Words from Pastor Bob

Lost Sheep Ministries News

February,2016–Philippines

The Great Commission: Matthew 28: 18 - 20 is a commission for all Christians to GO, make Disciples, and teach them to OBEY all that Jesus hascommanded us. LSM is dedicated to evangelizing the lost and making Disciples of Christ that make Disciples of Christ according to

II Timothy 2:2.

Words from Pastor Bob:

Pastor Truman Milling and I are traveling to the Philippines for ten days of ministry. We will minister to churches, prisons and primarily make plans for a return trip in May to conduct an Equipping Students (ES) seminar.

This is a return trip to the Philippines for both of us. Pastor Truman served here in the Philippines first with Wycliffe in the 70's and then as an independent missionary in mid 80's at the Death Row unit at the prison.

Though my senior by several years, I had to hustle to keep up with him. He speaks the native (other than English) language fluently so was able to relate to the Philippine people very effectively. Pastor Bob ______

Thursday, 4 February 2016: We arrived at the Manila airport at 10 p.m. R.L. was there along with his wife, Mayette, and our driver to pick us up. With the long ride finished I laid my head on my pillow at 11:30 p.m. (Manila time). About seven hours into our flight, the Holy Spirit prompted me to speak to the man sitting in my row. I was trying to dodge the Holy Spirit by saying I will give him a tract when I get off the plane. “No” share with him now. Okay, So I introduced myself and met Don Matini, 77-year-old retired engineer from Marathon oil. It did not take me long to get to sharing my testimony and then presenting the gospel message. Don, like me, was raised a Catholic but he had no assurance that he would go to heaven when he died. Again, the Holy Spirit was right and Don held my hand as I led him in the sinner's prayer. He was so happy that he could know that he was going to heaven (1 John 5:11-13). He lives in Trenton, Michigan.

On the ride to Santa Rosa, I asked Truman to share his experiences when he served here in the Philippines the next thing I knew here was ole Truman (88) sharing in Tagalog (Philippine language). Our reception team was very happy to hear him speak in their heart language. I am looking forward to what God has prepared for us to do with Him on this trip

Saturday, 6 February 2016: I am still dealing with jet lag. Therefore, I am usually awake from 2:00 a.m. on. Yesterday, Truman and I visited the Santa Rosa City Jail.

One of the guards there is a member of Jesus Christ Victorious Church (JCVC) and made arrangements for us to visit. We both shared the gospel and 79 men prayed to receive Christ! I am still typing their Spiritual Birth Certificates. I cannot adequately share the joy on my and Truman's heart. I remember in the movie Patton when George Patton made the statement, "God help me I love this!" As we are in a battle against Satan I am sure Truman and I both are saying, “God help me we love this.” To see the captives set free is an awesome high. I always say there is no high like the “Most High.”

We traveled back to the house to rest before going to a church in Cabayo. This is Pastor Donde's church.

Truman shared his experiences here starting back in the 70's. How he took a high school (Faith Academy) basketball team and played the men on death row. This was the doorway God used to reveal His path for Truman's life. All 19 men on death row faith prayed themselves out of prison. One man actually sat in the electric chair four times, and four times the phone rang, and he was given a stay of execution. Seventeen of the nineteen men are pastoring churches today. I will travel with others to view possible sites for our Equipping Students (ES) rally in May.

Sunday 7 February 2016: I had a long day in the car yesterday but it was worth it to me. We drove about four hours to Pagsanjan a small town in the rice growing area. The small church there is a church plant of JCVC, and of course, it is calledJCVC Pagsanjan. Jimmy Stanfield and I ministered there the last time we were here. There were about 20 attending. They were mostly young mothers with their children. I love to see the smiles on every face just beaming. It reminded me of Proverbs 25:25 “like cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a distant land”. Many photos were taken by proud moms of their children sitting on my lap. I was blessed with a message of encouragement from the Holy Spirit to share with all there. After many, hugs, we left to travel back towards Santa Rosa.

We stopped along the way at an encampment where we are considering holding an Equipping Students (ES) camp in May of this year. It was really a beautiful facility designed especially for such meetings. The leadership team here would like to bring 200 teens for a three-day retreat. I am planning on returning with Jimmy Stanfield, Pastor Richard Robeson, Joshua Morris (16 year old from Citymark Church) and hopefully Roy Mimms. The cost for each teen is $60 and I told the team members I would attempt to solicit sponsors from the U.S. Here is an opportunity to sponsor a teen to attend a three-day retreat with dynamic praise, preaching, and discipleship training. Please pray about sponsoring one or more teens for this retreat. I promise you God will use it to change their lives.

