EDITORIAL

THE ZIIG ZAG PATH THE Z G ZAG PATH

Bro. Ed Fernandez
Editor The path of our lives may zig zag, twist and turn, but God has promised us a future and a hope Jer. 29:11. Several factors can work against our hope in the Lord. Experiences that are conflicting, opposing, obstructing or hindering are common. Negative and discouraging voices abound and these are put in place by our adversary to frustrate our hope in God. Reading and knowing about these forces through the Word of God and from our brethren who have experienced these forces, strengthens our resolve and increases our hope in the Lord. If we are not really rooted in our spiritual lives we might really fall down and might not be able to stand up again and continue to serve God. I thought we could not finish this issue because of so many hindrances and obstacles. Obstacles that brought us discouragement which I believed is the work of the enemy - convincing our mind to stop working in this ministry. But I always hold on to the promises of God, That He who begun a good work in us, He will bring it into completion.

In one of our meeting I shared this short exhortation to the board that All Efforts of Excellence are Difficult. If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus Christ, we have to remember that all effort of worth and excellence are difficult but its difficulty should not make us faint and give in. Instead, it should stir us to overcome. And even though we had hardships to finish this issue, I really thank God that He does give us difficult things to do! Why? Because His salvation is a joyous thing, but it is also something that requires bravery, courage, and holiness. It tests us for all we are worth. If you were blessed with our last two issues, as we hope you were, we are hoping and praying that you will be blessed with this issue too. In this issue, we believe that all articles will give you encouragement and deep, deep joy in your heart with the conclusion; nothing in this world can satisfy us but only His presence in our lives. Thank you for all the brethren who gave their time and effort for making their articles in spite of their busy schedules. The Lord will richly bless you more and more. To God be all the glory and May God bless you all!

L A V IIE E T L A L U M II R E LA V E ET LA LUM RE
EDITORIAL BOARD Sis. Edelyn Castro Sis. Lisa Joy Abellera Bro. Ed Fernandez LAY OUT ARTIST Sis. Prescy Simbajon EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS Rev. Nicanor Bong Gonzales
Eastern Canada Region Supervising Pastor

JIL QUEBEC AREA 5 JIL QUEBEC AREA 5

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
JIL MONTREAL 1
9:00 11:00 am

JIL MONTREAL 2
1:00 3:00 pm

JIL MULTI CULTURAL

4:00 6:00 pm

JIL N.D.G.
10:00 12:00 nn

PRAYER MEETING
Friday 8:00 10:00 pm (All churches)

Ptra. Imelda Supan-Lapitan

JIL Montreal

Ptr. Rexman Solo

JIL N.D.G.

AREA EXTENDED PRAYER MEETING

Every 2 Friday of the month 8:00 11:30 pm
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III N V III T A T III O N ::: N V T A T O N N V T A T O N

The Editorial Staff wishes to encourage everyone to share Christian ideas in the guise of articles,comments,and suggestions. Let us work together to improve our newsletter. Please write us at lvll.jilcanada.com

AREA OVERNIGHT PRAYER MEETING

2 Friday of every other month
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AREA DAWN SERVICE

Every 1 Saturday of the month 5:00 7:00 am
st

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By: Sis. Annaliza Casipong ... is the first encounter retreat of Jesus Is Lord (JIL) in Montreal, Quebec since the birth of our church. In the past, we usually held encounters together with the churches in Ontario. But this time it was decided by the area management team to conduct the said encounter here with forty nine (49) delegates. Our initial preparations consisted of earnest prayers and fasting under our petition that the Lord will prepare us, the ministering team, for His great move. There was also the requisite Pre-Encounter Seminar for which we encouraged the participants to attend. They were oriented about the policies during the encounter. For most of the participants who are new converts, the pre-encounter was something new and strange. But because of the conviction of the Holy Spirit, they obeyed. As Day One approached, some of them faced great battles. A few became sick, some thought not to go even at the last minute, and some did not to go for various other reasons. But for those who resolutely decided to attend, they were able to experience the awesome power of the living God. The ministering team, together with our pastors, went to the camp site the night before the retreat. Thereat, we prepared the place, the things we need to use, assembled the musical instruments, conducted a briefing on what to do, believing that God will do miracles through us for the delegates to experience the power of the living God. The mode was for us to be sensitive to the move of God, be alert and watchful. Finally, on the next morning, everyone was excited. We got up early for the requisite intercession, and then it was time for the delegates to arrive. Their faces registered wonder, some excitement, and some showed obvious questions in their minds. But most of them were excited, trusting that the two-day encounter retreat would make dramatic change upon their lives. After all, the primary purpose for the encounter was for them to meet God face to face. WHAT IS ENCOUNTER? An encounter is a spiritual experience that dramatically changes the lives of everyone who willingly gives in to the works of the Holy Spirit. All of us have already experienced many important milestones like falling in love, getting married, being accepted into university, graduation therefrom, landing a job, etc. But of all the encounters we could have, the most important one that would create the greatest impact is our encounter with the living God! Matthew 16:26 says, What good will be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? An encounter Retreat presents a series of experiences and personal teachings that result in visible, manifested change in the lives of all who participate. It offers people an environment and opportunity that allows them to discover how to establish their relationship with God, how to have direct fellowship with Him, and how to commit His lordship in their lives. Participants are given the opportunity to know and accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour and to receive assurance of that fact. They are taught the claims of the Gospel and experience forgiveness of sin, deliverance from bondage, emotional and physical healing, and restoration of worth and value. They also learn how to walk in the blessings of a covenant relationship with God and His family. Being a Christian means to live by Gods Word learning it, personally experiencing it, and obeying it. The Bible gives us many examples of people who did just that and are radically transformed by their personal encounters with the Lord Jesus. Remember the demoniac (Matt. 8:28-34), and all Disciples of Christ. After these people had an

