The People Mission

The Village People

It takes a village to raise a family.

Let me bring you now deep into a housing community in Divisoria Manila. These children represent many families and this mother represents something of a different value system. I could give a check list of the various qualities that I and others have observed in her as a mother and wife. But it would probably be cheap as a check list.

They say you can know someone by “what goes on around them and what or who is following them”. I like that and this mother or rather the San Miguel family is constantly inundated with neighborhood children. They have a network of families that helps define the meaning of a village of true friendship.  We are bringing a mini sound system called the “proclaimer” to their home as a meeting place and it is our prayer that God would raise up a village of growing men, women, and children in the family of Christ! What a deep privilege and thank you for being a part as we reach and help people find their way back to God… :)

A hungry foe

No Fear is a bit of a stretch…  

It was in the early morning hours of Divisoria when the unexpected attack took place. We felt helpless to do anything but laugh and did we ever laugh. I watched as this ghastly cockroach flew straight for Billy’s throat and IT actually bit him.  We are not sure if IT was trying to eat him or possibly a territorial dispute.

Whatever the case, he is alive today and we are grateful for that. But we want you to know Billy that we would do it all over again, for you. J Yet, I’m not sure many people would stand in your place. Thanks Billy, we love you man…  Umm Question Bobby or Billy, did IT escape and live to tell the grandkids?

 I was buckled over and couldn’t see clearly.

"You pity the plant..." Jonah 4:10-11

Grace or disgrace

When it pertains to the issue of abuse towards woman and children I have often struggled to respond in grace. I naturally lean towards being gracious to the victim and hard on the abuser. It would be in the same category of Jonah not wanting to go to Nineveh KNOWING that GOD would show mercy to the ruthless Ninevites. Yet God asked Jonah, “Shouldn’t I be concerned about the Ninevites? Who do not know their right hand from their left…” 

It was last Tuesday morning that a message on God’s forgiveness echoed throughout the jail. I was sitting on the ground across from a cell that contained no less than 35 men; I bowed my head in my hands and struggled with my thoughts about a man who mercilessly killed His wife and two children. When I looked up, he was directly across from me in a cell. He stared at me without expression and my mind was colliding with the issue of grace or disgrace.

At times I find myself as Jonah, and then I realize I am the guilty man.  All I need to do is look in the mirror. We are all Ninevites apart from the grace of God and deserving of hellfire. Lord, we know that vengeance is yours, help us to be vessels of grace and truth and a voice of hope to those that are perishing!

Forget the Small Stuff

whatever it takes…

I remember driving and seeing a short excerpt plastered outside of a residential house. It read “The king James version is the only real Bible…” It continued with an air of condemnation. I thought how shallow and easy to defend a “version” rather than to give yourself to the enrichment of others in Christ.

My beautiful sister Carrie never showed any real interest in the Bible, until one night a friend gifted her with a modern English Bible. I came to her house and she could barely contain herself. She said “Jeff, I never knew the Bible said this, it speaks to me!”  So we sat down and she said to me “I like my Bible because it says "the" instead of “thou” and I just thought “wow Lord, whatever it takes for people to know you!” Are we standing in a worthy battle or shoveling wood, hay, and stubble to the forever-loss of many people?

 

Meeting my Father

God and Google?

While I was home on furlough, I learned that God sometimes opens doors even if we knock softly, especially when were not wanting to totally go in. The story begins with two major players GOD and Google.  Yes, I said GOOGLE! J

When I was growing up, I often thought of my father but never took steps to find him. It just remained a recurring thought for the last 40 yrs until a few months ago when the thought went to my heart. It was nothing less than a flow of undisturbed peace. You know what I mean, when you know that you know that you know! J I had that internal-KNOW that without a doubt I was going to meet him not in the air but in a few days.

I went on Google and found his home-address BUT not his phone number. A very good and cherished friend of mine Bob flew down and met me in West Palm Beach then we took the drive together to my dad’s house in Miami Florida. I didn’t have any nervousness until various people indirectly gave me the “I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes.” Along with the “what If’s?” J But Peace is a voice that sometimes makes are steps clear and steady.

