Year 2020 Plans

For the past 33 years we have seen how God has raised men and women of Faith to shepherd
and serve our community. They are leaders who painstakingly discipled and trained individuals to be
next leaders in line. If not for the Faith pastors and leaders who have patiently discipled me, I wouldn’t
be here today serving the Lord full time. So Year 2020 marks a new beginning in pastoral leadership of
our church as I assume the challenging ministry of shepherding of God’s flock. I am excited for what
God will be doing in Year 2020 at Faith Christian Assembly of God.

Testimony
What lead me to accept this challenge of shepherding Faith community?

It has been twelve or thirteen years since the last time I serve the Faith community as an
associate pastor. As many will recall, my previous ministry experience here at Faith did not end well.
My immaturity as a pastor lead to relationships being broken and people getting hurt. First, I humbly
and wholeheartedly like to ask forgiveness to the church for causing a lot of pain and stress, secondly,
to each of our leaders who were there during those trying times and finally but most importantly to
Bro. Roland Addun and his family I ask for forgiveness.

It still amazes me today how God’s love has healed our hurt, bitterness, and division and
restore each one of us through the years. The Lord has restored me and Bro. Roland and other leaders
of our church in a relationship that I consider closer than before. Only God’s love can truly reconcile
broken relationships! I am so much humbled today for having experienced our Savior’s power of
reconciliation. Amen.

Fast forward in 2017, when I left for Netherlands to pursue may master’s degree, I did not really
intend to go back to the Philippines to pastor a church. My plan was to live permanently and build my
career overseas. Netherlands is a beautiful country and its capital Amsterdam is probably one of the
best cities in the world to study, live, and work. I fell in love with the city from the day I arrived here
and did not plan to leave since life here is so good. But God has a different plan and was working in the
background while I was completing my masters. God spoke through my dreams and visions at different
times and situations. I was standing outside our church doors shaking hands with people. On another
dream I was preaching in front of the congregation. Still another, I was praying and casting out demons
and laying hands on the sick. And on another dream I was waving at pastor Mars outside the doors of
our church. I knew then that God was speaking but I ignored it because of my personal intention and
desire. I argue with God, asking him why should I come back to get stressed doing ministry in the
Philippines when I am already here in the Netherlands living a good life.

God would constantly prompt individuals to remind me of his purpose why I studied at Tyndale
Seminary. Pastor Mars who has spoken with me several times about pastoring Faith. Bro. Roland who
have never failed to ask me about my plans and the possibility of serving at Faith. Pastor Peejay who
have asked me several times if I am still going back to pastor Faith. My mentor at Tyndale seminary
who constantly encouraged me to go back and serve my home country. And my mom whom I know
has been praying for me to have a change of heart and come back to the Philippines.
 After I graduated on June of this year, I was granted an extension of one year to search for work
and then apply for permanent residency in the Netherlands. I found a job and started earning good.
But I can’t find the peace and joy in my heart. Life outside the seminary was so different. I was living
alone and just see my seminary friends during weekends at church. A life lived outside the will of God
is not worth living.
One day while seated at a café after work, God spoke clearly to my heart asking me if this path I
chose is really worth living. I began to realize what I am missing if I was serving God full time. I missed
preaching. I missed teaching. I felt so much regret remembering how much Tyndale Seminary spent so
much to give me a scholarship, provided all my books, my accommodation, and food for free, and
equipped me for ministry. And also the question that bothered me most is why Faith, after all these
years of searching hasn’t found a senior pastor yet.
September of this year, after much praying and thinking, I finally decided to go back to
Olongapo City Philippines and pastor Faith Christian Assembly. I felt peace after talking to Kuya Roland
about my intention to pastor Faith. So far, after my decision, everything is working well by God’s grace.
I am excited to come back and serve as pastor of Faith and I am forever grateful to God and to Faith
Christian Assembly for giving me another opportunity to serve.

Moving Forward
Plans for the Next Two Years

I. To Build a Solid Biblical Understanding of the Pulpit Ministry

As Paul highlighted in 1 Corinthians 2:1 – 5, the cross of Christ must be the foundation of
any pulpit ministry. My vision for Faith is for every leader to preach both a gospel centered
sermon at the same time practical in people’s spiritual walk. The focus is not just on how to
be a good Christian but on how the cross of Christ must reflect on every aspect of our
Christian life.

This can only be accomplished through a careful study and understanding of the Word of
God. The text will be of utmost importance and not the topic of preaching.

We will focus our preaching and teaching on the text of 1 st and 2nd Corinthians for the next
six months.