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encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, they were never the same again. Consequently, we can be assured that when we too, have an encounter with Him, we will never be the same. It was our desire and prayer that everyone on that weekend encounter retreat seize the opportunity to experience God! And He did not fail us. There were lives that were instantly transformed lives that were saved and forgiven from sin, set free, and healed by the power of the living God, Jesus Christ the Lord! Right away, upon personally experiencing the power of God, most of the delegates made testimonies upon testimonies of His greatness! We thank God for the awesome power of His presence, commencing from the first day to its culmination for most of us felt His great move. TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

By: Ptr. Rexman Solo Wow, it has been almost three years since I was called to the ministry. It truly takes patience! Theres always a temptation to grow impatient if things dont happen when we think they should. When prayers arent answered on our time table or dreams dont come to pass as quickly as we had hoped they would, we become restless. And this only hurts us in the long run. In my own life, there have been times when I could have grown impatient. I knew from a very young age that I was called to the ministry. But I didnt get there overnight. There were periods when my calling didnt seem to be taking the right direction as I thought it would. I asked myself: how far could I last? Stepping into the position that God has planned for me took time. Not only did it take time, it took patience. Unfortunately, we live in an impatient world and patience is the most difficult quality to develop. Other people get impatient with their children, their job, falling in line at the grocery store or even waiting for their turn to see the doctor(as I experience at the clinic where Im working). We get impatient even waiting for the answer to prayers. Ive learned in life that patience is so important because without it, I wont be able to stay in faith. Hebrews 6:12 tells us its through faith and patience that we inherit the promises of God. Because patience is the fruit of the spirit, we know that if were born again, we have the fruit of patience within us (Gal. 5:22). We have to practice it every day, sometimes several times a day. In fulfilling Gods calling in our lives to have significant impact, I encourage you to allow the spirit within you to dominate you. Allow patience in the inside to be displayed on the outside, living out in the ministry that God called us. Gal.6:9 says: And let us not be weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap the harvest if, we do not give up. Now is not the time to faint or lose patience for in due season we will reap the harvest. In Him, Ptr. Rex

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By: Ptr. Aldrin Navo

The daily challenges we face will either increase our dependence on God or decrease it. But the most important point of it all is to see our reactions to it no matter what. It is where we expose ourselves of who we are and our leaning towards our faith in God and His promises to us. That is why; we must become aware of how challenges trigger our reactions. John 16:33 states what Jesus declared, in this world you will have trouble (NIV) What are the troubles of life that we will face? The word trouble was taken from the Greek word thlipsis which means pressure (literally or figuratively). In other words, Jesus Himself declared that pressures will come upon us as we live in this world in many shapes and forms. However, He specifically leaves us with enough ammunition to hold onto as these pressures that build up around us and in us. Heres the complete declaration in John 16:33, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world. (NIV) Two specific reactions we need to have when faced with pressures of life: find peace in Him and to have courage in His power. Therefore, we need to apply His word as prescription against all pressures from all sides and stand by it. In doing so, we will not go against it head-on but just let it pass by as part of life. And this is where we stand out as disciples of Jesus because we always heed the Masters advice. Allow me to share this simple story that I came across to put everything in perspective: A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second he placed eggs, and the last he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word. The daughter sucked her teeth and waited impatiently, wondering what he was doing. In about 20 minutes he turned off the burners. He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in another bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a mug. Turning to her he asked, "Darling, what do you see?" "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. She smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. She humbly asked, "What does it mean Father?" He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity: Boiling water but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. But after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. "Which are you," he asked his daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?" How about us, my countrymen? Are we the carrot that seems hard, but with pain and adversity do we wilt and become soft, lose our strength? Are we like the egg, which starts off with a malleable heart? Are we fluid spirits, but after a death, a breakup, business bankruptcy, or a layoff have we become hardened and stiff? The shell looks the same, but have we become bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and heart? Or are we like the coffee bean? The bean changes the hot water, the thing that is bringing the pain, to its peak flavour when it reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water gets the hottest, it just tastes better. If we are like the bean, when things are at their worst, we get better and make things better around us. How do we handle adversity? Are we a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?
Source: Blog. www.aldrinnavo.com. Used with permission from Ptr. Aldrin Navo.

