Question: How can I find peace amid this pandemic?
Answer: These days, there is a barrage of news about the pandemic. We are hoping and praying to hear good news but sometimes, there is none. We are so focused on what’s going on and our mind is consumed by the negative events. Yes, we need to know the facts through the news but when we focus our thoughts on it, it will occupy our mind and highjack our emotions.We get stressed, we begin to worry, and we become fearful. But Matthew 6:25 says, “Do not worry.” Instead, we must put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. If we allot some time focusing on God’s promises in the Bible, I tell you, you will have peace — the peace that the world cannot give; the peace that comes from God; the peace that keeps us secure, intact; and the peace that guards our mind in Christ Jesus. So I want to invite you and ask you to run to the Word of God today. Focus on the Word and allow it to fill your heart and mind. Be in faith that as you seek peace, our help will come from God. As Psalm 121:1-2 declares, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Blessings beyond measure,
PETER M. KAIRUZ President and CEO
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You Helped
Rescue Veronica from Depression Veronica Olasiman flew to Taiwan with hopes of providing a better future for her family. After years of enduring the pain of being away from her loved ones, however, Veronica learned that her husband was having an affair with another woman. Her world shattered when her spouse decided to abandon her and their children. Since then, Veronica bore all the responsibilities of raising their children, depending on her overtime pay to make ends meet. But one day, the company she worked for could no longer give her overtime pay. This unexpected change left her no choice but to borrow money to meet her children’s growing needs. Before she knew it, her loans piled up. She thought God left her in the middle of her misery. As she spiraled into depression and hopelessness, she came across an inspiring post from the Facebook page of The 700 Club Asia that struck her heart. It was a testimony of a woman who had been cheated on but eventually found restoration and comfort in God. Veronica immediately called the CBN Asia Prayer Center and was blessed to find people who would listen to her and pray for her. She was so inspired by how God used CBN Asia to help people that she decided to support despite her financial lack. God honored her sacrificial giving and just a week after, her earnings increased as she got into multiple side jobs and a new business opportunity. When you give to CBN Asia, people like Veronica rise from a heartbreaking situation. Thank you for your heartfelt giving that touches and transforms many lives! 3
God Gives Back
What you Give to Others Cesar Avenido believes in giving without asking for anything in return. From the humble beginnings of his business venture as a calamansi juice seller, Cesar learned to invest in God’s business of blessing people and transforming lives. Although his income is not always enough to meet the needs of his family, he continues to give to different missionaries and ministries, including the Asian Center for Missions (ACM), the missionary training arm of CBN Asia. As a pastor in Bohol, Cesar knows full well that missionaries need support as they fulfill their godly mandate of proclaiming the Gospel to the nations. His faith and obedience were put to the test when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country. “I held on to His Word in 2 Corinthians 8:2 where the Macedonian churches supported the missionaries despite their lack. Their situation resulted in generous giving. It encouraged me that our current difficulties should not hinder our support for God’s Kingdom,” Cesar shared. While most businesses suffered, Cesar’s business thrived amid the pandemic. Because of his obedience to God, his sales went up during the lockdown, enabling him to continue operating in the next months. Not only was he able to pay some of his loans, he also gave grocery items to church members who had lost their jobs. Cesar’s story shows us that people can never outgive God. He always gives back what you give to others–pressed down, shaken together, and running over. 4
Your Love
Brought Healing to a COVID-19 Patient Minda Donaire doubted that God could bring total healing for her daughter Jonalyn who tested positive for COVID-19. When Jonalyn flew to Saudi Arabia to work as a domestic worker, she had high hopes of providing a good future for her three children who were left in the care of her mother Minda. Little did they expect that they would hit rock bottom because of the pandemic. Fear started to grip Minda when she received the news that her daughter tested positive for COVID-19. It was during this time of desperation that Minda’s grandchild encouraged her to watch The 700 Club Asia. Their whole family watched the show and joined the host’s prayer. Minda recounted how she called the CBN Asia Prayer Center and poured her heart out to a prayer counselor. “I told the prayer counselor that I could not contact my daughter and I do not know if she was still alive. I told her all my problems and she prayed for me,” Minda shared. Just minutes after they prayed, Minda received a message from Jonalyn, assuring her mother that she was safe in a hospital. Still, Minda wouldn’t believe that God could miraculously heal Jonalyn from COVID-19, until she opened her Bible and found God’s message for her in Jeremiah 33:3—“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” The next day, the hospital declared Jonalyn COVID-negative: a miracle that both Jonalyn and Minda could not fathom. “Calling the Prayer Center was a huge help for me. They stood with me in prayers. Indeed, Jesus Christ is the best healer!” Minda ended. This is where your giving goes. As you extend your love through giving, many people like Minda and Jonalyn receive the comfort and healing power of God! 5
Hope in the Time of COVID:
Responding to the Pandemic Together As the world continues to fight against COVID-19, many people are barely surviving. Despite the widespread struggle, you responded in faith by supporting our kababayans who had been heavily struck by the pandemic. From nearby towns to far-flung areas, your love has brought hope and relief through the efforts of CBN Asia’s humanitarian arm, Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines (OB).
