December 2009

ALL ABOUT LEADERSHIP

Coney Reyes on CCOWEspondence:Her life story and mission

The Pillars for Leadership

True Freedom inside Prison

Leadership qualities must have

A mutineer transformed

based on the creation mandate

Young ProfessionalsMaking Disciples in the Workplace

Understanding Male Leadership

eamTTCristina Dy

Editor-in-chief

Hansel David CoRosalind Ngo-Li

Editors

Johnson LiArt Editors

Marybelle TalaniaLayout Artist

Rev. Alexander Hsu UyPtr. Philemon TiePtr. Joselito ChuaSpiritual Columnists

CYP camp pictures courtesy ofSamuel Agabin

CCOWEspondence is a magazine published semi-annually by CCOWEF Young Professionals Philippines (CYP). This publication is distributed for free to Filipino-Chinese churches nationwide. If you would like to extend financial assistance to help in the production and distribution of CCOWEspondence, it will be greatly appreciated. You can send cash or check made payable to:

CCOWEF PhilippinesMetrobank- Sta. Cruz BranchS/A No. 025-3-02550155-2

Note: Views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of CCOWEF Philippines or CYP . Authors are responsible for the opinion and articles.

EE

For comments and suggestionswrite to us at

192-A Speaker Perez St.Laloma, Quezon City, Phils.

or email us at

editors@ccowespondence.comcristinacdy@yahoo.com

ditorialE

“Follow me! Why no one follow me?!” My four-year old niece exclaimed in frustration.

Her arms were raised in midair as she insisted that her audience of adults follow her in song and action. Funny, we asked her to perform a song number to entertain us and instead, she wanted to lead us in her performance, refusing to proceed unless we also put our arms up and sing after her.

This scene may seem amusing but it also hints at the intrinsic desire of every human, even a child, to lead and to be obeyed. We want to be the boss of our lives, and of others'; to be the first and to be the best. But leadership is more than just commanding others to get things done. Of greater significance is what has become of you and the people you are leading in the process. This brings us to the following questions:

Who are you leading? Why are you leading them? And to where are you leading them?

Many people aspire for leadership because of the honor, power, privileges, and perks that comes with it. Their motives can be partly noble and partly selfish. Still, there are some of those who shy away from leadership because they do not want the responsibility and the pressures. And their reasons can be both valid and selfish too. But like it or not, we are leaders, one way or the other, in the sense that we are capable of influencing others, either by our position or relationship to them.

Being a leader can be exciting, challenging, and frightening at the same time. A leader can potentially build up or destroy a nation, an organization, a family, and a life. And so with the national election coming soon, this is a good time to contemplate on the many intricacies of leadership.

To begin with, let's do a self-evaluation as we look into an article on the key qualities to an effective leadership. Then be challenged by two young men who exercise professional and spiritual leadership simultaneously in their workplace when most Christians would rather separate these two areas of their lives. We also touch on an issue that is very close and real to men in particular, that is, with reference to their leadership roles at home, in church, and in the society.

No one starts off on the path of leadership with the aim to fail. But leaders do fail and fall. Yet by God's grace, they can still rise up and move on victoriously. Let us be warned and at the same time be encouraged by the testimony of a rebel soldier turned God's servant.

Last but not the least, we cannot discount the increasing leadership roles women play today. We have an interview article with Ms. Coney Reyes who shares her experiences and her journey with the Lord as she strives to be a good example and a spiritual leader to her children.

Dear readers, I invite you to turn the pages with me and discover the message and the lessons the Lord has in store for you. It is my prayer that this issue will stir us from our couch of complacency concerning our leadership responsibilities; that it will prickle our minds to be wise in choosing who and what to follow; and most of all, that it will move us to become better godly leaders wherever God places us.

May God bless you with a Spirit-filled Christmas and a Spirit-led 2010!

Tina

ALL ABOUT LEADERSHIPALL ABOUT LEADERSHIP

ditorial

By now, the following names should already be familiar to us: Noynoy Aquino, Manny Villar, and Gilbert Teodoro. With election fever at its highest, we are bombarded with media campaigns from politicians vying for our country's leadership. But what about Florentino Lim or Herminio Bautista? Well, they are also leaders but of a different field. For instance, Rev. Lim is the spiritual leader of my church while Mr. Bautista leads my alma mater.

All of us are leaders in one way or the other. We can be a manager in a company, a Sunday School teacher or a parent. Yet regardless of the level and scope of our authority, we must strive for excellent and effective leadership. According to Dr. John Maxwell, a renowned pastor and author, a leader should possess certain qualities in order to be effective. Let's check and honestly rate ourselves based on the list below:

CharacterWhile we cannot choose our family or even our upbringing, we can choose to have good character and integrity in all our dealings. As some Chinoy self-made business leaders would say, character is their only capital during the times when they were just starting in business. CharismaThis is a noted quality of US President Obama. While some may argue that charisma is nothing without real action, it is undeniably the first thing that draws people. It's the charm, the magnetism, the appeal, or what they call the X factor. A leader who exudes this quality stimulates interest, hope, and vigour among his followers.