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d JIL-NDG CELEBRATES 3rrd THANKSGIVING ANNIVERSARY

By: Sis. Prescy Simbajon We celebrated the growth of Gods kingdom in our beloved Church last March 14, 2010. This anniversary provided us with a special opportunity forward to the path ahead. It is an honour to give thanks to God's faithfulness and continued blessing upon our lives, our ministry, and our Church.... This past year has been a happy and successful year in so many ways. It has been defined by our enduring relationship and commitment to our calling in the body of Christ. In spite and despite the odd stumbling blocks along the way - we have traveled through yet another year - together, supportive, encouraging and enduring. And as we take the time to express our gratitude for a wonderful and blessed year, we acknowledge the works of our beloved brothers and sisters. The following received appreciation for their unselfish contribution to the ministry of God: Sis. Tita Moraga Soul Winner of the Year . Sis. Grace Solo LGN Leader of the Year. Sis. Josie Buen Church Keeper of the Year. Sis. Violy Nisperos Servant of the Year. Bro. Ryan Rosales Servant of the Year. Sis. Vilma Salalila Most Reliable Worker of the Year. LGN- NDG LEADERS were APPRECIATED. FIRST TIMERS were APPRECIATED. And last but not the least.... our beloved Pastor Rexman Solo and his loving wife Sis. Grace Austria for their unselfish guidance to the flock. Ours is a sovereign God who delights in loving and serving. Our lives are most fulfilled as we become more like Him. Indeed, Hebrews 12:1-3 declares: " 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart!" We look forward to another wonderful year - a time to build and strengthen our faith and commitment to the one who saved Us...Our Lord Jesus Christ! Dear Lord, You have blessed Your people in this congregation. As You guided and protected Your people Israel, so You have guided us. We thank You this day for the past, in which You have made known Your salvation time and time again. And even as we celebrate our past and rejoice in our present, we also look forward with eager eyes to the future. We pray that You would continue to make Your saving acts known among us. Give us the zeal to look for and recover lost souls. Help us to look beyond our walls to those who do not know You.

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Make this church a blessing to those around us, and embolden us to move forward with strength toward what lies ahead.

Jesus Is Lord - Notre Dame de Grace (JIL-NDG) was born from the prayers of JIL Montreal, Quebec and the declaration of expansion by the JIL Church. When the JIL 12 was institutionalized, four cell groups from JIL Montreal formed and showed interest in opening a new JIL Church in Notre Dame de Grace. The vision of expansion was clearly received by the initial members of this new church and excitement filled the hearts of everyone. With a new leased building to conduct the activities of the church, everybody was ready to become part of Gods work. The day came and the first Sunday service was held last December 02, 2007. Support from the JIL Ontario Leadership was fully extended to show solidarity with the new JIL Church in Quebec. Even the first prayer meeting with all the volunteer workers was jubilant and Gods favour was palpable. Numerous activities were done during the month that gave many testimonies of joy and gladness. Altogether, it was a fruitful month for a new church. December 23, 2007 marked the first Christmas Party of JIL NDG. Newcomers were present, and Pastor Nicanor Bong Gonzales and his family were there to show support as well. One of the most memorable activities was the New Years Eve service. It was an emotional event for everyone especially when the countdown to midnight began with spirits stirred to excitement and expectation. One cannot help but be filled with memories of remembering loved ones and families in the Philippines. The first Sunday service of January 2008 was attended by 47 church-goers. The Kiddoz group was formed with 8 children to start with. It was January 27, 2008 when Pastor Bong Gonzales conducted the Church Inauguration of the leased building of JIL NDG. And it was the day that the leaders were laid hands on and anointed with oil to prepare them for the

work of Gods ministry ahead. It is during this occasion that Brother Rexman Solo was assigned to become the Non-Full time Church Pastor of JIL NDG and, together with the Church Leadership, received the mandate of the JIL Mission and Vision. Truly, God is always ready to pour out His blessings and favor to those who seek them. JIL NDG is a recipient of Gods grace and favor. It has received the mandate to fulfill Gods purpose and plan and it has just begun; for more great things are coming as God has promised to His people. Therefore, JIL NDG will never waver in conquering its God-given assignment here and beyond for Gods glory alone.