Hope for tribal communities Even before the outbreak, indigenous communities like the Dumagat Remontado tribe in General Nakar, Quezon had been experiencing hunger, as well as poor access to healthcare and other essential services. The pandemic made this unpleasant condition even worse. Marife Mendoza, a tribe member and a mother of three, said that the pandemic left them wondering where to get their next meal. Her family would boil bananas and sweet potatoes just to put food on their table. Thankfully, OB and its generous partners braved the 16 crossings of narrow roads and slippery rocks to reach their remote barangay. Marife and over 200 tribe members received much-needed food items and hygiene kits, which included sanitation supplies such as tissue paper, sanitary napkins, and baby diapers. OB also gave solar panels to Brgy. Lumutan to aid their need for electricity.
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“We just depend on the crops we plant for food, so this food bag is a huge blessing to us,� Marife said.
Hope for education Your love has also reached the children in tribal communities, like Bea and Marianne Rodrigo. They are among the Bless-A-Child beneficiaries in the isolated town of Sitio Kabuhuan, Rodriguez, Rizal. Due to the imposed quarantine, their father had to stop working in the farm, making it hard for him to provide for his loved ones. It was such a huge relief for them and other Dumagat families in the neighborhood when OB visited Sitio Kabuhuan. They received lifesaving supplies that would help them survive this difficult season. The same hope sustained Back-To-School scholar Charlyn Mae Pretencio back when her life was hit by a tragedy. After Typhoon Yolanda ravaged Tacloban in 2013, CBN Asia’s church partner introduced Charlyn to OB’s scholarship program. Charlyn took up Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and last April, she finally graduated from college. “OB helped me financially and spiritually. They always check up on me and ask me how I cope with my studies or what else do I need. These are the reasons why I strive to achieve my goals. I am grateful for their vision of changing lives,” Charlyn shared.
Hope for frontliners The fight against COVID-19 is far from over and our medical frontliners are working relentlessly to put an end to the dreaded disease. To ensure that they are well-protected and guarded, OB continues to distribute Personal Protective Equipment and hygiene kits to hospitals and communities. Among the hundreds of beneficiaries are medical centers in Cavite, Pasay, Manila, Laguna, Bulacan, Rizal, and other nearby provinces. Together, we will continue to support education, send aid to frontliners, and deliver hope to tribal communities and most vulnerable families across the country! Visit obphil.com and know how you can help. 7
Hope Restored
for a Childless Couple Blizette Esguerra and her husband Jaycee lost count of the times they prayed to conceive a child. They have been trying since 2013 and they thought God was testing their faith. “We were asking ourselves, ‘What’s the problem with us and our bodies?’ All our married friends already have their own babies,” cries Blizette, as she shares the frustration she endured at the age of 33. Despite their struggles of being childless, the couple remained obedient to God and generous to His people. They were inspired to support Operation Blessing, CBN Asia’s humanitarian arm, who reaches out to our most vulnerable kababayans. They believe that they are called to share their blessing, while silently praying and boldly trusting God to hear their hearts’ desires. After years of praying for a miracle, Blizette and Jaycee got an answer while watching The 700 Club Asia. They joined the host who uttered the prayer, “Right now, there is this one lady who is desiring to be pregnant. You don’t have any defect; the Lord is opening your womb!” Blizette raised her hands, received the prayer, and left no room for doubt. Blessings started to pour down on their lives. God took over their finances and blessed them with a store in a well-known mall. Miraculously, Blizette got pregnant and months later, gave birth to a baby boy named Kenzo Zechariah. Holding his beautiful son in his hands, Jaycee could not help but express his awe of God. “Jesus answers prayers. We just have to be faithful to Him.”