CompetenceWhile anyone can be a leader, not everyone is qualified to be one. One must have the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience. For instance, a person aiming to be a university president should not only be a college graduate and an exemplar in academics, but must be competent enough to handle the operation of a school.

PassionPassion drives a person to make the

he T P eadershipillars for L by: Hansel David Co (Glory Evangelical Church/ UEC Baguio)

impossible possible. And people love to follow someone with passion. Of all the great sport icons, Michael Jordan stood out from the others. While his skill made him an outstanding basketball player, it is skill combined with passion that makes him 'The Michael Jordan'.

CourageSometimes, the right measure of courage (or the lack of it) can make or break plans in a group. It requires courage to take certain risks, and to hold one's ground when face with oppositions. When my church was planning to construct a new church building, there was much opposition because we lack the necessary funds. But our church leader had faith and truly believed that God wanted us to do it. We obeyed. The result? God provided.

InitiativeA leader should be pro-active. He knows what needs to be done and doesn't just wait for others to act. Take Joseph the Dreamer. Although God was behind him all the way, it still took faith and initiative from him to start storing grains in preparation for an impending famine.

GenerosityA generous leader begets grateful and motivated followers. The American investment bank Goldman Sachs was heavily criticised for paying bonuses to its employees during the financial crisis but its profit earnings continue to reach record levels and management attributed this to the upbeat performances of their personnel.

Problem SolvingSome leaders, when faced with problems or uncertainty, pass on the blame to others instead of finding solution to the problem. A leader should realize that problems are common and must anticipate them and rise up to the challenge. A key suggestion to this is that he handles one problem at a time and not attempt to solve everything in one sweep.

ListeningA leader does not have a monopoly on good ideas nor does he know everything. Hence,

he will benefit much from listening to others. Complacency and overconfidence makes a leader proud and careless. A wise leader learns from the people around him by being a good listener.

Positive AttitudeIn a business survey published recently, it was found that employees who felt that their boss exhibited a positive attitude most of the time were more productive and weren't easily discouraged. A leader's attitude can easily rub off on his staff and if he was always negative in his thinking and action, it dampens the spirit of the group and results to poor performance.

SecurityAlmost every person has his own bouts of insecurity to deal with. But one must learn to suppress them. Insecure leaders usually limit their best people because they feel threatened by them. The consequence is that the organization suffers. A good indication of a secure leader is one who gives credit where credit is due for a job well done.

VisionHe who knows how will always have a job, but he who knows why will be the boss. In one of the biographies written about Henry Sy, the taipan initially had a hard time starting his businesses due to lack of capital. But one thing he had going for him was his vision for the future. He knew what he wanted to achieve. Mr. Sy saw the possibilities even before they become obvious. Thus when he started building his first mall in the 80's, the SM City North Edsa, many people snickered and doubted that he could fill all the space and draw customers in since the area wasn't that developed yet. But fast forward to 2009 and as they say, the rest is history. Having a vision is important but having the right one is crucial. It is wise to always involve God in our plans because it is He who turns our visions into reality.

While we may already own some of these qualities, we can still improve on areas where we are inadequate. The moment we arm ourselves with desire, determination, discipline and divine help is the first big leap towards reaching our full potential as a leader.

Everyday we see people living empty

lives. Their faces filled with hopelessness,

their eyes screaming their unspoken

questions. Who will show them the way?

Who will lead them to the right path? Who will

bring them to Jesus Christ? Armed only with

prayer and God's word, two brave leaders

emerged to obey His great commission. Join

me in unravelling the story of Mr. Weldon

Valenzuela (32 years old, Assistant Store

Manager) and Mr. Ronald Yao (28 years old,

Assistant Selling Area Manager) as they

share to us their secrets to a successful

leadership. And the story goes …

Once upon a time, it only started as a

burden for Weldon, a care for the people

around him that took root and blossomed into

a mission. A mission he is determined to fulfil.

Together with Ronald, they embarked on a

journey to untravelled terrains where they

have no intention of turning back.

It was in my third year of working at a

popular supermarket in Makati when God

gave me a burden of sharing the gospel to

more than 300 of my subordinates

(merchandisers and promodizers), having

heard about their problems and other

difficulties. Some were financial in nature,

like sometimes they lack money to pay for the

fare going to work. Others were personal

struggles, wherein some were engaged in

extra marital affairs with their co-workers.

Since ninety percent of the rank and

file employees are members of another

What made you start the Bible Study

group in your work place?

What were the obstacles faced when you

organized this group?

Weldon:

Weldon:

“The Dynamic Duo”An Interview with Mr. Weldon Valenzuela and Mr. Ronald Yao

By: Rosalind Ngo Li (United Bethel Church)

religious sect, we experienced clash with

them. When they observed and learned

that a lot of people were joining us instead

of them, they were so bothered and

shaken. They would even force some

people to join their group. They became

envious of us that they tried ways to put us

down.

In fact, they questioned our every

move!

They would not let us use the

place where they held their Bible Studies

saying it's reserved for them. They also

questioned why we hold the Bible Study

during working hours. They also

complained when we sang praise songs

because they were having their prayer

meeting at the same time. We knew Satan

was so disturbed but we prayed and

persevered.

