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2 / Issue 2: February to April 2012 I met with Ahia James and Achi Keren mid January of this year for small group every Thursday. We would discuss and study verses and its daily life implications. It is a good way for me to keep grounded in my faith and not to compromise to the things of the world because as a student, one goes through many trials and temptations that are dicult to overcome without proper guidance. This was especially challenging for me because my family is in the province and I would only get to see them every so often. It is important for Christian students to have someone to talk to about things that we are facing so that we may be reminded of keeping our faith strong, and this is who Ahia James and Achi Keren are to me. They opened their wonderful house to me and I always have good afternoon sessions with them. It is very comforting to know that there are people who are praying for you in dicult times. They are indeed Gods blessing to me and I pray that they may touch the lives of many other students and non-students alike! Ciarra King Ciarra is a member of United Evangelical Church of General Santos and is currently a senior at Ateneo majoring in BS Legal Management. She introduced us to one of her classmates, Aloy, who happens to have attended the same high school as James had! Aloy is currently seeking a community of faith where he can grow spiritually. While he identies himself as a Roman Catholic, Aloy is very keen and eager to study the Bible. It is our prayer that as we meet him to read the Bible together that James can share the gospel to him and introduce him to the Lord Jesus Christ. We are thankful that in our ministry we have the opportunity to minister to and train young people who come from other churches and also to partner with them in reaching their unbelieving friends. Currently we have Bible studies everyday from Tuesdays through Saturdays. Though these are usually groups of one to one or one to two, we are hoping that in the coming months the people we are meeting with would invite more of their unbelieving friends to join us as well. Last March, we started a Midweek Prayer Meeting, which meets at our home every Wednesdays from 7-8 pm. The aim of this prayer www.pilgrimcommunity.ph

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PILGRIMS PROGRESS: Ministry Updates of the Pilgrim Community Project

has subsided but we would like to ask you to continue praying for her health as well as that of the little one she is carrying. Please pray also that the Lord may prepare as well to be parents to the child whom He is gifting us with. James has had the opportunity to be invited to the upcoming International Intensive church planting t r a i n i n g o f R e d e e m e r C i t y t o C i t y (www.redeemercitytocity.com). This is a specialized immersive training for church planters scheduled for June 27 to July 24 this year. We thank the Lord for this opportunity and we are also grateful to the UECP Mission Board for approval of James participation in this training. As he will be away for close to a month, please pray that the ministry of Pilgrim Community might not be hindered by his absence. We thank God that a former seminary classmate has agreed to help out while James is away for training.

meeting is to have a regularly scheduled event that is open for all, believers and unbelievers alike. Consequently, we have tried knocking on our neighbors doors to invite them to pray with ushowever, with little success. The only one who has assented to join us is our Iranian neighbor, Houman, who is currently doing doctoral studies in civil engineering at UP. He came and joined us on two occasions before he went back to Iran for holidays. James gave him an English Bible, which he was very happy to receive. On the average, we have less than ve people attending our Prayer Meeting although we are expecting this number to increase as the summer term lends to the new school year in June. We have also been able to successfully invite our vegetable provider, Charlene to join us. She came once only because it turns out that her Catholic Prayer Group also meets on Wednesday evenings. We are currently working out whether we can do a joint meeting with her group sometime. Last May 8-11, James and Keren participated in the 3rd CCOWE-ETF Conference held at Harbor Lights in Cagayan de Oro City. This years theme was All of Grace and saw the participation of over 80 delegates from dierent Chinese Churches across the Philippines. James and Keren serve on the committee of CCOWE-ETF Philippines and helped organize this training event.

Prayer Points

Please pray that the present Bible Studies may have a wider reach as we challenge the students to invite their friends and classmates. We have found that the best way to reach new people in our setting is through referrals as people tend to be suspicious of strangers, even if these are their neighbors. James and Keren are participating in a number of activities sponsored by the Good Food Community (our vegetable provider!) in the coming weeks and hope to be able to meet new friends. James is actually doing a cooking demo in an upcoming community kitchen and request that you pray that he can cook to Gods glory and also help the attendees to learn how to cook a new dish. Please pray that we might establish good relationships with the people who are attending. We thank the Lord for the blessing of Kerens pregnancy. She is currently on her fourth month. Morning sickness

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