MEAN News – October

 News and Updates from MEANS…

ATS Bacolod – Godfrey Serfino, pastor of Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church and a ministry partner of MEANS, board chairperson of ATS Bacolod invited Amy to sit at their board meeting during her recent visit to Bacolod in connection with the death of her brother. Amy reported that ATS Bacolod is in its full swing of recruiting new students and funding for the school. ATS-Bacolod is applying to become ministry partner of MEANS and seek ministry partners and donors in the US.

Peter Bangcong Visit – Peter Bangcong, missionary of New Tribes Mission, visited the MEANS family on October 5. He and his family have been involved in church planting among the Red Karen Tribe in Tikso, a Red Karen village, not far from Mae Hong Son in Northern Thailand.  He shared how the summer children’s camp has impacted the Red Karen families and the community. There were about 100 children who attended the 4 day camp last spring 2007.   This is the second year that MEANS has sent financial support to the summer camp project. Peter said that the Lord is working especially among the elderly people in the village of Tikso some of whom have asked to be baptized in the river.  Peter and his family are the only missionaries in the village. The bible is still not available in Red Karen dialect.  Every time he teaches, he translates passages from the bible into the Red Karen language. The Bangcong family will be featured on the January issue of MEANS Global Focus.

RTG book for Pastors – When God Tells You to Rest written by Flor Ulan Taylor, a ministry partner of MEANS ministering in Thailand will be distributed as gifts to pastors and church workers at 2 Pastors’ conferences in Metro Manila and Cebu. The conference is sponsored by OMF Publications and PCEC.  Pray that the book will bring blessings to pastors who will receive the book. Here is an update from Gladys Calalang of OMF, “ We gave the books to the first 100 registrants  and to pastors who have been in the ministry for more than 20 years! They really appreciated this gift from MEANS.  Ramon Rocha, during his Closing Remarks and Appreciation, talked about the ministry of MEANS, and encouraged them to get in touch with their church members in the US to partner with MEANS. We also included MEANS logo in our event banner and conference kits.  The Cebu Conference is next week. Thank you very much again for blessing our pastors.”

ECFA Compliance Review – Last September 6, 2007, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability concluded their distance audit with MEANS. Here’s what ECFA wrote: “ECFA is committed to assisting it members in maintaining and enhancing compliance with the ECFA Standards of Responsible Stewardship. On the basis of review, we found MEANS in full compliance with ECFA’s Standards. You are commended for your continuing commitment to these standards.”  MEANS will continue to pursue its compliance to ECFA’s Standards and Best Practices.  Our commitment is to give our best in doing what God wants us to do and in serving our donors and ministry partners.