I remembered we also had a hard

time finding a common available schedule

for both the attendees and organizers. Not

to mention it was also a little difficult to build

up the core group due to the personal and

financial problems that they were facing.

: To avoid further conflict with their

members, we moved our schedule to

Saturday instead of Wednesday. And it

turned out to be more favourable for us

because more people were available to

join us. We thank God for His faithfulness

and protection despite those obstacles.

Understanding and patience are

Ronald:

Ronald:

Ronald:

Weldon:

Weldon

What did you do to resolve the “clash”

issue?

What are your secrets to the growing

membership?

vital ingredients to a group like ours. Having

a servant's heart also plays a big role. One

should have an unquenchable passion for

God. And our eyes should always be focused

on the Lord so as not to be swayed from our

goal.

We started out having only thirty

people and eventually grew to almost a

hundred. For me, I believe prayer and having

the right relationship with God is the key to our

growth in membership. Of course, we also

trained the core group to invite aggressively.

Weldon: My vision is that someday this group

will become a church.

My hope is that everybody will grow

more in God's word. And as for me, I really

want to improve more in my Bible-sharing

skills.

and : That it will one day

discontinue or end.

First of all, I have to be careful with

my words especially when I'm angry. Second

is action. I have to always act professionally.

Try to balance all things and resist temptation.

Sometimes I fear that these attendees have

the wrong motives for attending the Bible

Study group like they just want to be close to

their boss.

It is a constant challenge for me to

balance my job and ministry. Sometimes

Weldon:

Weldon

Weldon:

What are the things that you still want to

happen in your Bible Study group?

What is your greatest fear for the group?

What are your constant struggles being a

Chr ist ian leader surrounded by

unbelievers?

Ronald:

Ronald

Ronald:

people think that I use my authority to invite

people. And whenever I don't renew a

contract of a certain merchandiser due to

violation of a company rule or policy, they

would appeal to my emotions and use my

being a Christian as way to change my mind.

But I always explain to them my stand --- that

po l ic ies should never be bent or

compromised.

Fear of the Lord and integrity.

: A leader should always be fair and

balanced in dealing with people. He should

have a heart for the people so that the reason

they follow him is because they see and

experience God's love for them through him.

As matter of fact, some of the attendees would

open their problems to me and I would pray for

them. A good leader should be able to earn

the trust of his people.

As a store manager, I deal with lots

of people. One of the weaknesses that I still

need to work on is my self-control. In order to

keep my temper in check, I always pray before

I talk with the people I need to deal with.

I have a weakness in delegation.

Sometimes my work just piles up. So I try to

prioritize things and list down the things that I

need to do. I believe I also need to improve

more on my time management skills.

: There was a time when I left the

company and decided to work in Singapore.

That turned out to be my greatest regret. How

could I have given up my ministry?! It was

here that I felt truly fulfilled. So after a few

What do you think is the most important

leadership quality that one should

possess to be successful?

Share a weakness that you are trying to

overcome.

Was there ever a point that you think you

failed? In what way?

Weldon:

Weldon:

Ronald

Ronald:

Ronald

months, I came back and returned to work

here. I got involve again in the ministry, did

my best to fix their problems and tried to

revive the whole core group.

Yes, there was a time when I felt

very exhausted by my work load and my

ministry problems. That was one of my

reasons why I left for Singapore. Many

detractors arose within the core group.

Someone was trying to destroy the character

of the core group. It turned out that these

people were starting to have questionable

beliefs that were not based on the Bible.

Good thing they are not part of the group

anymore.

: Nope. However, should I reach a

point where I need to choose between my

ministry and my job, I will choose my ministry.

Me too. I've never experienced it

yet. God is my boss and should that time

come, I will choose my ministry also for I

know that He will provide me with everything

no matter what.

When I came here to work, I was a

fresh graduate then. At the age of 20, I was

already the assistant manager. At first, some

subordinates have no respect for me. I had

to reach out to them and take time to talk with

them like asking about their family. I did my

best to build trust and relationship with them.

If they still have a problem with me, they can

always resign.

Was there ever a point where you want to

give up in your ministry? What

happened?

Was there ever a point where you had to

choose between your ministry and your

job?

Has your age ever been a hindrance in

handling a managerial position at work or

being a leader in your ministry?

Ronald:

Ronald:

Ronald:

Weldon

Weldon

Weldon:

: No, I don't think age matters in the

work of the Lord. As long as one is equipped

with God's word, they can serve the Lord

anytime.

In Psalm 18:2, it states: “The Lord

is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my

God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is

my shield and the horn of my salvation, my

stronghold.” As a leader, we are all but

humans and we have our limitations. On

our own, our strength will surely fail us.

That's why we should always find our

strength, comfort and wisdom in God alone.

One hundred percent He is always there.

Every one of us here has a mission

to fulfil, that is, to glorify God and share His

good news to others. Whatever position we

may have, wherever you may be working, or

however you have been brought up in the

family, as Christians we have to do our part.

If you don't have the burden of what you can

do for God, ask God to give you that burden.

