Scott has had a full weekend of ministry, and he will have a day off on Monday before beginning a two-day DM seminar in Villasis on Tuesday. His time with Wilson and Angelica’s disciples on Sunday was TREMENDOUS and fun. = )
Sunday’s Prayer Requests:
Refreshing and encouragement for Wilson, Angelica, and their disciples; they have been working faithfully in difficult situations for a long time and some have been discouraged. 2. Strength, health, and discernment for Scott to finish this final week of ministry strong.
The new DM groups that have formed during this mission trip to meet each week and the members to establish and maintain the various necessary disciplines. Sunday’s Details:
Everything doesn’t always go according to plan, but God can bring something positive out of any given situation. Although the attendees at Saturday’s singles seminar weren’t really the intended audience for Scott’s material, he said, “…one redeeming aspect of the seminar was the time of repentance for sexual sins. There were quite a few young people who came up and cried out to God in repentance.”
Young people “cleansing themselves…” so they could become vessels of honor, ready for the master’s use. Scott was able to meet Sunday afternoon with some of Wilson and Angelica’s disciples. A bit of background may be helpful.
For several years, Pastors Wilson and Angelica were associate ministers in a church in which they did a large portion of the pastoral work and raised more than 40 disciple-makers. In the past year, God directed them to leave that church and plant a new church. That is what they did, but in obeying God they had to leave behind the disciples they had raised. Since they had poured their lives into those people for years, it was a wrenching transition all around. In this picture with some of their disciples, Wilson and Angelica are in red right in front of Scott.
I think this picture was taken AFTER the Sequence game Scott said “It was such a powerful time with Wilson and Angelica’s disciples. They were really discouraged because Wilson and Angelica left to plant the new church and then their senior pastor passed away. But after I shared the vision of TTC and then shared a message about Keep Going (Swagaliga), they were so encouraged. Three of them shared through tears about how they have wanted to quit (like Elijah).”
Another thing Scott has noticed in a number of countries is that Christians who are active in ministry are often quite busy, sometimes to the point of exhaustion, and sometimes they don’t have or make time to relax and have fun. Scott is a game-playing guy, and he brought a few of his favorites. He said, “We also played Sequence, Taco/Cat/Goat, and Spot It. I bought them their own copy of Sequence to use with their disciples!” And then, “We had Boodle Fight for dinner.” As I understand it, a boodle fight is a Filipino (celebratory?) meal that is strewn down the middle of a long table and then eaten entirely without utensils. The link above explains more about the history of the term and explains the basic “rules” involved.
Let the boodle fight begin! Today we wrap up with a piece of joyful news that isn’t really related to the Philippines at all. Once of our missionary friends in Tanzania, Alex, has been traveling some eight hours one-way each week to lead a DM group of pastors. Alex and his wife Janeth have been expecting their second baby, and he was born last week! Alex said, “The Lord be glorified! He has given us a baby boy, Declan Yadah Imoli. Hallelujah!”
Introducing Declan Yadah, whose name means “Man of Prayer and Praise”
Daddy Alex with his newborn son A new baby is a reason to rejoice, whether in Africa, Asia, or America. Thank YOU for praying for Declan Yadah to grow to fulfill his name and for My Hero and those he’s ministering to to experience God’s goodness today!
Following his Thursday meetings in Rosario with pastors from Madam Myrna’s network, Friday was an official “day off” for Scott, with the exception of an important online meeting with portions of our Kenya leadership team. On Saturday he will lead a Singles conference in Villasis, and on Sunday he’ll be ministering in the morning (church), afternoon (Wilson and Angelica’s key disciple-makers), and evening (monthly online DM fellowship).
Friday’s Prayer Requests:
1. The singles in Villasis to be just as open and receptive to the Holy Spirit’s work in their hearts as the singles in La Trinidad were! 2. God’s guidance for Scott to focus and effectively adapt his remarks to each different group of people he’ll be serving this weekend. 3. The leaders of the new DM groups to connect well with their people; those groups to function like healthy families. Friday’s Details:
Although he has quite a few ministry opportunities in the next couple days, Scott’s main focus right now is getting the several new Filipino DM groups established. One in-person group will start in Anao (bottom of the map) on Monday, and one in-person and two online groups from those who signed up in Loo (top of the map) will start in the next two weeks. Scott is staying in Villasis; the meetings this weekend are in Tombod and VillasisIn order for DM groups to thrive and fulfill their purpose, the participants must be: – diligent in various spiritual disciplines, – open to being corrected, – honest about their challenges, – and most of all, eager to grow.
