Things are staying busy

Recently, Eric went to a place called Naga City, Philippines. Here he went to meet with several pastors, these pastors are in a process of planting a church. The way we are connecting our sports ambassador trip this year. There will be around 10 American guys coming to the Philippines this May. We have targeted the place we will be going to by the research done by our office. This area that we are reaching and trying to get pastors to plant more churches is Naga and we will be visiting this upcoming May! So, I want there to visit with the pastors, scope out the area, plan the places to eat, and stay. It was a good time, and great to meet and encourage some fot the pastors.

It was sort of humbling to see a few of the pastors and how they are truly living out there faith. To sort of help you get a picture of this place let's just say very very rural. Which we are already talking about a third world country so a place that is very very rural in a third world country is very humbling to visit. Though, the pastors are always so nice and want to give literally everything they have to make us feel comfortable! This one pastor that really sticks out of the trip. This man fist off has no house. They live at the church or the place the church meets. His name was Pastory Johnny, and he married with four kids. His oldest kid has special needs, but you could just see the love of Christ through this family! It was amazing to see and visit this great pastor doing God's work faitfully in a place that is much need for Christians.

This area that we are targeting has less then 5% Evangelical Churches. We even planned it that we will be playing one game in a city that has no Evangelical churches at all.

Please be in prayer for this trip and as we continue to work out all the details of this trip. And for the 10 American guys coming from the States to help ministry in this area!

We had a great 1st Anniversary here in the Philippines!

First Anniversary in the Philippines

Wow, we can not believe it. We celebrated and a great time on our first anniversary!! When we take this time to remember all the fun, the great celebration we had at our wedding, and the decisions we made all in that has taken to where we are at now! And this all happend in our first year of marriage!

The great thing is we know that Lord has seen us through it, and each and everyday! We know nothing would be possible without Him truly guiding us each and everyday! So we just want to give him Praise for this great time of celebrating for both us, but also to ask for prayer, wisdom, and guidance! In the many years to come!

Also, want to take this time, which we don't do enough we feel. To thank you, the friends, family, supporters, prayer warriors, and whoever else is reading about our ministry! Though, we just want to say that your thoughts, prayers, emails, letters, packages, calls, support through gifts, finicial support, and so much more that you all have blessed us with! We just want to say Thanks, and know that It's going towards serving His Kingdom! May God Bless you ask much as He continues to bless us through all this!! Thank you again!

Crossfire Trip to Luzon

Most of you know that Feb 17th I fly up to the main Island of the Philippines which is called Luzon. I took a direct flight from Davao City to Manila! Here, I was greeted by a some great smiling faces from a Pastor that I have been talking with for over a month. This was to take part with the Crossfire Ministry trip that would be traveling all over the Luzon.

We started off the trip in Manila only to meet and greet the rest of the team. This team consisted of Jamie Johnson and Randy Sheperd the two co founders of the ministry Crossfire. I know and met this both this summer doing a basketball Jammin for Jesus that happend yearly in Greenfield, IN. Well, along with them they brought 12 other people are apart of there ministry (this also included Deep Ministries - Dan and Shan doing kids games).

Cabanatuan City for about three days - While we stayed here at this great resort, we were able to play one of the Pastor's team and one group that invited us. This group is called Christian Sports and Youth Development Center In (CSYDCI). We also were able to do a clinic which is where Dan and Shan planned a big role and helping with kids games with them for a few hours. And then we would come in and share a little basketball and mostly Gospel with them!

Our stay in Cabanatuan was lovely, and we are also able to divide the groups up and go to two different church services. The one I went to, I was able to share a short testimony and people were so nice, sweet, and giving! They were very humbling to host us has there guests!

We are also able to play two games while we stayed in Cabanatuan City, and both games were very physical, very very fast pace, and pretty packed house. It was exciting, and great to be able to share the Gospel with so many Filipino people!

After our great stay in Cabanatuan City, we traveled about 6 hours up a beautiful mountain into a beautiful, and to my excitement actually a cool almost cold temparature wise play in the Philippines! This great place was called Baguio!

Baguio for two nights – While we were here we played two games and one of these games was one of the best for the whole trip. This was a great game versus the Baguio University select team. This was a great game, and the University gym was packed. Through the half time gospel you could hear a pen drop the people were so quiet, listening, and opened to hear the Lord's Message!

Then we moved on to city on the China coast called La Union. While in La Union we played another game and after the game we went to the Mayor of the city house and were able to visit, share, and build relationship with the other team and community!

We traveled back to Manila – this time back in the city of Manila we had a days rest of games, though we had an orphanage visit, we were able to do some kids game with them do some basketball clinic with them, and share much of God's love and words for them!

Then the last game was in Manila, against one of the Semi Professional teams. This league is called the PBL, and it was a very hard game, though we were able to share. The crowd was small, and the pastors said it's very hard to really do these types of games in the manila because of the city being so big. Though, the Lord is Good all the time and saw us through the whole trip!

Sports Ambassadors

LAST February 05, 2006 Sunday, the local Ventures For Victory/Sports Ambassadors Basketball Team played the Temple Of Praise Christian Fellowship Basketball Team which is set to join a church league this coming March, 2006. Headed by their Executive Pastor Wilfredo R Calisang, they allowed us to play and minister to their two (2) church teams. Most of their players have just accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord & Savior.

Brian Christopher together with Eric Pangburn, another VV/SA player had the chance to share their testimonies during the fellowship time. This was a great opportunity for Brian & Eric knowing that most of the young players that they were playing with were very excited to be part of the church basketball team.

Ptr. William mentioned to us that he is having a regular bible study with the players every wednesday night at the church. The church leadership is very supportive to the newly-opened sports ministry of the church.

Let us continue to remember them in prayer for the success of their sports ministry.