-Brad
April 2006
New Exciting Ministries Keep Students Busy
The Spring 2006 semester on the Guam Campus began with the introduction of some new ministries. There are 12 different ministries where PIBC students have the privilege to exercise their skills, talents, and gifts in helping to serve not only the Church, but in other areas as well. Students serve in eight different churches, are involved in two different children'’s ministries and also two Guam government agencies. Yes! God has opened doors for more than 60 full time students to take part in helping and take the Good News of Christ to the people on Guam Island.
Many of the ministries include evangelism, church planting, leading Bible studies, assisting in worship service, preaching, and teaching Sunday School. Also this semester two government agencies have allowed some of our students to work side by side with them in not just helping those in need but also spreading the Gospel. Our campus Director Steve Stinnette wants every student "to be exposed" to as many different kinds of ministries as possible during his or her stay at the PIBC Guam Campus. The goal? Helping them mature into becoming a "servant-leader!"Some Church Ministries
This semester eight different churches have allowed PIBC students to be exposed to helping do ministry with them. Here are just a few:
Agat Chuukese Fellowship
This church, located at the south end of the island, is pastored by PIBC alumni John Jim. Five PIBC students work with him leading Bible studies, preaching, and conducting kid's Sunday School. This year, the Agat Chuukese Fellowship (along with the PIBC students) are beginning to conduct bible studies at the northern part of the island where their goal is to start a new congregation.
Calvary Baptist Church
Another student ministers at Calvary Baptist Church. He is exposed to and involved in a variety of ministries, such as preaching, teaching, doing maintenance, and learning how to do regular administrative activities. The advantage for him is that as he is given the opportunity to become involved in so many areas that he will more quickly be able to discern where his strengths and weaknesses lie, as well as his spiritual gifts.
Lutheran Church of Guam
Three PIBC students minister in a variety of different ways at the Lutheran Church of Guam, where they are mentored personally, carefully, purposefully and individually by Pastor Jeff Johnson. The mentoring process is a discipleship process where our students receive direction and spiritual counsel on life and ministry objectives. Their progress is carefully measured. They are involved in a variety of ministry aspects
Children's Ministries
Bayview AWANA
Ten students are learning all the ins and outs of what makes an AWANA children'’s ministry work at Bayview Baptist Church on Wednesday nights. Dozens of children gather every Wednesday evening for a program composed of games, scripture memory, prizes, and individual attention. Many children are exposed to the gospel each year through this strategy, and our PIBC students learn how to run the whole program so they can, in turn, reproduce it in their own home islands when they return in the summers or when they graduate.
PIBC Kids Club
PIBC has started a kids'’ club program on the campus where freshmen are being trained by the upper classmen who have experience in working in children'’s ministry. Every Wednesday Chuukese children and the children from the neighborhood come to learn not just games and how to have fun, but also about the Bible by memorizing scriptures and singing songs. Children are also exposed to the Gospel by our students every night they meet.
Guam Government Agencies
DISID Ministry
This ministry is so new, it will be beginning next week. Four of our PIBC students are working with a government agency called the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities (DISID), which does just what the name says --– it provides services for disabled individuals on Guam. Our students will learn how to demonstrate the spiritual gift of mercy mainly by providing a listening ear, a concerned heart, and a ready spirit for sharing the gospel with individuals who are lonely and need physical help. Former First Lady of Guam Rosanne Ada directs this department and shares a vision for providing opportunities for the gospel to go out to those who in the eyes of many truly are "the least, the last, and the lost."
DYA Ministry
Four students have taken the challenge to begin a new ministry with the Department of Youth Affairs (DYA), a government agency that deals with troubled youth. Our students work with Social Workers and the Vice Principals of a public middle school in northern Guam, by visiting the campus and talking with Micronesian middle schoolers about "staying out of trouble." This ministry provides our PIBC students with the opportunity to interact with, mentor and provide a positive influence for today's Micronesian youth on Guam. They also aid in the communication process by providing translation to these middle schoolers'’ families
From Some of the Students Themselves!
