Called to Serve: March 2008

Monday, March 24, 2008

Ministry Update

Ministry update!
1st two weeks of April will be a busy for me, so I cannot promise, that I can update my blog..
Here is my sched:

April 5, 2008 - Cabiao's DVBS KICKOFF!
April 7-11, 2008 - Cabiao DVBS!
April 12, 2008 - Jesus Revolution
April 14, 2008 - Febias' Day!
April 15-19, 2008 - San Juan DVBS! - Co-Director
April 21-25, 2008 - Bulacan DVBS! - Co- Director
Please include me in your prayers

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Monday, CAMPUS DAY

Monday, March 10, 2008 “Campus Day” the Start of the 3 day “Bible and Missions” Conference held at Febias College of Bible. Where the 5 batches (BBC to Seniors), were assigned to clean different places at the Febias Campus.. =) My Batch, Particularly batch Aletheia, was assigned to clean the front of the Vision chapel up to the Premises of the OLD SHARON HALL (Old Ladies Dorm). It was very fun indeed to be with my batchmates as we clean our school. Through this experience also, I had an opportunity to know more about some of my batchmates. Example would be is KUYA Jessie, our eldest batch mate. Kuya Jess was interviewed once at 700 Club, and was featured last year in the Head line of the news paper INQUIRER, entitled “DATING DRUG ADDICT TURNS HIGH ON GOD.” Yes.. Kuya Jess is once a drug addict, and not only that he is included in the feared HALIK NI HUDAS GANG, where now this group became a living testimony of how great the power of God is. As I talk with kuya Jess, I can see the change in His life, the scars of His old life is still there, but His heart is full of peace and joy.. Kuya Jess, continues to bless not only me, but also the whole FEBIAS FAMILY as well..

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Tiring, Gruesome, Blessed

TIRING, GRUESOME, BLESSED..

TIRING.. because I had to leave early after CIY’s church service despite of the planned activities for the afternoon like fellowship with the San Vicente yp. I had to leave because of Febias’ Baccalaureate Service, this is the start of Febias’ Year end celebration. I left the church at around 1pm, while at the bus, I didn’t have the opportunity to sleep, because I was really nervous at that time of being late. Well it did came true. The bus arrived at Caloocan (MCU) at around 3:10 in the afternoon, the fact that the service will start at 3:30pm made me more nervous, After the bus had a stop, I had to run fast to get the next route to Valenzuela (which estimates a 30 minute Bus ride from Caloocan + a jeepney ride to Karuhatan) to make the story short.. I arrived at around 3:40+ at Febias, exhausted. And when I was about to enter the campus. My bag was open! The trusted zeeper broke. And this caused me to lose my most loved, precious Bible.. It was gruesome for me because, this Bible was given to me by my father, He bought this for my mom, before their wedding, so this Bible is very important not only for me but my Dad as well.. Maybe the book fell at the bus.. Good thing my laptop, was safe.. But I was really frustrated, when I found out what happened. My batchmates noticed me, and found out what happened, I thank the Lord for their encourag ement, one friend told me “ayaw mo nun, pag napulot, edi babasahin niya…” I thought about that also.. and was reminded of the verse “All things work together for good..” encouraged me, the fact that it was also the message brought by the Speaker that afternoon. After the service, I approached Paps Tim, the dorm monitor, and He told me that I had an hourwork (discipline) because I am not in my school uniform, and also due to my tardiness. still I am reminded by the verse “All things work together for good..” I went to the dorm, and I also found out that my Document Papers for my Study Profile got Lost! It was a 7 page question for my Dev Psych finals, and I was unable to find it! instead of giving up, The Lord gave me wisdom, and asked my room mate Kuya Oscar to be my substitute Study Profile, I thank God because He agreed, and I interviewed him, after 2 hours, I am able to finish the soft copy and after that went to Malinta to have it printed. It was around 9pm when I arrived back to Febias. Exhausted.. But still the verse Rom 8:28 flashed in my mind.

Despite all the Discouragements, tiring activity and lost. Still I reflected and on that day, and I realized that I was soo blessed. Despite of my tardiness. Still I arrived at Febias safe and sound, Despite of my Bible being lost, still I know that the person who will pick it, will be ministered to by the Holy Spirit. And this will be a way for the Gospel to penetrate in his life. Despite of being tired, I was able to finish my requirement in DEV PSYCH. Despite of My Hour work, still I have peace in my heart, with the verse flashing in my mind “ALL THINGS work together for good.”.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Frequently Asked Questions!

FAQ about me: I gathered questions, from some people. And might as well answer it..

Your real name is?

Zion Stephen John G. Sun

Why ZION?

ZION is an ancient mountain in ISRAEL. Where it was indicated in the Bible as the "MOUNTAIN OF GOD". My dad named it to me. My older brother had his name JERUSALEM.. mga mountains, hehe..

So You have a brother?

YES! He’s 2 ½ older than I me.. He’s taking up BS HRM at the ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY in Pampanga.. I also have a Sister.. her name is MARANATHA KIM, but people call him HANNAH..

NATIONALITY?

Filipino Chinese.. Believe it or not?!

AGE?

18.. Yes!

Your too young..

FOR? What?

To be a PASTOR?

=) I am? Well… It’s only by the GRACE OF GOD.. it is really unexplainable for me.

So.. YOU REALLY ARE A PASTOR?

Yes.. pastor in CIY Cabiao..

Since when?

=) believe it! June 2 2007, I was assigned as the Youth Pastor of CIY Cabiao.. =)

Regrets?

