Philippines 2012

some videos from the missions trip to the Philippines in the summer of 2012, an unforgettable summer.

Matthew 5:13-16

English Standard Version (ESV)

Salt and Light

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

 

"God does not need us.
We could disappear and God could still make a great name for himself among the nations. God involves us in His mission not because he needs us - but because he loves us. And in his mercy he has invited us to be involved in his sovereign design for the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth." 

                                  -David Platt (Together 4 the Gospel)

 

 

Identity

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, 

through the living and enduring word of God."

1 Peter 1:23

This year's Challenge was themed around the basis of IDENTITY and Pastor Austine Cho did a great job expositing or exposing or shedding light on scripture and kept the gospel centered and rooted in his messages. I was so relieved that Challenge had finally found a pastor who was gospel centered and whom the kids were engaged to.
God knows that this generation needs more than fluff and comical preaching (altho pastor Austine did scream alot and thus trailing much saliva onto my mic, which was in need of some heavy lysol afterwards o_O)
 

it was probably one of the smaller Challenges i've been to since my first in '09, but i think it added to the intimacy w one another and w the Lord as well (not to mention it being 4 days 3 nights!)

it's always been a blessing to serve @ Challenge & it will always have a special place in my heart.

the difficult part is the "what now" aspect.... the "afterwards" effect..... what do we do now that Challenge is over.

The spiritual roller coaster of our lives is definitely full of make or break moments, and i only pray that itll only make us stronger and break the chains of bondage and not our relationship w God.

this is a picture of our staff meeting.
we prayed for souls by name and lifted up the concerns and issues @ Challenge.
listening to the testimonies of the campers and the prayers of the staff, we were able to see Aromi come to Christ! (after 3 challenges!) we were able to see people rededicate and commit and invest in this relationship w Christ. We saw students who harbored alot of pain and suffering from their past, able to relinquish the condemnation of inadequacy, insufficiency, inability, incapacity, etcc that the enemy would throw....Christ had lifted that burden and brought about new desires and a new heart to love God.

 as long as they continue to invite me back to Challenge, i will do what i can to be a part of this movement of believers, if anything, pray for them and hope for the best.
We're called to be light in a darkening world and salt to its bitterness.

As i'm preparing to goto the Philippines this month, i'm praying God would "grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."

ahhhh...Redemption!

never thought this day would come!
if my life was on broadway, someone once described the title as, "From Prison To Praise"!!
God is truly uhmazingg! where would i be if it weren't for Him! better yet, where would i be heading???
the common glory would goto self-centered man whereas my glory is due to a God whose arm was, is, & never will be too short to save.... ty God!

i serve a God of purpose and of redemption! all my hard work is not of this world and for eternal glory & treasure....afterall, i came into this world naked and im going to leave naked.

it's sad when people spend their whole lives attempting to leave an imprint of themselves in history but are overshadowed by an endless cycle of like-minded folks.

i'm praying that my life would only leave an imprint in the book life.
that when i stand before my creator and judge in the end, he'd welcome me with open arms and say, "well done my good and faithful servant... i have prepared a place for you".... 
...awesome in every sense of the word.
 ___________________________________________________

Mama Simos!!                                                                     There's always one. (or 2)

 i will miss my 7th graders!
 (i'd post their pictures up, but due to some privacy safeguards, will have to          
 refrain, with the exception of one =X

 had an amazing week with "B Squared" @ Basileia 2012!

 

bout to begin worship!!

 

it was good to b back home with the MSC fam ;D

Happy 2nd birthday Alethia!! and congrats on your baby brother! ;D

traditional "Fun Night" video by the worship team ;)



just for fun ;)

*Mustard Seed Church*

school's almost out & it's time to make a come back w these BLOGS!!
HOLLLLLAAAAAAA :D

11 AM Service 

150-47B 14th Avenue, Upper Level, 

Whitestone, NY 11357 

Parking lot entrance 14th ave. 

Free parking Sunday (street parking as well) 

check out this BLOG for the heart behind it!

"The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed...It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 

 faith like a grain of mustard seed can move mountains. 

 les do this! ;D

historic indeed! thank u God!