“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 28:1)
To mark the church’s 26th anniversary, the theme “CHOOSE CHRIST” was accentuated through the congregational songs, special music, and the preaching of God’s Word. The joyous occasion was celebrated on September 7, 2025. It was a day filled with thanksgiving to God for His steadfast love, His unending mercies, and His faithfulness. Of course, special events like this would not be complete without food, fun, and fellowship! They all went home with their hearts and stomachs full. Indeed, God is good all the time!
I also want to share the joy of having new people being added to our church in the last three months. Frankie Guibao (a freshmen IT student), Samantha Reuyan (a Grade 7 student), and Maicel Acala (a Grade 10 student) were recently baptized. They may have different stories, but these three have one thing in common—all three come from broken families. Despite this unfortunate circumstance in their lives, they still want to achieve something for themselves. Frankie, who is living with his grandfather, enrolled in one of the colleges in Tacloban City, where he met my brother-in-law’s wife who is in charge of the enrollment process. Upon learning where he resides, she invited Frankie to come and visit our church. She forwarded his address to me, and our men visited him. When he came to church, he was surprised to see a familiar face. One of our men was his classmate in high school—what a small world! Samantha is a young girl who is being raised by her grand-parents. After giving birth, her mother decided to leave her with her grandparents and left to find work. Samantha is a smart young woman with a lot of potential. Maicel is a very timid and shy person. She was invited by one of our young people, along with her sister and cousin. Though the others stopped attending church, she still comes faithfully. Her parents are separated, and she is living with her father. It took some time before her parents finally gave their consent for her baptism. I praise and thank God for this blessing!
As a believer of the Great Commission, I am delighted that two of our supported foreign missionaries are finally able to reach the field of their calling. Pastor Jezreel Tendero, a former student of mine, together with his wife and daughter, are now on the mission field. Pastor Roy Lesigues, his wife, and two kids are also getting ready to leave and serve God on the foreign field. I am grateful to God that we are able to support these men through prayer and missions giving.
An opportunity to share the Gospel is always exciting for me and the church. Last September, I was given the opportunity to share God’s Word with parolees. Every second Wednesday of the month, we meet in a gym near us. At our first meeting, there were almost 200 parolees in attendance! This is a new and inspiring ministry for us! I am praying that God’s Word will have an impact on their lives and change them for the better.
Recently, we have been experiencing frequent earthquakes and typhoons. As a result, one of the main bridges that we pass through going to church partially collapsed. At the moment, only single motorcycles are allowed to pass. Right now, we can only use single motorcycles to pick up our people and take them across to the end of the bridge where our church vehicle is waiting to transport them to church. We are hoping and praying that this situation will be resolved in God’s perfect time. Please continue to pray for our safety and protection.
As for our family, the Lord is always gracious! My wife and I are doing great. Sofia and Hadassah will have their midterm exams this week. Amelie, on the other hand, is full of energy and keeps us on our toes!
Thank you so much for keeping us in your prayers and for your faithfulness in supporting us. May God bless you!
Servants of the Lord Jesus Christ,
The Javier Family
Parish, Arlene, Sofia, Ghabriella, and Amelie
Missionaries in the Philippines
