In December of 1914, a fire destroyed the laboratory of inventor Thomas Edison. The next day as he looked over the ruins, Edison said, “There is great value in disaster, for all of our mistakes are burned up.” He was 67 years old at the time, but he immediately started work on building a new, more efficient facility.

Thank God we can start over. We think about this every new year. We have a clean slate–365 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes and 12 seconds to do new things, change old habits, improve our lives. This is the time of year when people make resolutions. These are inward commitments to change, to do things like lose weight, stop smoking, or clean out the garage, etc. Good as those things might be, they’re not as important as working to change some of the other things we do. Galatians 5 lists some of these: “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like (v. 19-21). These “works of the flesh” are to be replaced with the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (v. 22-23).

If you’ve ever tried to develop these in your own strength, you understand real disappointment. They’re called the fruit of the Spirit because it’s only by the power of God that they can become part of our lives. And God is more than willing to help us. Only the power of God can overcome our natural tendency toward the works of the flesh. So, what was 2008 like for you? Was it a disappointment, or even a disaster? Well, don’t despair. God allows fresh starts. As it says in Lamentations 3:21-23Lamentations 3:21-23
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. recall...: Heb. make to return to my heart ²² It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. ²³ They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  

WP-Bible plugin, “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

Fewer and fewer people look at their future with optimism, but we have every reason to face the New Year with great confidence because of the hope we have in Christ Jesus. Thank God that with His help we can change. And thank God that He never does. His mercy and His compassion are new, not only every year, but every day. Through His forgiveness, our mistakes are burned up and we can start over.

Calvary Chapel Dumaguete to Focus on Missions

For quite some time now the Lord has placed upon the hearts of the Elders of Calvary Chapel Dumaguete, led by Pastor Jo, to focus on missions. One initiative for missions focused on Thailand and to support the Calvary Chapel Dumaguete (CCD) church workers there. This resulted in a trip to Thailand composed of a group dedicated to do missions work – an activity supported generously by the CCD Church family. At the same time the Holy Spirit revealed a need to do missions work as well in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao. Where exactly in Mindanao was not known yet…But prayers continued to be lifted up to the Lord for His leading.



Local Missions work to Start in Dipolog City, Mindanao

God has a way of putting things in place and in perfect order… A series of events and situations all happened in rapid succession clearly revealing God’s plans for CCD to direct its attention for local missions work to start in Dipolog, a city located in Mindanao.

First, the Take No Glory Band (TNG) from the United States, came to Dumaguete to do an evangelistic concert. Pastor Jo gave the message during the concert after which more than 600 individuals came forward and received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior..God’s mighty hand indeed was evident during this concert. People then approached Pastor Jo to do a similar evangelistic concert as a follow up to the TNG concert. Calvary Chapel Dumaguete has its own core of musicians who comprise the Praise and Worship team and a good choir that can provide top notch Christian music. When and where to hold a concert was then the prayer.

In God’s wonderful synchronization of His plan unfolding and being revealed – during this period: numerous cellphone text messages from individuals were coming forth from the Dipolog-Dapitan area (both of these cities are located in Mindanao) as a result of having been touched by the Lord through the CCD radio and TV ministries. People were expressing appreciation for the messages being aired regularly (replays of the sermons given by Pastor Jo during the Sunday and midweek services here in Dumaguete); inquiries were received curious as to what Calvary Chapel was; shortly thereafter, the CCD choir director, Jing Guevarra, approached Pastor Jo and shared with him how the Holy Spirit placed upon her heart to do an evangelistic concert in Dipolog.



First Visit to Dipolog City

This vision from the Lord of doing the first CCD evangelistic crusade in Dipolog was confirmed by several members of the church. A visit to Dipolog was organized to put God’s plan to fruition. Through contacts amongst God’s servants a meeting with the association of local church pastors in Dipolog, ZANEMA (Zamboanga del Norte Ministerial Association) was arranged. On October 4, 2008r 4, 2008
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
 

WP-Bible plugin, Pastor Jo together with the CCD elders and their wives, went to Dipolog. During this first gathering with ZANEMA, Pastor Jo, revealed to the brethren Pastors God’s leading for CCD to hold an evangelistic crusade in their city.

The association responded with great enthusiasm. “…we have been waiting for something like this to take place in our hometown…the Lord must love us for giving us this event to be able to share God’s word through a concert…”



God also opens doors to hold a concert in Dapitan

Lifting this activity to God, the Lord continues to open doors of opportunities for CCD. Upon hearing of the planned Dipolog evangelistic concert, a pastor from the association suggested to Pastor Jo and the Elders that since Dapitan is very near why not do a concert there as well? Indeed God is awesome in the ways He makes everything work together. Co-workers in God’s vineyard in Dapitan have eagerly embraced the idea of the concert and volunteers there are coming forward to help out.



