Missions and Outreach

This post is from Bo Bowman who is a Life Group Director and Missions Trip Facilitator here at River City. Read about how the Philippines April 2010 trip went below!

I promised the folks at Faith Tabernacle I would share their greetings with folks at RCCC.

I was so blessed to be part of the team that included our pastors Sean Azzaro, Willy Mayfield, and our mission’s coordinator Daniel Espinoza. What I’m really excited about is that Sean and Willy have caught a vision of how our two churches might partner together. This has been my prayer from our first trip in 2007.

What made my week were when different pastors came up and shared how they took the small group(SG) teaching during the 2007 and 2009 conferences our short term mission teams lead and applied it to their church, I’ll start with Hazel. Hazel and her husband are co-pastors of a church in the province of Cebu. Hazel attended both our 2007 & 2009 conferences. She was one of our interpreters in 2007. She came up to me and asked about the different team members and then shared how her and her husband have used our SG model to grow their church. The joy on her face as she shared was something I’ll remember for a long time.

Lera, a former nun, shared how she applied our SG teaching with some modification to fit their culture and her church environment. What really blew me away was when she said she wrote each one of our short term mission team members name down and she prays for each of us while she is going though her fasting time.  She was praying for our senior pastor to come to the Philippines even before Pastor Ken Tagud invited Sean to come.
Joseway, the pastor from a church in Valencia, shared how their SG are helping needy families in each of their specific groups. His eyes lit up when he shared about how much a difference SG have made in his church.

Gig-gig the young man from the island of Cuaming asked about Christi Newby and Brittany Bowman from our 2007 team. He now has a church that he pastors. He shared how he learned the basics about SG in 2007 and then during the seminar in 2009 he was more fully able to understand how to implement SG in his church. You should have heard the excitement in his voice and hope on his face.

Oriel Jr an orthodontist, the son of a pastor of a church in Mindanao was at the conference and asked about the members on the 2009 team. Oriel traveled with our team in 2009 to the islands. Pastor Ken is planning to take Orel with them on some of their mission trips into the mountains to offer basic dental care for the folks they visit.

I also have to share about Pastor Jessie. He interpreted for me a number of times during each of our trips. I’ve grown to appreciate Jessie’s love of Lord and his passion for teaching young leaders. He’s one of the main teachers at the bible school housed at Faith Tabernacle Church. Jessie came up to me at the close of the conference and said that all 3 conferences were very helpful to him and to his teaching at the bible school. He’s incorporated SG teaching in the bible school curriculum He said he really appreciated our openness about sharing what didn’t work and the mistakes we made along the way.

Lots of folks came up to me asked about Danny Thompson and his guitar. Sean took a guitar along and played some songs for them till his voice gave out. Danny, donated a set of wireless mikes that were immediately put to use.

Thanks everyone for your prayers and support during this trip!
- Bo Bowman

Given the great size of San Antonio, there are over 5,000 confirmed victims of child abuse every year. To make a difference in the lives of these precious children, River City Community Church has been privileged to sponsor a Royal Family Kids Camp every summer since 2008. The appreciative smiles on those children’s faces are truly unforgettable.

Our 2010 camp is from June 22 to June 26th. If you’re interested in applying to serve as resident staff, we’re still seeking 2 female and 6 male staff positions. Applications are found at the church office.

Ways to serve:
1. Resident Staff – Come and serve as Counselors, Activities Leaders, Teachers, Singers, Registered Nurses or Security. All resident staff must attend training on the afternoon of Sunday May 23 and the evening of Monday June 21st.

2. Registration – Help each camper get registered for camp Tuesday morning, June 22nd in the church parking lot. We need about 15 helpful volunteers.

3. Birthday Party – Come out to camp for an evening of celebration. Some of these kids live in group homes and don’t ever have a “special” day for their birthday. We need about 15 volunteers to help “Bring the Party” to camp! Volunteers need to be available on Thursday, June 24th for the afternoon and evening.