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Spreading the Message
of Salvation and Bayanihan in Thailand For over a decade now, Angelito Lardizabal continues to serve as a missionary and pastor in Bangkok, Thailand. His passion to share the Good News to other nations ignited when he attended a mission conference with CBN Asia Founder, Gordon Robertson. The conference would eventually give birth to the Asian Center for Missions (ACM), CBN Asia’s missionary training arm. After the training, Angelito and his family went out to share God’s love with the people of Thailand and with fellow Overseas Filipino Workers. They opened their doors to those needing a family. However, the imposed lockdown caused by the pandemic took its toll on the livelihood of the locals and the OFWs alike, instilling worry in the minds of everyone. Instead of wallowing in fear, Angelito and his team started the project, Bayanihan Spread Hope. The project provided relief goods to locals and Filipinos who lost their jobs due to the pandemic, paving the way even for other nationalities to know the saving love of Jesus. “This initiative became an opportunity for people to know God. After handing them the relief goods, we offer to pray for them and ask them if they would want to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior,” Angelito said. To Angelito, his learnings from ACM helped him become an effective missionary in a cross-cultural setting. Through your giving, you bring relief, hope, and salvation to the hurting—through the ACM-trained missionaries. ACM is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year! Thank you for partnering with ACM in reaching more nations so they will know the love of God. Together, let us continue to declare God’s faithfulness over the nations and press on “Towards No More Unreached!”
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Turning Homeschooling
into Gospel Learning Now that homeschooling has become the norm, parents have more time to guide their little ones in building their faith through God’s Word. It’s never too early to let children know about God’s wonderful plan for their lives and what better way to teach them the Word of God than with Superbook! Superbook stays true to its mission of sharing the Gospel with Filipino children, through its Superbook DVD sets. Superbook DVD sets come with fun and informative discussion guides. With 13 action-packed and inspiring Bible stories in each set, kids and parents can enjoy one weekly lesson together for up to three months. Parents can guide their kids and do the activities together while recalling lessons from the episodes. Superbook coloring books and activity books are also effective companion materials that help the whole family take to heart the learnings from each story. This makes the series suitable for many weeks of fun and learning for the entire family. Turn ordinary homeschooling days into memorable family time with Superbook! Donate now to get your own Superbook DVD sets. Superbook Seasons 1, 2, and 3 are now available on Lazada and Shopee for your donations through PCBS.
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Reverb Worship PH:
Declaring God’s Love through Music Exciting news! CBN Asia, in its goal to inspire people and share the love of God, has officially launched its music arm–Reverb Worship PH! Reverb Worship PH seeks to produce music that celebrates and declares the unchanging love of God in changing times and give Christian artists a platform to create and perform songs that worship God and inspire people. In partnership with Star Music, Reverb Worship PH released its first single, “Beautiful,” featuring OPM icons Ogie Alcasid and Moira Dela Torre. Hours before the release, the hashtag #BeautifulOgieMoira trended on Twitter. And as soon as the anthem hit streaming platforms, listeners were quick to react and praise its uplifting message. Both lyrics and melody touched the hearts of our kababayans and received positive comments. The lyric video and official music video of “Beautiful” are available on Star Music’s YouTube channel. You can also stream it on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, and Deezer! Stay tuned for more exciting music to be produced by Reverb Worship PH. Subscribe to www.youtube.com/ReverbWorshipPH to get updates!
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Someone cares for you