If you don't know how to do it, ask God to do

it for you. God will not fail us. If we belong to

Him, who can be against us? I really believe

in the power of prayer. The Bible Study

group is a product of years of praying. Pray

… because prayer helps reveal His great

power and love for people.

My friends, how many of us will continue to

pretend that we don't need to do anything?

How many of us will harden our hearts and

continue to be indifferent? How many of us

will continue to turn deaf ears to the Lord's

great commission? Isn't it easier to keep

our mouths shut and act busy pretending we

don't have the time? Stop thinking of

excuses! If He calls you, He will definitely

equip you. So let's take up the challenge of

spreading God's word. Delay no longer.

Let's offer our lives and be a leader of God!

What message would you like to impart

to other Christian leaders?

Ronald:

From the 80's to the 90's, Coney Reyes was considered one of the premier television actresses in the country. She was multi-awarded. She made her mark through the popular television show entitled Coney Reyes on Camera, which was aired every Saturday afternoon. She depicted various life stories that people had grown to love. It was a good treat for most television enthusiasts as there were only a few drama shows then.

Little do people know that it was not a mere coincidence that she is excellent in her chosen craft, as she herself had gone through storms in her life that made her a perfect actor for these drama anthologies. She was a rape survivor in her youth and an emotionally abused wife. She knew the pain of losing trust in people, of forgiving their misdemeanors and of surviving one crisis after another. Yet she is still able to smile and hope that God has a wondrous plan for her life regardless of her past; that there is still a beautiful future awaiting her.

It's my turn

With no more room for lies

For years I've seen my life

Through someone else's eyes!

After being rape at the age of eighteen, Coney's life was never the same. She was born to an upper middle class family and studied in Maryknoll College (now

It’s my Turn THE LIFE STORY OF Constancia Angeline Reyes Nubla

Miriam College). She was a consistent honor student and was very active in extra-curricular activities. She was the typical A-student who thought that the world belongs to her and that she would live a fairy tale life.

She kept her rape experience a secret even from her own family; she did not want to cause trouble to them. She knew that her parents would stand by her side and defend her. She was afraid that they would be devastated once they discovered what happened to their first born child. She opted to suffer in silence. This affected her self-esteem immensely. After a year in showbiz, she eloped and married a man many years her senior. Unfortunately, it did not turn well. And after two children and eight years of togetherness, they separated and eventually their marriage was annulled.

She went on to find comfort, love and solace in the company of her co-host in a popular noontime program. It seemed picture perfect as they love each other so much and they even have a son. But insecurity began to creep in; there was no assurance in their relationship. The man she loved was married to another woman though he was separated. She felt queasy about her situation. It was not the life she dreamed of during her younger days. Her three children's life was uncertain; she cannot go on with this set up. She became depressed, even suicidal. Her Christian friends kept on praying and fasting for her to surrender her life to Jesus Christ, as He is the only one that can help her. It's my turn

To see what I can see

I hope you'll understand

This time is just for me 1

Coney's life took a big turn for the good when she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord. In a church gathering where she was invited, she committed her life to the Lord. She asked Him to take full control of her life and to help her obey Him no matter how much price she has to pay. She asked the Lord to help her turn her back against sin.

She realized that there were things that needed to be change. Her former life was not a delight to her newfound Savior, and for her to continue living in it would be tantamount to living in a lie. She wanted God in every aspect of her life. She yearned for peace. Many people did not understand these sudden changes and even mocked her by saying it will be not last long. Nonetheless, the Lord sustained her. She decided to quit her hosting job from the noontime show in order to stay clear from the father of her third child. She ended her love relationship albeit with much struggles and tears. There were many sleepless nights, yet in the end it was her genuine desire to please God that reigned supreme. She wanted to bear a good testimony for her children --- she should not continue her relationship with a married man. She lived by the verses in Deuteronomy 7: 9, “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is

By: Leslie Sun (UEC Balintawak)

the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands”, and Isaiah 54:13, “All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children's peace.” Coney wanted to make sure that God's blessing would be upon her children as she obeys God's Word and do the right thing.

Many things had changed as a result of her conversion. One of her ardent prayers was that someday our country can have a television show that feature Christian values and that by it, people would know that there is only one solution to all our problems. It is through Jesus Christ.

It's my turn

To start from number one

Trying to undo

Some damage that's been done 1

The opportunity to start making a positive impact began in 1994 when she was offered to produce a Lenten special for 700 Club CBN-International. The intention was to block all networks, buy their airtime and feature life-changing stories. They wanted to emphasize the need to turn to Jesus. They had three producers assigned to bring 'Answer Campaign' into fruition. The special episode Coney produced was entitled Three Who Dared. It was very successful. Gordon Robertson, son of Pat Robertson of CBN-International came to the Philippines and established CBN-Asia. He offered her a Board seat and invited her to co-host the program with him and Mari Kaimo. After he left the country and Mari Kaimo took a leave from the show, she hosted the 700 Club-Asia for a couple of years alone.

