Baptist Tracts and Missions: April 2014

JESUS DID IT ALL!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16,17

This is what we compiled last night, April 21, 2014 to give to Chick Publication. We want to share it with you. We hope this will encourage Christians to serve the Lord Jesus Christ through tracts distribution. The fields are teeming with stalks of ripe grains and are ready for harvest, but the laborers are few. Let us help now.

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Here are the testimonies/messages we (Mike and Luisa Carey) got (Luisa translated the vernacular dialect to English, but the messages are as originally written, relayed or sent to us through text in our cellular phone, except those in italics which we added for clarity of sentence):

A. At the beginning of the tract ministry:

From: rossa lim <rossalim2003@yahoo.com>

To: MikenLuisa Carey <mikenluisa@yahoo.com>

Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2013 6:25 PM

Subject: Check on this blog site for stories of Mike and Luisa Carey (on tracts giving)

Malot (Luisa), I can't help admiring you and Mike for working in the vineyard of the Lord right in our own beloved hometown. May GOD bless you tremendously.

Honestly, it tears me up to see committed and dedicated people like you and Mike who really put God first in their lives. (It’s been my prayer that someday, and hopefully, very soon I would be able to financially support missions like you do). Wishing you all the best in your ministry.

(Note: She is a Filipina Catholic, daughter of our mother’s friend, now teaching in Texas, USA. She is the only financial supporter of the Tract-Giving Ministry given to us by God. She gives us 500 pesos a month (more or less US$10).)

B. Feedbacks and testimonies from schools (all levels) on Gamay Nga Sapatos:

1) Merle D. Ramirez, Elementary Schools Supervisor, District II, Cantilan, Surigao the Sur

- Positive feedback from pupils and teachers. They like the story of the tract and the teachers used it during Character Education Classes as reading material for telling story.

2) Maybelle Pama, teacher in Grade 2, San Agustin Elementary School, San Agustin, Tandag City

- San Agustin Elem.School pupils said that it made them cry and they were able to realize the importance of relationship between God and man. It also made them realize that nobody could help us but God alone. They were excited to have another story that could touch and change their lives.

3) Irene G. Ajoc, Principal, Panikian Elementary School, Panikian, Carrascal Surigao del Sur

- The pupils were happy. They enjoyed reading the booklet. They got moral lessons from the story. In fact, the tract serves as supplementary reading material for lower grades especially mother tongue (Bisaya/Cebuano) is one of their subjects. They (she, teachers and pupils) will be given again next time (tracts). Thank you very much.

4) Leizl Latoja, Instructor I, Surigao del Sur State University, Cantilan Campus, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur

- Students said that they blame the father for being a drunkard that is why the child died.

5) Arlene Sumabat, Elementary Schools Supervisor, Carmen District, Carmen, Surigao del Sur

- Feedback is very nice. They were touch by the message. Thanks.

6) Linda C. Jaraula, Principal, Carrascal Central Elementary School, Carrascal, Surigao del Sur and Narcisa Ojao, Teacher, San Miguel National High School, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur

- Very good (ok). Thanks.

7) Marife Romorosa, teacher, Cantilan National High School, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur

- The officers, faculty, staff and students like the tract first time they received it. They were blessed by your efforts to give tracts.

(Note: Others have not responded yet, while some said they have to ask their teachers first and get back to us.)

C. Feedback by the general public when we gave the “Kini Ang Akong Kinabuhi Kaniadto” tracts (either Mike and Luisa, or with the women or men or young people) :

1) Liezel Elizalde, Tondo, Tandag City

- “It touches my heart, and through (it) I have a different outlook in life in the sense that I was able to give some importance to my parents and to my siblings also.”

2) Melody Acot, Tondo, Tandag City

- “As I read it, my tears just fall down my cheeks and I do believe that God has (His) own purpose for every one of us.”

3) A man from Bongtud, Tandag City, as interviewed by Janet Duero, member of Tandag Bible Baptist Church

- “Can I go to your church?” (Janet said he is welcome in our church.)

4) A woman from Tondo, Tandag City, as interviewed by Luisa Carey

- “I won’t accept your tract because I am a sinner.” (I said to her, Jesus came to save sinners. I told her further that I was a sinner, too, but now saved by Jesus. She accepted the tract and said to me, “Take care.”)

5) General comment of many people who read the Gamay Nga Sapatos and were eager to read the Kini Ang Akong Kinabuhi Kaniadto

- I like reading the previous one, thanks for this new one. I will surely read it.

- I cried when I read the stories. Are there any other?