4. Welcome Home Dinner – Once everybody returns from camp we say “good-bye” to the campers, the entire staff meets for a time of sharing (and feasting). We need volunteers to help serve this meal the afternoon of Saturday, June 26th. The added bonus of serving this meal is that you get to hear so many of the life-changing stories that just happened at camp!

For more information about RFKC of San Antonio, TX, please contact
Kim Low
210-273-6719 or rfkc@reallife.org

Today we rode a pump boat to three small islands where Faith Tabernacle has established churches. Here are some images from the day:

Cuaming Island

Today we had the opportunity to celebrate with the brothers and sisters at Faith Tabernacle.  Both Sean and Willy shared words from the Lord with the congregation and in the evening Sean shared an encouraging word with the graduates of the Faith School of Ministry – the bible school run on location at Faith Tabernacle.  The students of the school live on-site for two years while they complete their education.  There were also 90+ graduates of the extended off-site program that can be completed by non-traditional students.

The day was encouraging in that we as a team got to see and be part of two ministries at which Faith Tabernacle excels:
1. The fellowship of believers in the local congregation

2. Training disciples to go out into the world to continue the work of the Kingdom.

For me, the most encouraging part of today came after the graduation ceremony. We were invited by one of the families of the congregation to pray over and bless their daughter who had just graduated from nursing school.  This was also a dinner and celebration.  When we arrived at their home, I recognized the graduate as Marnilie, who had been a dance team member when our first team was here in 2007. It was exciting to celebrate with her family on her accomplishment.

Marnilie in 2007

The Graduate

It also brought to mind one of our goals as a short-term missions team.  We choose our trip locations not by the most exotic or beautiful destination, but by where there are missionaries or ministries that River City is already partnering with financially and prayerfully.  We see in-person support as an extension of our prayer and financial support.  In this way we seek long-term partnerships where we can foster ongoing friendships and relationships.  Being here to celebrate a graduation, or talking with Jeffery (the doorman of our hotel) about how his children are growing reminds me that there is something to having a long-term vision of short-term trips.

-posted by Daniel

After four flights and 31 hours of overall travel we landed at Cebu Mactan airport at 11:30.  Once we cleared customs and baggage claim we were greeted by Pastor Ben, Pastor Ken, and Ken’s son Kevin.  Sean made the comment that Kevin was the spitting image of his father and that he could identify the family resemblance in a crowded room.

During the 45 minute drive from the airport to our hotel we had a chance to visit with the Tagud’s, and take in the scenery.  Previous teams landed during the evening or at night, so arriving at noon allowed Sean and Willy to take in the city.   Although we traveled through three “cities” to get to the hotel, it’s difficult to know that since there are not clear delineations or city limit signs.   We wouldn’t have known that had Ken not been pointing out the transitions.

There is an election soon so it seems that every open piece of fence, concrete, signage, telephone poles, power poles, vehicle, and building facades were covered with the seemingly standard bust portrait of the candidate with their name in colored text underneath.

Tonight is a welcome dinner with the Tagud’s and tomorrow Willy and Sean will be preaching at all four of Faith Tabernacle’s Sunday services.

- posted by Daniel

- Photo: Daniel, Pastor Willy, Pastor Sean, and Bo at the San Antonio International Airport

Pastor Sean, Pastor Willy, Bo, and Daniel head to Cebu City, Phillippines this week. They will be speaking at a Pastor’s Conference and encouraging the local Christians at Faith Tabernacle. Stay tuned to this blog for updates and videos from their trip!

It is amazing that they get to go spread the word to the ends of the earth, but where exactly are they going?

Cebu City, is on the island of Cebu in the Philippines.

Let’s break it down. The Philippines is East of Vietnam and South of China.

Now we are in the Philippines which is made up of over 7,000 islands. The island of Cebu is sort of in the middle.

Cebu City is a metropolitan city with a population of about 798,809 people.

In this map you can see where the airport is on the island of Lapu-Lapu. They will travel through Mandaue City to get to Cebu City.

And here is one glimpse of the city surrounded by hills.

