Volume 18 / Issue 70 / 2021
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EDITORIAL
To Start a Relationship with Jesus Christ Admit you have sinned. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
L-R: Patrick, Delsey, and Johnson
MOMS EDITORIAL STAFF
Believe that Jesus is the only Savior. “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
Editor: Delsey Garner
Confess and leave your sin behind. Stop doing and thinking things that displease our Heavenly Father. “If we confess our sins ….” 1 John 1:9
Thank you for your financial help!
Invite Jesus to be your Savior and the Lord of your life. “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12
May the Lord bless you!
To continue growing in your relationship with Christ, have fellowship with other believers, read the Bible and pray.
Cover & Layout: Patrick Tan Distribution: Johnson Li
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Leap of Faith Christian Church, Nueva Ecija United Evangelical Church— General Santos
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Published quarterly by Asia Pacific Media Ministries. Unit 2608 Raffles Corporate Center, Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center, 1605 Pasig City, Philippines. Telephone: 914-9767. E-mail: moms@apmedia.org. Reproduction of photos and articles is prohibited without permission. 2
MOMS MAGAZINE
Table of Contents EDITORIAL
From My Heart 3
From My Heart
CHIKA-CHIKA One Day 4
Dear Readers,
WISE CHOICES
I have always admired, and if I am honest, I may have even been a little jealous of people who say that they have been impacted by the faith of their grandparents. Some people can even trace their faith back to their great-great grandparents. I wish I could say that my great grandparents knew and served Jesus their whole lives but, I cannot.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Amongst my immediate family, I am one of the first converts to follow Christ. I consider it a privilege to be at the beginning of what I pray will become a legacy of faith that will be passed on to the future generations of my bloodline. Maybe you are like me, and you are a member of the first generation of Christ followers in your family and sometimes get discouraged. Discouraged that you are alone or downhearted that others are slow to believe. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Only God can help us fight this battle to win the future eternity of the following generations. May God help you and me to lead a good example to follow for those behind us.
Faith, Finances and Frugality in Time of Pandemic 6 Mommy Virgie and Her Legacy of Faith 8 FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING
Dapat Ba Akong Maging Concern sa Delta Variant ng COVID-19? 12 ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS
How do I lead my son to faith when his father doesn’t support it? 14 Last Issue
Only by Grace, Delsey G.
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CHIKA-CHIKA
One Day by Roselyn Alegarbes
Where is God in the midst of this pandemic? Have you asked this question too? Here is a story of a mother who experienced God’s presence while going through a difficult and painful situation during the lockdown. God’s promises gave her, and her children, the hope and comfort they needed.
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verything seemed perfect! A lovely home, an ideal husband, talented children, a secure job and a music ministry in church. What else could I ask for? Everything was fine until January 31 of 2020. My husband, who was a teacher and a preacher, suffered from mild heart attack. How could it be? Art (short for Arturo) was just 51 years old, and very Roselyn & Art active in life. He loved basketball, swimming and singing, all of which should have strengthened his heart muscle. He didn’t drink alcoholic drinks, was not into smoking and was very conscious of his diet. How could he have a heart problem? Since the attack, my husband had to stay home and was advised to go to Philippine Heart Center to subject himself for angiogram. The result was unexpected, he had a triple heart vessel blockage which called for a heart bypass procedure. I couldn’t believe it! My heart was pounding heavily as I told him the test result. I saw his disappointment. The doctor told us to prepare a large amount of money to help get through the operation. At that time, we only had a minimal amount so, we decided to go home and find help to raise the money needed for the procedure. Urgently, I deposited a down payment to the Philippine Heart Center for an operation slot and was scheduled for March 20, 2020. Unfortunately, on March 15, Metro Manila was locked down due to the breakout of COVID 19. So, we were halted to go to the appointment. On April 20th, my husband was admitted again for chest pains and slight pneumonia. At that time, he was scheduled for urgent coronary bypass surgery in Iloilo,
