September/October 2015
His Message. Multiplied pg. 6
Training
Media Missionaries TO REACH ASIA PACIFIC
pg. 8
Usapang Pamilya
INSIGHTS FOR LIFE
pg. 10 FOCUS:
pg. 12 FROM THE HEART:
Mayie’s Story
Editor
Letter From The
BILL & KIM SNIDER ASIA PACIFIC MEDIA
Everyone has a story to tell. The difference between those who have the chance to tell it and those who don’t often involves one thing—opportunity. Our long-standing publications— MOMS Magazine and Men in Progress gives Filipino women and men the opportunity to learn how to express their ideas and the share their stories that will in turn bless others. Imagine these stories being read by hundreds of thousands, changing lives and bringing health and hope to families. It’s part of our vision: His Message, Multiplied. At APMedia, we offer people opportunities to learn and try new things related to media. That includes training indigenous Christian workers to do what we do—use the media to share the Good News. Right now, APMedia is the only AG missions organization and one of a couple of Christian organizations utilizing the media to Multiply the Message of Jesus Christ! We want stories of life change to [2.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.
be shared and inspire others to find hope and a renewed life through Jesus Christ. There are too few good story tellers, writers and video producers who are telling the Good News. Last month, our team provided 50 Chinese workers the opportunity to expand their knowledge of video production so they can effectively utilize this medium for ministry. We believe that several will take what they learned to capture stories that will take the life-changing message of Jesus Christ into parts of the world where it has never been heard before. In this issue of MISSION: HIS MESSAGE. MULTIPLIED, you’ll see what happens when people are trained to share their stories and their stories influence lives for the Kingdom. Thank you for supporting this vision. Keep up to with the life-changing stories and new opportunities by texting APMEDIA to 95577 (U.S. ONLY). Also, visit our newly updated website, www.apmedia.org. it is our prayer that your heart will be stirred for the need to support the work that is expanding every day in Asia Pacific. We are praying for you!
PROMO
Watch
bit.ly/promousapangpamilya
PROMO: USAPANG PAMILYA at apmedia.org or TEXT APMEDIA to 95577 (U.S. ONLY) [4.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.
“I am thankful for what is happening in my life, especially to my children because of [APMedia’s “Usapang Pamilya”] videos. Even though I am separated from my husband, I have learned so many things…. I have surrendered all to the Lord and His plans for us. I am thankful for having come to this church.” — Emelita Casabuena
APMedia’s mission is about changing lives like Emelita’s by drawing on God’s Word and multiplying its reach through technology. What better way to focus on families by offering hope-filled, biblically-based multi-media resources? One of these resources is the Usapang Pamilya Series, which provides insights for marriage and family including adultery, divorce, conflict, domestic violence, forgiveness and parenting. But we didn’t stop there—topics for youth and young adults include peer pressure, pre-marital sex and finding the right partner. We address personal development issues like financial management, marriage preparation, spiritism, worry, sexual identity, gossip, addiction and pornography. The Usapang Pamilya Series has been used for public showings, cell group discussions, Bible studies, and family counseling as well as personal discovery and self-reflection. Some Filipino cable television stations have included the series into their programming.
September/October 2015 [5.]
FOCUS
Watch bit.ly/training
FOCUS: TRAINING at apmedia.org or TEXT APMEDIA to 95577 (U.S. ONLY)
media missionaries in the making by Jennifer Taylor
“As I invest in the lives of the people through APMedia training, I have seen how God can use ordinary people create extraordinary tools to reach the lost.” —Alena Palad, APMedia Training indigenous media missionaries is a key component of what we are called to do at APMedia. Before the end of the year, Alena, along with other members of the APMedia Manila-based creative team will train believers in Myanmar, mainland China,Taiwan and the Philippines. These men and women will learn production skills in video, radio as well as writing for publication.
Thank You APMedia Partners Your investment! It costs $50 an hour (U.S. dollars) to support our 12-member, Manila-based creative team who are supporting training efforts all across Asia Pacific!
November/December 2014 [7.]
[6.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.