Now you know where Cebu City is! Stay tuned for more on Pastor Sean, Pastor Willy, Bo, and Daniel’s trip to the Philippines! Daniel will be sharing videos and posts about their trip.

Read Christmas 2009 letter here… Dorner Christmas 2009

Read latest newsletter here… Fudge Flame

Every time we go downtown the thing I love most is to go out on the street and talk with people, inviting them to come  for dinner. One day in September I met a wonderful gentleman. I will call him “Ted”. I am not sure how long “Ted” has been on the streets but he has a degree in theology. He knows his scripture! But while pursuing his masters he got mad at his wife for spending too much money and walked out the door with what he had in his pockets. He ended up on the street. He told me he had to work hard to learn how to smoke and drink beer! But the longing of his heart was to have a real relationship with the Lord. It seemed like He knew about the Lord but really didn’t know the Lord.

He was discouraged because he has seen members of his former church coming down to make drug deals! “Ted” felt alone and forsaken. We talk and pray every time. It has been an amazing transformation to see him turning more and more to understand how much God loves him not for what he does or does not do but because of who he is. “Ted” has told me how a member of his former church came looking specifically for him just to tell “Ted” he cared. “Ted” has said how he has battled to turn from the devil’s temptations and listening more and more to God’s voice. He is serving those less fortunate than him. “Ted” has been growing closer and closer to the Lord. He told me he “didn’t want no religion” but a relationship and it has been an awesome privilege to watch the Lord work in him. Last time I saw him I told him I was leaving for a missions trip to the Philippines the next day and asked him to pray for me. He said he would. Now isn’t that cool? To have a person on the street praying for a missions trip to the Philippines!

I am excited to see what more and how God will work in “Ted’s” life.

(submitted by Robin Schroeder)

By Robin Schroeder (Team Member)…

It was a privilege to be able to be a part of the team that “equipped the saints to do the work of the gospel” (Ephesians 4:11) The needs are so great but God is greater! Keeping that in mind in the face of the needs gives a healthier faith filled perspective to the needs of this world!

As we worshipped and taught I would often notice an odor wafting through the walls that were open to the outside. I learned that it was marijuana. As we praised, worshipped and taught we were smelling the desperation and emptiness in those who live next to the church.

An area that literally broke my heart and I had to watch not to become aggressively obnoxious about was old, disgusting western men who go to the Philippines expressly to pick up a young, attractive Filipina for a week or two. The hawkers on the street would try to sell you things in one hand and the other they sold Viagra! My heart went out to the young women who thought that the answer to their poverty was to sell their bodies. How do we equip the saints to reach these women and who will reach out to the foolish old men who are trying to fill a vacuum in their own lives?

On the last day when we went to the slums of Cebu City we saw and smelled the physical needs of the people. Children with red, oozing eyes, faces covered in open sores, filth, lack of clothing and sanitation, etc. That in itself was heart-wrenching. But more than that there are people who take advantage of these children and teach them how to steal and pick pockets. We saw children jumping on the back of moving trucks practicing how to steal. There is a couple in the church who works with the people in the slums and has a small group there. Faith Tabernacle has a jeepney that they send to the slums every service to pick up people and bring them to church. Those who come are given rice as well.

Poverty, disease, depravity are everywhere. Our responsibility was to focus on the Lord and ask for wisdom and discernment to deal with those things while putting Him first! He loves them more than we could ever love. The warmth of loving nature of the Filipinos touched our hearts and we were blessed by them. The best way we can bless them in return is to undergird them with prayer and look for ways to encourage their faith, equipping them to effectively reach out to those in need around them.

The challenge of a short term missions trip is not to return thinking things are better where we were but to bring the wisdom gained, the closeness to the Lord that was felt and the faith that was developed back to our home country, family, church and workplace and be a missionary where God has planted us. The Lord did not send us for a ten day mission’s trip only to equip the saints in Faith Tabernacle, Cebu City. He also was equipping us to seek His wisdom and guidance to minister to the needs here.

Thank you for your support and prayers. We felt it!