Stories of Hope, Unity and Transformation
Involved with Israel? Why?
War in Israel Israel has been embroiled in a war with Hamas the past few weeks, and we who are outside Israel (Gentiles) and who call ourselves the Body of Christ/Ekklesia have to get involved. If we love what God loves and hate what God hates, then we should remember...
A Second Chance at Life
Difficult Beginnings I come from a poor and broken family. My parents separated and had no stable work to provide for me and my siblings. My mother washed clothes for other people, while my father spent time in prison. From a very young age, I lived on the streets. As...
From House Gatherings to Community Outreaches: The Story of Makati Lighthouse
Makati Lighthouse In the heart of Makati City, amidst the lively streets and towering buildings, there's a place close to my heart-- the Makati Lighthouse. We at Makati Lighthouse are more than just a group of people who are connected to Makati City; we are a...
Ministry or Business? (Part 1)
The Testimony and Insights of Powerhouse Business Couple Peter and Jaime Teong Can one be a missionary and a businessman at the same time? “If you have been trained by the Lord all these years to be a king in the marketplace, to be a priest in the marketplace, [then]...
Adoption: Embracing the Story of the Gospel
God’s View of Family Our concept of family used to be simple: get married, have kids, raise them up well, and you’re done. Isn’t that our typical picture? A husband, a wife, a son, a daughter, and maybe some pets in the mix? What we didn’t expect was that God had...
When God Goes Before You: the Story of LTC Ronie Torres Ebarita PART 2
PART 2 “What if he has a knife and stabs me? He still held his M14 rifle pressed between our bodies. What if he fires it?” As these thoughts raced through my mind, I heard the same voice earlier say, “May baril ka!” (You have a gun!). LtCol. Ebarita, who was then an...
When God Goes Before You: the Story of LTC Ronie Torres Ebarita Part 1
Childhood My six siblings and I grew up in a farming family, in the humble town of Pamplona, Negros Oriental. My parents were ordinary individuals in the community, but they were well-respected because of their character and integrity—virtues they wanted us to...
God Waits With You (PART 2)
When I was 49 years old, I started to pray, “Lord, next year I’ll be 50. Maybe there’s no one who’ll be interested in me anymore because of my age. But it’s okay, Lord, You’ve made me happy anyway.” In all those years of anxiously waiting for someone, I had been...
God Waits With You (PART 1)
My Life as a Single Woman When I was in my 20s, I was the pianist in the wedding of many of my friends. However, I honestly could not fully rejoice with them because, well, I was single, an NBSB – No Boyfriend Since Birth. Hence, I would go to the weddings alone....
Ito Ang Digmaan
Ang daming beses ko nang sinabi sa langit na susuko na ako. Hindi ko na kaya. Hindi ko na magagawang kunin ang responsibilidad na binigay ng Diyos sa’kin. Masyadong mabigat. Masyadong mahirap. Ito ang digmaang minsang ko nang tinakasan at ngayo’y muling sinusuong. --...
Partner’s Corner
Reaching Out to Storm-Stricken Montalban
OB fed thousands of families in storm-stricken Rizal “We’ve been through every other typhoon, but we never saw anything like this,” Flordeliza Flores of Montalban, Rizal, shared as she waited in line to pick up her meal in a vacant lot near her house. There, Operation...
Holy Communion on a Bunk Bed: Lessons from an Iranian Ex-Prisoner
No hugs on Sunday morning. No joint meal with your Bible Study group. Many Christians around the world are now isolated because of the coronavirus. For the Iranian church, isolation is nothing new. Former prisoner for his faith, Pastor Wahid, shares three tips on how...
You Are My Portion: A Persecuted African’s Testimony PART 2
“I knelt down and prayed, ‘Lord, don’t let me fail. You are my portion.’ Not even my relatives helped me, only God did. He stands with the deprived and underprivileged ones. And here is my house. Blessed be the name of the Lord. I also thank all of you that have...