In today’s society it is getting more difficult to have a strong stance on anything. Some of this is because of previous mistreatment of certain groups, current media slants, and in reaction to abuse of power. However, some of it is because we, as individuals, have become more concerned about our friendship than our friends. We used to say “the truth hurts!” but now it is more like “who are you to tell me what my truth is?”

It is a delicate balance to speak the truth in love and to have concern for the genuine growth of another person, all the while not being self-righteous or judgmental in thoughts or approach. When I have struggled with issues of society and my conscience I remember what Jack Hayford said, “don’t condemn, don’t condone.” As a Christ-follower these words are becoming more and more important. To reach out to hurting people and let them know that Jesus accepts all of us just as we are. He accepted me as I was. Who I am to say He won’t accept you as you are?

If the power of Jesus is alive and working inside of a person, it will be impossible to not transform our thinking, actions, words, emotions..etc. Our job is first to ask God to check our hearts and show us where we need to grow or change. After this we, by the grace of God, can help lead others to the cross, and during times of hardship to lead them back to the Word of God and reconciliation. The longer I am in ministry the more I am convinced it is impossible to truly love someone and not bring the Bible’s truths into the mix. The Bible is infallible. It is timeless. And it applies to every situation in our life.

God is an absolute in an ever changing world. His Word holds the answers we seek and, if we will listen and obey, it will transform our lives and affect those around us. I am challenged, and thus challenging you, to be more diligent in reading the Bible and seeking to understand what it says. All we need to do is ask as we see in James 1:5 - “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Let us ask God for His knowledge and wisdom. Amen.

Sometimes a group of youth pull something off that is just amazing, and worthy of sharing with others. On July 12, 2015, I challenged 8 teenagers to go 90 days without using social media. In these times we live in, 90 days can seem like an eternity to a 15-18 year old. Still Philip, Gary, Diane, Zharmine, Jessalie, Glenda, Gemma, and Marjorie took the challenge! I also participated with them, and together we succeeded.

First, I love social media. I use it daily to keep up with my family and friends overseas. I use it to promote the mission work that my family is doing in the Philippines. I use it to share funny things that happen, and successes that take place in this life journey. However, there is another side to social media and non face to face communication in general. People have begun to express themselves behind a computer screen or cell phone without relent, without fear of consequence, and without having to think about what the listener might reply with. We can say whatever we want online and not have to be face to face with anyone.

I have repeatedly asked youth and young adults what they meant by an angry, venting, or overly-emotional post, and the answer is almost always the same. Nothing. I did not mean anything when I said I hated the world. I did not mean anything when I said I was feeling angry or like I wanted to drink muriatic acid... absolutely nothing. Therein lies the problem of various forms of communication. We are brave to share whatever we feel like when there is no idea of push back, disagreement, or frustration on the part of the listener. We want everyone to know how we feel, but without the call for change or the genuine help that might be painful to accept.

Two days before the challenge was over I wrote a letter to the youth. I told them I was proud of them, and that I hoped they would re-enter the digital world with responsibility and a renewed perspective of its purpose and advantages. I won’t paste the full 2 pages here, if you are interested you can download it below the article. I will just put the main points here of why I thought this was an important time of fasting:

1. Because the world is much bigger than what we see around us and on a computer screen
   
2. Because vanity is sin
   
3. Because we need to focus
   
4. Because staying balanced in life is important
   
5. Because you needed to see that you could successfully do it, and
   
6. Because you need to dream bigger
   

I am proud of each of these youth, and I want everyone to know it. Most things in life come down to balance. Exercise, diet, sleep, work, play, school, family, and yes, even social media. Anytime we give up something that is important to us, with the goal of quieting ourselves and listening to God more, He is faithful and will do a work in our life.

Discipleship. Apprenticeship. Mentoring. Coaching. Leading. Teaching. There are many different words to describe the process of  building a foundation into another person’s life in an effort to reproduce ourselves within the Body of Christ. In Frontline our main objective right now is to reproduce who we are throughout the church and various ministries. The current campaign is Apprenticeship, imparting our skills and knowledge into another person’s life by working with them for a certain amount of time.