As Bob and I drove to the gated community a not so friendly looking guard stood waiting for us and I prayed Lord, let us pass by without needing to call my dad through a third-party and she just flagged us by as I smiled and wavedJ Then we came to a second gate and this required a code or automated phone call. L  So I found his name George Mourlot and BEHOLD the phone was ringing. “Hello? Is this George Mourlot? Who is this? This is Jeff Rice. You’re kidding me, Come in!” So the gate buzzes and opens and meeting Him was an enjoyable time for all of us.

We talked as if we had known each other for years.  I shared my life and testimony; then in a mirrored kind of way, we compared are hands arms nose etc and we were like “wow, we ahhhh share a lot of similarities!”J The heartbeat of God is reconciliation and He gives us the ultimate example…

Why are you hiding?                                           

The Light of Christ can overcome darkness… 

 

On the corner of Banofaco Street the atmosphere just reeks of darkness and oppression as women stand on street corners with pimps on the look out for obscure customers not wanting to be in the open.

 

One man walked into us as he was on his way to the corner. We talked with him for more than 30 min. He was repentant and asked us to pray with him as he made a decision for Christ and his entire countenance changed.

 

I remember how peaceful he appeared as he told us “I’m going to go home now”; he turned around and walked home to never look back.

 

 The other man we spoke with quickly entered a motorized tricycle with his friend and a young woman. We asked them a rhetorical question “why are you hiding?” They quickly hid their faces and sped off! Still other men stuck their middle finger up or got outwardly angry at what was happening.  In truth, angry at the light of Christ; Whether we are accepted or rejected it means very little as we have a short time to reach people in the love and truth of Jesus Christ!

 

 The contrast of both men is sobering, and later that night I looked up two verses in the Bible Genesis 3:8-9 John 3:19-20 as I really feel the great coming of our Lord Jesus’ return is imminent and we need to seize this opportunity to share in all things above all the hope we have in Jesus Christ…

 

A Mothers love…

“A mother's love is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, it never fails or falters, even though the heart is breaking” Helen Rice

 

I have to say that this mother with her children is one experience that has driven deep inside of me. It’s mainly because of the selfless love she has for her children.  

The mother’s name is Rocelle and with her Children they are the Medina family. They consist of 2 boys and one girl Rov, Rowiel, and Rowena. The husband died and the family lives on the streets…

It was 2 A.M. when we met them on a sidewalk; while Rocelle was sitting up, holding her sleeping little girl as the two boys slept up against the wall. Throughout the day Rocelle sells candy and makes only a few dollars to meet the most basic needs…

 

The beauty of this composed and grateful mother was her quiet confidence. It was against all hope she trusted that Jesus would provide for her children. When we went and bought food and drinks for them, her eyes welled-up with tears without giving any attention or care to the bags of groceries. She just sat there with tears coming down her face.  It was one of those silent moments that you realize that God is doing something in her and we need not nor should we say anything…

 

In any case, God’s measure of service and people is perhaps most clearly seen in Luke 7:40-49 I think we will be surprised one day when we get to heaven to see the glorious sight of thousands and millions of people esteemed highly by God but were despised by the world and ignored by religion…

…Only Jesus can give patience and peace

 

   The Abiding Life bears Fruit__________

 Luke 10:38-42 John 15:7 Proverbs 11:30 Galatians 5:23

Fruitful growth in Jesus Christ

I want to share a powerful testimony of a Christ-Filled Life bearing the fruits of the Spirit. This story is so inspiring to me and I am (Top-left Colleen top-right Rose) certain it will be for you as well.

We live in a world of so many needs but like the story of Mary and Martha, so Rose has chosen (middle-picture) the “one thing that was needed,” to abide at the feet of Jesus.

 

“He that abides in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit..”

 

In no small way, Rose was saved several years ago and I have seen her grow centered on loving Jesus and loving people. We are not talking about a flimsy love limited to  emotion but the humanly impossible love of 1^st Corinthians 13:4-8 although Rose is not perfect she is in deep fellowship with God and walks with Him.