But now it's my turn

To reach and touch the sky

No one's gonna say

At least I did not try

It's my turn

Yes, it's my turn. 1

Currently, Coney is a picture of contentment. , She has found genuine value in her life---this is not merely based on her possessions, talents, or having a man by her side. She realized that the true Lover of her soul is the Lord Jesus Christ. Coney firmly believes that her Maker is her husband. She wakes up every morning with a simple prayer that God will guide her and lead her in ways where she can all the more glorify His name.

The Lord indeed has done marvelous work in the life of Constancia Angeline Reyes Nubla (popularly known as Coney Reyes). She was miraculously healed from her thyroid cancer many years ago. Her son is a Pastor of a growing Christian church. She leads small group bible studies. She is also part of the Real Life Foundation of Dr. Joey Castro. They help the less privilege children in our country. On her spare time, she occasionally dabbles on television shows and movies. She hopes that one day she can do a great service to her fellow countrymen by producing commercial Christian films that can reach more people with the Gospel.

Her life is an inspiration to many, especially to women whose lives are marred by emotional trauma. She is a living proof of God's healing grace, which enabled her to stand strong even after much shaking. This is made possible only through her intimate and steady walk with the Lord. She reads God's word (Bible) daily and holds on to God's promises for her life. She keeps a prayer journal, writing down answered prayers and lessons learned during her quiet time with God. She added that Proverbs 3:1-6 is a worthy verse to remember in life:

“My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people and you will earn a good reputation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

One of her unforgettable experiences is when God impressed on her to fast for 21 days straight. She only drank water. After her break from fasting, her pastor along with his wife prayed over her. She felt a great deliverance from her emotional pain. She was able to share for the first time her rape experience. It was liberating not to keep it a secret anymore. She cried so hard that day, she groaned and wailed, as she had never done before. It seemed as if she was crying from the pit of her belly. After the deliverance session, her self-esteem was restored.

Coney Reyes does not consider herself a finished work piece of God, but rather a work still very much in progress. Her life reminds us of the truth that in every mess, there is a message and that in every test, there is a testimony that is worth sharing, so that the name of our great God will forever be praised and honored.

N.B.

1. It's My Turn by Diana Ross was the theme song of Coney Reyes on Camera. She sang it when she was launched as the lone female co–host of a popular noontime program (Eat Bulaga) in 1982 at Philippine Plaza via domestic satellite to all provinces in the country. This has been a signature song for her. During her visits in other countries, when she would enter hotels/restaurants and there were Filipino musicians around, they would play this lovely song for her.

2. 700 Club-Asia is aired from Monday to Friday at QTV channel 24 on sky cable and channel 15 on Destiny cable. The show is also co- hosted by PeterKairuz, Kata Inocencio,and Felichi Pangilinan-Buizon. It features inspiring Christian stories and testimonies.

It also offers prayer and counseling services for free.

Dial 812-4747.

I am Geri Gambala. I graduated at the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1995 and was assigned as an infantry officer of the Philippine Army in the war torn areas of Mindanao for the next eight (8) years.

On July 27, 2003, I led a group of soldiers and took siege a hotel at the central business district of Makati City which became famously known as the “Oakwood Mutiny”. At that time, I was convinced that it was my way of finally obtaining power so I can effect change to my organization, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and eventually to the country as a whole.

After a day long of peaceful negotiations, me and my companions finally laid down our arms and surrendered to the government. Because of my actions at Oakwood, I was imprisoned and was charged with different cases both in the military court and in the civilian court. From that day on, it was a long and treacherous journey for me. Everything was full of uncertainty. I depended on the counsel of many people who strengthened my rebellious spirit and gave me confidence that I have the Filipino people behind me.

I leaned on my own understanding until I was so tired of analyzing things and hopelessness engulfed me. I had no more options but to surrender my case to God. It was then that He intervened and led me to decide to plead guilty for the crime of coup d etat. I was sentenced to 20-50 years imprisonment and consequently discharged from the military service. In the midst of it all, God gave me the grace to humble myself and ask for pardon from the President. After 4 years, 9 months and 19 days of imprisonment, I was granted physical freedom.

I had a lot of painful realizations while inside the prison. The most difficult one was accepting the fact that without God I am nothing. I thought I can do all things on my own strength and knowledge but God humbled me and taught me the meaning of grace. God stripped me of everything to show me that I am nothing, and when I realized that I have nothing, I still have Him, and when I have Him, I have everything.

The Bible says in 1Pet 5:6, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.” To humble myself before God entails that I also humble myself to all the governing authorities above me. So with head bowed down, I again submitted myself to the authority of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the leadership of my Commander-in-Chief, the President. And amazingly after that, His promise to lift me up was fulfilled.

In my years of incarceration, God continually sent His workers to us. By His grace, true transformation was felt by everyone who heeded and accepted His words. We had our daily Bible studies and fellowships, weekly worship services and our own individual time with the Lord, which is plenty since we have nothing to do except to think of ways to hurdle each day with a joyful heart. God took care of all our needs specially our families who struggled in their daily existence without us by their side. When I think of His provision and grace in view of my unworthiness, I shed tears for I cannot fathom the depth of His love.

God also healed the bitterness and anger inside me. He has given me a new heart that totally depended on Him for strength and direction. It is ironic that it was inside prison that I found true freedom – freedom from the world and its sinful desires.

