Missions Trip To Tuguegarao (Cagayan Province)

Two weekends ago I went to Tuguegarao (Cagayan Province) for the first time. I was invited to join a group of missionaries from Buhay Sports to go on an evangelistic game with them.

We played 4 games in 48 hours and traveled over 500 kilometers (about 310 miles) by jeepney. We were able to play in front of thousands of fans and was able to preach the Gospel and share the love of Jesus to all of them.

Tuguegarao was also city that got hit hard by the typhoon Pepeng -- the storm that immediately followed hurricane Ketsana and hit the northern part of the Philippines in an equally disastrous manner. The people told us that for the past 2 weeks prior to our visit it has been raining non-stop.

Many people were severely affected by the typhoon. The day we got in was Friday morning. The sun was shining bright. They said it was the first time to sunshine.

We traveled to some very rural areas to play. The conditions were not the best. The first game we played the cement court was covered in dust. Nevertheless the people had a great time and we were able to share the love of God to them.

The second game we played in a big arena. It seated about 8 thousand people.

There were a couple thousand that came to the game. They asked me to share my testimony and share from my heart.

I was able to encourage them about a life without Christ is meaningless. I shared from my experience of having money, fame, and living the life of a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). I was able to share with them the Gospel and we were able to hand out thousands of gospel tracts.

We played a couple of more games the following day and traveled so much. Zach -- a kid I have been spending a lot of time with and mentoring -- was able to go on the trip.

He is a privileged kid who has never been outside Metro Manila. He was able to see a part of the Philippines and see how some people actually live and where they do church.

He really said the trip really impacted his life so much and can’t wait to go on another one.

My hope is that I can do a trip like this at least once a month. I have been talking to some people who are really excited about the idea. Basketball is one of the best evangelistic tools here in this nation and it is my heart's desire to maximize my capacity to reach out in this area.

Please pray with me that God provides us enough funding (so that Samantha can join the trips as well), open doors to more cities and provinces in the Philippines, and most of all open hearts as these people hear about what Jesus Christ did for all of us.

Every time I come home from a missions trip I get so refreshed. The joy that it brings to my soul is immeasurable.

Two things that I absolutely love doing and two things I was born to do is play basketball and preach the Gospel. God is so good for providing opportunities for me and Samantha to get to do what we love doing every day.

Thank you so much for partnering with us -- your prayers and gifts have played an important role in allowing us to reach the lost for Jesus. Without all of you this will not be possible.

If there is anything specific we can pray for you -- please send us a message. We would love to hear from you!

Typhoon Ondoy (Hurricane Ketsana)

September 26th was supposed to be a big celebration for me. We sponsored a feeding program with the Real LIFE Foundation in the morning, then I was supposed to play in a golf tournament in the afternoon that I got invited to, and then have a surprise 70’s birthday party in the evening. Little did I know one of the worst storms that ever hit the Philippines was about to hit.

We pushed through with the feeding program even though it was raining. It was really humbling seeing the kids still come to the center for the food.

Actually I believe the kids really don’t just come there for the food, but for the love and affection they get. But anyways, we had to shut down early because the building started flooding.

We proceeded to go home, but the floods were getting worse and worse by the second. I have never seen anything like it, the flood waters was already waist-high.

It took us 5 hours to get home and actually got stuck in the flood. We finally got home and had no electricity.

We had to cancel all the plans and wait and see the aftermath of what had happened. The following day people got a glimpse of the damage that Ondoy had done.

Apparently the dams were getting ready to burst so they had to release the water. Thousands upon thousands of homes, cars, businesses,and people were flooded.

They say there was more water that fell in Metro Manila than Hurricane Katrina. Many of my friends and people I know were badly affected.

I actually lost a friend of mine named Tony Chua in the flood. He was the team manager of Red Bull, one of the teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Mr. Chua was the main guy who was in my corner and wanting me to play basketball again. I lost 50 pounds in 3 months a lot of it was because of this man. He will surely be missed.

They canceled church all church services that Sunday and turned it into a relief and evacuation center. It was really mayhem here in Manila.

The phone lines were down, so you can imagine of people wondering if their friends and loved ones were okay. Because many had lost communication for more than 48 hours.

I am sure you have seen some of the videos of the damage. Over 300 people have been declared dead and that count is not yet the final tally.

The following day I went out with the Philippine Rowing Team to rescue some of the scholars and Pastors that were stranded in their homes. And I got to see first hand what these people were going through.

It was so sad. All the main roads were flooded, businesses, homes, cars, livestock, were all submerged and floating. Thousands upon thousands of people walking in the disease infested water to go to the market to get food. Some of them would walk as much as 5 hours in waist- and chest-high water.

