Updates from Pastor Leo and Elma: June 2011

White Fields Ministry Steve Wheeler and teams visit. The visit of Steve Wheeler, Larry Goding, Alex Granados, Joshua Wheeler and John Behle was in more ways than one a blessing to the Philippine ministry. The regional visit (Luzon, Visayas) opened a better understanding of the uniqueness of each region in terms of strategies and needs. A personal touch in each visit was indeed a blessing as well. Pastor Daniel Casuga, a diabetic, was prayed for, he was then brought to the hospital for more treatment. The team was able to visit the home of Cora Parana the wife of Pastor Jojo Parana. In each region, we were able to conduct a fellowship with a cluster of pastors within the area. Steve, Larry and Alex preached and taught in the sessions with pastors. Not in the picture is the seminar in Cavite handled by Pastor Larry Goding for the Childrens outreaches of the 15 churches. The session in Cavite was held in Grace from Heaven church in Paliparan. New men. The WF board was able to interview and visit the areas of the three men applying as new church planter beneficiaries. Livelihood. Dr. Alex Granados keeps a keen eye on possibilities for livelihood projects for churches and pastors that will enable them to sustain the financial needs of the community. The two young men who were with the team represent the younger blood for mission commitment and awareness. It is the hope of WF that Joshua Wheeler and John Behle will develop a firm commitment to the White Fields mission.
Figure 3 Negros Pastors

Figure 1 Manila Pastors

Figure 2 Cebu Pastors

Gracepoint Christian Ministries. The highlight of the ministry was the first DVBS handled by the very new church. More than 100 children benefitted from the four day learning. It was culminated by the giving out of school supplies to the children provided by White Fields. Medicines from Zeeland Christian School were also handed out to parents of the children. The church still meets at the clubhouse of the subdivision. In the recent rainy days, we almost cancelled one worship service because the rains and winds get through the venue. Please help us pray for a venue we can rent temporarily. The Bible studies are strong. One of the Bible studies reaches to more than 20 in attendance. The other Bible studies are one by men and another with the ladies group. The first members who got
Figure 4Pastor Joel Alfonso leading the leaders meeting in our house.

baptized a month ago prove to be the core of workers volunteering and are active in worship services even during rainy days.

Garden. The garden which is primarily sponsored by Don King and the Calgary/Gracepoint church has already built a perimeter fence. It still has to have deep well water, a toilet and a small hut for meetings of small group. We have dug a small pond to raise Tilapia fish. When the weather gets better, we will figure out the vegetables that we can start to grow. We plan to reach out the community near the garden lot. Please continue to pray for funds to builds a hut within the property for the churchplanter maintainer, Pastor Ben Munez to live. We will also use it for small group trainings for gardening and pastoral ministries. There are lots of plans for the type of vegetables that will suit the land. We have to wait till the weather gets better and for consultants to be available.

Figure 5Pastor Ben handing out medicines (ZCS) to the neighbour.

Christian Schools. The new school year began early this month. Grace Christian Community School in Pasay had a good start this year. A new room was developed courtesy of ZCS among the many things that they have helped. GCCS Paliparan was challenged by the government for requirements in building and operation permit. Again, ZCS went to the rescue and was able to meet the deadline for government permits. The school has reached the regular number of enrolees. I have visited New Life Christian School in Mindoro in their new school room provided by ZCS. We brought an older Averatec laptop for Pastor Jun Falla. We also provided a portable broadband and a new cell phone each for Pastor Jun and his wife Annie. All provided by ZCS. Pastoral scholarship. It has been one year since I organized a fellowship of pastors and church planters here in Cavite. The 15 men are faithfully attending our fellowship. They all tell good stories how the fellowship and mentoring has helped them personally and even their churches. The fellowship started with my immediate outreach workers of my church in Pasay who are deployed in Cavite (Abut-Cavite) and the current White Fields men. Then several pastors within the district joined us. We met twice a week. I have networked them with other training ministries. We then networked with a Seminary Education by Extension (SEE) from a very prominent seminary in the Philippines that gives degrees and credit for workers who are already in the ministry. The program is very flexible and will just validate what we are already doing but with focus and aim to get a degree. Each Pastor will need P15, 000. A year ($360) to finish a one year course. We are praying that we can help our pastors raise this amount. In the Philippines, earning a degree is big. It gives the workers some credibility. We hope to give them not just credibility but sharpness for the ministry as well. Please help us raise funds for these beloved workers.
Figure 6Elma looking at the new Audio Visual Room

Family. With the completion of my Doctor of Ministry course through the help of Marvin and Harriet, George and Dorothy of Rock Valley Iowa, I am more able to serve the various capacities of ministry. There is a demand for me to teach in several places but I prioritize White Fields and my immediate fellowship. Elma in turn will take the challenge to go into part time graduate studies in the field of Special Education. At this time of writing she is enrolling at the Dela Salle University at Taft Avenue. This is in preparation to address needs for special children as a ministry. ZCS provided the initial fund for her studies. Joshua (13 years old) is in his second year as High school and is getting bigger. I am a little taller but he is heavier than me I guess. He enjoys his classes. My three girls are all working. Isha works within the province of Cavite but the two girls and Elma have to travel everyday to Manila beating the traffic and the jam of people as they go. It is such a huge blessing to see all of my children serving God in the music ministry here at Gracepoint.

Thanks for reading. We hope that you will eventually pray Figure 7 Merisha and Aletheia with Joshua Wheeler for all the wonderful opportunities we have participating in the work of expanding the Kingdom of God. Please remember the various prayer concerns that we have here in the Philippines. The Lord bless you indeed! Pastor Leo Ordiales, Elma, Isha, Merisha, Aletheia and Joshua Philip. 3:7-10 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. [8] What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. [10] I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

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