In David’s apparent helplessness, he state the condition of his inner thoughts. Putting myself between fear and hope, I cast a long look forward towards this year’s Family Retreat at Lancaster,PA. Never in the last eight years of conducting retreat has my soul languish secretly and so in a hurry to get this year’s retreat over with! Because I wanted to see the outcome. Because I wanted to see how the LORD will move in our midst. Because I wanted to see how He will answer our prayers.

Lord my sighing is not hidden from You, placing myself in David’s brokenness! For Satan has  cast a critical and complaining spirit that has disturb and hurt the peace and harmony of the church unexpectedly! This destructive spirit has spread its shadow and tow many others under it.Oh how a simple germ can sicken the Body! Satan may have been toothless but retains his sharp claws. He can still inflict deep wounds. This spirit roars “we will see to it that No shall win” and work the phone to make it happen.I can only pray in brokenness. And build up love in the pulpit.I am aware, but this is God’s battle not mine.So I pray that from the place where this started it all, God shall release love and joy that will  edify the Body  and cast the evil spirit away. I sigh and sigh over it!

But I am not ready for the magnitude of God’s wonderful moves before His people. It’s remarkable! It’s awesome! It’s  grace so amazing! You have to be there to see and experience it. It has to be experienced to be described! The unity, cooperation,joy and warmth as people link to pray,sing and play was just remarkable.You can tell the enthusiasm and satisfaction of people in every aspect of retreat’s activities.And this has become more obvious due to the absence of destructive critical spirit.When God’s presence is indeed recognize we shall be drawn to Him. Suddenly, the venue, no matter how simple or glamorous slide back advertently! Same old songs are sung joyously, worship move marvelously, games were played enthusiastically and focus given undividedly.

Praise God great things He has done. For the hundred fifteen persons who have come, this 9th Family Retreat “Fireproofing The family” erase the ugly scar inflected by the 8th Retreat and cast out the evil spirit that has cause agony in church’s body.  By far, in openness, cooperation,joy,relationship restored and resolved,enthusiasm and focus, it’s remarkably up there. People are markedly grateful  and respectful to God’s leading and kindness this time around. The results of survey taken afterwards banner it all. An overwhelming positive comments and overwhelming endorsement of the same place for next year’s family retreat – a gigantic turnaround of heart by God’s own people.

I know I cannot thank you enough, but I don’t want to miss my opportunity to thank you.Thank you Retreat Com. Members (Tirso Quiachon, Minda Jardenico, Josie Rimmey and Tess Guevarra) for standing still and proven your point true. Thank you Retreat Servants (Jovie/Sis.Ligaya=Children ; Tom/Eden=Sports and Recreations ‘; Ken/Imelda= transporting Band’s Instruments) for sacrificing your time so that others may have theirs fully. Thank You Brod.Perze/Marchesa and Praise Team for preparing and leading in spirit-filled singing of praise and adoration to God during worship and devotional times. Thank you Maila , Dorothy and Raytsur for giving us memorable selected numbers.Brod. Maeng for helping me in Worship Service. Thank you Pastors Rommel,Hylton and Chilton for soul-searching, sin-convicting, obedient-causing messages you delivered from God. You are a wonderful team honoring God. We have winners out of you. PTL.

And for everyone, thank you for showing a very high positive attitude. Thank you for holding it high. My heart rejoices because we BRING the brand of Christianity into the place with us and and not the other way around. I thank God for many,many prayers utter months before this encounter with God take place.Your prayers and mine were greatly answer. His answers are far wiser than our requests.

May therefore this fresh touch of the Lord sustain us through the months that will come,until, the 10th Retreat comes around. After all, it’s only 12 months away.

God has gifted us with refreshing Family Retreat. Salamat po Panginoon Dios.

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST. ALLELUIA.    

By this time of course  we understand that by the word revival, we mean, not the scheduled activities nor emphasis we commonly perceived. In our thoughts, in our hearts ,we mean, the extraordinary presence of God among His people yet to be seen nor experience before by this generation.His extraordinary presence as if he is nowhere and then suddenly HE Is. A revival that is difficult to explain not because we cannot but because it is for us to experience in order to describe it.

SJBCI has set her heart to pray desperately for God’s mighty refreshing presence because of the sad state of the Body of Christ. We can see the sad and alarming dryness and dullness of faith all around us.As if, a curse has been cast over and so deadness of faith is prevalent. Like trees in winter,faith looks like lifeless! It’s a dreaded sight. Such sight drove us to revival praying.