Prior to my imprisonment, I already accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. But in the darkest days of my life, I came to accept Him as my true Lord and Savior. He showed me that what He wants is His Lordship in my life and that I need to surrender everything to Him for His purpose to be magnified and His glory to be revealed.

I want to change the world. I want to change our country. I want to change the Armed Forces of the Philippines but then I realized that true change starts from the heart – and only

Give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. Glory in His Holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. - 1 Chronicles 16:8-10

True Freedom Inside Prison

Jesus Christ can change a person’s heart. After my release, I joined Campus Crusade for Christ, an organization dedicated to raising leaders who would help fulfill the Great Commission. As of now, I’m involved in the military ministry. God has shown me that the only way for genuine change to happen in the military is by sharing His word and His love to the soldiers and let the transforming power of the Holy Spirit work in their lives. And when this happens, it will impact not only the armed forces but the whole nation as well. Do pray for our soldiers. They need your understanding, compassion and love.

God has given me another chance. Nothing really matters to me now except to serve Jesus and give Him all the glory and honor, for my life is not about me, it’s all about Him. What is more, I consider everything a lost compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ (Phil 3:8).

With Christ, all things are possible and the greatest miracle for me is the changed lives that I’ve seen inside prison. God is in the business of transforming lives and His grace is sufficient to see us through until we finish the race set before us. To Him be all the glory and honor!!!

LUnderstanding Male Leadership through the Creation Mandate

By: Ptr. Philemon Tie (UEC Balintawak)

Biblical Basis for Male Leadership

As Responsible Overseer of Our Land

When we talk about the Trinity, who would you say is the greater

one? Is it God the Holy Spirit? Is it God the Son? Or is it God the Father?

The correct answer is… none. None is the greater one, for all are equally

God and all equally divine.

Nevertheless, for the sake of economy in mankind's salvation, each

divine being has his role. The Father plans humanity's salvation, the Son

carries out mankind's redemption, and the Holy Spirit convicts the world of

sin and does the work of regeneration.

Even though every member of the Trinity is equal, the Son chose to

submit to the Father, and the Holy Spirit is sent by both the Father and the

Son. It is a wonderful picture of humility and harmony at work among each

member of the Trinity.

Likewise, men and women are equally created and equally loved in

God's eyes.

God made the first human – Adam, allowing him to name the

animals, thus showing his authority over the other creatures. Then God

saw it was not good for man to be alone, so He put Adam into a deep sleep;

God then reached inside of him and took a rib, fashioning from it another

being similar to the first man and yet somehow different. God brought the

second human before Adam, and he named her, “Ish” which is Hebrew for

woman. Thus God brought together the first man and the first woman.

From the very beginning, God expected men to be the leader and

the initiator in society, in family and in spirituality. This functional role

however, was interrupted by the fall of mankind into sin. Since then, power

struggles continue to exist as the intended initiator became more passive

and the suitable companion sought to gain dominance.

Thankfully, the same wise and almighty God also made provision by

sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem mankind. However, to think that

Jesus Christ came only to save humanity would be limiting the effects of

His sacrifice. Jesus Christ came to redeem all creation and restore the

plans, the relationships and everything else God had originally intended.

This means godly men has to step up to their roles as humble, loving yet

firm leaders within the three spheres of society, family and spirituality.

In Genesis 1:26, then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in

our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the

air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that

move along the ground." In essence, God gave Adam the authority to

govern his environment.

This does not mean abusing and exploiting our natural resources for

the sake of development. Rather, it means advocating a sustainable

balance between the needs of humans, animals and nature. It is a task we

have failed wherever we find flooding, irresponsible planning and short

term developmental growth.

Believers also fail in this task when they focus only on their own

family, businesses, and church welfare while leaving the charge of our

society to people who do not have a strong sense of the creation mandate.

Perhaps we too do not have a strong sense of the creation mandate. Or

maybe the closer truth is the mentality, “people have enough troubles of

their own, we do not need to bring more troubles upon ourselves by getting

involved in the governing of our land.”

Perhaps the recent calamities like Ondoy and Pepeng happened to

jolt us from our slumber of environmental indifference. Hopefully, this

realization will bring about the winds of change and draw more godly men

to become responsible leaders and lawmakers in our society.

As Spiritual Initiator in Our family

As Reproducing Mentors in Our Spirituality

Godly men as leaders of the family are also needed. This is the

common expectation in a typical Jewish family of biblical times. Let's try to

transplant this imagery into our modern setting.

It was the fifteenth day since the arrival of the New Year. Everyone

in the family was excited. The children, two boys and one girl, were

already seated around the dining table as their father and mother helped

each other place food on the table. The finest china and silverware were

used for this occasion.

The main course for the evening is matzo, a kind of bread made

without yeast; it is generally flat with fine holes scattered across its

surface. Lettuce along with some grated horseradish root accompanies

the main course. The children are not expecting a sweet meal; rather, a

bitter flavor is the predominant taste.

As everyone settled in, the youngest child, a boy barely four years

old began by asking, “Father, why is this night different from all other

night; what does this mean?” To which, his father answered, “Tonight is

different and special because thousands of years ago, God set our

people free by leading us out of slavery from the land of Egypt.”