CCD Evangelistic Concerts to be held February

So finally, plans are being put in motion to hold evangelistic concerts on the 20th of February in Dapitan and Dipolog on the 21st. The CCD Praise and Worship team and the choir are now fervently busy with their practices. The committees are in place, the technical support and logistics groups are now meeting to map out the details of the the trip for the two cities.



Photos of the first and second survey trips to Dipolog

Here, we share with you some pictures of the first and second survey trips to Dipolog:

Invite Your Friends and Family to the “Hope for You” Concerts!

The two concerts entitled “Hope for You” will feature a message from Pastor Joseph Jo and music from the CCD Praise and Worship Team and the CCD choir. Both concerts will begin at 7 pm and admission is FREE. If you have friends and relatives in both Dapitan and Dipolog, this is a great opportunity for you to introduce them to God’s GOOD NEWS! Email them a copy of this article and invite them to attend the concert.

Contact us at email: ccdgte@gmail.com or phone: (035) 225-0407 & (035) 422-9093 if you want more information.

Please pray with us as we continue to lay before the feet of Jesus the two evangelistic concerts. We pray for the Lord’s PROVISION, His constant LEADING, GUIDANCE and of course, the HARVEST.



See you in Dapitan on February 20 and Dipolog on February 21!

These concerts are presented to you by Hope For You Outreach Ministry of Calvary Chapel Dumaguete City, in cooperation with Zamboanga del Norte Evangelical Ministerial Association (ZANEMA).

Dapitan Multipurpose Cultural Sports Center
7:00 pm  February 20, 2009

Amando B. Amatong Civic Center
7:00 pm February 21, 2009

To Pause and Reflect

It is a long-standing custom in our society, when approaching the end of a year, to pause and reflect on the twelve months past. To think about what we’ve attempted, what we’ve achieved, what we’ve lost, what we’ve gained, what we’ve suffered, and hopefully, what we’ve learned from it all. It’s also a time to look forward to the future, to think about how we are going to better our lives in the year to come. How we intend to better ourselves, or improve our circumstances.

And looking back, I’m sure we have much to give thanks for as a church family and as individuals. He has provided everything we need. A place to worship. Financial resources to meet our expenses. Faithful, gifted workers; people who, week in/week out, show up to do their part – do dozens of other things in service to Christ. Most of all, we give thanks for those who have became believers and those who have come to know Christ more deeply, who have experienced His love, and comfort, and strength in a new way. Because that’s the main reason we’re here in the first place. Yes, some of that spiritual growth has come through struggle and suffering. But God is faithful. He is and will always be!



“Never Will I leave you; Never Will I Forsake You.”

Trusting in His faithfulness and being content with His care is the way to be free from fear and greed this year. In the words of Hebrews 13, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” (13:5-6). Depend on Jesus’ faithfulness to give you joy and security which money can’t buy, which human technology can’t achieve, and which human attacks can’t destroy. Focusing only on finances is a formula for fear, but focusing on Jesus’ faithfulness is the key to comfort.



Undisturbed Confidence will Be Yours!

Human finances can change suddenly but Jesus’ faithfulness never changes. Human technology can solve some problems, but it can also cause other problems. Our inventions can fail at the worst possible moment, and even when they work, our inventions can’t meet our deepest needs for love, forgiveness, holiness, and eternal life with God. Human help can’t replace Jesus’ faithfulness and human attacks can’t defeat Christ’s faithfulness to His people. Jesus’ faithfulness is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Has Jesus been faithful in the last year? Absolutely! Well, you can rest assured that because He never changes, He will be faithful to carry us through this New Year.

So beloved, learn more of Jesus in His Word, put all your weight, cast all your cares and pour out your heart to Him – and undisturbed confidence will be yours!

ELDERS & WIVES PRAYER AND FASTING on Jan. 16-17 at Calvary Chapel Training Center. This is also open to all Ministry Leaders.

BEREAN NIGHT will have a break and will resume January 13, 2009.

ATTN: MINISTRY LEADERS please mark your calendar: January 12 (Monday, 7 pm) will be our Year-long Planning meeting. Please be ready with your activities and schedule for 2009.

A Night of Psalms – “CONSECRATE” – a joint New Year celebration (1st, & 2nd English, Visayan services) at 5:30 pm on Jan. 1st. Come and let’s bring glory to the One who is faithful!