Some students have been interviewed to comment on the ministries they are involved in and to share from their prospective about their ministries. Some of the questions we asked them include, "What does 'ministry' mean to you?" "How do you feel about the ministry you're involved in?" "What are some things you have learned through being a part of this ministry in regards to the PIBC school motto, 'building servant-leaders'?" and "What has been your most memorable ministry moment?"
Joel Okada
Class: Sophomore class
Ministry: Palauan Evangelical Church of Guam, teaching children's Sunday School.
Well, it means a lot. It means taking a great step of faith for me. It not only helps me, but I help those whom I teach. I like it. I enjoy the kids and IÂ’m learning a lot from them. It seems like teaching is more of learning than teaching. I teach so it means that I'’m serving and I'’m not doing it because I have to, but I'’m willing and I want to do it. The first day of teaching on my own I felt rejected by the kids, but that taught me something: I must trust God to win my audience. It has really helped me a lot and it has helped me focused on how to serve the ones God has placed
Joyleen Ruben
Class: Senior
Ministry: Children'’s ministry at Faith Church and PIBC Kids' Club
I've learned that this is GodÂ’s work done by God's people. Ministry is hard work. To be successful, we minister among different kinds of people (kids). I feel excited and somehow nervous about what will be the result of my ministry. I learned how to be humble while doing my ministry and to put all of myself into what I am doing in leading the kids and teaching them God's word. I've learned how to deal with the kids from different background and who are from different places. It encourages me in my daily life, especially about doing ministry in the future.
Jeffery Mesubed
Class: Senior
Ministry: Guam Evangelical Church, evangelism and church planting.
The biggest thing I've learned is to accept the challenge given to me to share the Gospel to the unsaved. It also helps my spiritual life to come close to the Lord. I like it and enjoy it. But it's kind of hard sometimes, especially speaking English. I've had to learn to humble myself and do ministry for the Lord, not for me. I am really interested in evangelism, sharing the gospel with people and leading them to know the Lord. I know it is not my words they are rejecting if they don'’t listen. But I keep on doing it because of Him. It helps me become closer in my relationship with God.
Charity Ruda
Class: Sophomore
Ministry: Agat Chuukese Fellowship, children'’s ministry
Success in ministry is anything you do for the Lord, like using your talents and abilities. It has to come from a willing and cheerful heart, doing whatever you can with your talents wherever you go and whatever you do. I feel that the Lord is trying to teach me some lessons such as how to be patient and humble. I love the ministry that I am doing, especially taking care of the kids in Sunday School. The children of our church are really hard to handle due to the fact that they are still learning, and things are still new for them. There'’s one specific day that I won't forget. I was talking about the 'wordless' book and its meaning. I saw from the kids faces' that they were thinking hard about it. It was nice to know or at least see from their expressions that they finally knew what the difference was between heaven and hell. Or I can say that it was nice to see that they were interested that day. I hardly have that kind of reaction from them. At times I always want to give up, but sometimes I consider the fact that it is my ministry and that I am not doing it for the pastor or anyone else, but only for Him alone. This ministry experience has helped me gain more knowledge on how to handle kids and deal with my motives when it becomes negative towards them. It has helped me grow more, especially in the area of being patient and humble --… and yeah -- how to be a servant-leader both for the church and for my Sunday School kids!
We have highlighted here only a few of the many different ministries that the PIBC Guam Campus students are involved in. Please continue to pray for us as we learn how to become good "servant-leaders!" Pray for our mentors, more new ministry opportunities and our faithfulness to serve our Lord Jesus Christ well! We thank God for you all, for your support in pray and in other ways. May God continue to bless you with all His riches from heaven.
-- PIBC Guam Campus Students MacQuade Alfonso and Elilai Haruzi
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