Then the Jewish father will spend the rest of the night recounting

the story of the Exodus to his family. This scene is repeated every year

during the time of the Jewish Passover celebration. It pictures the man of

the household leading his family in internalizing God's faithfulness, care

and provisions.

Should this not also be the expectation for Christian men today? As

leaders of the family, it is the men's role to initiate spiritual reflection,

thereby leading members of his household towards greater devotion to

God even in practical matters.

In his final words to Timothy, the apostle Paul said, “… the things

you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to

reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2).

One result of the fall is the shortcoming of men in rising up to the

challenge of teaching the younger generation. As a teacher who once

taught across all levels of primary education, I have seen how most

fathers do not spend quality time bonding with their sons, yet they expect

their children to somehow imbibe good values and discipline. This is an

unrealistic expectation.

The same dilemma can be seen in the church. Men either do not

see the importance of exercising spiritual oversight over their younger

brothers or they may see it, perhaps even desire it but the problem is –

they just don't know how.

As Paul taught Timothy and in turn expected him to teach others, so

should we as Christian men be walking along side at least two other

people in our spiritual journey– one older, to teach us; and one younger,

whom we can in turn teach. In this way, we learn to be vulnerable and

strong at the same time. False facade of strength will crumble in the face

of honest, sincere accountability even as a new community of enduring

Christian solidarity is being built up in Christ's church.

Where are the Men?

The world is in need of godly men who will lead their family, their

church and their society toward greater heights in spirituality, towards

greater breadth in social responsibility and towards greater depths in love

for God.

Are you such a man for a time like this?

Leaders Incorporated

Every leader has a certain philosophy of leadership that

influences how he leads. Books and articles on leadership are

designed to equip and enhance these leadership skills. I would

like to challenge us to view leadership in terms of relationships.

The philosophy that I want to espouse is that of Relational

Leadership.

I define relational leadership as the power to influence, borne out of a relationship between leader and followers, with a desire to achieve a common goal. Lawrence Richards, in his book A Theology of Personal Ministry, cites that ministry is essentially an interpersonal transaction. It takes place as a love relationship between persons. It is in this relational context that gifts and giftedness finds their most significant expression. If ministry is defined in terms of relationships, then leadership could also be viewed through the lens of relationship. The leader's circle of relationship is with the Lord, with the people, the church and the world.

Dr. Leighton Ford, in his book Transforming

Leadership, reminds us that genuine leaders operate out of a

sense of calling, not just out of a sense of drivenness. This I

believe is the key relationship that a leader should operate from.

There is the temptation in leadership to base our identity on our

position in society. This leads to pride and envy. The leader

should base his identity on being a son of God. This leads to

humility and dependence upon Him. This image reminds us

that God is far more interested in our being than our doing, in

what we are rather than in what we do.

In ministering to others, let us not neglect our own

relationship to God. Paul in 1 Cor. 9:27 says he disciplines

himself, so that after preaching the word, he himself would not

be disqualified. As leaders we are to ensure ourselves that our

relationship to God is being nurtured and cared for. Our work

should spring from our character and not our position. Our

inner life can be built up only through daily communion with

God.

Jesus opposed the notion that as a teacher, he can lord

it over them, instead he declares that he came into this world

not to be served but to serve. Jesus would constantly remind his

disciples that they are not to pattern their leadership according

to the leadership model of those times. Instead they are to be

servants in attitude and action.

Understanding Leadership

The Leader's Relationship with the Lord

Relationship with Followers

As Son

As Servant

In 1 Peter 5:2, Peter tells us that we are not to lord it over

those entrusted to us, but we are to be examples to the flock. This

can be done through discipleship and mentoring. Leadership in

this community is characterized by a commitment not to control

the members of the body, but to give themselves for them.

Servanthood requires deep humility. It is easier for us to pursue

personal significance, to be on top, than to serve. I particularly

like the test of servanthood that Lorne Sanny proposes, “You will

know, whether or not you are a servant leader, by the way you

react when people treat you like one.”

From the example and teachings of Jesus regarding the

shepherd's role, we could draw the following conclusions: The

shepherd knows each sheep by name (Jn. 10:11). He is always

with them. He leads the flock. He has deep concern for those

who are lost (Mt. 18:12-14). He protects them from wolves and

other predators. Psalm 23 gives us a beautiful picture of

governing and protecting. The shepherd takes his rod and staff

and governs and protects those whom he is leading. As

shepherds of God's flock, we are to care for, guide, nurture and

protect those who are entrusted to us.

Leaders in relationship to the church are called upon to

be stewards. Stewards have different functions. Chua Wee Hian

identified three crucial roles of stewards. The first role is that of a

trustee. This entails privilege and responsibility. The church is

partly under our safekeeping. Stewards are also guardians. Paul

reminds Timothy to guard what has been entrusted to him. This

involves guarding and protecting the truth from being

compromised or watered-down. We are also guardians of the

people from wolves and false teachers. Thirdly, there is the role of

a manager. This entails proper planning and administration. (The

Making of A Leader: A Guidebook for Present and Future Leaders)

Relational Leadership involves the Leader's relationship

with the Lord, with his followers, and with the Church. It is

important that the Leader develops his relationship with the Lord

first and foremost. This is his primary calling. Failure in this area

would disqualify a leader from his role. The way he is to influence

others, motivate them to change and resolve any conflict that

might ensue is through honest relationships. The Leader stands

as a son to the Lord, a servant and a shepherd to the people and a

steward to the church.