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MOMS MAGAZINE
“How could I move on when the last 30 years of my life was spent lovingly with him?” Roselyn and family
but his pneumonia got worse. On our 10th day in the hospital, his doctor insisted on a swab test. As protocol required, he had to be isolated and transferred to a COVID station. Everything got worse when he was in the isolation room. He started to feel pain, so much pain that I was called to be there with him. He suffered shortness of breath until his heart gave up. It all happened so fast! At 9:30 of May 1, he went home to be with the Lord. I had to break the news to my children, and it was heart-breaking. I could hear their cries and questions of why? It was a question that I could not answer at that time. In human perspective, it seemed that my husband dying during a pandemic was very unfortunate. My daughter who worked as a nurse in Asian Hospital, Alabang, couldn’t come home to be with her daddy. My two minor children could not leave the house and my senior-citizen parents were all discouraged that they couldn’t come to comfort me. It was indeed a test of faith! But during that time, I felt God’s closeness His comfort, His promises and the manifestation of His amazing mercy. Holding on to what Job said: “The Lord gaveth, the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” How could I move on when the last 30 years of my life was spent lovingly with him? We never had been apart. But I am assured that life ahead even without my beloved husband will still be according to Gods wonderful plan. To cope with our sadness and loneliness, my family started a weekly “altar call”. During this time, we read God’s words, honored Him with praises and prayed for all of our concerns. We also discussed how we were feeling. In addition, our church family’s support was overwhelming. The intense load in my work also helped pull me out from drowning with loneliness. Because of God’s promises, my children and I are confident that one day we will see Art again face to face. Yes, One Day... in a place described in Rev 21:4, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away...” 5
WISE CHOICES
Faith, Finances and Frugality in Time of Pandemic by Hazel A.B. Javier
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ll of us have been hit by the pandemic; some or most of us have been impacted financially. The challenge as homemakers is how to trust God in these uncertain times while trying to make ends meet. Is there an intersection where our faith meets our needs? The answer is yes, because God provides. Psalm 145:15 said, “The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it.” I read of the testimony of George Müller who ran an orphan home. One morning, he had no food to feed the children. Miraculously, after prayer, a baker delivered bread to Müller because he was convinced God wanted him to. Right after, a milk cart broke down outside of the orphanage and the cart owner offered Müller the milk because it couldn’t be delivered. Such is a powerful story of God’s provision. Just the same, we find from the Proverbs 31 woman that she was considered excellent – fearing the Lord and yet “looks well to the ways of her household”.
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MOMS MAGAZINE
In a time where our income may not be what it used to be, it’s even more reason to be frugal and resourceful! So, I asked some of my homemaker friends for their “tipid hacks”. Surprisingly, it was a list ranging from budgeting to shopping tips, maximizing and even upcycling. • Save when able, and save regularly if you can. The ideal, if you ask any financial advisor is to set aside to savings 20% of one’s salary to start building up one’s emergency fund. • For moms with small kids, keep newborn clothes in “ziplock” packs to keep them mold-free. They can be used if you’ll have another baby in a few years. • For those with school-age kids, re-use the other side of a paper since kids usually need scratch paper for scribbling and drawing. • Buy in bulk. This tip never goes out of style. You save on a few pesos but you’re also helping the environment with less usage of container or sachet packs. • Plan for your meals. This way, you’re sure that vegetables and food products in your ref won’t spoil and you’re able to be as creative as you can with your food menu! • Gather leftover soap and put in a liquid soap dispenser. Just put some water and you can re-use the soap pieces for handwashing. • Instead of buying branded disinfectant, you can buy chlorine crystals and mix in water. This hack was shared by a teacher-friend! • Unsubscribe from online shopping sites or mute notifications. It can be tempting to buy from food deliveries when a message pops up on your phone about