Team Philippines Update: More Ups Than Downs!God continues to work in Dumaguete! My family has reached 15 years of serving in the Philippines. A lot has happened, but God’s grace and faithfulness are certain. Looking back, I know we’ve had our moments of downs, but I see so many ups that it just makes me want to keep looking up.

Our number of soul winners going out each week is up. Our attendance continues to go up (and down), but there are more ups. Our CHAPEL (homeschooling ministry) has more students this year. Our Bible college, Hyles-Anderson College of the Philippines, just started a new year, with our highest number of students since we began in 2012.

The number of families in the church has gone up; some just recently joined, and another family started attending recently who had been listening to our radio station. I’m enjoying seeing the increasing number of married folks who attend my weekly “15 Minutes for Marriage” class on Sunday afternoons, and I’m noticing an increase in our nursery attendance too.

All around, God is blessing and we are excited to be a part of it. Please be in prayer for our upcoming Missions Conference in September. Our theme this year is “Open (my eyes), Break (my heart), Use (my life).” I’ll have more to share about some exciting things we are doing in conjunction with our conference this year; you’ll hear about it in the next update.

This year, we are looking forward to taking our Bible students, staff, and several church families to the Pastors’ and Workers’ Conference in Iloilo at Iloilo Baptist Church, pastored by Missionary Rick Martin. For some of our students, it will be the first time they have ever left the island of Negros. It is always a help and encouraging time to visit there, and we are excited to pick up some good ideas and training to help us do even more for the Lord.

Please also be in prayer for our son Christian, as he has been accepted by FBMI and will be starting deputation soon to come join us in the Philippines. He will be a tremendous help in teaching and helping us to start more churches throughout Negros Oriental. Our son Elliot will be staying here to complete his Bible college training, and we pray he will be able to pick up on many of the technology things I do to help carry them forward.

Last year, we started helping one of our Bible college graduates, Nelson Duran, get a church started in Dauin, just south of Dumaguete City. He’s been reaching many people there, holding weekly Bible studies, and has some converts who are already out soul winning with him and his wife, along with others from our church who give of their time. We will be announcing their church start very soon and look forward to another family going to begin a new work soon.

My wife and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary on July 28. I’m grateful for the gift of God she is to me and our ministry here in the Philippines, especially for her love and care for our children. We were unable to do anything at that time, but we are looking forward to a quick trip to Thailand in September to join with the FBMI Mastermind, where we will get to reunite with some friends, fellow servants of Christ who serve in various places in this world. Pray for our safe travel.

Thank you for being faithful to partner with us. We love you and pray for you. Please think of us when you are planning your next mission trip; we’d love to host you here in beautiful Dumaguete City. I am working on plans to bring the family to the U.S. early next year, either later February through March or March through early April. If you would like for us to come present our ministry in your church, please reach out and let me know as soon as possible.

That all the world may know,

Randy DeMoville