“CHRIST IN US.” ISSUE NO. 194

January 19th, 2000



Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”

Colossians 1:27 “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

I Corinthians 15:57-58 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”


Dear Friends,
Greetings once again, in the wonderful name of Jesus. Emie and I pray that the Lord will bless and strengthen you this New Year of 2009 in all your service to Him, and that He will be with you in a more special way than ever before. Proverbs 18:24b “…but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
We can praise God for a New Year which offers new opportunities and new chances to serve Him and do His will. We can also praise God in advance for the new blessings He will pour forth on our lives as we follow Him. In 2009 I believe God intends to do new things as we obey His individual call on our lives. In Isaiah 42:9 God says: “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I will tell you.” God intends to do new things in our lives and if we seek Him and listen to Him---He will tell us in advance what He is going to do.
You may not know the way to travel this year in your life, but God does and is willing to help you. In Isaiah 42:16 the Lord states: “I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and the crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them.”
For those who do not see the right direction yet---God says He will bring you on a new path that you had not known. Have you ever tried to walk in the darkness where you cannot even see your hand in front of your face? Well the Lord says that when you feel that way about the direction of your life---He will cause a light to shine on the right path for you. Have any of us ever stumbled because of obstacles in our paths or we have had difficulty because the path seems
twisted and crooked and it takes a long time to get anywhere? Well, as we pray to God, I believe He will make the path straight and well lighted, and enable each of us overcome all obstacles.
I believe the Lord desires to help each of us this New Year of 2009 as well as in the years to come. He loves us and He has a great plan for each of our lives. As we faithfully seek His will and guidance for our individual lives---and we obey Him---each of us will find this year: new successes and new victories---via His grace, mercy, and power. (For with God, nothing will be impossible. L 1:37)
We would like to start out this section by expressing our thanks and gratitude to all of you for your prayers, encouragement, financial investments in the ministry outreaches, and for your friendship. We pray for God’s best blessings upon you in all areas of your lives.
Yesterday we had the Saturday feeding and ministry outreach to the urban poor children in downtown Tacloban. This is just a simple outreach but it gives these kids a meal, and a Sunday school type lessons which result in most of the children coming to know Jesus as their Savior & Lord. They learn basic Bible stories that have lessons that will help them in life, they learn Christian songs to sing unto the Lord, and are taught how to pray to the Lord and trust Him for answers. We have been ministering to many different children in the downtown area for over 12 years now and we believe that as these children grow up and move to various parts of the Philippines and even other nations---that when they have learned how to access God through prayer---they have a great advantage and are safe in His care.
In the several churches which the Lord has led us to pioneer on the islands Biliran, Leyte, and Samar---many children attend the Sunday school meetings and have come to know Jesus as their Savior & Lord, and they are growing in their faith.
Children are a very important part of God’s call on every church’s ministry outreach. In Mark 10:13-16 Jesus was greatly displeased when His disciples tried to hinder the people who were bringing children to meet Him. In vs. 14b Jesus said: “…Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for such is the kingdom of God.” And in vs. 16 it states: And He took them in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
I was the guest preacher to a church in Tanauan, Leyte today. This church was pioneered by a friend of ours (Pastor Sammy Nebreja) and in just 3 years he has over 200 people attending church services. Here in region 8 (Biliran, Samar, and Leyte islands) it is rare to see that type of church growth because these islands have the lowest percentage of percentage of born-again Christians in the Philippines, and the medium attendance is only about 45 people per church according to a missions survey. We had an anointed church service and were blessed by the presence of God. A lot of people came forward for the alter call, and the Lord met many people’s needs there. It was a blessing to see the work the Lord is doing there and the fruitfulness of pastor Sammy’s faithful labor.
This year we have the increased opportunities to visit and minister in other nations. We have some good contacts in Kenya & D.R. Congo, Africa; in Brazil, South America; Australia; and in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, & Malaysia, S.E. Asia. We hope to visit and minister to people in 3 to 4+ of these nations this year. Emie and I would appreciate your faithful prayers for God’s guidance as to timing and direction in regards to “other nations ministry” this year. Also please pray for many people to be saved and built up in their faith --- and to be better equipped for highly effective service in God’s call on their lives.
In our 1st monthly pastors meeting this year, pastors from most of the 17 churches were in attendance and it was good to join together in prayer and fellowship. We hope to see many new people to come to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord this year in cities, towns, and villages where these pastors and church congregations are ministering. Our weekly radio broadcast is continuing to reach new people for Jesus in a variety of areas.
We have been recently asked to consider pioneering a new church in Guiuan, Samar this year. Emie and I will be visiting that area and praying for God’s guidance and direction. Hopefully this will be an outreach in which we reach more people for the Lord and start & establish a new church (salvation & discipleship center) in Southeastern Samar.
Thanks again for your partnership in helping us lead people to Jesus. We continue to pray for you, your families, and ministries. May this year of 2009 be a year that God does great things in this world and in your life.
In Christ’s love,
Gordon & Emie

P.S. Please pray for us as the Lord specially leads you in regards to the various parts of Eternal Life ministries outreaches. And also please pray for blessings upon our effectiveness and fruitfulness in the ministry, for good health and strength, wisdom, courage, safety, provision for all needs, and for God’s love, joy, and peace to abound in our lives. Thanks and God bless you always.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above and beyond all we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. ---Ephesians 3:20-21