NONE!

What have you learned so far in your ministry at Cabiao.. *state 2

I learned that the ministry, is not that easy, sometimes you have to sacrifice, to exert more effort, and strength. Tiring, but by the grace of God, I can!

I learned to be more responsible in being a leader. Struggling with delegation due to my inferiority complex. But by God’s Grace and Mercy, slowly but surely I’m continuing to mature in that part..

Favorite Hangout in Cabiao..

NANAY MENG’s BUKID! Where San Vicente Youth had our fellowship..

Where do you sleep?

IN the church.. sa may Pulpit.. hehe! It’s true!

Comfortable Enough?

SUUUUUPPPPERRR! Lalo na pag madaling araw, super lamig!

What about your ministry in Cabiao?

I’m currently involved, in the Pastoral work, music ministry, outreach, program and youth and my sched would be (after my classes at Febias):

Saturday 12pm - Departure sa Febias

2:30pm - Arrival, and Preparation sa San Vicente

3:00pm - Saturday School sa San Vicente.. =) with the Youth

5:30pm - Youth Meeting for Cell Groupings

6:30pm - P and W team Practice.

8:00pm - Tulong kay Nay Shirly (Maintenance Ministry)

Sunday

6:15 - (RISE AND SHINE)

9:00am - Service

11:00-11:30pm - Youth

1:30pm - San Vicente Youth Fellowship

5:00pmto 7pm - Departure to FEBIAS

Napakabusy pala, Di ka ba napapagod?

Siyempre, Kung ako lang di ko kaya.. But with God’s strength and help.. KAYANG KAYA!

Let’s make it more personal ok?

Sige..

Love Life?

NOPE.. None..

IN A RELATIONSHIP?

NO..

HAD A RELATIONSHIP BEFORE?

=) Honestly.. NO.. Still praying..

WHY?

I believe in “TRUE LOVE WAITS..”

PRAYING FOR GOD’S WILL?

YES.. But what do you mean by God’s Will? Kulit ba? =) You mean someone? Yes… But not yet specifically.. Hehe..

OK.. WHAT ABOUT YOUR IDEAL MATE?

SECRET.. Just joking.. MATURE IN Her FAITH, and HAS the Same calling as I AM…

DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT?

Sorry.. NO IDEA..

WHAT ABOUT… SOUL MATE?

THE BIBLE DOES NOT INDICATE IT.. I believe it was taken from a Hindu perspective…so Sorry..

ESTIMATED DAY OF WEDDING..

You mean AGE? 27-28 YEARS OLD, IF THE LORD WILLS IT… Hehe!

CHANGE TOPIC, WHAT IS YOUR GOAL IN LIFE?

To Glorfy God.. To win souls,,, To be a pastor that He has called me to be..

LIFE VERSE?

Phil 1:21, Phil 4:13

VERSE FOR THE YEAR?

I SAMUEL 24:14 “.. I will not offer anything to God that costs me nothing…”

Thank you for that.. I’ll be answering more questions, If I have my free time na,,, =)

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Finals Weeks Update!

FINALS WEEK UPDATE

Monday…

My view in Eschatology is Pre-Trib or Pre-Tribulation, where this view tends to explain Rapture occurring and after that Tribulation.. But this Monday morning.. I seem to have believed the Post-Tribulation view, where it states that We, Christians are now living in Tribulation. Hahaha.. because of Our Intro to Philosophy Exam (Prof. is Ptr. Jay Banzuelo) .. many consider this to be a challenge, because Ptr. Banzuelo, instructed us to review from the beginning what we discussed. The fact that we have 8+ handouts to review.. but then, with the help of prayer, and understanding of the topic, I managed to do my best and pass the exam.. I praise the Lord for giving me wisdom and understanding to accomplish his challenge for me today. Btw.. Ptr. Tony our Dorm Supervisor, left for Samar, due to his father’s death…

Tuesday,Wednesday..

Whew! Almost there.. Good thing, Pastoral Majors only have 1 written exam this semester’s final exam.. but we do have lots of requirements.. example would be our Church Administration Subject “Church Profile” where we were instructed by Dean Espino, to write our Ministry plans for our respective local churches. This is a very long, but a very interesting requirement, because not only we had our personal ministry planning for our churches, but we had our own church budget also, this is an opportunity for me to develop my administrative skills, as well as to develop my planning skills. Praise God! I manage to pass it on time, satisfied, assured with my personal work. Also I had an opportunity with the Rizal class esp. Kuya Michael Salazar’s (OSI President) group with their documentary, I volunteered to be their editor.. in their Documentary project entitled “RIZALista”.. This is a very interesting subject, about the followers of Rizal, this group who are members of the Sect “Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi” claim that Rizal (The Country’s Hero) was the 3^rd person of the Trinity.. I learned a lot of things from this Documentary as well as challenged, challenged to share God’s word to these kind of people.

I Pet. 4:13 Reflection

“But be happy, that you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings so that you will be happy and full of joy when Christ comes again in glory.”

I Pet. 4:13

This passage speaks of delighting in despite of troubles, sufferings.. the immediate context speaks of an encouragement to the believers
scattered abroad. Due to rising persecution..

What an encouragement! Peter also implies to us who are experiencing also troubles, discouragements in our life, even though we are not persecuted physically, we still need to be joyful, even though we are facing challenges in our life. I remember facing this huge pile of requirements this year, a large number of discouragements, and a handful of failures. But still with this verse in mind I am encouraged to smile, and to face my difficulties positively.