Last month, participants came from five local churches in Taiwan to attend the 3-day APMedia training seminar in sound and video production. Sessions included shooting and producing short content videos and utilizing editing software. “Training is a significant way that APMedia is multiplying His message,” APMedia Director Bill Snider says. “A majority of people in Taiwan are on the internet for more than 4 hours each day, interacting through computer, tablets and smartphones. We believe the church must know how to utilize these tools in communicating the gospel. As we produce quality content and train local Christian media workers they are able to see how technology can be used for evangelism, discipleship, mobilization and vision casting to reach out to a younger generation.” For more than 10 years APMedia’s editors Kim Snider and Evelyn Damian have taught a 7-week Magazine Training International course. Students learn how to conduct interviews and write a variety of stories. They must attend every class and complete all assignments to receive a graduate certificate. A number of these students go on to write for the APMedia publications MOMS and Men In Progress (see story on page 10). “The magazine really didn’t take off in popularity until I stopped
writing all the articles. It’s much more received if people who write the articles can relate culturally,” Kim says. “This is why we needed to start a writer’s class. It’s absolutely vital to teach people to tell their own stories — in order demonstrate what God is doing in their own culture. And that is the heart what why we do what we do at APMedia.” .PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR ONGOING MEDIA TRAINING EFFORTS
1. For God to continue to raise up more Christian writers and videographers to tell the stories of what God is doing. 2. For inspiration for the writers’ pool for our APMedia publications— we need guidance on content to effectively reach Asia Pacific. 3. For the fire of media ministry to continue to burn in these workers who are mostly volunteers who share a burden for ministry. 4. Foundational funding for APMedia. We need this funding so we can continue to grow our ministry throughout Asia Pacific. .
September/October 2015 [7.]
FOCUS STORIES
by Heather Van Allen
EQUIPPING LEADERS to multiply HIS MESSAGE
When God’s people answer His call on their lives with willingness, He equips them to spread the Message of hope to make His name known all over the world. God is using Asia Pacific Media to help turn willing Chinese Christians into ministry leaders trained to effectively use current digital media outlets to reach their culture for Jesus, in their churches and beyond. As the skills of the students grow, so do their visions, motivating some of them to express their excitement about what God is doing in their lives and ministries with the help of APMedia – and your partnership. [8.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.
What’s Being Said
About APMedia Training “I am happy that we are able to participate in the internet ministry. Internet is a [newer] industry, and we Christians need to take part in it. I wish to further explore using media in ministry when we go back to our home towns and churches. I want to use multimedia and internet to let more people know [about] our ministry and understand our beliefs.” —Li “This week I was able to learn about the multimedia ministry. This is what I have always desired. Although I do not posess all of the skills now, when I go back home I can get in touch with the teachers, and that makes me feel assured. Even though our group was not able to finish our video,
I copied all the material and footage and plan to finish it when I get home. I thank God for Asia Pacific Media.” — Mei “The vision of my church is to develop a ministry with impact. I love multimedia because this is a visual era. I especially like the roles of scriptwriter and director. We have been praying and seeking. I have many ideas in my heart and hope to bring young people to participate in this ministry. I am thankful to God for APMedia and have their assistance in future.” — Pastor Chun
hope to spread some evangelical materials on the internet. We must let people see there is light.” — Lau “This ministry is really helpful. Suddenly I have another thought about media. Oh, how wonderful is God’s creation. Every person has [his or her] own strength, and everything that God created is useful. When I go back home and face my college fellowship—the young people in my church—it will be very useful. I am grateful.” —Yen .
“I am thankful for learning multimedia ministry. Although we have only a few days of training, we were given a practical process. Since I am involved in college ministry, we especially need this kind of media in outreach. There are so many temptations in society. We
It’s clear. Thanks to your prayer and partnership, APMedia continues to provide ministry leaders the media training they need to see His Message, Multiplied in China and the greater Asia Pacific.
Watch bit.ly/china
FOCUS: CHINA at apmedia.org or TEXT APMEDIA to 95577 (U.S. ONLY)
September/October 2015 [9.]
STORIES
by Amber Weigand-Buckley
building the best families Pastor Wilson Martin has been conducting medical missions in Metro Manila and the provincial areas for around four years. He is one of many Christian professionals who use MOMS and Men in Progress Magazine to restore and build families.
[10.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.