I finished the 79 spiritual birth certificates this morning before uploading the photos and starting adding to this newsletter.Today I will share at JCVC. I need to mention I am going through internet withdrawal. No internet since we arrived.

Monday 8 February 2016: Yesterday was an awesome day serving the Lord. The morning service at JCVC was packed. Praise & worship time just a little over 1 hour and 10 minutes. Sharing and preaching lasted another two hours. Truman shared his experiences about when he served as a Wycliffe missionary in the 70's and then back in the early 80's as an independent missionary.

I shared from Matthew that Jesus Christ builds His church, which is not a building. The church is the body of Christ. The church is the only thing God ever purchased.

He created everything but He purchased the church with the blood of His Son Jesus Christ! We were bought with a price therefore, we should glorify God in your bodies.

After the service, a meal was served. Elmo a young businessperson I had licensed to preach several years ago asked if I could pray for his employees. He brought eight young people to church with his wife Annabelle. We met in their home and I shared the Good News with them. All eight prayed to receive Christ. Tears, laughter, hugs, I tell you folks it does not get any better than this on this side of heaven. I will prepare a Spiritual Birth Certificate for them. I explained baptism to them. I am in awe as I realize God has already birthed 88 into His family on this trip.

We traveled in the afternoon to visit the other possible location for the Equipping Students (ES) seminar in May. It was a four-hour ride back to a very popular tourist area. I have visited there on several occasions but was not aware of the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) a Christian Renewal Center. It is an awesome facility. Much nicer and newer than the place we visited yesterday. Of course, the price was higher. We are planning to bring 200 students for 3 days the cost will be $60 per student for lodging, three meals, and a daily snack.

I really prayed about this on the way back to BelinArleo'shome. You know I am the God's will is God's billguy. Moreover, I believe God is going to raise the necessary funds for us to invest in discipling these young Christians: Equipping them to take the gospel into the schools and universities.We had a meeting at Belin's home until almost midnight. We discussed the costs, the format, the speakers, the goal, or mission for the event. Equipping Students (ES) is a discipleship process to equip students to take the Gospel of Jesus onto their campuses.

I am committed to raise the funds necessary to pay for 200 students to attend this training. I ask everyone reading this to prayerfully consider supporting one or more students. $60 will allow a student to attend and be equipped with seven ES discipleship lessons:

1. Authentic Faith (Make sure they are saved),2. Spiritual Disciplines (Daily applications),

3. Moral Boundaries (Where's the line?), 4. Healthy Friendships (In the world but not part of it),

5. Wise Choices (Is this right for me?),6. Ultimate Authority (God, parents, teachers, law),

7. Others First (Servanthood)

If you like to be a part of starting a sustained Spiritual Awakening among students on their campuses, please help by making your check out to Lost Sheep Ministries, 2951 Marina Bay Drive, #130-144, League City, TX 77573 by May 1, 2016. Also, please ask your friends, bible study classes, churches to consider sponsoring this Equipping Students seminar.

We traveled to death row to see if the new administrator would allow Truman and me to minister there in the few days we have remaining. This is Truman's dream to be allowed, one more time, to go into death row and minister to the men.

Tuesday 9 February 2016: Serving God is like eating ice cream. The next bite is always better that the last bite! We traveled to Montolupa prison, which is about a 45-minute ride.

We went into the main office and asked to see the director. Truman showed the receptionist some photos and his book about his ministry there on death row. We asked to meet the director and give him a copy of this book. We waited for about 30 minutes drinking some excellent coffee. Then we entered the office of Superintendent Richard W. Schwarzkopf. Truman shared his experiences there. Then he asked for permission to speak to the men on death row. The superintendent replied that there is now a new policy. We will have to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding and submit it to the Chaplain's office for approval.

I shared with Richard the wonderful gospel news and he prayed to receive Christ to be his Lord and Savior. This is soul # 89 on this trip. Believe me the word of God is More powerful than a two edged sword.

We came back to the house to rest until 4:00 p.m. Then we joined Elmo to visit his home, pizza factory, and a pizza outlet store. Our purpose was to deliver the spiritual birth certificates to the eight young employees who were saved on Sunday. However we experienced another blessing from God. On the way to the factory, we stopped at a home where a Bible study was going on. Three ladies were sitting in a gazebo sharing in a bible study.