The first few group meetings are always key to building the relationships among group members that facilitate those components, and it takes loving, experienced leaders to create the environment to build those relationships. Scott pours heavily into our several national leaders, they pour into their disciples, and some of those disciples will be leading these new groups. We are expecting God to help and guide them all!
We’re glad to report that Scott’s back is doing well – praise God! – and he seems to be nearly over all the respiratory crud he was hit with a couple weeks ago.
If you’d like to get a personal message to him, send it to me and I’ll see that he gets it. = )
Scott is so thankful for your prayers! I know that because he says so in nearly every text or conversation. Would you please pray for him and the folks in the Philippines again today?
Even though Scott had to compress his two-day DM seminar into one day in Loo, the response was really enthusiastic, with three new groups being formed! Our team has traveled back down to La Trinidad for the night, and on Thursday, (Wednesday night MO time) Scott will be ministering to the pastors affiliated with Madam Myrna’s Agape Network.
Wednesday’s Prayer Requests:
1. God to quickly and closely connect Pastors Wilson and Angelica with the Loo folks in the three new online DM groups they’ll be leading. 2. The Holy Spirit to give Scott the exact things to say to the Agape Pastors in Rosario on Thursday. 3. Grace for Scott as he deals with any physical challenges or exhaustion.Wednesday’s Details:
Scott said, “Good meeting today, although it was hard to try to compress the 2-day seminar into one day.”Scott teaching in Loo (“LOW-oh”)“17 signed up in 3 different online groups. Angelica will lead two ladies groups and Wilson will lead the other one.”Pastor Wilson handing out the first lesson to the new group members!Scott usually ends his DM seminars with the story of Barnabas, which demonstrates what a big impact we can make by discipling just one person. Scott calls that message “The Power of One,” and that’s why all these smiling folks are holding up one thumb. = )“The Power of One”
You may recall that the road between Loo and La Trinidad is quite curvy. After traveling back down from Loo, Scott said, “I’m totally worn out, but thankfully, I’m back in my room in La Trinidad and I did not throw up on the way home.” Thank God for a settled stomach!
On Thursday morning, they will descend another 3,100 feet during the 35-mile drive down to Rosario for Scott to meet with Madam Myrna’s pastors. That drive is expected to take an hour and 45 minutes. La Trinidad to Rosario: 35 miles + 1.75 hoursWould you please pray for Scott again today? We are SO grateful for your prayers.
I’ll leave you with this lovely picture Scott took on his Loo jaunt.What a gorgeous view!Peace and Blessings, Patty
They made it to Loo (“LOW-oh”) and Scott is very excited about who all is expected to attend the one-day DM seminar there. His health is improving.
Tuesday’s Prayer Requests:
1. God’s mercy for the folks in Kenya devastated by disastrous floods (details below). 2. Scott to connect well with the Loo area pastors; a DM outpost to be established there. 3. No distractions to hinder Wednesday’s seminar; all technical, logistical, and relational things to go well!Tuesday’s Details:
First, the crisis in Kenya. A few days ago, Scott said, “Hellen’s home was flooded. She is thankful to be alive.” Hellen is one of the key leaders of the Kenya Discipleship Network. She lives in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. Today, Scott said, “Please pray for our Disciple-makers in Kenya. The flooding they are experiencing has caused much property damage, roads destroyed and loss of life. Rev Hellen’s home was flooded and a dam broke near Pastor Peter’s place. May God have mercy.” I heard on national news this morning that, “Massive floods and a landslide near Nairobi have swept away homes and cars and killed dozens of people… At least 45 people are confirmed dead with about 50 still missing.”
This article gives more details. Please pray for those who have lost family and/or homes in this disaster, and pray for our team members there.
