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CBN ASIA NEWSLETTER – FRONTLINES (October to December 2023)

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How Should I Pray? There is no formula for getting God’s attention when we start to pray. But what I assure you is this: God hears our prayers when we pray. We must first have faith and believe in the God that we are praying to. As Hebrews 11:6 NKJV says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Then there are other verses in the Bible that give us this assurance that He hears us when we pray. In Psalm 65:2 NASB, the Psalmist is addressing God, “O You who hear prayer, To You all men come.” Meanwhile, Proverbs 15:29 NKJV goes on to remind us that God is close to those who desire His will, “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.” It is clear that we must be in right standing with God for Him to hear our prayers, and for Him to answer our prayers. So do not worry that God does not hear your prayers. If you are a child of God and you are in right standing with Him, His ears are open to you. Pray in faith—believing, knowing that God hears the prayer of the righteous.

In His Service,

PETER M. KAIRUZ President and CEO

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Is Your Family

Falling Apart?

When conflict threatens to ruin your family, know that God is a God who restores relationships, just as He did with Anthony and Ivy Galura’s family. Anthony’s involvement in an underground movement kept him away from his family, leaving all the household burdens on just his wife. Financial strains and the failure to communicate drove them further and further apart. Eventually, Ivy succumbed to having an affair, which devastated Anthony. But even more unbearable for Anthony was seeing their son cry over the turn of events. “I can’t do this anymore. All the books I’ve read felt useless because at that moment, I was broken, and my marriage was falling apart,” he said to himself. He called the CBN Asia Prayer Center and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Miraculously, Ivy also turned to Christ, and they both sought forgiveness. Over time, they forgave each other, found healing, and renewed their vows. Anthony and Ivy’s journey is a testament that no matter how difficult your family problems seem, there’s always hope. God has a purpose for your pain. Surrender your worries to Jesus and trust in His promise of healing and restoration. Just as He did for Anthony and Ivy, He can do the same for you.

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Will You Still Trust

God After a Series of Losses?

“We were devastated,” this is how Joebert and Vangie Maningo felt when they lost their daughter Zia. Zia was diagnosed with sepsis and her condition worsened. Sadly, she did not make it. Not long after Zia’s passing, Joebert’s father died, followed by Vangie’s mother. Their hearts were completely broken, and on top of it were debts they did not know how to repay. The couple’s sorrow deepened when they lost another child shortly after. In the midst of all this loss, their eldest child, Yesha, who had also battled sepsis and thankfully survived, asked the Lord for a new sibling. The child’s faith rekindled the hope in their hearts. In time, their prayers were answered. They called the baby girl “Keziah Hadassah”. But as it turns out, Keziah would also have to battle with sepsis and other complications. Most heartbreaking was that she also needed open-heart surgery to address the large hole in her heart. Desperate to find hope again, Joebert watched The 700 Club Asia’s miracle stories and chanced upon the story where the Lord heeded King Hezekiah’s earnest prayer for healing from a terminal illness. “If God can do it for others, He can do it for us,” Joebert declared. With faith, Joebert and Vangie trusted in God, and miraculously, Keziah survived her open-heart surgery, now a healthy baby girl. Their story illustrates that with God, all things are possible. If you’re experiencing loss, find hope in God. Trust that, as with the Maningo family, He can work miracles in your life. Surrender your worries and believe in His power.

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Sharing the Gift of New Hope

to the Youth of Thailand

Growing up in challenging circumstances due to the separation of her parents and the economic situation in Myanmar, Namfon and her grandparents made the courageous move to Thailand in search of better opportunities. However, the grass wasn’t greener on the other side. No matter how hard her grandparents tried, they still struggled financially, and were unable to support Namfon’s needs. She was almost sent to Bangkok to work. Thankfully, her aunt brought her to ELPIS School, led by Filipino missionaries trained by the Asian Center for Missions (ACM), CBN Asia’s missionary training arm. Desperate to reach her dreams, Namfon sought their help, “My grandparents couldn’t send me to school, so I asked my teachers to help send me to school.” With the support of ACM-trained Filipino missionaries, Namfon received free education and was taken in at Faith House, the shelter home of ELPIS Ministries. Most importantly, she came to know the saving love of God. Inspired by the hope she found in God and the kindness she received from her teachers, Namfon joined ACM’s Youth Missionary Training Program in Thailand. Now a certified ACM-trained youth missionary, she reaches out to young Muslims, Buddhists, sharing with them the hope that can only be found in Christ. “I got to know Jesus more because of missionaries,” Namfon shared. “Now, I value that I have a big family in Christ. God calls us to give us rest, and an assignment—to reach the unreached people and share the gospel.”