We were out on the water for about 8 hours that day doing the little that we could do helping those get around and rescued a couple families. My heart totally went out to these people.

Especially seeing the children and some of the elderly people losing everything. Despite the conditions, I didn’t see to many people complaining, these Filipino people were doing their best to go along with life.

Doing what they can to support their families. I was really encouraged and inspired.

God promised in this world we will have trouble.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:3)

I am reminded by the wise and foolish builder in Matthew 7. The one who built his house on rock and sand.

Jesus was talking to believers. Both people who heard the word.

One heard the word and put it into practice, and the other heard the word and didn’t. My prayer is that we would be a people who are grounded on the rock so when storms come we will be able to stand strong.

I know God is shaking this nation. I believe he is shaking the foundations of the people here in the Philippines.

It’s amazing to see the church rise up and really be the hands and feet of Jesus. I am excited to see what will take place. One thing is for sure many people will come to the saving knowledge Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hoop for LIFE

For my 30th birthday (September 25th, 2009) I decided to have a benefit basketball game called Hoop for LIFE. It was a charity game to raise funds for the Real LIFE Foundation’s first Community Center.

Real LIFE is a foundation that focuses on scholarships and feeding programs for underprivileged students and families. I decided to call some of my friends from the Philippine Basketball Association (the premier professional basketball league) and have a fundraising game for the cause.

This was one of the most tiring things we have ever done. We had no experience at all in planning and hosting a high-profile charity event. God is good. He sent a lot of people our way who pitched in and helped make this event a success. We have a much deeper respect and appreciation for those who do these on a regular basis.

It’s really hard work and had to learn the hard way. Nevertheless it was a wonderful experience and we really learned a lot.

The event was a great success. God gets the credit 100%. He is good and faithful.

Initially it was only supposed to be a small pick up game on one of the cement courts in Pasig City. Really just wanted to bless the city and the community.

But it evolved, and I do believe God was behind it every step of the way. We were able to raise more than 500 thousand pesos worth of cash, products, and building materials.

The Pasig City Mayor Bobby Eusebio decided to partner with us. He provided the venue, security, and agreed to give all the paint and cement for the center.

We also had a special guest from my friend Nonito Donaire, Jr. a world boxing champion. He really has such a bright future and many believe he will be the next big thing behind Manny Pacquiao.

God has opened up so many doors with this event. We have learned so much in the process as well. God has used this event not only to impact lives but has also given Robert a vision and many dreams regarding basketball and ministry here in the Philippines.

I am so excited see to what God has in store for us here in the Philippines. He has opened up many doors for us from all walks of life. Because of all the media and print exposure I am getting request from people all over the country to want to do an event in their city.

I am so grateful that God has given me this platform of basketball here. Now I am getting a better idea of why He brought me here to this country and even to play in the PBA. And it is to do one thing. To glorify Him and Preach the Gospel. Share the love of Jesus Christ to those who haven’t heard and felt it. To God be the Glory.

Steve Murrell's Article on Ministry Today

Steve Murrell's Article in Ministry Today

Tropical Storm Ketsana

On Saturday, September 26, Tropical Storm Ketsana poured torrential rain over the Philippine island of Luzon, dumping more than 16 inches in only 12 hours. In Metro Manila, 80% of the city was flooded, affecting 500,000 of the capital's 12 million people. The death toll stands at 200+, but many are still missing.

The flooding affected a number of Every Nation's local pastors, staff, and church members, some requiring rescue from rooftops. Not to mention family and friends who are very dear to our hearts. Services at Every Nation churches across Metro Manila were canceled as church members used the locations to prepare hundreds of bundles of food and clothing for victims of Ketsana (known locally as Typhoon Ondoy).

We are blessed to witness how everyone immediately got together, brought relief goods, and deploy these bags to the affected areas.

We were told that the Nashville office has been fielding calls from individuals wanted to help financially. They have added an option for flood aid on Every Nation's online-giving website (http://www.everynation.org/FloodAid). Donations will be transferred to Every Nation in the Philippines, and will purchase canned goods, bottled water, milk, and other items for those in need.

If you have family or friends with plans to fly to Manila in the near future, clothing is also a huge help for people who have lost their homes and everything they own.

We (Robert and Samantha) are doing all right. We are grateful that God spared our home, knowing that the heavily flooded areas are only about 15 minutes from where we live. We know that this happened for a reason -- so that we can be all the more available (the way Jesus would) and serve the ones in need.

We had our weekly feeding program that morning. The feeding center started to get flooded and we had to cut it short to properly evacuate the children and the volunteers.

