“For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5)
As missionaries, we often joke with each other that the most important word in our vocabulary is flexibility. There have been a lot of adjustments in the last two months, but largely for the better. In the last two weeks, the restrictions on our church attendance went up from 10% to 50%. Teens were also allowed to return and children accompanied by their parents. We are rejoicing that church seemed much more like normal, even though we may have to adjust again if regulations change. Please pray for our elementary children, since those who attend public school have not had face-to-face classes for almost two years!
We continued our college classes, and I enjoyed teaching on the subjects of Christian Ethics, Ephesians, and a doctrinal class on the Scriptures. The Lord is helping us all to grow, and we are expecting a good number of new students when a new academic year begins in July 2022.
A real blessing was to be able to finally have the graduation ceremony for three of our students on November 28. At the service, Elmer’s father was saved and baptized, a real answer to prayer! Jeciel and Elmer will continue to work with us at IBC, while Psalm Niel is already serving on staff at his home church in Iloilo. They have all overcome many obstacles in order to graduate, and we look forward to how they will continue to serve the Lord. They are fruit to your account, as you have faithfully supported their training over the last five years.
Two of our staff, who are also graduates of our college, were married on October 29. Jason and Daisy Mae Garganian had a beautiful ceremony, even with the attendance being reduced due to restrictions. They are a fine couple and are so happy that they dated in the right way. Bro. Jason will continue to work with our teens, as he teaches and disciples them.
Our new “IBCD Radio” ministry is doing well with its 24/7 online broadcasts. We are getting ready as we look ahead to doing FM broadcasts when restrictions lift. You may listen online by going to www.ibcdumaguete.com and downloading the app. For those on EST in the States, you can listen to our live morning broadcast at 6:00 p.m. Sundays – Thursdays (we are 13 hours ahead of you presently). The app also has a lot of other information, including the Bible, Bible-reading schedules, discipleship materials, and a hymnbook with piano files. Bro. Randy DeMoville is really using his programming skills to spread the Gospel with this new outreach!
Other blessings during these months include getting my visa extended another year and a relaxing Thanksgiving Day at the DeMovilles’ home with our staff.
I would also ask you to pray for my grandson AJ, who has to wait until January to see an endocrinologist in Cebu about what is causing his heart to beat too quickly.
May you all have a wonderful Christmas with your families. Who knows if 2022 will be the year our Lord returns? As always, thank you for your faithful support!
Yours for souls in the Philippines,
Scott Christiansen
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- I was blessed to be able to lead our youngest daughter Alyssa to trust Christ as her Saviour!
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- Class of 2021 – Jeciel, Elmer, and Psalm Niel