As Shepherd

As Steward

Relationship with the Church

Conclusion

Ptr. Joselito Chua

Relational Leadership

When someone comes to the end of his official leadership term, what kind of farewell speech would he give? Should he speak about his achievements during his tenure in office?

Generally, this is the case with secular leaders. Consider democratic countries like the Philippines or the United States; their leaders talk about what they've accomplished in their term of presidency before they hand it over to the next president. In fact, they don't need to wait until the end of their term because there is the annual State of the Nation address given to the joint congress where the president harp on about the achievements of their administration, as if they could do no wrong. When things do go wrong, the blame is often placed on the opposition party because they blocked the passing of certain laws and bills.

However, do these leaders talk about their spirituality or their morality? Do they challenge people to file charges against them for any wrongdoing? Do they hold themselves accountable for what happens to the country and to its citizens? No world leader would dare do such a thing. Why is this so? It is because many have moral deficiencies that they don't want to expose.

However, look carefully at the prophet Samuel. Did he talk about his achievements during his farewell speech? Did he pride himself as having audibly heard the voice of God Almighty? Did he flaunt about how the enemies of Israel were defeated while he was judge of Israel?

No, he didn't. All he said was that he led them from his youth up to the day he anointed Saul as king. He then asked the entire congregation of Israel to speak up and charged him with graft and corruption if there's any, and he will make it right. Samuel was more concerned that his leadership was morally upright than all his achievements as the last judge of Israel.

Samuel understood an important principle of leadership and that is, in the long run, no one necessarily remembers you for what you've done but they will remember you for how

What Really Matters Most:

Leading with Integrity

(A Short Reflection on Leadership)by Rev. Alexander H. Uy (Grace Gospel Church)

1 Samuel 12:3 - 5

And Samuel said to all Israel, “…Here I am; testify against me before the LORD and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.”

They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand.”

And he said to them, “The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.”

And they said, “He is witness.”

you've led. No matter how much good you do, it will always be secondary to your character.

From the response of the people, it was clear that Samuel never abused his authority for personal gain nor had he twisted justice in favor of the rich or the powerful. No one could bring an accusation against him. In today's context, he was someone who could not be impeached

because of moral failures. In fact, it was his moral uprightness that made him an effective leader for God's use.

Sadly, many followers of Christ who are in leadership positions value their performance more than their personal integrity. They follow the pattern of the world. They boast about their achievements. Yet when one investigates their moral stance and the foundation that governs their leadership, they are often found wanting. Results are important but they must not compromise our integrity and servant-heart. In the end, people remember a leader with fondness because of his integrity and service to others, way above his performance.

The world needs more leaders who will serve their followers, who will use their position prudently and with integrity. Such leaders are needed not only for the country but even within the church, within the business and professional fields, within the para-church organizations and within your fellowships, Sunday School and discipleship groups.

Are you up to the challenge?

By: Jessica Chen (CBCP)

Ccowe camp 2009Ccowe camp 2009

July 19, 2009, CCOWEF Young Professionals' Singles Accountable for Each Other (S.A.F.E.) ministry held a seminar entitled “The Virus of Piracy” in Jubilee Evangelical Church. Mr. Danny Ching, our guest speaker, defined piracy, its effects on individuals and society, and recommended legal alternatives of acquiring information and entertainment.

What is piracy? It is the unauthorized use or reproduction of another's work which includes movies, music or mp3, games, lyrics, books, software like Windows and Microsoft office.

Why do people pirate? 1) Because it's too expensive to buy the original. 2) Everybody's doing it. 3) I'm not making money from it, so it's ok. 4) I'm not hurting anyone. 5) It's free on the internet.

Romans 12: 1-2 “Therefore, I urge you,

brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

As Christians, we are called to a higher moral standard of living. God commanded us in Exodus 20:15 that “You shall not steal.” Yet because we want to be entertained without being inconvenienced, we throw away our morals and honor.

What are the effects of piracy? 1) Addiction to the media. 2) Callousness to the word of God. 3) Good ideas never get shared. 4) Vendor locked in or “sanay” in Tagalog.

5) Raid by the BSA / NBI.6) Hefty payments /software fees.7) Loss of credibility and/or testimony.

How can we stop? Mr. Danny Ching gave us an illustration: How do you completely remove the air from the glass? Answer: By filling it with water.

1) Give them originals.

2) Choose your games properly.

3) Look at alternatives and unlearn what we have learned or relearn.

As Mr. Danny Ching said, “Morality is something that we flourish in life. We pass it to the next generation. If piracy is a virus, so is morality.”

Champions for ChristCCOWEF 15th Young Professionals CampMalagos Garden Resort, Davao City