Upon leaving the feeding center, we realized that this hurricane was unlike any other we have encountered in the past. People on the streets were walking through waist-deep water.

Right now, prayers are desperately needed. Please stand with all of us in prayer as we try to overcome this tragedy and continue to claim that weapons formed against us shall never prosper.

We will keep on posting updates, donation gateways, sharing pictures and prayer points in the next few days. Thank you for all the messages of concern!

FIREPROOF (The Movie)

This blog post is for all friends based in Metro Manila.

Robert and I are currently selling tickets for a special screening of the movie FIREPROOF.

September 18th Friday 7:30 pm Power Plant (Rockwell) Cinema P150 each


This is a great movie to watch (especially for married couples), here's why:

About FIREPROOF
At work, inside burning buildings, Capt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter's adage: Never leave your partner behind. At home, in the cooling embers of his marriage, he lives by his own rules.

Growing up, Catherine Holt always dreamed of marrying a loving, brave firefighter...just like her daddy. Now, after seven years of marriage, Catherine wonders when she stopped being "good enough" for her husband.

Regular arguments over jobs, finances, housework, and outside interests have readied them both to move on to something with more sparks.

As the couple prepares to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb's father challenges his son to commit to a 40-day experiment: "The Love Dare." Wondering if it's even worth the effort, Caleb agrees-for his father's sake more than for his marriage. When Caleb discovers the book's daily challenges are tied into his parents' new found faith, his already limited interest is further dampened.

While trying to stay true to his promise, Caleb becomes frustrated time and again. He finally asks his father, "How am I supposed to show love to somebody who constantly rejects me?"

When his father explains that this is the love Christ shows to us, Caleb makes a life-changing commitment to love God. And with God's help he begins to understand what it means to truly love his wife.

But is it too late to fireproof his marriage? His job is to rescue others. Now Caleb Holt is ready to face his toughest job ever...rescuing his wife's heart.


Please don't miss this chance -- a great Friday night date movie! If you have seen this movie on DVD, this is your chance to catch it on the big screen.

Send us a message if you would like to buy tickets. You may also re-post this message and send it to those you think might be interested in watching.

God bless you all!

Annual Portraits

Over a year ago, we talked about how we placed our wedding vows in pictures frames. The point was to put them in a special place in our home in order to remind ourselves the promises we made to each other in God's presence.

We have another little tradition that we would like to share with you. Robert and I make it a point to have a formal portrait taken each year -- specifically on our wedding anniversary which falls on February 24th.

The plan is to put these portraits in 8R frames and hang them on a blank wall and add a new one each year -- until we grow old and wrinkly!

I believe this will allow us to appreciate our marriage as years go by. I also believe that our future children will appreciate this tradition.

So far, we have three portraits that are waiting to be put up:


2007


2008


2009

I am now in search of strong, sturdy, picture frames that will hang steadily on our wall. These frames have to preserve the photos well! Do you have any recommendations as to where to buy 8R-sized photo frames? Would love to hear your suggestions!

Seeing Dreams Come True

August 2nd was the day of the Philippine Basketball Association's (PBA) Annual Rookie Draft.

We want to share with you today the amazing work that God has done.


CHARLES LAMONT WATERS

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)


Photo Credit: Margaret Tipton

Lamont is a former officer of the United States Air Force who had a dream of one day playing in the PBA. Lamont is one of my best friends in the world and I have known him since we were in high school.

He is 29 years old and the odds are so against him especially because he didn’t play college ball. He decided to get out of the military and pursue his dream of one day playing in the PBA and making a difference.

Over the past year there were a lot of obstacles that he had to go through in order for him to get to this place. He was faced with so much discouragement, doubt, failure, and every other feeling you can think of.

To make the long story short, on August 2, 2009, his dream came true. He couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t believe it, but one person who could was Jesus.

We have been dreaming of this day and it actually came to pass. We were both filled with so much excitement. God is faithful and is so good.


CHRIS TIMBERLAKE

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
(Psalm 46:10)


Photo Credit: Chris Timberlake

I met Chris about a couple of months ago and he has regularly been attending our weekly bible study. I first saw Chris doing a interview on television after he won Finals MVP honors during the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) championship.

Samantha and I were watching it together and I told her I really like that guy. He was extremely humble and simple in his ways. I thought he might be a Christian.

I got his number from a friend because I heard he was interested in joining a bible study. I immediately called him and invited him.

We met up and instantly became friends. We came to find out we have mutual friends and he attended our Every Nation church in Jacksonville, Florida -- Southpoint Community Church.

We have been spending a lot of time together and our relationship has been growing. Chris graduated from the University of North Florida and, like Lamont, had dreams of joining the PBA.