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By: Ptr. Bong Gonzales

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. - Philippians 4:12 (NIV) In this verse, many will find themselves in struggle, for many are in unstoppable pursuit for more. As if God is not providing what they need! The problem is not on the need but in want. The focus is not in what is necessary but on what is popular! That's why many can't find a time to rest, to appreciate or even to enjoy what they have been blessed with. Though others seems to be content to hide that little demon friend they have which is "laziness" and "fear". But what's the "Being Content" means? As it is stated its the being not the having. You maybe having nothing and yet still content in it. Someone might have everything and yet not even close to being content! That's why Christ is teaching us to trust in Him and see Him as our completion. Where He made a promise that He will never leave nor forsake us. Saint Paul learned also that He can do all things through Christ Jesus!So learning to be content is within the person who has in Him the true satisfaction, by placing His trust in the hand of his God! Where are you in this? Are you like those who wants to be first in everything and then start to loose what they have gained, for it does not satisfy them anymore? Are you with those who just sit and say what I have is enough for I'm afraid to go out and try? Or are you with the few who looked what they have, see what they could have and looked upon Him who is the provider of every good gift and trust Him, believed Him for the best! Who will never be tired of doing good! Who even in the midst of nothingness can still be our fullness, in sorrow can be our joy, in loneliness, our companion, in sin our righteousness, in shame, our comfort and in anything, our everything!!! Jesus Christ is the Name!!! There is a popular song that Christian churches loves to sing, and it speaks of the truth to the matter.The chorus goes this way:
"So I lift my eyes to you Lord In Your strength will I breakthrough Lord Touch me now, Let Your love fall down on me I know your love dispels all my fears Through the storm, I will hold on Lord And by faith, I will walk on Lord Then I'll see, beyond my Calvary One day, and I will be Complete in You"

Wow, no matter what we have or dont have, its not what will make us satisfied and complete! Its always in us, if Christ dwells in us. We just need to learn to be content in Him in our being! The being is who you are, not what you have, its inside of you not outside of you. Its not the worth of your possessions, but the worth of you!!! Not what you know but who knows you!!! Are you known in Christ as His disciple? God bless my friend and always remember, give thanks for He will always provide for you a blessing to thank Him, a trial to make you close to Him, a grace to accept you, a wisdom to lead you, a spirit to empower you, a someone to accompany you, The Lord for you to serve, a friend for you to depend, a need for you to pray a problem for you to believe!
Source: www.bonggonzales blog.com. Used with permission from Ptr. Bong Gonzales

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TAKE THE CHALLENGE

By: Sis. Edelyn Castro EACH ONE:: BRIING ONE EACH ONE BR NG ONE That was the challenge given by Ptr. Bong Gonzales, our JIL Eastern Canada Supervising Pastor, during the Friday Intercessory Meeting on June 25, 2010. He reminded us that Gods vision for us, believers, are: Transformation, Glorification and Multiplication. The first two are achieved by God FOR us but the first is achieved by God THROUGH us. To gather more details about this challenge, I conducted an interview with Sis. Reinalyn Alejandro-Sanchez, our JIL Quebec Administrative Head. Below is the gist of the interview. Whatt iis E1::B1? ((EC)) Wha s E1 B1? EC Each one, bring one is a challenge to all church members to be used by God to bring souls to His kingdom. It is a call to a more active faith where we passionately share the Gospel to others so that they too, may partake of the salvation that we experienced when we came to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. (RAS) How diid tthe challlenge orriigiinatte? How d d he cha enge o g na e? The challenge is in line with the Vision and Mission of the Jesus is Lord Church. After 11 years of Gods mighty move in Canada, particularly here in the province of Quebec, there are still a lot of unreached people. A lot still needs to be achieved and we need to be more active in our evangelism. What do we ultimately desire to accomplish? Our ultimate vision is to establish Filipino churches in North America with significant impact on its multicultural communities in 2015. This is in line with the Great Commission that Jesus Himself gave. What was the initial reaction of the leadership concerning this? Initially, some leaders thought that the challenge might be difficult to achieve. But in the end, everyone caught the vision, convinced that it is Gods will for all of us to be workers in the harvest field. How do you assess the reaction of the members? Do the members understand the vision? I believe that the members do understand the challenge. We all have tasted the goodness of the Lord and one way we can thank Him is by sharing the gospel to others. With four months to go before year-end, do you believe the goals are achievable? Yes! This is actually a renewal of the challenge and commitment given during the Regional Management and Administrative Skills Training five years ago. Five years ago, there were only 10 participants. This year, there were fifty-plus participants. The challenge was indeed effective because in Quebec province alone, there was only one church then and presently, we have four. Our goal is to plant four more churches at the end of 2010. We now have better monitoring system and we have better strategies of retaining members. In closing, Sis. Reinalyn added that ultimately, the challenge can only be met if each one desired to be used by God in the salvation of lost souls. We need to pray, we need to have the burning desire and the burden, we need to catch Gods vision.

