Our 2 year old Bible Christian Fellowship in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City starts a new congregation tomorrow. Old Balara Bible Christian Fellowship will be inaugurated on October 2, 2011 at the Don Pablo Compound, Commonwealth Avenue.

I praise God for the faith of missionary couple Mark and Ruth Mcdowell who trusted God the facilities for this new church and home of the Pinoy Basketball for Jesus that they have initiated and nurtured for several years now.

Atty Pablo, refused the offer of others to purchase his property, instead gave it to us for a small downpayment and terms of 5 years. 

Commonwealth Bible Christian Fellowship seeks to establish a church in every barangay along Commonwelth Ave. We now have 3 in almost 3 years of existence.

Fifty younger leaders and resource persons are staying in Hotel Vida Clark, Pampanga September 28-October 1 for the International Chrysalis Institute-Asia 2011.

On Being A Transformative Leader is the overall theme. Topics include: On Being A Leader, Understanding Cultural Context by Dr. John Dettoni; Identity in Christ, Personal Holiness by Bro. James Tioco;Teamwork, Balanced Life by Pastor Joey Bonifacio;Interpersonal Conflicts by Atty. Winnie Salumbides, Making Technology Work for You by James Ganns Dean; Mentoring by Bro. Glenn Yu; Being Personal in a Depersonalized World by Rheo Loseo; and Bible Studies on Nehemiah by Pastor B.J. Sebastian.

All the resource persons stay for the whole time to interact with the participants who come from different churches and business organizations. Four younger leaders from Pakistan flew in to participate. The presentations are designed to be interactive in nature and participants discuss around the table for deeper understanding and application. Teambuilding activities are scheduled as well.

We pray that the Institute will make all the participants become a better leader after the few days of learning together!

Spending a whole day of meeting with the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform i(PEPP) n order to press our advocacy for the resumption of peace talks with Philippine Government and the National Democratic Front.

Archbishop Antonio Ledesma (CBCP) chairs the Platform, participated by Bishop Deo Iniguez of Ecumenical Bishop's Forum, Sis. Cres Lucero of Association of Major Religious Superiors, Bp. Alex Wandag of National Council of Churches  in the Philippines, Bro. Cesar Villanueva of Pax Cristi. and me for the Phillippine Council of Evangelical Churches.

We have partners from Norwegian Ecumenical Peace Platform Tor Kristian Birkeland and Eilert Rostrup of Karibu Foundation.

We are challenging the GPH and the NDFP to go back to the negotiating table, we are together in our quest towards a just and enduring peace in our land as we proclaim the Gospel of Peace.

Going to General Santos City, I posted in my FB that I'm going to the home of world class Pinoys.Obviously its the world's number one boxer Hon. Manny Pacquiao and the 4th most beautiful woman in the universe Shamcey Supsup. 

Here in Gen Santos, I met another world class Pinoy in the person of the couple Rodrigo and Dolores Rivera. Mrs. Dolly Rivera started the Christian Ladies Prayer Movement 16 years ago and put up a beautiful prayer mountain with a large cross and chapel that overlooks Sarangani Bay. I led the groundbreaking ceremony for the Gethsemane Prayer Tower that will be built soon.

Over lunch I spent 3 hours conversing with GM Rivera, on his business. He started his fishing business in 1981, which has now become the largest in the Philippines.From the start he infused Christian ministry as part of the business by assigning a pastor to be chaplain of every fishing boat for daily bible study and values formation among the fishing crew. At the beginning the crew rejected, but GM Rivera gave them the choice either to have the pastor or close the fishing business. 

Now they have 100 Pastors as full time workers as part of their operation which integrates high sea fishing, cannery and shipyard. They have 12,500 employees who all receive benefits higher than industry standard. 

When you honor the Lord, the Lord will honor you more!

The issue to begin with is the choice of Atty Brilliantes as Comelec Chair, a good friend Telibert Laoc shared this blog .http://telibert.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-free-is-president.html

Gen. Santos City is home of the best boxer in the world and the 4th most beautiful and intelligent woman in the universe today. 

It is also the home of ladies who gave themselves to the vision of being a catalyst of love and peace... promoting and spearheading Christlikeness in the body of Christ through prayer and intercession, enjoining all evangelical churches in the local community, the whole country and the world.

They want to see every member of their prayer movement live as an example of a spirit filled life by internalizing Galatians 5:22-23.

Asking God for wisdom and guidance as I go to Gen. Santos City today till Sunday to be with the Christian Ladies Prayer Movement. Will speak at their 16th Anniversarry celebration and the groundbraking ceremony of the Gethsemane prayer tower. 

Spent good part of the evening talking one on one with Atty Ferdie Rafanan. Beyond prayer he needs all kinds of support from all of us. Top among them is the need for lawyers who can help him in a looming legal battle. He expresses thanks to those who did text brigade for the presentation of his opposition to the confirmation of Atty. Brilliantes.

I conferred with 2 COMELC commissioners on the phone to get their perspective on the issue. I have arranged for him to meet with CBCP Nassa and other groups to draw larger support. Need also writers who can   send statements to the media

Prayed over the phone with Atty Ferdinand Rafanan as he prepares to testify in the Commission on Appointments hearing at 9 am today. He will oppose the confrimation of Atty. Brilliantes as COMELEC Chair for violating the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for giving him direct instructions to ask the Ombudsman to lower the penalties of COMELEC officials charged before the Ombudsman.

He will also present details on how he was relieved of his function as chair of the COMELEC legal department. 

Early this morning I emailed 10 Senators who are in the Commission on Appointments and Texted 5 Congressmen who are CA members as well. 

"Thank you po, An oppositor must appear and testify under oath, Will Atty Rafanan do this? is the reply of Cong. Roilo Golez. I texted back by saying please give Atty Rafanan to time to testify.

Please mobilize prayer for our brother Atty Ferdie!

in support of our Bro. Atty Ferdie Rafanan, I sent this email to 10 Senators who are part of the Commission on Appointments in order to oppose the confirmation of Atty Brilliantes as Chair of Comelec. I hope the Honorable Senators will take a closer look at how and why Atty Rafanan was relieved of his position as chair of the Comelec Legal Department and transferred to the Planning Department.





Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I send this email to express strong opposition to the confirmation of Atty. Brilliantes as Chairman of COMELEC.

I have been counseling Atty. Ferdie Rafanan, who is one of our church leaders and among others he shared the instructions that Atty Brilliantes gave to him that are in violation of Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Please take a closer look at how Atty Brilliantes led the Commission En Banc to relieve Atty. Rafanan of his function as chair of the Comelec Law Department.

Thank you for your kind attention and excellent service to our God and Nation.

God bless you,
-- 
Bishop Efraim M. Tendero, D.D.
National Director, Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches
Executive Director, Philippine Relief and Development Services