Motivated by the passion to share the message of Christmas and give gifts to impoverished children, Ferdinand Tobias, a Master of Divinity student from Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS), led a multi-national team to a 3-day ministry (16-18 December, 2013) at Talim Island, Binangonan, Rizal, Philippines. Talim Island is accessible through a 2-hour jeepney ride from APNTS, plus a 2-hour boat ride from Binangonan port. Team members included APNTS students Catlyn Armstrong (USA), Sambalkhundev Rentsenchuluun (Mongolia), Yao Bin and Ming En Yu, with their daughter Dorcas (China), Anderson Godoy (Colombia), Tonderai Masango (Zimbabwe), Cin Sian Khual, K Shin, and Ram Hu (Myanmar), Olive Laxamana, Jema Estacio, Mary Grace Escalera, Rebecca Paje, Inocensia Rosa, Josephine Bodegas, and Leo Aguinaldo (Philippines). Campus nurse Princess Montealegre and faculty member Dr. Dick Eugenio, who served as the team’s adviser, also joined the team. The team was subdivided into several groups that ministered to more than 700 children in several locations and events. Youth assistants, trained in a one-day seminar by Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), were also provided by four local churches in the island.
TALIM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The principal of Talim Elementary School, being a Christian, gave the team an opportunity to minister to all the pupils of the school, numbering approximately 530. Seeking shelter from the sun’s unbearable heat under mango trees and the shade of nearby infrastructures, in the morning of
December 17, Nursery, Kindergarten, and Grades I to III pupils gathered at the school grounds for a very special Christmas activity. They sang songs, listened to the Christmas story, and received gifts. Special thanks to our church partners at Talim Island who provided several of their trained youth to help with the overwhelming crowd. Pupils from Grades IV to VI were visited by sub-teams, room-by-room, for gospel presentations and gift-giving. Mary Ann Soriao, one of the two Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) workers who joined our team, led pupils in prayer. CEF is a non-governmental and Christian organization that focuses on ministering to children in need. Ferdinand Tobias, our team leader, is a former CEF worker.
TALIM BASKETBALL COURT While a group was in Sitio Banaba, another group led a children’s party in this venue where everyone sang Christmas carols, listened to the Christmas story, and played games. Parents who accompanied their children also joined the fray. The fun reached its climax when gift packs that contained snacks, toys, and school supplies were handed out.
SITIO BANABA This venue is a challenging and heart-racing uphill-downhill 15-minute tricycle ride using a narrow road from our “headquarter.” Tricycle wheels are literally on the edges of a cliff throughout the ride. The team had to rent several tricycles to bring the members and the gift packs to the venue. As soon as the group arrived at the venue, children, mostly accompanied by their parents or guardians, began to congregate. But the real influx of guests started when lively Christmas music was played. As in Talim Basketball Court, children were led to pray, to sing Christmas carols, to listen to the story of the birth of Christ, and to play fun games. Enthusiasm swelled when it was time to distribute the gift packs. The 150 gift packs the team brought were not enough, but fortunately, we brought extra packs of donuts, chips, and toys. It was already dark when the group concluded the Christmas party here.
FILM SHOWING After facilitating Christmas party events in several locations, the team gathered to show a short Christian film to another group of children at Talim Basketball Court. Leo Aguinaldo presented the Gospel of forgiveness and children were led to Christ. The team distributed books and snacks afterwards.
NAGLANGIN Naglangin is 30-minute boat ride away from our “headquarter” and is supposedly the most unvisited part of the whole Talim Island. Compared to the other ministry sites, this area is less populated and more impoverished. The team was warmly received by both parents and children, who also eagerly participated in our Christmas activity. They were most grateful for the team’s effort in visiting them and for the gift packs given to the children of the community.
MISSION IN PARTNERSHIPS The whole mission endeavor to the island would not have been possible without many important partners. Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) worker Mary Ann Soriao was responsible in coordinating with churches and ministers at Talim Island. Her sister MJ and co-worker Rona Lapore were also a great help. Ptr. Regalado Mapilisan not only generously offered Talim Christian Church to be our “headquarter” but was also a great host, securing local members to help us in the preparation of meals. Ptr. Jhun Capulong of Lord Jesus Christ Alive and Shining Christian Church, with his church members, greatly assisted us, especially in our ministry at Sitio Banaba. Ptra. Jocelyn Minor of Lakeside Community Church and Mission International Inc. and Ptra. Thelma C
uarte of Messiah International Light of the Earth Church also helped, both personally and by sending youths from their churches to assist us. For all purposes, the team was able to raise Php96,413.00 (around US$2,200.00), thanks to the generous gifts of friends and churches all around the globe. Through the amount, the team was able to travel with ease to and from the island and was able to purchase items included in the Christmas gift packs that the team distributed: decent snacks (Goldilock’s muffins and Cloud 9 chocolate drink), toys, towels, school supplies (crayons, rulers, eraser,
notebook, pens), and a Bible. Universal Robina Corporation donated 627 pieces of Cloud 9 chocolate drink, which the children delightfully received. More than 700 children were given these gifts, and 278 of them are reported to have professed faith in Jesus Christ.
The whole team posing for a picture before going to the several ministry venues. The picture was taken at Talim Christian Church, which served as the “headquarter,” and where the team slept, ate, and strategized. The Church is conveniently located just a few hundred meters from Macambong port.
