August '19 Update: Applying All Diligence
"Applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 1:6-8
This is the 3rd graduating class of the expository preaching program and the 1st graduating from this location, Baguio City. Out of 21 men who began the program, 19 graduated! Many wanted to quit at times, but they diligently persevered and are glad they did.
The rigorous preaching program can be difficult for the indigenous pastors not only because of the language barriers, but also because they need to balance their work and home life while trying to complete assignments. We are so encouraged by their hard work throughout the past two years.
This brings the number up to 35+ graduates from three different locations in the Philippines. We are hoping to start another group in this area for the more rural pastors.
After teaching the final module in Baguio City, I went to Manila and preached at Higher Rock Christian Church, as well as participated in their local basketball tournament.
Here I am with Pastor Bob Amigo, pastor of HRCC. The basketball tournament was a great time of fellowship and over 200 people from the church came to participate or watch! It was also a great time for me to show off my ball handling skills (haha!).
The next leg of my trip, I participated in an expository preaching conference, along with Dr. Sean Ransom (pictured), Pastor Jurem Ramos, and Pastor Devraj Urs.
It was a huge turnout of over 150 pastors, some coming to the one day conference after having traveled over 16 hours to get there. Seeing the commitment of these men to be trained and accurately teach the Scriptures is inspiring. At least 20 expressed interested in joining the modular preaching program and hope to start next year.
Prayer Requests
Pray for the men to commit to training in Baguio and Davao.
Pray for the newly graduated Baguio pastors to be effective in their shepherding of the churches they are pastoring.
Pray for my preparation for the upcoming October and November trips.
If You Wish to Support Us
If the Lord leads you to support this ministry, you can do in several different ways:
Credit Card: go to our GMI link. Note that GMI covers all online expenses so that 100% of your donation goes to our support.
Direct Deposit: print out the form from this link and follow its instructions. The missionary/project name is “Tim Carns”.
Check: make it payable to “GMI” and write “Tim Carns” on the memo line. Then mail it to Grace Ministries International, 13248 Roscoe Blvd., Sun Valley, CA 91352.