Pastor's Devotion
Short Term Teaching Trip Report
Thank You Letter
June 03, 2011
Dear Brethren, Greetings in the precious name of the Lord Jesus! The Great Commission commands that we make disciples and not converts. Discipleship consists of teaching others to obey/keep/observe ALL that Christ commanded (Matt 28:19-20). Teaching entails a proper understanding of that which Christ commanded, given to us by the Apostles as it is recorded for us in Scripture. But without understanding how can we say that there is proper discipleship going on? Thus, the need for the teaching ministry here and abroad. I want to thank you for coming along side me in this recent teaching ministry I had in the Philippines. The Lord surely used your support of prayer and or financial giving to make this trip a success. As I have mentioned in the Support Letter I will be working with several organizations to provide teaching and training to a variety of groups. The following is just a short summary of how the Lord brought all of it together: 1. I spent the first week in Isabella, north eastern Luzon, ministering to 118 students and about a dozen staff.
2. I was then dropped off and picked up by a former church member in Nueva Ecija, who opened his home for me. An opportunity to minister to his household opened up and they were very receptive to Scripture (all Roman Catholics).
3. I was then dropped off at Quezon City to stay overnight with a relative. The next day I preached at a local church in Taguig, with a Mother's Day message.
4. The following day I began a week-long course on Hermeneutics at Christ's Commission Fellowship, Alabang to approximately 100 attendees. Each day started at 9am and concluded at 5pm. I was blessed to see the Lord's people equipped to handle the Word rightly. Leaders of CCF hosted me during this time that also opened up other teaching opportunities for me to teach in their Bible Study Groups.
5. This is followed by a day-long seminar on Eschatology at Cainta, Rizal to about 30 pastors and church leaders. I was joined by other TMS (The Master's Seminary, Sun Valley Ca) alumni during this session. A demand for understanding of the Last Things is a result of Harold Camping's dating of Christ's supposed return.
6. The last leg of my trip found me in Boracay, where together with the TMS team and I taught 30 pastors and their families a brief survey of the Old Testament. The event was intended to minister to the pastors and their households as a time of seminar/training/retreat.
7. Just when I thought all the teaching and training were done, I arrived back in Manila with a final request to teach on Eschatology again. This time I was introduced to some very influential people who were also very interested in providing the kind of training I had come to do. This summary does not give justice to all that the Lord did in providing for His famished children. It doesn't speak of the many hours of travel and people I met along the way. It does not reflect the lessons gained and errors made. Nevertheless, it is an accurate summary of which you are a part of, so thank you again. Please continue to pray for the fruit that will be born through this ministry and for the many invitations extended for future training as well. I look forward to serving the Master together with you again. Soli Deo Gloria, Pastor Felix Ballon Jr, MDiv. Pastor-Teacher