promos. But when you add up all the expense, you might be shocked at how much unplanned expense you had because of these 6.6 or 7.7 sales. • Clean out your closets and sell / swap or donate usable items. These are practical tips that I hope you find useful, but I also hope you find encouragement in God’s word that reassures us that He is with us through the tough times and good days up ahead, even as we learn to live simply and dependent on His grace. ‘Money Saving Tips From Financial Advisors and Why You Need One’, Imoney Learning Centre, July 26, 2016, Accessed June 2021, <https://www.imoney.ph/articles/8-money-savingtips-from-financial-advisors-and-why-you-need-one/> Roger Steer, ‘George Müller, Did You Know?’, Christian History Institute, [Christian History originally published this article in Christian History Issue #128 in 2018] Accessed June 2021, <https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/did-you-know-mueller>
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Who influenced you to become the person and mother you are today? Read the account of Grace Banzon as she tells about how her own mother impacted her life spiritually and as a mom. Grace is presently the receptionist of Asia Pacific Media Ministry. Introduce yourself
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y name is Grace Banzon. I am married to a pastor, and we have an adult daughter. I am the fifth of the six children of Eliseo & Virginia Cruz, I grew up in the church parsonage of Caloocan Bethel Temple, the church that my parents pioneered and pastored for 19 years. I studied at the University of the East and now I have been helping & supporting my husband in church ministry for the past 35 years. Your mom, Virginia Cruz, had a reputable name among the Christian community. What was she known for? My mother, Virginia Cruz-Roberts, was known for being one of the pioneers of the charismatic movement in the late 70’s. She had an open door to preach and
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teach on the power of the Holy Spirit in Catholic convents and Catholic churches, and seminaries. She also started many Bible studies, prayer meetings and held seminars in homes, government and private offices. She was an evangelist who held many evangelistic crusades and saw many people surrender their lives to Christ. She was a mentor to many young pastors & leaders who now lead many of the significant church networks in the country today. Her ministry took her to many different countries in Europe, Asia, as well as the United States where she started a church in San Diego, CA. Tell us a couple stories of her miraculous encounter with God. My mother prayed for the sister of Dr. Antonio Feliciano, her cardiologist, who was suffering from a tumor in her ovary. Medical tests confirmed that the tumor had miraculously disappeared. She would pray for people with large goiters and the growths would disappear instantaneously. What were the three specific things that you think she did very well in ministry? She was one of the pioneers of the “Hotel Church Movement” where Charismatic Services were held in neutral places. People who were hesitant to go to a religious gathering like this, felt comfortable going to a hotel. They would come and as a result gave their lives to Christ.
“She was a very loving and caring mother to her 6 children. She might not have given us everything we wanted but she made sure that we had everything that we needed.” She was a bold evangelist! She always looked for opportunities to share Christ. Whether through holding a crusade or talking to people when we were eating out, doing groceries or going bowling. She was uniquely gifted in touching the area of family life and relationships in her teaching, preaching and counseling ministry. She had a niche in this particular area of need that opened many doors of ministry. How did her colleagues describe her? I would say that my mother, Sis. Virgie, as she was fondly called by friends, was known to them as a woman of faith and prayer. Would you be able to tell us about her upbringing? Was she raised Christian? When and how did she get saved? My mother was born to Leonardo Carolino and Dominga Acu, a Methodist family in Paete, Laguna. After finishing Continued on next page 9
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