In confession of sin and brokenness we prayed, “O Lord bend us, bend us. Grant us that old time power.” Tightly hanging on His promise in Isaiah 44:1,3, “For I will pour water on him, who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground. I will pour my spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring”

That will be  extraordinary presence of God.After all , His Spirit that will pour out shall be overwhelming and far-reaching, far beyond each one of us can describe.

Oh, that SJBCI would not give up nor relent. For God’s apparent delay is His perfect timing.He never had been imperfect. Not once.Not never.

Oh, that YOU who could read this join us on this sacred stride. We implore you. We encourage you. Let us seek the face of God in humble revival praying that the whole earth may be filled with His glory once more.And to that end, TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THING HE HAS DONE… ALLELUIA!!!

Family Camp Retreat: July 18-20
A time for church people to have a kind of togetherness that enriches them in the spirit, strengthen their relationships, refreshing their outlook about the church and its ministry and re-discover the good in each of us, by going and doing activities together that are meant to draw us all together, in an atmosphere that is freer and less formal, yet not lessen the formality and seriousness of our intentions and objectives.  Come, this may be another time of great movement from the Lord.  He wants to bless His church.

Pls. see Bro.Tirso, Josie, Sis.Minda, Sis Tess for reservations, payments, and other inquiries.

South Philly Pastoral Need
Pls. uphold TCGS-SP in your prayers.  The process is moving on our daughter church’s search for a pastoral need.  Remember that in more than two years they haven’t had a pastor.  We have to step up on our prayers regarding this urgent need.

Body and Soul
The WMU has started an activity which aims to reach both body and soul.  A devotion before physical exercises every Saturday @ 9am SJBCI church.  This month, we’ll be doing TAE BO led by Bro.Jaspher. Come in and join in the fun! 

Baptist Men Prayer: Wednesdays & Fridays 8-10pm
All men of the church are reminded of this crucial gathering.  This is one meeting you need not to miss.  Mighty men prayer, and prayer building mighty men.  They are equipped to lead the church and bless the ministry.  Men of prayer are blessings and bring blessings to their family and church.  Come and grow in prayer and be a mighty instrument in God’s hand.

Daily Vacation Bible School
Every day from July 5-9
5:30 PM-7:30 PM

Saddle up for VBS 2010 where kids will be ridin’ the range and roundin’ up questions like: “What is God’s plan for me?” and “How can I be like Jesus?” At the end of the day, they’ll discover that God’s Word has all the answers.

VBS Scripture: James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. (HCSB®)

For more info, contact Sis.Tess or call the church office to register children preschool-preteens.

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The month of July, Tae Bo will be led by Bro. Jaspher.

Thank you to Sis. Leila who devoted all her June Saturdays to lead Body and Soul’s ZUMBA classes!  God bless you.

 Youth Car Wash
Thank you for participating and supporting our youth in the church!  They’re gearing up and raising money for this year’s True Love Waits retreat to bring their costs down.  You are such blessings to their spiritual growth!

July 3:  Baptist Men Fellowship
Due to the hectic schedule for this month, the Baptist Men fellowship is finally moved on to this date.  Bro. Tirso will host this gathering.

July 18-20: Family Camp
Reminding everyone about the forthcoming family camp.  Pls. let Bro.Tirso know about your joining.  He needs your name and the number of people you are going with.  Pay what you can now and pay the remaining amount on the day of registration.

Every year has its own revelation and excitement.  No two years has produced the same results.  God certainly has in store something for us this year.  An immense surprise for those who will come.  Come and be blessed immensely by the Lord.

South Philly Pastoral Need
Please uphold TCGS-SP in your prayers.  The process is moving on our daughter church’s search for a pastoral need.  Remember that in more than two years they had no pastor.  We have to step up on our prayers regarding this urgent need.

Family Night
Discussion is going on about returning the family night fellowship in our church.  The schedule is set during months of having extra Fridays.  Decision is still to be fixed.  Pray that by bringing this gathering.  It will infuse warmth and enthusiasm in our church relationships.

NEW SIGN BOARD
Praise God for the WMU’s efforts to raise funds to provide our church building with a new sign board, after last winter’s destructive conditions.

Thank you to the members’ contributions, and all the men who helped put it in place! Talk about team work!

Thank you Lord!