In line with this, I will give opportunity to our leaders to preach on Sunday services provided
that you complete our course on Exegesis and Expository preaching. I will open this course
to our church council and leaders. I will not require anyone to attend the training but if you
want to continue to preach on our Sunday services you must first attend and complete our
courses. . This will be weekly 2 hours lecture for 6 months and regular one on ones will
follow after the training. I cannot do the preaching alone so I would expect help from those
who have preached on our Sunday services before. Only that I want all of us to be properly
synched together on our preparation and preaching of God’s word. I pray that you will be
hungry to be trained in properly handling the Word of God.
II. To Build a Culture of Evangelism and Discipleship
Secondly, evangelism and discipleship should not just be a program but it must be a culture
of Faith Christian Assembly of God. We have struggled through the years on how to sustain
or develop this area. I think the problem is we treat it as a program that we launch and try
to push people to support this “program.” Let us ask ourselves and evaluate, what if we
treat evangelism and discipleship as a culture? Would it make a difference?

As we have already established Alpha as an avenue towards promoting an Evangelistic and

Discipling culture, let us think of ways of normalise Alpha into the system of our church that
people will not just treat alpha as one of the programs but see it as a process and a culture
of Faith Christian Assembly.

As clearly stated in After Alpha’s goal: “Process – The single most important thing a church
can do is move from a programme-based model of mission to a process-based model.
Creating and normalising a culture of lifelong evangelisation and disciple formation at the
heart of the church’s mission is vital if the post-Alpha journey is to be effective and long
lasting. The process is more important than the programme!”

We will focus on building our life groups, Men’s, Women’s, Youth, and Children’s ministry to
be avenues for evangelism and discipleship. We will bring the discussion of Sunday
preaching to our smaller group gatherings.

III. To Build solid biblical understanding and ministry of Prayer and Worship
The New Testament is full of accounts of the church gathering together to worship, pray
and intercede. Signs, wonders, and miracles happen as the church gathers to worship and
pray. Paul as a leader himself intercede for the church through the power of the Holy Spirit.
These stories have a lot to say about our calling as a church. Paul in Ephesians 5:19 says: “
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody to the Lord with your heart.” Christians are called to be a worshipper and an
intercessor. As our hearts are attuned with God in worship, we intercede on behalf of our
church, community, nation, and people. Thus, we will evaluate where we are in our church
worship and prayer, both individual and corporate, and find effective ways to address the
challenges and strengthen these areas.

IV. To Build a Solid Biblical Understanding of Church Membership

One author said: “Christians don’t join churches, they submit to them.” (Leeman, Church
Membership, 30). Church membership is not an option as if someone is joining a club. Every
Christian should become a member of this institution that Jesus Christ has established.
Why? Because the church both affirm us as believers of Jesus Christ and then the church
assists in shaping and directing our Christian lives. It is my vision that every Christian who
attends at Faith Christian Assembly of God would have this deeper understanding of the
importance of church membership. That it is not just to say that “I joined” but it is because
“I submit” to Christ and his institution’s (the Church) ordinances.
 Let us continue to pray together as we look ahead and seek God’s guidance and direction for
Faith Christian Assembly of God.

For the next several weeks until our first meeting of 2nd of February 2020 let us read 1 Corinthians
together (read on your personal devotions and prayer)

Also, I am sharing also with you a book that we will read as we pray and plan for the year ahead. The
title of the book is: What is a Healthy Church? by Mark Dever. It is a reflective reading which means
that as we read, we think and try to evaluate Faith Christian Assembly of God as a healthy church. This
is a small book so it will only take you less than hour per week to read. We will talk about our readings
on 2nd February. I pray that we will be committed together in our readings and prayer.

Below is our reading plan:

Week I Corinthians What is a Healthy Church Book

December 8 – 14 Chapters 1 – 2 Introduction (pp 9 – 20)
December 15 – 21 Chapters 3 – 4 Chapters 1 and 2 (pp. 21 – 38)
December 22 – 28 Chapters 5 – 6 Chapters 3 and 4 (pp. 39 – 62)
December 29 – January 4 Chapters 7 – 8 Chapter 5 – 6 (pp. 63 – 74)
January 5 – 11 Chapters 9 – 10 Chapters 7 – 8 (pp. 75 – 88)
January 12 – 18 Chapters 11 – 12 Chapters 9 – 10 (pp. 89 – 100)
January 19 – 25 Chapter 13 – 14 Chapters 11 – 12 (pp. 101 – 112)
January 26 – February 1 Chapter 15 – 16 Chapters 13 – 14 (pp. 107 – 118)
February 2 Council Meeting

I am looking forward seeing you again and working with you towards building God’s Kingdom.

God bless.

John Paul del Rosario