We have approximately 2,000 patients in every mission where doctors from different hospitals serve. Instead of tracts, we use MOMS Magazine and Men in Progress (MIP). We found it works so much better because of the variety of topics addressed in the magazine compared to tracts. We provide MOMS and MIP in the waiting area of our counseling office. What happens is it becomes easier for us to counsel our patients because their minds and hearts are already open to the Word of God. Many accept the Lord as Savior. As a medical missions coordinator, I go around and observe. I see people really engaged in reading the magazines. Our evangelism isn’t immediately connected with the A-B-Cs of Salvation. The counselors try to find out the issues that will lead their patients to
open their hearts to the gospel The counselors try to find the issues their patients are dealing with. They hope to find an open opportunity to share Christ and MOMS Magazine helps. That’s what is effective about MOMS and MIP, it’s not pure gospel. People today are different. Sometimes using the words gospel, salvation or John 3:16 ... that’s sometimes not a well-recieved approach. I find that MOMS goes along with our mission strategy because we share life-change not just through the Bible but also
What’s Being Said
about MOMS Magazine: I give MOMS Magazine to my relatives and friends. One of my friends who is a radio announcer on a non-Christian station uses the content of MOMS in her program.” — Myrna Celada-Goseso After we provided several issues of MOMS Magazine, a lady banker asked to pray so she could accept Jesus as her Savior. Now the MOMS is on her table for clients to read while waiting for their bank transactions.” —Eleanor Sebiano of Turning Point Development Programs “I take my mom to physical therapy every morning. You wait there for hours along with people from all walks of life. There’s the very rich, very poor, teachers, patients, companions. Most of them are Roman Catholics but they ask for MOMS. When I hand them a copy MOMS Magazine. I pray that God will touch their life. —Evelyn Tan
through practical application to every day issues. I remember one day seeing a Muslim woman reading MOMS— it reaches so many because of the topics that are covered. We have seen MOMS and MIP change the lives of so many. Thank you to Asia Pacific Media for touching so many people with this resource.
APMedia Partners Make It Happen!
Everyday you can help APMedia in the effort to reach and resource families through your support of our ministry. MOMS and MIP production, printing and distribution costs approximately $9,250 per quarter. Summer 2015 November/December 2014 [11.] [11.] September/October
STORIES
“I’ve been a MOMS Magazine subscriber for 2 years and it has been very beneficial for me because I can share the contents with parents and youth. One of my favorite articles was one on homosexuality. I was able to relate to the topic because I was once a lesbian and I kept it a secret. But with God’s grace I was set free and now have a husband and children.” —Pastor Mayie Dalida
[12.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.
Watch
bit.ly/storiesmayiedalida
MAYIE’S STORY at: apmedia.org or TEXT APMEDIA to 95577 (U.S. ONLY)
His Message, Multiplied to Reach ... AG and Evangelical Churches Christian School Board of Investments Government Parole and Probation Office Women’s prison in Manila National High School in General Santos MIndanao Other high schools Resources for the Blind Pharmacies Don Mariano Marcos State University Gov. Dept of Social Welfare and Development College of Education Travel Agency Secular bookstores Task Force Against Trafficking State Universities Doctors Clinics St Lukes Hospital
Summer 2015 [13.]
1,115 PEOPLE GROUPS in Asia Pacific have yet to hear the gospel. For $50 an hour you can help us change that.
APMEDIA PARTNER CHALLENGE In this issue of Mission, we’ve only had space to highlight a few of the APMedia projects impacting lives in Asia Pacific. You can see from our testimonies that people and families are being reached and restored! God is taking His Message through media and multiplying it beyond what we could imagine. Without your support this simply wouldn’t be possible! Very simply, it costs $50 an hour—$400 a day to do what we are doing to support APMedia operations. That $50 an hour supports an incredibly creative Manila-based team reaching into many nations. God has multiplied that $400 a day to help reach and restore individuals, families and resource churches across Asia Pacific. But we urgently require your help during this critical moment in ministry as our operational needs, which are completely reliant on donor support, are surpassing monthly contributions. Every dollar you give this month— $100, $50, $25, $10 — will help us meet this foundational need so we can continue to develop resources to impact Asia Pacific with the gospel! Please review page 15 and prayerfully consider making a one-time or recurring gift to support our ministry. You can also make your donation securely today at apmedia.org/give or simply by texting APMEDIAGIVE to 95577 (U.S. only). It will be surprising what your gift will do as it is multiplied through digital media, into new nations, for new people—to grow the Kingdom. To connect with more updates and testimonies text APMEDIA to 95577 (U.S. only), visit apmedia.org and like Asia Pacific Media on Facebook. God is opening many doors to reach Asia Pacific with the gospel.Thank you for helping us walk through them with your generous support today. [14.] APMedia MISSION / apmedia.org.
JOIN ASIA PACIFIC MEDIA Mobile U.S. Connect —Text APMEDIA TO 95577