her secretarial course, she received the Lord as her personal Savior, on June 7, 1951. It was on that day that she realized God’s higher purpose in life. In 1952, God opened the door for her to study at Bethel Bible Institute (BBC). How would you describe her as a mom? She was a very loving and caring mother to her 6 children. She might not have given us everything we wanted but she made sure that we had everything that we needed. Whenever she and my father would go on a mission’s trip to the province, she made sure that a relative or a close friend would be with us in their absence. So, when they were away, we knew that it was always because they were off doing ministry. When we were older, she would take us with her on these trips. It was her desire that her children & grandchildren would follow and serve God in whatever way we can. She was not only loving to us, her children, but to friends and church mates as well. They would often call her “Mommy Virgie”. When I was young, our house was always open to missionaries, especially to pastors who came from the provinces. Pastors and their families would stay in our house, and we enjoyed chatting with them. When she became a widow, she felt God’s call to become an evangelist. So, she turned over the church in Caloocan and we moved to Quezon City. As an evangelist, she would be invited to speak in different churches here and abroad. 10
Even though she was very busy in the Lord’s work, she always made time for family. She would make it a priority to spend time with us kids and the grandchildren whenever she was back in the country. She would cook her special dishes and enjoyed having all of us around the dinner table. She loved playing table tennis and could play for hours with us and her grandchildren. How did she share her faith with you or teach you about faith? When we were younger, we would always have a family devotion. We read the Bible together and prayed as a family. One time she suggested that we each buy our very own Bibles with the money that we received as our ‘pamasko’ during Christmas. And we did! I still have that Bible with me. She instilled in us the importance of loving God, doing His work and showing His love for people. There were challenges and difficulties in both our family life as well as with the ministry, but her deep trust in the Lord helped her and my father overcome them all. She would always say to us, especially to encourage the pastors in our family, that God’s work will never lack workers. That was very true in her life. She always ministered with a team of dedicated people. How did she live her life that made you want to become a Christian?* She modeled her obedience and faith in God to us. It was her faith in action. In good times or bad times, I would always hear her say “Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!” For me it was a sign
“She was one of the pioneers of the ‘Hotel Church Movement’… People who would hesitate to go to a religious gathering went there and as a result gave their lives to Christ.” that whatever happens, her trust was in the Lord. She was confident that God will always take care of her, her family and the ministry. What do you think is the most important thing that your mother has passed on to you? For my mother, prayer was very essential. She would always say “No prayer, no power. No power, no prayer”. She had a prayer garden in our old house where she would spend time praying and praising God.
She had a great love for God and His work. Before I was employed, It was my prayer that I would be able to work in a Christian ministry. God answered that prayer! My sister and I both married pastors who were mentored under my mother’s ministry. My youngest brother, Herald, also serves as a pastor in their church. What are the things you received from your mom that you were able to pass on to your daughter? To be God fearing. Love for God and His work and to serve Him faithfully. Please give us some encouraging words for the moms out there who want to continue or start a legacy of faith in their family.* Start them early. “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it”. – Proverbs 22:6. We must let them realize what is the most important thing in this world. We must model what we teach them. Always pray for them that they will love God above all else and use the talents that God has given them to bless others. 11
FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING
Dapat Ba Akong Maging Concern sa Delta Variant ng COVID-19?
by Dr. Claire Celiz-Pascual
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ahigit isang taon na mula ng nag-umpisa ang lockdown sa Pilipinas dahil sa banta ng Covid 19. Marami nang nagbago, mula sa matinding paghihigpit sa paglabas ng tao, nakaranas din tayo ng taas ng mga kaso, at nandito na tayo sa panahong meron nang mga bakuna na maaring magbigay ng karagdagang protection. Hindi pa man tayo bumabalik sa dating takbo ng ating buhay, meron namang mga balita tungkol sa bagong variant o version ng COVID-19 virus: ito ay tinatawag na Delta variant. Paano nabubuo ang mga variant at ano ang Delta variant? Ang mga virus katulad ng Sars Cov 2 (ang virus na nagdudulot ng sakit na COVID-19), ay palagiang nagbabago sa pamamagitan ng mutation. Ang mutation ay isang proseso kung saan nagbabago ang structure, na nakasalalay sa mga pagkakasunod-sunod ng mga genes . Ito ang isang magandang illustration ng mutation ayon sa Center for Disease Control: Ang virus ay parang isang
