sadly His children’s hearts and mind

Have been so busy and pre occupied

With selfish ambitions, comforts and desires

We have traded His Plan for the plans of this life

Looking into the lives of those who walked before us

It does us great benefit to learn from the past

We see how He spoke to them and that his mercy never stopped

Their example of faith can be a guide to our path.

And as we walk this road trials will surely come

If we respond in faith humility will abound

This will result in our growth, being yet tested we’ve won

And we can greatly rejoice knowing our future He’s planned

Though sin has brought us guilt and shame

We can confess and repent in His Name

Then forgiveness and sanctification will come

In his glorious mercy and compassion we’re home.

Days went by quickly, we are on our sixth week

AOT days will be through in just one more click

Oh men! Tears now fall down my cheeks

For I’ve found here a family, a one unique pick.

Meals are not complete without Mantoy and Mommy

And in some meals we add Ate Janet’s wild honey

Plates always full if served by Mother Earth and Gweny

Stomachs are full until another hour and thirty

On weekends we go hiking up and down the cliff

When we reach our destination there always is a sigh of relief

Fresca Tuna for lunch for that convenient and cheap

Eating lunch with our bare hands on a banana leaf!

Sixth week came with God sprinkled bliss

Entering the Fountain Gate, lessons no one should miss

Beware of debauchery! That is Satan’s tease

Instead be filled with the Spirit and God will be pleased.

Be like a tree planted by the streams of water

Deeply rooted in God’s word that cannot be altered

When storms come we need not falter

Coz’ His Word is living and active – the Bible utters

The one who steals kills and destroys

Works hard overnight rehearsing his ploys

He is the prince of this fallen world

But we ought to fear him not because we’ve got the Sword

and even be a Legion flees with Jesus’ one word.

Ready or not, Jesus is coming, certainly!

And so the gospel should be preached consistently and intentionally

to the billions of lost, to those who have not heard

so in His return they’ll be taken homeward.

Dear Lord Jesus, my heart breaks for your world

You have given me passion to bring to them your words

for believers will be judged according to each man’s work

but hell waits for those who did not believe and have not heard.

My heart so rejoices in Jesus’ teachings

But my heart aches saying goodbye to my AOT siblings

Our friendship will last and is never ending

Coz in Koinonia with Yesus Kristus we will be together still.

All my love and gratitude is to you, my King

And may all the days of my life to you be an offering,

Meaning and beauty has come to this life that once was so ordinary

To you, O my God be all the praise, honor and glory.

_ Gwen _ 22

South Cotabato

*Pray with Gwen as she continues to lead a team in iloilo. may God continue to give her wisdom and may she always seek God to lead her and the team. 

*may their team find their person of peace and be the start of a growing church in the area. 

*may their team work well together and Christ be seen in how they treat each other.

The essential meaning of the koinonia embraces concepts conveyed in the English terms community, communion, joint participation, sharing and intimacy. Koinonia can therefore refer in some contexts to a jointly contributed gift.^[1] The word appears 19 times in most editions of the Greek New Testament. In the New American Standard Bible, it is translated "fellowship" twelve times, "sharing" three times, and "participation" and "contribution" twice each.^[2]

Gates 9 and 10: Eastern Gate - Second Coming and Inspection Gate - Judgement

HE IS COMING, ARE THEY READY?

Let us start with a question, “If I know that Jesus is coming today for the Second Coming, will I be living my life exactly the same way as I am living it now? 

Of course not! I will try to do my best so I will be ready when the Lord returns. But the fact is, I can never know. We will never know!

The lesson on Gate 9 – Second Coming helped me to remember that I should always be ready, alert and responsible with my time, money, talents, opportunity all my life. God will not ask me, “Why are you not playing the piano for My name?” or “Why do you not sing as well as those other singers?” God won’t ask me about those things because I don’t have those things. I do not have that talent. Rather, the questions that He would ask would be, “What am I doing with what I have?” (A Life that God Rewards for Teens by Bruce Wilkinson), “Did I do the best with all that was given to me.” When I stand before My LORD, I want him to say to me, “Welcome my good and faithful servant.” not “…my wicked servant.”

His second coming is a real event. If we will just look at what’s happening around the world, the signs of His coming are very evident. The things that Jesus said to his disciples about His coming have been taking place. And that day, when He comes, will both the greatest and the most terrible day for all mankind. It will be the greatest day for all who were waiting for His coming, but it will be the most terrible day for those who do not believe.

Eli (in black) with his Filipino brothers

I heard it said that, “It’s terrifying to talk about hell, but its more terrifying if we don’t talk about it. We who have put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we know where we are going. But those who do not know Him, they do not know the terrible eternity that awaits them. But we do.

He is coming. Let’s be wise. Let’s be ready. Let’s be responsible.

I hope this article made you think about Jesus’ second coming more. I hope that through this how you live your life from this day on would change as it did mine. God bless you!

A man and wife asleep in bed

She hears a noise and turns her head, he’s gone

I wish we’d all been ready.

Two men walking up a hill

One disappears and ones left standing still,

I wish we’d all been ready.

There’s no time to change your mind,

The Son has come and you’ve been left behind.

-          I wish we’d all been ready

Larry Norman

click to listen to song on youtube: i wish we'd all been ready

- Eli, 25 

Indonesia

*pray with Eli and his team as they continue to preach the gospel and in the islands south-west of the south part of the country. pray that those who came to faith may grew strong and firm in Jesus. that the team may continue to work together well and finish really strong. 

pray also for safety of the entire team and favors on their travel back to their home town, and for Eli to his home county - Indonesia and where to go from there.