E1: B1

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SOUL WINNING 101

By: Bro.Richard Cabansag
Matthew 28:19-20
19

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

How do we fulfill this great commission given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself? A lot of us Christians know this by heart. We all know the basic foundation of Christianity: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and we will be saved. We also know that there is no other way to the Father except through the Lord Jesus Christ. The problem is, how do we share these basic foundations to others? Especially to our family and friends who are not yet saved? That was exactly what the GPS seminar was all about. The seminar was held on the JIL Decarie Church on 27 March 2010 by Pastor Bong Gonzales. Almost all of the believers know the basic foundation of Christianity but very few know how to share this to others. Its like we are all claiming to be fishermen but only a handful of us actually do the fishing. According to a video presentation that represents an analogy of evangelizing to fishing, those who claim to be fishermen dont want to fish because they do not want to sit on the boat the whole day, wait patiently for a fish to take the bait; and if ever one takes the bait, the person must be obliged to clean the fish and prepare it. Same thing with evangelism: once we try to win a soul, we have to spend time with that person, be patient towards him, spend money, open your house to that person, and during this process, we are slowly teaching him the values of being a Christian and showing that person how much God loves him. Unfortunately, being a born again does not happen overnight. Going back to the seminar, we were taught some basic strategies to win souls. We have identified two factors as to why we are not sharing. The number one factor is fear. We have fear of being rejected, ridiculed, make fun at, avoided, ignored, and almost everything you could think of whenever you are going to open your mouth and say Jesus loves you. Second, we do not know how to do it. We dont know where to start and what to say.

Overcoming fear. Witness in the power of the Holy Spirit. You need to discern if God is willing for you to share at this person at
this time. We need the partnership of the Holy Spirit (John 5:19.) You dont go fishing alone. None of us can save anyone, moreover, none of us can convict anyone. Make sure that your passion and knowledge is being accompanied by Gods conviction, Gods leading and Gods direction that you are going to share to this person. It is very important to have a personal prayer time for this purpose. Never go fishing alone. Take Jesus with you (Luke 5:1-11). How to do it? Right after desiring and asking for the witnessing power of the Holy Spirit, its now time to fish. There are basically 5 topics we need to share to and put into heart that can be of very great help to us. Pastor Bong taught us a simple mnemonic technique using the five fingers in our hand. The thumb (pointing upwards) represents heaven. Heaven is a free gift; it is not earned or deserved (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23). The pointing finger represents man. Man is a sinner and we cannot save ourselves (Romans 3:23). The middle finger (the longest of all our fingers) represents GOD. God is merciful; He does not want to punish us. But GOD is also just, He needs to punish our sins (Exodus 34:7). The ring finger represents Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is both GOD and man. He died on the cross and rose from the dead and paid the penalty of our sins and purchased a place for us in heaven (John 1:1,14).

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Our pinkie represents faith. Saving faith is not just a head knowledge or a temporary faith; instead, saving faith is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for our eternal life (Acts 16:31). Of course, we would not be saying these things to the person right of the bat. You will definitely receive a glaring look from that person once you start by saying that heaven is a free gift. You need to make contact first. Start by saying hello, how are you, or the weathers nice today, isnt it? type of questions. Try to initiate a contact where you will catch the attention of the other person. Once you have started a small conversation, ask permission if it is ok to ask one question. Ask some diagnostic questions like Have you come to a place on your spiritual life where you know for certain that when you die youre going to heaven? or In a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, how good are you? If the person turns his or her back on you after this question, move on to the next. Consider it fishing -- some fish will take a look at the bait and swim away, some will actually taste it but not eat it, but some would definitely take it. These questions would definitely make the person think, and during this time, slowly introduce the five important topics that we all know about. Simple, right? I tried to share to two people using this technique. The first one was listening to me, but the look on his face told me that he was not interested. He had the what are you talking about look. I managed to tell him about Christ, but thats when I stopped because he does not pay attention anymore. I had better success on the second person. He listened to me (though I was not alone that time, there were two of us), and he opened up a little about his family. In conclusion, these are just guidelines for us to be able to share the word of God to other persons. As Pastor Bong said, this guide cannot save or convict anyone. Only the Holy Spirit can convict a person. Even if we memorized everything written here, if we did not pray and ask for guidance, then we will fail. We must not go fishing alone. We must pray, prepare, and depend on the Holy Spirit in sharing the word of God.