He got picked by my former team Ginebra but later got traded to Purefoods, another one of my former teams. He is still in awe on how good God is.

I am so excited to see what God has in store for him. Chris has so much wisdom and depth, and definitely knows who he is in Christ.


MICHAEL BURTSCHER

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)


Photo Credit: Lizette Claudio

This has to be one of my favorite success stories. I met Mike a few years ago but he has been attending our Bible study just this year.

He is half-Filipino and half-Swiss. He grew up not knowing his real father and going from foster home to foster home.

He found himself here in the Philippines a couple of years ago. Before coming here he was telling us that he was working 4 jobs and the last one was putting tiles on bathroom floors.

He said that one day at work, he just thought to myself, "I don’t want to do this all my life." So he quit.

Eventually, while he was in the Philippines, some scouts and coaches took notice of him because he was 6’6" tall and could run and jump like a deer. He was so athletic but really not with a lot of basketball skills. He was raw.

He bounced from school to school and from team to team. His only source of income was when he would get invited to play in these tournaments and he would get paid 500-2000 pesos to play.

He found out that he was able to enter the draft this year a week before the deadline. He was the biggest draft surprise.

He had an amazing showing at the rookie draft camp and he ended up getting picked the 5th overall to Alaska, another former team of mine. When they called his name his face lost color and he was the most surprised person in the entire place.

He said the first thing he is going to do when he signs a contract is go to the grocery store and by some food for his family. He has a 2-year-old little boy named Darin.

Mike has unlimited potential with a heart that is in passionate pursuit of God. He is continuing to grow in his relationship with the Lord and I believe one day will become a Pastor.

God is so amazing. There is nothing that brings me so much joy than seeing others dreams come true.

I know God is going to use these guys to really make a great impact on their respective teams and this nation. More basketball players are coming to our Bible study and a lot of it is because these guys can’t stop talking about on how great our God is.

I count it a priviledge to see these men grow in becoming the men that God has called them to be. Nothing is impossible for those who believe!


Photo Credit: Samantha Johnson. Photo taken right after the men's Bible study.

"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12)

We Invite You To The Sunday Services This Weekend!

Friends, Victory Fort Bonifacio has lined up special speakers for the weekend of July 25-26, 2009.

We just want you to know about it because we are so excited to have these mighty men of God sharing His Word and their insights with us this Saturday and Sunday.

First off, Rice Broocks, Every Nation and Victory co-founder, will deliver messages at the Saturday 6:00PM and Sunday 11:00AM services.

Joey Bonifacio will still deliver a message at the 9:00am.

Meanwhile, Paolo Punzalan's congregations are in for a treat. Walter Walker, Steve Murrell's pastor when the latter was at university, will deliver a message at the Sunday 5:00PM service.

Steve Hollander, a vital part of many Philippine outreaches, will deliver a message at the Sunday 7:00PM service.

Help spread the word! Tweet, Plurk, and blog about this!

More Highlights from Iligan City Missions Game

Thank you for allowing me to share the first part of our missions trip to Northern Mindanao. The city of Cagayan de Oro was wonderful. Visiting Iligan City was just as great!

I participated in Illigan City's evangelistic game of Soldiers For the Lord vs A.C.E.S.

It was the second exhibition game on this missions trip. Below is my personal account of the second leg of the trip.

After Cagayan De Oro, we played a game in Illigan City. We drove 2 hours from CDO and was welcomed by a motorcade.

We got on the back of these trucks and drove around the city. That was a great experience, seeing the whole town, waving at the people.

Felt like rock stars. The locals were just so warm and welcoming. Illigan City has a very large Muslim community so that was an experience to see as well.

We had a wonderful lunch and then we rested for the big game.

The game was filled with over 8,000 screaming fans. The gymnasium was jam-packed.

During half time I was asked to share my testimony again, and shared the gospel. I shared John 3:16-17.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

A local pastor came up and capped off everything we said. In Illigan they speak the Visayan language, so Tagalog wasn’t much help. He gave an altar call, and thousands of people raised their hand and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Obviously, with our natural eye, we can get skeptical about those who raised their hands, but thank God we aren’t Him, because Jesus sees the hearts of men. I know the presence of God was so thick in that place and it was just amazing to see and be a part of something like that.

The game was exciting, again we ended up losing at the end. But the good news is I didn’t airball a lay-up this time. What an amazing experience.

Whether it's a hurting time or one of the many opportunities that arise from countless everyday experiences, our orders from our Lord are to 'always be prepared to give an answer' (1 Peter 3:15), always ready to explain the Jesus-difference."

I am humbled by the ways He continues to use me and my wife. I am humbled that you continue to stand with us in making this happen. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.