Why? Because if we fail to pass on what we’ve gleaned from our experiences and the wisdom God has imparted to us, our ministry becomes less effective. Over time, a ministry will die without the infusion of new life provided by working ourselves out of a job. If we don’t impart our knowledge and skills into another person, we miss out on the opportunity to create a disciple who can fill our role and act as our successor in our current ministry, fill a similar role in a related ministry, or work alongside us to make us more effective where we’re at. The beauty of discipleship and apprenticing is that we have the privilege of imparting life-changing information and practical skills into the life of another. We have a responsibility to help build a strong foundation in the lives of the people that God has brought across our paths.

I was blessed to share in one session at our second Apprenticeship seminar alongside Pastor Jeff Pessina and Pastor Max Beloso. My topic was Reflect: the formation of character, taken from the book, The Apprentice Field Guide. There was a lot of good information in this chapter, but one section stood out to me the most, and it was all about truth. If we want to make life-changing advancements for Jesus, if we want to mentor and apprentice others to do the same, and if we want to build the best foundation into others’ lives, then we have to base everything on truth. That is, the Word of God. There are 4 common ways to speak to others:

   1. Love, No Truth - This may win friends, but it won’t grow Christ-followers.

   2. No Love, No Truth - Are you sure apprenticing is for you? This is a sure way to destroy trust and relationships.

   3. No Love, Truth - We are full of knowledge and facts, but we lack the heart of love, which should be our primary motivator. Hurt feelings and resentment will come from this.

   4. Love, Truth - We have a winner! Saying things that are true in love. This results in authenticity and the best opportunities for growth and maturity.

It’s not always what you say, it’s how you say it. George Bernard Shaw said, “In the right key one can say anything. In the wrong key nothing: the only delicate part is the establishment of the key.”  

So please allow me ask, are you fulfilling a vital role in the body of Christ today? Are you doing something that will have eternal impact for God’s Kingdom? If so, who are you preparing to help carry it on? Whose life are you investing into so that the mission can carry on long after you are gone? If the answer is no one, I challenge you to ask God to send you someone to apprentice. God has structured the church this way for a reason, to keep generation after generation living and thriving. And to build relationships between his followers so that we learn from one another in the process.

When you look the picture tot he left, what do you see? Do you see children who are being crushed every day by the weight of poverty? Do you see children who have never seen the inside of a nice mall or ridden on an escalator? Do you see hopeless beings who cannot even muster up a smile?

When I look at this picture I see kids who, at this moment in time, have forgotten about the perils of life. They forgot for a moment that their average lifespan is less than another child born into a family with more security. They forgot, or don't yet know, that most street children are pushed into the sex industry before they reach puberty. They forgot that when the sun goes down the entire atmosphere of that area changes dramatically into a depressed sex-driven industry zone. For this moment of time they only remember that they are children.

What is the difference in this moment of time? How can children, who face such harsh daily realities, smile, laugh, play and find joy in their lives? It’s as simple as 4 letters - L.O.V.E.  They feel loved. For a moment in time they feel secure and cared about. This is a photo from a feeding program in Ermita that is sponsored by you, our partners. Ermita is one of the main Red Light Districts in Manila. It is very close to Divisoria & Tondo (projects of Manila). We have been partnering with Pastora Ruth and Word Of Life Foursquare Church, and they are doing a great job of impacting the lives, and raising the hope that can only be found in Christ.

Someday soon Pastora Ruth, who currently pastors a church in Tondo, would like to open a church in Ermita so they can serve the people there on a more full-time basis. I don’t know what God has in store for the future, but reaching the lost, hurt, broken and impoverished people of Manila (and the rural Provinces of the Philippines) is surely in His plans. I look forward to seeing God open new doors, and restore hope to a hurting people in need of restoration and love.