It’s been a long time, so excited to share some of the things we are up to…

One of the things we have enjoyed this year is a new focus on Local Work & Witness. As we were not able to have international teams for the past 2 and a half years, we began to have a discussion on the region about a year ago about how to give more mission opportunities to our fields. Many of the missionary slots on our region are being filled by people from our region. Our regional director. Dr. Mark Louw, asked us “how can we provide mission experience on the Philippines field”. We told him that we already have some local Work & Witness going on, but that the biggest problem is that teams have a problem coming up with project funds. Dr. Mark’s response was to offer a temporary use of alabaster funds for projects. Of course the projects need to be in line with Alabaster requirements, but that we could apply for them and form NYI Work & Witness teams.

So we went to work, letting the 11 districts of the Philippines know about this new program. Each district superintendent could put in one application for a local church. This has been a process. There were many things that needed to take place in order to make these projects Alabaster (this is a Nazarene fund for buildings and properties) compliant. Things like the property being titled to the Church of the Nazarene.

So now, months later we have 2 projects that are completed. We have had 2 teams that have served from Nazarene Youth International (NYI). While serving we have been able to call out several young leaders here to our Regional leadership and we have been able to share our own story of being called to missions with these young people and hear about how they feel God is calling them. What a blessing!

We have two more approved projects that we will be having teams for. One down south in Eastern Mindanao and one just south of us here on Luzon, in the Southern Tagalog District.

We have been so blessed to be a part of these teams. The teams have come from many different districts and they are full of passion and love for the Lord.

Please see below two video’s of these projects.

Other News from the Wilkins…

We may not post too much about our work at Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary, but much of our time is spent there using our gifts and talents. Kevin oversees the facilities and the work of maintaining our campus. During the past few years, he has maneuvered through Covid restrictions and now he is helping with setting up rooms for quality hybrid classrooms. Education has changed all over the world. With online education, pastors have found that they can be in place, serving in their churches, while they study. We do not see that changing now. At this time we have about 20 students on campus as compared to about 80 or more in past years, but enrollment is up due to online classes. Time will tell if students will want to come back to our campus. We are navigating these times with prayer, trying to understand where God is leading. At this time we are having students from all over the world online. Have you considered taking seminary courses?

At the same time, regional meetings are going on to plan our way forward. It is a very exciting time for education and APNTS is excited to participate with all of the schools and course of study in the region.

Another fun thing is being in relationship with our staff at the seminary. While kevin works with the general facilities staff, I get to work in the Central Office. I am the office manager, although mostly I assist the president. We enjoyed participating in Chapel Staff day. Our Staff shared their gifts and talents with the faculty and students, by leading worship, sharing the message and testimonies and all the little pieces of chapel day.

We also enjoyed a staff fun day. This was a fun day of fellowship and food. We are so thankful for our hardworking staff.

Graduation 2022 and new opportunities to meet together!

For the first time in 2 years we were able to enjoy in-person graduation. Beginning in March the Covid numbers in the Philippines greatly improved. Since that time we have enjoyed on average less than 200 cases per day. This has released us to meet in person.

Many churches here in the Philippines have gone back to in-person services. We got to enjoy the reopening of Harvest COTN, pastora Racquel’s church, after they rented a new space in town that is just a perfect location for the congregation. Like many churches she has been unable to meet in person until just this year.

We have been able to travel to district assemblies and share about Work & Witness and Shechem Children’s Home in the Philippines. This year, for the first time, we went to East and West Mindanao districts. We were so blessed to greet them. Janet also got to go the Women’s Clergy event up in Baguio. It is a beautiful area and also a beautiful experience spending time with these church leaders.

75th Anniversary event for the Church of the Nazarene

After so many online events over the past couple of years, it was so exciting to celebrate across the Philippines the anniversary of the church. We celebrated culture and the hero’s of the faith here, both missionaries and Filipino’s whose heart and passion was to build God’s church. Over 3000 people attended in person and everyone else was online across the the country to celebrate what God has done!

Work & Witness Project moving forward!

So here is an exciting story! A team from Pittsburgh District was unable to come for 2 years in a row. After not making it to the Philippines they sent their project funds a head and as we speak this project is just about ready to pour their 2nd floor. A big thank you to this district for allowing the church to move ahead, even though they were not able to come. We are hoping they may come for a ministry trip this next year.

Shechem Art Day!

We continue to enjoy time spent at Shechem Children’s Home. Here is a photo of an art day. We had a visiting NCM team that took the time to share stories, games and art with our kids. All were blessed. This has been such a busy season, we have not gone as often as we like to. Today I went and we had fellowship as our Executive Director is leaving to serve on the regional level and 4 children were moving to a new long term care center. We were sad for the transitions, but I believe in the work of Shechem Children’s home. Their time spent here has prepared them to move forward into their future. These four siblings are going to be able to stay together and even though there is no family member to take them in, they will be in a quality home with good opportunities for education, in a Christ Centered environment. We have several other “graduates” there, so there is even someone to welcome them!

Please pray for us!

• That we would know God’s priorities for our work
  • Field Work & Witness
  • Field Alabaster & Mission Projects
  • Field Communication work
  • APNTS Facilities and Employee work
  • APNTS Office Management and work with the President
  • Regional Work & Witness work as things begin to open up again
• For Travel Preparations for our upcoming Home Assignment – August 22- October 20
• For Kevin’s Dad who is in the hospital
• For Janet’s Mom who has been moved to skilled nursing
• For Kevin as he is not feeling well, head cold.

I won’t wait so long next time…