BE WISE:: WIN SOULS FOR CHRIST BE WISE WIN SOULS FOR CHRIST
By: Sis. Alona Amano
Do you have an idea how much is the value of a soul to God? The heart beat of God is for the lost souls! And yet the value of one soul who will return to Him is more than any riches on earth. One soul is a great eternal treasure for the Lord. The heavenly host, Jesus Christ, with millions of angels rejoice! Proverbs says those who win souls are wise! If you do it for Christ then you are wise. Your reward is greater than the servant who serves the Lord: It is the crown of life that cannot be taken away from you, a crown that will last forever. So be wiser and win more souls for Christ! Truly, soul-winning is a serious business for us Christians! It requires all our effort, time and even our resources. It includes even the sacrifice of our personal desires and agenda. It is the total surrender of our lives to Jesus which can impact others. Therefore, our lives must be a living testimony, a living Bible that can be used to totally change the lives of others. This is the most challenging ministry. Although this is not difficult if you do it by heart because the Lord is always there to back us up! It is in this process that He is using us as a vessel of His honour. As long as we have the desire, it will be accomplished. For truly, nothing is too difficult for those who love God. If we knew the way we are marching on and if we look forward to the reward waiting for us, we will do it with all our hearts. Imagine the incomparable joy we can behold when one wins souls who will eventually commit to God! Remember, the more you win souls, the wiser you become in the sight of God. This is our great commission as declared in Matthew 18:19-20 So lets go together and share the gospel to the lost. Be wiser in winning souls for Christ!

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CONSTRAINED BY GODS GRACE CONSTRAINED BY GODS GRACE

By: Sis. Edelyn Castro he story of the prodigal son who came back to his fathers fold has never ceased to touch hearts because it is a very classic example of the depth of Gods love as a Father. My testimony is very similar to this story. Allow me to bring you back almost 7 years ago when I decided to leave the Philippines and come here to Canada to be with a man I deeply loved. I was already a born-again Christian then but I was blinded, obstinate and set on following my desires. I lived for 5 years with a man who was not my husband, convincing myself that this is Canada and conjugal partnerships are not only a non-issue but actually protected by the state. Within the first 5 years of my life here, I have been to so many places, seen so many sights, beheld wonders that I only dreamed about. But there was one place I did not want to look at closely: my heart. I did everything except be still and really ask myself if all is well with my soul. They were happy years, yes. In the eyes of the world, I was leaving a great life; I have everything that should make me happy. But it was a fleeting kind of happiness, the kind that still leaves unrest in the soul, emptiness and loneliness that never goes away. Then God orchestrated everything to fall into place. Even while I was in my sin, He sought me out. Like the good shepherd who left his 99 other sheep to look for the one that wandered off, He searched for me. In answer to unwavering prayers of Christian friends, I found myself attending Sunday Worship Services, Cell group meetings and Pre-Encounter Seminars. Deep in my heart I knew that I have a choice to do soon. I was faced with the very difficult decision of having to leave the man who has been nothing but loving, supportive and kind to me. I was in love with this man. For 5 years he has been my only family and friend here in Canada. But my heart was constrained by a higher love: the love of God that is in Christ Jesus; a love that always forgives, always trusts, always hopes. On the first day of our Batch 8 Encounter Retreat, God met me at the very first session entitled Gods Fatherly Love; God is my Father. I heard Him say My child, come back home to me. I have been waiting for you to come back home since the first day you left. So back home to my Father I went. His forgiveness, His love and His grace has been my strength during the difficult times that followed. I faced questions and even rebuke from some who did not understand why I needed to leave the man that I loved because God said so. I felt unwelcome in the homes of some old friends. Some called me a user because I left the man who has been instrumental in my coming here to Canada. What they did not know was how much tears I cried to God, asking Him, pleading Him to allow me to stay with this man. They did not know the times when it was really just the grace and mercy of God that held me back from compromising again. It was His strength that enabled me to deny my very own heart. It was Gods grace that constrained me from falling again. Now, more than a year later, I look back with thanksgiving to the Lord. He has indeed turned my mourning into dancing again. He has turned my sorrow into joy. He has showered me with an overflow of His blessings in all areas of my life: He has called me to serve Him in ministries; He blessed the work of my hands as He promoted me at my job; He restored relationships with my family; He has given me, just at the right time, the right man for me. God truly proved Himself faithful to His Word He gave me at the start of this year in Psalms 24:13-14 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (NIV) Yes, I was constrained by Gods greater grace. But the irony is that I have never been truly free as I am now! To God be all the glory, honour and thanksgiving for all His goodness and grace, for His love that never fails!