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Discover the remarkable ways

your help has touched and improved lives. Here’s how your partnership with Operation Blessing makes a significant difference— from restoring bright smiles and providing solar lights to offering healthcare services and rehabilitating homes.

Unveiling the smile within Jun was born to an underprivileged family in Davao City with a cleft lip, a condition that requires expensive surgery to correct. Thankfully, Jun’s loving family and supportive community brought him to the Kalayag Child Care and Youth Community Center, which referred Jun to Operation Blessing’s LifeChanging Surgery program. Jun’s journey to surgery was delayed due to pneumonia, but his excitement for a new smile remained strong. After multiple hospital visits, Jun finally had the life-changing surgery, and his father, Joel, was overjoyed to see his transformed smile, “I am very happy that Jun can now live a normal childhood life. Thank you, Operation Blessing!”

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A love that lights up Mangyan homes For many years, the Mangyan tribe in Sitio Danlog, in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, has lived in the dark. Families endured living without access to electricity, as well as basic healthcare. Seeing this need, Operation Blessing partnered with Watts of Love to spark hope and light in the lives of our indigenous kababayans. Through the collaboration, the residents received innovative solar lights that use patented technology and offer a sustainable and renewable source of light for their households. Operation Blessing also conducted a medical brigade, where beneficiaries received free dental, optical, surgical, and medical services, as well as counseling. They also gave away free medicine and supplements. The Batang Superbook team, with Gizmo, also delighted Mangyan children with enjoyable treats and fun activities.

A gift of a new home When Category 4 Typhoon Mawar hit Guam last May, homes were destroyed and families were swept toward a state of serious need. Jesleen, who works as a teacher’s aide, could barely provide food for her family with what she makes, let alone rebuild their shattered dwelling. Her family was forced to take refuge in a vacant house nearby. “I feel sorry for my children because they can’t sleep well there. It’s hot at night, and there are also mosquitos. I really lost hope.” A ray of hope broke through when Operation Blessing arrived on the scene with an initiative to assist in the rebuilding of homes and other infrastructure. Among this project’s beneficiaries were Jesleen and her children. “My kids are really happy to see our house rebuilt and that it’s better than what we had before Typhoon Mawar. I thank God He answered my prayer, and that we have a new home.” 7


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Are You Desperate

for Healing?

RJ Alvarez was. Because they were busy making ends meet, RJ Alvarez’s parents were not as involved as he wished they were when he was growing up. So RJ longed for a sense of belonging that he found among friends - but not the good kind. From that company, he picked up foul language, gambling, and even more regrettably, pornography and premarital sex. Despite this, RJ was a good student, working as a tricycle driver to support his education. It wasn’t a surprise when he graduated with a degree in Criminology without any academic problems. But the bondage of sin was still present in his life. The wake-up call came as an illness that his doctors could not explain: he would bleed during bowel movement and had difficulty urinating. “I was desperate to get healed and desperate to get my life back together,” RJ recalled.

Out of desperation, he tuned in to The 700 Club Asia. Peter Kairuz was leading the audience to prayer of salvation, and RJ found himself raising his hands and crying to God. “After that prayer, I experienced the peace that transcends all understanding.” That encounter changed RJ’s life forever. Although he was not instantly healed of his condition, his determination to obey God and turn from his sinful deeds was immediate. Eventually, RJ received his miracle. “As I followed the Lord, I started reading the Bible and did my best to apply what I learned. It was only later that I realized I was healed from my condition.” God can heal you, too. And as a CBN Asia partner, you are an instrument for people desperate for God’s touch.

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CBN ASIA NEWSLETTER – FRONTLINES (October to December 2023) by CBNAsia - Issuu