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puno na tinutubuan ng mga sanga. Ang bawat sanga ay magkakaiba, at ang mga variants ay mahahalintulad sa mga sanga galing sa original SARS COV 2 virus. Ang mga scientists ay lubusang pinag-aaralan ang mga variants na ito. Minsan may variants na mawawala nalang bigla, pero may ilan na pinahihintulutang mas kumalat ang virus o hindi talaban ng mga gamot o bakuna. Ito ang mga variants na mas kailangan suriin o bantayan. Ang Delta variant ay unang natagpuan sa India. Sinasabing ito ay mas madaling kumalat kung ikukumpara sa iba, ito ang dahilan kung bakit sinasabing mas mapanganib siya, dahil ang bilis ng pagkalat ay maaring maging peligro lalo na sa sinasabing vulnerable population, katulad ng mga matatanda, may sakit, mga buntis at sa mga hindi pa nababakunahan. Dapat ba matakot sa Delta variant? Ang Department of Health ay nagdeklara ng heightened alert kumakailan dahil sa pagtala ng Delta
MOMS MAGAZINE
variant sa Pilipinas, karamihan ay galing sa ibang bansa. Patuloy na pinapatupad ang mga strict quarantine protocols lalo na sa mga pasahero na galing sa ibang lugar. Mahalaga ang impormasyong ang Delta variant ay mabilis kumalat para sa publiko, at ang DOH ay nagpapayo ng maigihang pag-iingat lalo sa mga individuals na lumalabas sa bahay at nakikipagsalamuha sa iba, dahil maari nilang maiuwi ang virus sa kanilang mga bahay, at mabilis itong maipapasa sa ibang miyembro ng pamilya. Maliban dito, ang minimum health standards ay epektibo pa rin as preventive measures sa pagkalat ng COVID19. Ito ay tinatawag na APAT DAPAT ng DOH, at ito ang mga sumusunod: • A - Air circulation at ventilation • P - Physical distancing 1 meter or more • A - Always use face mask at face shield • T - Time of interaction less than 30 mins
Ang pagbabakuna ay isa ring importanteng strategy para bumagal ang pagkalat ng virus. Kung ikaw ay nakatanggap na ng 2 doses ng bakuna, at 2-3 linggo makalipas ng pangalawang dose ikaw ay protektado lalo sa pinakamalalang category ng COVID. Ang minimum health strategies, bakuna, healthy habits at ibayong pag-iingat sa labas ng bahay pa rin ang pinakamagandang paraan para mapuksa ang COVID 19. Sa pagtutulungan ng bawat isa, sa physical na prevention at lalo na sa pananalangin nakasalalay kung paano ang magiging takbo ng ating bansa sa gitna ng pandemiya sa mga susunod na buwan. Dasal ko na bigyan ang bawat isa ng proteksiyon at kaalaman ng Diyos ngayong panahon ng crisis. Psalm 91:9-10,14, “Sapagkat si Yaweh ang iyong ginawang tagapagsanggalang, at pinili mong mag-iingat sa iyo’y Kataas-taasan. Di mo aabuting ika’y mapahamak; di mararanasan kahit anong uri ng paghihirap sa iyong tahanan. Ang sabi ng Diyos, “Ililigtas ko ang mga tapat sakin, at iingatan ko ang sinumang taong ako’y kikilanlin”.
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ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS
Just Asking with Peter Banzon
Q:
My husband doesn’t go to church. Sometimes, my son prefers to stay with his dad on Sunday instead of going to church with me. How do I lead my son to faith when his father doesn’t support it?
A:
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oing to church to worship God and fellowship with other believers is an important practice that strengthens and deepens our faith. It helps people to hear God’s word so they can live out His plan and purposes for their lives. They in turn become productive citizens who contribute to society instead of just being consumers. So, it is sad to know that your husband isn’t a church goer, and your son just wants to stay at home with him instead of going to church. Prayerfully talk to your husband about encouraging your son to go to church with you. Remind him that as head of the home, his influence is important in helping your son experience the positive benefits of having a church life. Church attendance is essential for spiritual growth that influences other areas of life. If despite your efforts, he refuses, then don’t force the issue but continue to take your stand for what is right and be faithful in your church attendance. By respecting your husband’s decision, you are demonstrating a submissive attitude. The Bible says, “be submissive to your own husbands so that if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word, by the behavior of their wives.” (1 Peter 3:1-2) By displaying a godly demeanor, you will leave a legacy of faith and faithfulness that will be a testimony to both your husband and your son. Live out your faith, sensitively share God’s word and pray for God to open their eyes so that they too will experience a living relationship with the Lord through Jesus Christ.
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