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By: Sis. Jasmin Pascual

It's Father's day all around the world! Father's Day is a day honouring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. The definition above was derived from Wikipedia. Literally speaking, we are nowadays practicing it for a reason: honouring our father because we truly love them or maybe just for the sake of celebrating it to show that we belong to the social era of this generation. Others just shrug their shoulders because maybe their paternal bond is not that close or they might have bad experience/s in their childhood with their father. Did anyone think where and when the celebration started? What's special with it? As you go through its history, it was thought by the woman named Sonora Smart Dodd while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in the year 1909. She was raised with five others by their father who made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of Sonora, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.The president of the Chicago branch of the Lions' Club, Harry Meek, is also said to have celebrated the first Father's Day with his organization in 1915; and the day that they chose was the third Sunday in June, the closest date to Meek's own birthday! After years of these unofficial celebrations being held, States and organizations began lobbying Congress to declare an annual Father's Day. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson approved of this idea, but it was not until 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge made it a national event to "establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations". As you may notice, for most people, the said special day is for the just and righteous dad of the world. But whatever it may mean to each of us, we can say that men were given a great privilege by God to imitate Him as Father. He indeed placed upon the shoulders of fathers an incredible responsibility....and maybe we can consider those fathers who have not realized their significance in our community yet. But there's always a room for improvement, repentance and acceptance in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Father in heaven. As apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:4 says: ""And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord (NIV)". I do believe that there's no dad who wants their child to mess up their lives. They always wanted the best for them by sending them to school, giving them the best things on earth. But sadly speaking, only few are training their children to learn the most important thing in life, to be obedient in our Lord's commandments, to be ambassador of Christ on earth. Also, in New American Standard Bible, it says in Malachi 4:6 "He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse." Many earthly parents are alienated from God, so in order for them to give their children the right teaching they have to be one in faith. The father who leads his family to the right direction imitating the Father above is likely assured that his family is protected from any destruction that the world may bring. Fathers, lead, train, be examples. Make yourselves always available for your children as you are under that obligation. We may fancy the world but not the Lord, so beware. May you accept the challenge to become the best dad not just in the eyes of your children but in the eyes of the Father of all Fathers, our Lord God!