We joined Erlinda, Lillian, & Genelyn at the table in the gazebo. Truman and I shared and then we asked the ladies to share their testimony. We learned that Erlinda was saved 15 years ago. Lillian (a Roman Catholic until 3 years ago) and Genelyn (a new convert led to Christ by Erlinda & Lillian). We had an indescribable time with the wonderful words of truth from God's Holy Bible. I have prepared a birth certificate for Genelyn for January 9, 2016 witnessed by Lilian & Erlinda.

We are now going to get some hot fudge, whip cream and a cherry on our ice cream. We traveled to the pizza factory and then to the outlet store and presented the certificates and Pray First (booklet from Citymark church) and A Good Start (a primer for new Christians) to each of them. Their smiles melted my heart. I am so thankful to God for calling me, choosing me, and sending me! I am not sure what lies ahead in the next three days but I am sure God will continue to heap His blessings on Truman and me.

I finally was able to call home and talk with Carol. She told me she was in the hospital but not to worry. Come on, worry not OK, much prayer, and be concernedis a lot better. We changed our return trip date to Wednesday, which will put us back in Houston a day earlier than planned. Sometimes it is easier to preach Believe God, Trust God, Obey God then to do it. I need to believe that my new man can do this because I sure know the old man cannot. Therefore, I place her in the care of Dr. Jesus praying for healing. Amen.

Last evening we went to the Sanctuary of the Chosen People Christian Fellowship a small country church on the edge of the city. I really cannot describe the road, or lack of road, we traveled on to get there. Folks, I continue to be amazed by God's people. The praise was awesome. Their love was gushing out for us as Truman and I entered. After Truman and I shared, we were able to distribute some bibles and study books. After the service, we went next door for a meal of rice & chicken. Again I must say as Patton said in the movie “God help me I love it!” The pastor led a prayer for healing for my wife Carol that gave me the peace that passes all understanding. I need to be home with my wife I thought but the Holy Spirit said look around you my good and faithful servant.

We will begin our journey home tonight at 11:00 p.m. However, this morning we are returning to the prison believing that God is going to open the door for us to preach on “life row.” (The Philippines no longer have a death penalty so they changed death row to life row). I have a bible for Superintendent Schwarzkopf and his wife and his spiritual birth certificate to present to him this morning.

We traveled to the prison hoping to see the Superintendent and present him with his Spiritual Birth Certificate and gifts for him and his wife. We also were hoping that our efforts yesterday with the Chaplain's office would get us in to see the prisoners.

Well, that did not happen, since he was not there. We were waiting for his return and I had an opportunity to lead a young lady, whose husband has been in prison for 5 years, to the Lord. Maybe we can meet with the Superintendent next trip since it takes about a week for approval of our request.

We returned home to prepare to leave for the airport at 6:00 p.m. I shared Christ with Brian Rockerfellow a 40-year-old semi-conductor engineer who lives in Austin, TX and he prayed to receive Christ just before we landed in Houston, TX.

The summary results of this mission trip:

• We had 131 decisions for Christ.
• We shared in 6 church services and 1 home bible study
• We distributed about 50 bibles and other Christian literature.
• We encouraged hundreds of believers.
• We made plans for a retune in May for the Equipping Student rally.

I cannot thank my family at JCVC enough. They treated Truman and me like royalty. They continually would ask us, “What are your plans, and how can we help you”?

I thank God for His PROVISION. Each time we Go, it is the best trip until the next! Pastor Bob

______

Recommended Reading: Counter Culture by David Platt. Everywhere we turn, battle lines are being drawn. Traditional marriage vs. gay marriage, pro-life vs. pro-choice, personal freedom vs. governmental protection, seemingly overnight, culture has shifted to the point where right and wrong are no longer measured by universal truth but by popular opinion. And as difficult conversations about homosexuality, abortion, and religious liberty continue to inject themselves into our workplaces, our churches, our schools, and our homes, Christians everywhere are asking the same question: How are we supposed to respond to all this?

Tax Deductable Donations to LSM: Lost Sheep Ministries is a 501(c) non-profit organization. Funds are needed for travel, materials and euipment to be provided to new converts and needy churches.

Donations may be made to LSM, 2951 Marina Bay Drive, Suite 130-144,League City, TX 77573. We seek funds to travel, equip, and commission others to take the Gospel of Christ to all nations.

If your donation is to sponsor a student at the Equipping Students Conference in the Philippines this May, please note "ES" on the memo line of your check.

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