- I am touched. The story is nice.

- I am afraid

- It’s like me (father said when he read Gamay Nga Sapatos)

- I was looking for a church to attend to. The tract address pointed me to your church

D. From some members of Tandag Bible Baptist Church when ask why they give tracts:

1) Marissa Coquilla

- She wants to be involved in soul winning (she, her husband and their two kids give tracts). She said she does not know how to share to people salvation so she gives tracts to be useful to God. She has seen the many blessings from the Lord when she and her family has started to give tracts.

2) Deding Singcol

- She loves to give tracts to people and win souls for Christ. She, too, has witness the many abundant blessings from God since she has started giving tracts.

3) Alma Tello

- I am afraid not to give tracts because it is our responsibility as a Christian to win souls.

4) Maybelle Pama, Arnie Tuyor, Rowena Corada, Janet Duero, Ging Guijo, other women who participated in tracts giving

- Through tracts distribution, we are made instruments to winning souls for Christ. This is God’s mandate for every Christian. We also receive abundant blessings from the Lord as we do it.

5) Daughter of Joan Avenido

- I want to give tracts to help win souls to Christ. I am 10 years old and want to be baptized.

6) Mike and Luisa Carey

- Tract distribution is the ministry given to us by God. No matter how hard it may be to continue the work, it is our responsibility to do it (in season and out of season) because we accepted the work God bestowed upon us. We have to distribute tracts wherever we are, when the funds are low and whether people would help us or not. It is our desire that God will always be glorified as we give the tracts to people (this is a big challenge because Mike cannot speak the Filipino language and he has a spine problem, while Luisa is halfway paralyzed and could not speak well). It is our fervent prayer that people would truly be saved through the tracts we give them. There is also rewards in tract-giving. The blessings are tremendous. Free tracts are available through Chick Publication. Tandag Bible Baptist Church help us make the work lighter. God provides us all our basic needs, we are still healthy despite the physical challenges that keeps us awake from time to time. Most of all, in many cases, we see unbelievers even extend helping hands to us at times when we thought no one would help. When will we end this work? God only knows. It is up to Him. To God be the glory!
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Mike and Luisa Carey; April 22, 2014

When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Ezekiel 33:8,9

At almost 12 o'clock midnight last March 19, 2014, two big boxes of tracts containing 10,000 tracts per box from Chick Publication, USA, arrived in Tandag Bible Baptist Church. It was sent to us (Mike and Luisa) for distribution anywhere in the Philippines, particularly in Surigao del Sur where we are based. Since we were not in Tandag at that time (we were in Davao City to submit papers for Mike's permanent resident visa application), Ptr. Ed Gamboa and Sir Nemo G. Gamboa received them for us. They and the church are very much supportive in this ministry ever since we transferred residence from Cantilan to Tandag and have become part of the church. We are expecting another one box soon, again from Chick Publication.

As of now, Tandag Bible Baptist Church is distributing the tracts in Tandag and some other places. The women's group alone have been distributing tracts in Bongtud for 2 consecutive Sunday afternoons and are still planning to distribute this Sunday. The men's group are challenged, too, to distribute tract this Sunday afternoon around Balilahan. The young people have their own plans about tract distribution. Even the children in the church get tracts after classes to distribute them, too. One mother told us that her child was eager to distribute tracts in the market area after school. One time, she had her buy something, but it took time for her daughter to go home. When she asked her, the child answered that she was distributing tracts along the way. We are touched by this desire to win souls for the Lord at a young age!

We do not limit our sharing of tracts to members of our church alone. We feel this would be selfishness. The gospel should be preached freely around the world. Jesus, in fact, said this specifically in Matthew 28:19,20. Because of this, we also give tracts to pastors who would wish to distribute them (i.e. pastors from Lanuza, Tago and San Miguel). Since another box of tracts will be arriving soon, we can afford more to give in bulks to those who are willing to distribute honestly. We heard some groups ask and then have the tracts on hold until they will be “caught” with molds or eaten by mice. For us, this is very, very sad because people had been investing time, effort and money just to produce the tracts for us to freely give to others. Most of all, they hinder the gospel to be shared to the unsaved. May the Lord convict them on this.

By the way, the titles of the tracts we are giving now in Cebuano are: Kini Ang Imong Kinabuhi Kaniadto (This Was Your Life) and Gamay Nga Sapatos (Tiny Shoes).

Tandag Bible Baptist Church, thank you very much for helping us. Truly you are all a great blessing. God knows how to repay. To Him be all glory!