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By: Sis. Monet Santos

was born Catholic. I studied in catholic schools with institutionalized catholic faith and belief. I always went to Quiapo church to attend the mass and the black rosary. I usually prayed the rosary and worshipped all the images made by man. I was a fanatic at that time. I had lots of superstitious beliefs. I was scared to die. I didnt know what eternal life was. I knew that there is God but I didnt know His nature. I was spiritually blind. Nevertheless, I grew up with a materially wonderful life. I got what I wanted. I had plenty of friends. I can say that I had everything. I had the golden spoon to my mouth. We had maids that helped me do my personal stuffs. I had my own nanny. I was an easy go lucky person because I had money, which I used to buy friends. The good life that I had ruled over me. Until I reached college, my life didnt change. I enjoyed hanging out with friends. I learned to smoke and drink. I became addicted to all kinds of vices. I came home late. I went to discos and bar hopped till the wee hours of the morning. I enjoyed all the pleasures of this world. I thought it would never end. But then I had a short temper. If anyone ever teased me, I would physically punched them. I was a basagulera (a trouble-maker). My mother always screamed at me. But I continued doing such things. For me, that was life. I didnt go to school. I usually asked somebody to tamper with my parents signature on my report card every quarter, because my marks were all failures . There was one time that I almost died due to drunkenness. I fell from the stairs, broke my nose, and my parents were naturally really mad at me. Time dragged on. Meanwhile, I barely finished college through my teachers pity. Then I worked in a pharmaceutical company as a promotional sales representative. But still, nothing changed my life. To escape from my mothers anger, I decided to work abroad. There I found freedom. I was free, free as a bird to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh. And as expected, I drank, smoked, went to the bar. I got involved on numerous relationships that I thought could satisfy and make me happy. Until I met a guy who was a sadist who hit me all the time. I always had black eyes and bruises. Again, to escape from this situation, I went to Israel. Thereat, I realized how difficult it was to live alone, and far from my family. I worked seven days a week. Until I met a friend who encouraged me to apply for Canada. On my first attempt, I was denied but then I thought perhaps it was not the perfect time for me. Finally on my second attempt, I succeeded. Though I relocated, I still brought with me my old self and former set of beliefs. Sometimes I attended Catholic Church. Until one day I met a friend. It happened at a time when I was at a bus stop and needed extra 25cents for fare. This lady was there and perhaps sensing that I had a difficulty with something, asked me what was it that I needed. I told her I needed 25cents, and right away she gave me the exact amount. Then she got my number and started calling me. We became friends. Until she invited me to church. I didnt know why but I couldnt resist her invitation. I found myself going for the first time to the Jesus is Lord Church (JIL). At first I was a little bit shy. I felt awkward. Although almost everybody smiled and shook hands with me, I became a mere observer. When everyone closed their eyes, mine were still open. Everyone cried and there I remained standing with my eyes still open. Then my friend started to invite me to join in their cell group. She never failed to call me. She always encouraged me without knowing that the Holy Spirit started working in me. My spiritual eyes began to open. I began to share my experiences with them. Despite all these revelations, I still felt loved, accepted and special to them. Everyone remained persistent with me. But though I was attending JIL, I couldnt give up my old faith. I lied to them because I was still attending masses at the Catholic Church. But over a period of time, while I was in front of the altar, I realized the difference. I felt that something was lacking. I was looking for something else. Then one day, I began to attend JIL church regularly and even the cell group. My faith began to grow. Day by I day I discovered something about His words. God always spoke unto me. His words were so clear and penetrated into my heart like a double edged sword. There was always joy and excitement in my heart. I met a lot of friends with the same spirit. I felt like a plant watered, and nurtured day by day. Then they encouraged me to join The Encounter. I was willing but my work schedule hindered me. But through persistent prayers I got my day off and was able to join. What a good privilege, what joy! What an amazing place we had. It was so calm and peaceful.

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The part of the encounter that touched me so much was during the, Inner Healing. I was released from all the bondages of sin and I learned to forgive those who hurt me. I felt the presence of God. I felt the joy that I couldnt feel before. I learned to fear God and my faith was enormously increased. From this experience, without doubt I can shout to the world that I am a Christian. I am totally changed and forgiven! What a good privilege to be called a child of God. I felt the overflowing joy. My life will never be the same again. Now, no one can snatch me away from His hands. I will serve Him for the rest of my life. There is nothing compared to His mighty presence. Let us together work as Christians through sharing His words to perishing souls. Shout His name all the earth!!

JIL MULTICULTURAL CHURCH JIL MULTICULTURAL CHURCH CELEBRATES CELEBRATES 1ST THANKSGIVING 1ST THANKSGIVING ANNIVERSARY ANNIVERSARY
By: Sis. Vangie Sobrevega We give you glory, glory. We give you glory, glory. We give you glory, glory, Jesus!. The essence of the song reverberated inside our church as we celebrate the 1ST Thanksgiving Anniversary of Jesus Is Lord Multicultural (JIL-MC) Church on March 14,2010 in Decarie . We really thank God for His faithfulness to us. We were so blessed as Pastora Imelda delivered her message entitled Glorify Him, a preaching that taught us how we can glorify Jesus. She shared to us the life of David, how he glorified the name of God in his family, community, nation and even in his generation that until now he is called A man after Gods heart.He truly made a significant impact in his time, and until now in our generation. We were all encouraged that to serve and love God we are assured that He is always with us. The JIL Multicultural started with 55 members on the early summer of 2009. After 5 months, our membership grew to become 77. We feel that we are still adjusting as most of us are Filipinos who are used to speaking our Tagalog mother language, but are obliged to speak and listen to English and French . It is noteworthy that the JIL ECR is the first to establish a multicultural church in Montreal. Hence, we are privileged to be called pioneers in glorifying God in a multi-racial, multi-character, and multi-principled base. We have one thing in common though: we have the same God who put us together in one mission and vision united by the same core values in glorifying Him by our continued existence as a church. Nous aimerons inviter tout le monde a nous joindre pour la gloire du Seigneur. Que Dieu tout puissant puisse combier de sa benediction.

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