Back in the Philippines… On today’s drive from La Trinidad to Loo, our team (Scott, Pastors Wilson and Angelica, and Johnwell and Aprila) stopped at the highest point in the Philippines.Sightseers at the Filipino top of the worldScott said, “We are in Loo now and have met with the host pastor and his leaders. They have over 60 registered from 18 churches for tomorrow’s seminar, including 14 pastors. I’m very excited to hear about the projected attendance. Please pray that we are able to connect with a good number of pastors and establish a healthy DM Outpost here in Benguet province.”
He sent us these pictures, saying, “It is so beautiful!”Pastor Wilson capturing the viewMountains and terraced fields
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7, NLT).
Your PRAYERS during this mission trip are enabling Scott and our team to bring good news and transformational teaching to pastors in the Loo area. Thank you for standing with us so faithfully. God is good!
This morning, Scott had a refreshing reunion with friends who had attended his Raising Champions parenting seminar five years ago. This afternoon and evening he taught that seminar to a number of new folks who had not heard it before. Tuesday will be a travel day to the next city, where Scott will present a one-day RDM seminar.
Monday’s Prayer Requests:
1. Sound, restorative sleep and healing for Scott. 2. Safe travels from La Trinidad to Loo on Tuesday. 3. Divine connections between Scott and any individuals God wants him to partner with in establishing a disciple-makers outpost in the Philippines.
Monday’s Details:
This morning, Johnwell, his wife Aprila, and their children met Scott for breakfast at McDonald’s, and their story was a great encouragement to him. When Scott was last there in 2019, they attended his Raising Champions parenting seminar and immediately began putting into practice the principles he taught. Since then, they have been consistently loving, leading, and disciplining their (then) young children, and the results speak for themselves. Their kids are doing great in every way, and their 13 year-old daughter wants to be a missionary. = )
Johnwell, Aprila (in pink), and their kids with Scott
Johnwell and Aprila’s story is also amazing in another way. They know a business owner who has six restaurants, and he has hired them to disciple all his employees! On Monday morning, they go to Restaurant #1 before it opens and lead a DM group with those employees. On Tuesday morning, they go to Restaurant #2 before it opens and lead a DM group with those employees, etc. There are 150 employees total, and Johnwell and Aprila are being paid to make disciples of them! AMAZING!
Sometimes, when Scott spends a lot of time, prayer, preparation, money, and effort to minister to just a handful of folks, he wonders if it’s all worth it, but stories like this remind us of the power of investing in just one. It’s good to remember that the results are God’s responsibility; our job is to obey him. = )
On Tuesday, Scott will travel from La Trinidad to Loo (“LOW-oh,” at the top of this map). It’s a three-hour drive, but the distance is only 56 miles! That’s because the road from La Trinidad to Loo is up in the mountains and is very curvy, with an average speed of only 20 mph.
Map of Scott’s Philippines travels (again)
Consider these altitudes (feet above sea level).
Tombod, where Madam Myrna lives 79 La Trinidad, where the singles seminar was held 3,615 Loo, where Scott will teach on n Tuesday 5,927
So, the road from La Trinidad to Loo climbs almost one-half mile vertically over only 56 miles. That’s one VERY steep and curvy road, so you can see the reason for Prayer Request #2.
If you can, would you please take a moment now to pray for Scott and those he’s working with? We really appreciate your prayers!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Scott is staying in Villasis;
Scott teaching in Loo (“LOW-oh”)“17 signed up in 3 different online groups. Angelica will lead two ladies groups and Wilson will lead the other one.”
Pastor Wilson handing out the first lesson to the new group members!Scott usually ends his DM seminars with the story of Barnabas, which demonstrates what a big impact we can make by discipling just one person. Scott calls that message “The Power of One,” and that’s why all these smiling folks are holding up one thumb. = )
“The Power of One”
What a gorgeous view!Peace and Blessings,
Sightseers at the Filipino top of the worldScott said, “We are in Loo now and have met with the host pastor and his leaders. They have over 60 registered from 18 churches for tomorrow’s seminar, including 14 pastors. I’m very excited to hear about the projected attendance. Please pray that we are able to connect with a good number of pastors and establish a healthy DM Outpost here in Benguet province.”
Pastor Wilson capturing the view
Mountains and terraced fields
Johnwell, Aprila (in pink), and their kids with Scott
Map of Scott’s Philippines travels (again)