She is experiencing many difficulties in her circumstances; Roses’ husband drinks continually and doesn’t work. 

 

Yet Rose is bearing the fruit of the Spirit, while under fire. She does so with the brightness of self-less love as she encourages everyone around her to know and to grow in Jesus Christ…

 

"The fruit of a righteous person is a tree of life, and a winner of souls is wise"

Rose invited Colleen her co-worker to our life-group then after attending for a few weeks  Colleen came and shared with me “I have never experienced such peace in my life before; I want to know more…”  God is shaping Colleen as she has the seeds of a strong and approachable leader in Christ! 

 

She is presently Roses’ apprentice-leader in our Life-group. We held an in-reach at the local business where they both work and Colleen is already investing (bottom-picture) in her new-found faith in Jesus to the others around her. Please continue to pray for them as they grow and move forward in the Lord…

…Only Jesus can give Life 

 

                  The Abiding Life bears Fruit__________ 

      

          John 15:4-9 Proverbs 11:30 Galatians 5:23

 

Life to a Group

 

Our Life-group began over three years ago. It started with a few people making a decision for Jesus Christ. Then we quickly started a systematic dig into God’s word. I remember how hungry many of them were to know the word of God! I mean I was like wow Lord; you are really working in their hearts!

 

Yet for sure it was the illumination of God’s Spirit that brought light. It drove the word of God into their hearts and is bringing life, maturity, and a genuine concern for others.

 If there is one value, that I would say that characterizes this group of men and women it  is teach ability. But of course we have our rascals J that make things interesting…

 

Growth to a Group

 

I love the core leaders of our group, as I love my own soul. They are moving forward in developing leader apprentices in small areas of responsibility. We have seen that what the leader considers being important more than likely the group will begin to embody the same conviction. That is a sobering principle and should make us walk softly before the Lord and with people.

 

Thank you for your continued prayer and friendship in the Lord. We are still learning a lot and want only to be faithful to God’s call to develop and multiply leaders and deep followers of Jesus.

The Plight of the Oppressed

“Lift up your voice for the speechless” Proverbs 31:8-9 

I will have a seven part series on what “only Jesus can give” that will take us through a variety of topics of the much overlooked quality of The fruit of the Spirit as revealed in peoples lives. It is the meat and potatoes of the Christian Life.  

 

When we care for others more than ourselves

“But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant…”

Philippians 2:7

If there is something that our LORD Jesus is able to do; it is responding to a voiceless cry of pain and despair. We are capable of seeing the need and hearing the cry but to respond requires the strength, love, and courage of self-forgetfulness in Christ Jesus.  

 

Then we understand the Mission

The life of Christ and all who would follow Him is one of justice and Compassion for others.

I want us only for a few moments to enter another person’s world of despair with the mind of Christ. I really believe it is important for us to not shield ourselves, as much as we should shield others…

These children (picture top) do not go to school and spend all day in a monotonous search for scraps and handouts.The extreme vulnerability of these young women and children make them a frequent target for pimps, predators and traveling North American pedophiles. 

The fearful recompense of God

He says to himself, God has forgotten…

Psalms 10:11

The young women (picture 2 middle) left home to live on the streets because of abuse. Yet they were brought into a brothel by pimps and brought back to the streets the next day. I wont go into detail, so as not to offend your sensitivities.

 

A true Christian woman (picture 3 middle) explained to us as she cleans the streets at night. “It was 2:00 AM when they came to get the kids and I yelled to leave them alone!!” I believe it was Christ in her, yelling to those pimps to “leave the children alone!!”

 

The violence, injustice, and evil that pervades the streets at night is like a roaring Lion consuming innocence for the love of money. The two men in the red are pimps (picture 4 bottom) and tour-guides for foreign pedophiles.  Read and consider Psalm 10 as a source of understanding with prayer. Lets draw close to the LORD so we have something to offer others. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing of eternal value…