June 26, 9am-2pm, @ SJBCI Building
Summit 2

Church leaders and officers are reminded of this continuing equipping prepared by the church for our leadership.  This is one attempt of engaging church leaders and officers on a topic crucial to the obedience and commission of the church to the Lordship of Jesus Christ our Lord.

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July 3
Baptist Men Fellowship
Due to hectic schedule for this month, the Baptist Men fellowship is finally moved to this date.  Bro.Tirso will host this gathering.

More details TBA.

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June 18, 8-10pm, @ SJBCI Building 
Baptist Men Prayer Rally

We are encouraging all of our men to come on this once a month gathering for prayer.  We have committed ourselves to come in the church and pray specifically for our family, church ministry and local/global revival.  Our gathering is a visible manifestation of our willingness to be united on those crucial prayer pursuits.

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We’ve all done it before, flipped through a Macy’s catalog or our favorite consumer publication and determinately categorized favorited items into proverbial buckets under wants & needs.  Usually, the satisfaction after acquiring the wants is in greater proportion than when the needs are quenched, although in the long run, it’s fulfilling the needs that provides more sense of security and purpose.

As you’re reading this article, our synapses are making similar connections, categorizing information into proverbial buckets under wants and needs. Some of us may ‘want’ to plug in and join a free ZUMBA class or attend the Father/Child Bowling activity, or even have a strong interest to join the arduous choir practices (PLUG: every Sunday 1pm @sanctuary). Some even ‘want’ the community, the acceptance of a church family, friends within the same ethnicity, age, or gender.  All these have legitimate merits. 

But dear friends, these wants are not the source to life’s inherent need for completeness. You can plug in to these outlets, but none will result in the full life that God offers through His Son, Jesus.  You see, in John 14:6, Jesus proclaimed, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  No amount of one’s own merit (or demerit) affects our salvation, but only through grace, through faith, can we receive that blissful and extremely ‘needed’ salvation promised in John 3:16. 

It becomes easier to dump everything in the ‘wants’ bucket when we consider the immense ‘need’ for Jesus in our lives. He is the TRUE source, And assuredly, unlike material wants, when we fill that need to genuinely believe and know God, our satisfaction is in direct proportion, and we come to find that our real wants are completed by fulfilling that ‘need’.  John Piper writes “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” The greatest pleasure is the pleasure in Him.In John 10:10, Jesus says, "I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

So what’s the verdict?

Do you want that eternal life offered to you today, because believe it friend, you need it.  We invite you to ‘PLUG IN’ to the source, JESUS.  We also extend the invitation for you to come fellowship with us, plug into any of our activities, services, Bible studies, ministries that serve as outlets to know God more, to be blessed and be a blessing.

June 18
Baptist Men Prayer Rally 8-10pm
We are encouraging all of our men to come on this once a month gathering for prayer.  We have committed ourselves to come in the church and pray specifically for our family, church ministry and local/global revival.  our gathering is a visible manifestation of our willingness to be united on those crucial prayer pursuits.

June 19
Father and Kids’ Bowling Fellowship
WMU has sponsored this fellowship to show support of strengthening the bond between father and their children, specific details will be given by Sis. Minda as the occasion gets closer.

June 26
Summit 2
9am-2pm.  church leaders and officers are reminded of this continuing equipping prepared by the church for our leadership.  This is one attempt of engaging church leaders and officers on a topic crucial to the obedience and commission of the church to the Lordship of Jesus Christ our Lord.

June 26
BASIC Fellowship Worship
Our youth are trying to reach out to the un-church by providing a once a month fellowship where the can be exposed informally to the ways and life of the church.

June 27
Youth Car Wash
This is a regular activity of our Youth in attempt to raise funds for their activities.  Line up your cars, and get them dirty!  We’re ready to help.

June 28
Feeding the Homeless
This is an activity where participant help in serving the homeless at Camden.  Pls. see Sis.Ligaya for info. and directions.

July 3
Baptist Men Fellowship
Due to hectic schedule for this month, the Baptist Men fellowship is finally moved to this date.  Bro.Tirso will host this gathering.

July 18-20
Family Retreat
Reminding everyone that the date of our retreat has come closer.  Check again your schedule and clear out your July calendar.  Remember to pay early and make your reservations known.  Bro. Tirso receives the payment.  If he is not around, pls. give your payments to Sis. Minda, Sis. Josie or Sis. Tess.